MARSOLET
Nicolas Marsolet de Saint-Aignan (1587-1677)
First, he lived longer than most in his century, where 40 was old, he died at 90. Second, he lived three span of lives totally different: Third, he personally knew many illustrous people of his time, held his peace without giving-in to no-honour-schemes and yet was able to hold his own in dangerous situations especially defending and remaining loyal to his friends the Montagnais, He knew the Court Life well. He had been sent to various castles in training stages during his early years and 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". 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.
Nicholas Marsolet (1587-1677) had a "stranger-than-usual" life.
1. 1587-1608: In the glamour, artificiality and pomp of the Court of France, until he was 21 years old.
2. 1608-1635: In Tadoussac with the Montagnais and Saguenay tribes ostensibly as Interpretor, but to all intent and purpose an interested party to the First Nations welfare.
3. 1635-1677: In Quebec city, married to Marie LeBarbier, Father to 6 children who survived childhood (on 10) children.
So, yes, when Nicholas first arrived here there were few Europeans and he was careful to advise the First Nations tribes of his area wisely in keeping away from the Europeans and their politics. Nicholas had recognized that their lifestyle was better than that of the European courts.
At this time he was 12 years old and the son of Nicholas Marsolet.
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 Father and Grand-Father: 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, LaMothe (la Motte) and Damours families.
Most of Nicholas daughters would marry noblemen from the French Court which he personally picked, from amongst his friends' families. His daughter Marie Marsolet was dame
Nicholas middle daughters, Genevieve and Madeleine, would marry in the powerful Guyon family, two brothers, Michel Guyon du Rouvray and Francois Guyon (Des Pres)(Dion) and all their many sons, but Claude, would be titled.
His son Jean was born late, in 1651, and he did not leave any posterity though he was married twice, the first time at 30 yrs old, the year after his Father's death, to Marguerite Couture (he had a daughter who died young)(the Father of Marguerite was me Guillaume Couture, who in his young age had been the Huron Interpretor with the Father Jogues when he had been caught and tortured) and the second time he married to Marie Anne Bolduc, daughter of an advisor to King Louis XIV.
Nicholas' Father, Nicholas Marsolet de St-Aignan, was a regular attendant at the French Court and his Mother was Marguerite de Planes. 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 discreetly kept himself informed thru his office, in all likelihood being attentive to what was said and to what happened around him, hoping to find a suitable place for his young enterprising son and he must have heard of the King's need for reliable people to use as Interpretors in "la 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, his 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 below: 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.
Many of his descendants would be Men/Women who would influence Society: Bourassa, Papineau, Laurier, Lesage, Lemire, Riel, Bouchard, Lapointe, Roussin, Dorval, Langevin, Levesque, Bourget, Laporte, Cremazie, Boucher, Houde.
These Great-grand-children of his, stemming from old Quebec roots, would come from 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.
Nicolas Marsolet would also pass on his thirst for knowledge. Many of his great grand-children were fine scientists, doctors, researchers, educators, inventors, discoverers:
LIST: To be incorporated.(Some of the Researchers, Educators, Innovators, Architects, Scientists having had a genealogical bond with Nicolas Marsolet will be in this list.(note ddlm 2000)
Dr. Salluste Duval, a multi-talented man, a Medical Doctor, a University Professor, Dean, a Mathematician, a fine musician, a renowned scientist, whose talents led him in many directions and touched several disciplines: Medecine, Business, Music, Education, Electricity, Law, was also one of his descendants.
Another descendant, Dr.Edward Livingston Trudeau, b. 1845 N.Y. was the one who founded the Saranac Sanatorium, which first introduced the open-air treatment for the treatment of TUBERCULOSIS)
Indeed, Nicolas, through all his descendants, might well be one of your own Great-Grand-Fathers. .
The Six Children of NICOLAS MARSOLET de St-Aignan & MARIE LE BARBIER, who reached adolescence:
1. Marie, (b. Feb.22,1638), dame Mathieu Damours;
2. Louise, (b.May 17, 1640), dame Jean Lemire;
3. Genevieve, (b. Aug.6, 1644), dame Michel Guyon du Rouvray;
4. Madeleine, (b. Sept 27, 1646), dame Francois Guyon des Pres;
5. Jean Marsolet de St-Aignan, (b. 1651) Sieur de Bellechasse, no male descendant;
6. Marie,(1662-1677); she died in February; overwrought, Nicolas settled his affairs and retired to his estate of Bellechasse, to die.
