Jacques Legardeur De Saint-Pierre: Officer, Gentleman, Entrepeneur

Marriage at Quebec, 1738

2 MARRIAGE AND NEW ASSIGNMENTS, 1738-1745 MARRIAGE AT QUEBEC, 1738 From 1737 to 1739 Saint-Pierre appears to have remained in the lower colony. It was during this time, on 27 October 1738; that the thirtyseven -year-old bachelor married Marie-Joseph Guillimin, the twentythree -year-old minor daughter of Charles Guillimin, king's councillor in the Superior Council of New France, a shipbuilder and once-wealthy merchant descended from a noble family of Brittany. Two days earlier, on 25 October, in the Chateau Saint-Louis in Quebec, before Governor-General of New France Charles de La Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois, the marriage contract of Marie-Joseph Guillimin and Jacques Legardeur de SaintPierre had been drawn up, after which a copy was drawn up before Intendant of New France Gilles Hocquart in his palace. Following affirmation of the marriage contract by the two highest government dignitaries in the colony, the agreement was read in Charles Guillimin's mansion to a large gathering of high-ranking notables including the governor and intendant , relatives, and friends assembled as witnesses. After it was read the future spouses and all the others signed the document. The terms ofthe marriage contract were far more generous than average for Marie-Joseph: Saint-Pierre provided a very large dower of a minimum of 4,000 livres to provide a life income to his wife should she survive him, in addition to their communal estate; the contract further provided for an immediate payment (the preciput) to the survivor of 1,000 livres before any other distribution or payment from the communal property. These large amounts place Saint-Pierre among the "colonial elite ... at the top of the social hierarchy of New France." The agreement suggests that MarieJoseph brought a respectable amount of personal property to the marriage, as did her future husband, but this contract is further distinguished from 41 doc. 15 42 Jacques Legardeuy de Saint-Pierre most others because of the influential and social positions and numbers of those attending the signing:1 Before The Royal Notaries In the Jurisdiction of Quebec Undersigned and Residing there, appeared Jacques Le Gardeur, Esquire, Sieur de Saint pierre, officer of the Troupes de la Marine In This country, son of the late Jean Paul Le Gardeur, Esquire, Sieur de St pierre, Captain in the aforesaid troops And Madame marguerite2 Le Neuf de la Valliere, his father and mother, for himself And In his name, on one side, Monsieur Charles Guillimin, King's Councillor on the Conseil Superieur of Quebec, Widower of the late Madame fran~oise Le Maitre La Morille Stipulating in This matter for mistress marie Joseph Guillimin, his minor daughter of Twenty Three years Born of the marriage of my aforesaid Sieur Guillimin and of the aforesaid late Madame Le Maitre present here And [giving] His Consent for Her And in Her name on the other side, Which parties with the Approval And Consent of the high And powerful Lord Charles Marquis of Beauharnois, Commander of The Military Order of Saint Louis, Governor And Lieutenant general for His Majesty In All The Colony of Canada And province of Louisiana; And of the high And powerful Lord, Monsieur Gilles hocquart, Knight, King's Councillor On The Councils, Intendant ofjustice, civil administration And finances In all New France And the province of Louisiana, And with The advice And Counsel of their relatives And friends gathered here, To Wit on behalf of the aforesaid Sieur Le Gardeur,* Charles Le Gardeur, Esquire, Sieur de Croisy3 lieutenant of the Troupes de la marine in This country paternal uncle of the aforesaid Sieur Le Gardeur, Monsieur henry hiche, King's Councillor And his Attorney Seated on the Provost And admiralty courts of This Town, Brother in Law of the Aforesaid Sieur Le Gardeur As having Married Madame Marguerite Le Gardeur de St. pierre, And the aforesaid Lady His Wife, Jean Baptiste De St. ours, Esquire, Sieur dEchaillon, Knight of the Military Order of St. Louis, King's Lieutenant of the Town and Fortress of Quebec, And Madame Marguerite Ie Gardeur / *[marginal insert p. 1] Madame agathe Saint pierre Wife of the late Jean Baptiste Le Gardeur, Esquire, Sieur de Repentigny, Knight of the military order of St. Louis, Captain in the aforesaid Troops xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [line crossed out] xxxxxx [word crossed out] aunt of the said Sieur Legardeur. Approved Seven words Crossed Out above as null and void St.P. J?G. [other initials] / [3.144.187.103] Project MUSE (2024-04-24...