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The exact date that Michel Huppé arrived in New France is unknown but the earliest record we have in 1641 when he is reported to be living in the parish of Nôtre Dame de Québec. |  |
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He is a hatter by trade ( Un Chapelier ) but whether or not he worked at his profession in Canada is uncertain.It does not appear that he was hired to come by the notable Juchereau family which took a prominent part in the early settlement of New France as no contract to this effect appears to exist as in other cases. |
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Be that as it may,Michel Huppé was a very early inhabitant of Canada and his numerous descendants have certainly helped to populate our country ! To illustrate how few Europeans were here in 1641 the following population figures,taken from "Introduction to New France" by Marcel Trudel,are of interest : In 1608 there were 28 settlers,in 1641 about 500 and in 1671 still only about 2500. Thus we see that only a few hundred white people were in Canada when our ancestors arrived. |
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Concerning the early movements of Michel Huppé,we know that he was engaged under the command of le sieur De Maisonneuve and associates in 1641.In 1642 he was attached to the company of M. De La Barre who commanded a detachment in Montréal. First,he was part of the Québec garrison,then he went to Montréal and finally was active in the defence of the new settlement of Trois-Rivières.Also,that same year in 1642,it is recorded that he went to the upper country ( Le pays d'en haut ) and returned from this expedition with beaver pelts valued at 40,000 francs.Quite a tidy sum in those days ! |
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In 1645 there was in existence a "Compagnie de La Grois" made up of fifty men.It was part of the militia and may have been under the command of our ancestor although this is uncertain.It is certain,however,that in those days nearly all able bodied male colonists took part in guarding the new settlements against the Indians. |
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The next report concerning our ancestor is dated 1646.In that year he became embroiled in a duel ( Bataille a l'épée ).This is believed to be the first such affair to take place in New France.The source of this information is "Les Recherches Historiques" vol.13,1907,from which the following extract is taken: Le premier duel dont nôtre histoire fasse mention eut lieu a Trois-Rivières dans l'hiver de 1646.Le Père Jérôme Lalemant parle de cette rencontre dans le journal des Jésuites : " Je trouvai,dit-il,que deux hommes des Ursulines s'étaient appelés et provoqués; et étaient allés se battre avec leurs épées;ce qu'avaient fait aussi deux soldats aux Trois-Rivières,La Groye et Lafontaine pendant que nous y étions; La Groye fut blessé en deux endroits pour s'être comporté sagement et chrétiennement,ce qui ayant été vérifié; par les Sauvages,Lafontaine fût mis en une fosse." On désignait alors sous le nom de fosse un cachot pratique sous terre et où il avait aucune ouverture,si n'est celle par ou on introduisait le condamné.Le bon Père Lalemant ne dit pas combien de temps le soldat Lafontaine resta dans ce séjour peu agréable.Nos tribunaux furent ensuite tout près d'un quart de siècle sans être obligés de sévir contre les duellistes. Il faut croire que l'édit Louis XIV avait eu une salutaire influence. |
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In the spring of
1647,April 1st to be exact,our ancestors received a
grant of land from the Jesuit Fathers.This interesting
document still exists and a facsimile of it appears on
the following pages.As it is hard to read,a typed copy in
french is also included.The holding which was in "La
seigneurie de Nôtre Dame des Anges" where it was
known as "La Vacherie".Of course,there were no
roads to speak of in those days so the narrow lots all
have some frontage on the river which was the principal
means of transportation. We next learn of Michel Huppé in a document dated November 27,1651,when he married Madeleine Roussin.Oddly enough their marriage record fails to mention the word "Priest" and there is no reference to the church although the banns are mentioned,and so it was thought at first that this was the record of a civic marriage.But it may be that the original church records were lost,perhaps in a fire,and essential remarks to complete the official records.Be that as it may all doubt is removed by a later document which was executed on January 25,1659,when Michel Huppé and his wife enacted a marriage contract before the Notary Vachon.Herein they declared that they were married in the church of the Conception of Nôtre Dame de Québec by Joseph Poncet,Curate.The script is difficult to decypher and only says that the marriage of our ancestor in 1651 was a church wedding! |
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| Updated January 2006 |
| rollyhupe@sympatico.ca |
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