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NICHOLAS MARSOLET

Nicholas Marsolet was the first Interpretor signed by Henri IV, King of France, in 1599 at the Court of the King of France, to work for the newly formed "Compagnie de Montreal".
At this time he was 12 years old and the son of Nicholas Marsolet "Premier Ecuyer de Monsieur" (le frere du Roy)

Nicholas's story really could read as a Fairy Tale because it held the magical powers of transformation and self-control, in a world usually entrenched in rigidity.

So, yes, ...Once upon a time, long ago, in the castle/manor of Saint-Aignan in France (le Chateau de Saint-Aignan), was born a long-awaited boy. It was 1587. They named him after his Papa & GrandFather: Nicolas. It is known that the family had many close friends at Court. The Marsolet family appears to have also been linked tru marriages with the Guyon, Pelletier, La Motte (LaMothe) and Damours families. Most of Nicholas daughters would marry noblemen from the French Court which he personally picked, from amongst his friends' families. His first daughter, Marie Marsolet, was dame Mathieu Damours

Amongst other things, Mathieu D'Amours was the half-brother of Gabriel Damours, who would be Confessor of the King in 1666. Mathieu was also the half-brother of Pierre Damours, Grand Senechal de France. Mathieu's father, Louis Damours was "Conseiller du Roy" en son chateau de Paris. Nicholas middle daughters, Genevieve and Madeleine, would marry in the powerful Guyon family, two brothers, Michel and Francois Guyon (Dion) and all their many sons would be titled

Nicholas' Father, Nicholas Marsolet de St-Aignan, was a regular attendant at the French Court and his Mother was Marguerite de Planes (des Plaines). His Grand-Father was also named Nicholas Marsolett and was married to Laurence Griffon; they had 4 children: Marie, Jeanne, Nicholas and Roulant Marsolett.

For many years, his Father, Nicholas Marsolet, was: "l'Ecuyer de Monsieur, le frere du Roi" an official personal retainer to the brother of the King. He must have discreetly kept himself informed thru his office, in all likelihood being attentive to what was said and to what happened around him, since he was often privy to source information and must have heard of the King's need for reliable people to use as Interpreters in Nouvelle-France because his young son was the first Interpretor signed with the "Compagnie de Montreal" in 1599

Already, at age 12, his son Nicolas showed promise with languages, having enough natural ability to have learned Latin, Italian, Spanish, English & Dutch; moreso, his temperament showed not only resourcefulness but endurance, courage and integrity; this, coupled with the fact that his Father was a faithful servant was enough recommendation for the King: He was the first chosen Interpreter

So, in 1599, he was signed by Henri IV as a "Drogman" (from an Arab word "tordgeman" which became "truchement" in French and "dragomena" in Italian, which were Interpreters) with the newly founded "Compagnies du Canada"

Thus started an epic worthy of the best.

He lived three totally different lives

His first 21 years were lived in France getting his "barat",
then he moved to "la Nouvelle-France" where he lived 27 years being an Interpreter for the Fur trade, forging agreements between peoples/nations and for the Recollets' evangelization drive, living near the Montagnais in Tadoussac
and finally he lived 42 years in Quebec City, married to a French girl and raising 6 children Nicolas Marsolet, was born in Rouen in 1587 and came to Canada in 1608 with Champlain. They did not get along well together. For one thing, Champlain was peeved off by the fact that Nicolas was answerable only to the King. But Champlain had enough power to make sure Nicolas Marsolet would not be in his way. So, Nicolas was set down in Tadoussac, (it was, after all, one of the busiest traditionnal gathering/meeting place of the First Nations, making it a desirable trading post...), while the others continued on to Quebec, with orders to stay there. Mind you, several times, he would cross to France for short periods, but none were the wiser for it. He had a serious meeting with the head of the Jesuits in Paris during the winter of 1628.

Stay in Tadoussac he did, a whole 27 years. Later on, this loyalty to the Kings of France would procure him several land grants (he probably was the largest land owner actually residing in New France), but for now his life in Tadoussac and in the Saguenay saw him enjoying a healthy lifestyle while he developed deep friendships with the Montagnais people, even fathering children; he thought of the Montagnais as "his people" and they loved him as much as he loved them. Until his death, years later, he would still come to their help whenever they needed him, which was often. At the age of 75 years old it is recorded that he went on a mission dring the middle of winter to aid them and had no problem keeping up with the party.

When Nicolas was 48 years old, in 1635, Champlain died. Nicolas immediatly handed-in his resignation as Interpreter and left Tadoussac to live in Quebec city. But first he crossed the water from the US, with the earliest ship of the year, and went to Europe to find himself a French bride (see : European Women in Quebec City in 1635)

At this time, Nicolas was already the Eldest of the Europeans amongst his own companions. More than half his life had been lived, but the healthy life habits adopted while residing with his native friends had made him stronger than an ox, and he would outlive the next generation.

He married Marie LeBarbier (16 yrs old) with whom he had 10 children, 6 of them who reached adolescence. 46 known grand-children were born who would form the basis for the future society of "La Nouvelle-France" and eventually, America.

The greatest strength which Nicolas Marsolet passed on to many of his descendants was his "pourparler skills", making them wonderful or outstanding Orators, Speakers, Journalists, Writers, Lawyers, Leaders, Presidents, Prime Ministers

His descendants would form old Quebec roots and later would establish themselves in all parts of America, from Louisiana to Texas, to California, Labrador, Alaska, the Prairies, and their impact would be felt around the world. It is the integrity of soul which he demonstrated to his children, grand-children which would make them special and beloved by most of us