Nicolas was born in Rouen in 1587 and died in Quebec during May 1677, at 90 years of age. He was buried in the Church in Quebec City. Marie, his younger wife, remarried to Denis Gabriel LeMaistre, a taylor.
When Henri IV, the First King of the Bourbons, came into power, in 1589, Nicolas was but a child of 2; he grew up in this new society which had for aim the restoration of religious peace and greater power for the monarchy. The Edict of Nantes, proclaiming religious freedom, was signed in 1598. Henri IV, working with Sully, also wanted greater prosperity. He envisioned the success of some of the colonization projects which Francois 1er had started half a century before. So, in this climate of exploration and development, Nicolas was signed in 1599 as an interpreter for the planned future expedition, giving him the necessary years to learn as many skills as was possible to gain greater independance.
Nicolas had many adventures (see Recollets, Jesuites, Montagnais, Kirke chapters in "We were there! Quebec, Canadian, French, American, Amerindian, Acadian, European Roots, a Genealogy & a History" by Danielle Duval LeMyre) in the early years of the Colony. It is the best recorded period of his life..
In 1629, when the English took Canada and sent the Early settlers home, he was one of the thirteen Europeans who stayed behind (7 were interpreters to the various Nations). This adventure with the three French-speaking English brothers Kirke (Kerth), with whom he was fast friends, left, at the time, a temporary un-founded taint on his loyalty. It had its taste of piracy, and knowing him, he must have enjoyed it... The daughter of one of the brothers (who were considered French by birth by the English) would eventually be married to the famous Radisson ... ! To be continued...
... Yes, I welcome comments, rectifications, improvements :) DANIELLE
European Women in Quebec City 1635
Up to the time of Champlain's death (Dec.25th 1635), French women had not been welcomed to come to Nouvelle-France. Champlain had himself married a young girl of 12, Helene Boulle, who came to New France but had to return to France after an unhappy experience. She would found a convent in France, never to return to the Americas and die at a very ripe age.
Instead, CHAMPLAIN had encouraged the Native Chiefs to believe that their Women were going to marry the European Men to become the scion of a new breed: "Forming one Nation from two People".
The Indian Chiefs upon such assurances had brought three of their young marriageable maidens to Champlain, which had proven quite a weight for the Colony when they also had to shoulder the responsibility of feeding them, especially since they were living some of their more lean years at the time.
Under Mr. de Montmagny new leadership, however,European women were now to be welcomed and encouraged to settle in New France with their husbands.
BELOW is the list of most of the women living in Quebec City in 1635. They formed the nucleus for the social activities in the Colony and were the early pillars of the Feminine element in Canada.
Marie Leneuf du Hérisson Dame Jean-Baptiste Godefroy de Linclot
Marguerite Le Gardeur Dame Jacques Leneuf de la Potherie
Jeanne Le Marchand Dame Michel Leneuf du Hérisson
Marie Faverie Dame Pierre Le Gardeur de Repentigny
Catherine de Cordé Dame René Le Gardeur du Tilly
Marie Langlois Dame Jean Juchereau de Maure
Jacqueline Potel Dame Jean Bourdon
Anne Couvent Dame Philippe Amyot
Simone d'Orgeville Dame Adrien d'Abancour
Eleonore de Grandmaison Dame François de Chavigny
Marie d'Abancour (Avaugour) Dame Jean Jolliet
Madeleine Leneuf du Hérisson Dame Jean Poutrel du Colombier
Nicole Lemoine Dame Gaspard Boucher
Julienne Barry Dame Marin Boucher
Louise Boucher Dame Louis-Henri Peignet
Marie Renouard Dame Robert Giffard
Click here for INFO on the TOWN of SAINT-AIGNAN in Normandie, near ROUEN.
E-mail: marsolet@theglobe.com dduval@vcn.bc.ca or dlemyre49@yahoo.com
Voice Mail: Canada (604) 682-3269 Ext.8523
© Copyright Danielle Duval LeMyre 2000