Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY

(b. 18 May 1629 , Québec, Canada, New France d. abt. 1678 , Montmagny, Canada, New France )

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Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY was born 18 May 1629 in Québec, Canada, New France

Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY was the child of Guillaume COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY and Marie-Guillemette HÉBERT and the grandchild of: (paternal) André COUILLARD and Jehanne BASSET (maternal) Louis HÉBERT and Marie ROLLET

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Louis married Geneviève DESPRÉS 29 April 1653 in Québec, Canada, New France . The couple had (at least) 6 children.
Geneviève DESPRÉS was born abt. 1639 in Paris, France. Geneviève died 11 May 1706 in Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City).

Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY died abt. 1678 in Montmagny, Canada, New France .
Details of the family tree of Louis appear below.

Occupation

Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY was a Seigneur de L'espinay.

Québec Généalogie - Over time, Québec has gone through a series of name changes
From its inception in the early 1600s until 1760, it was called Canada, New France.
1760 to 1763, it was simply Canada
1763 to 1791 - Province of Québec
1791 to 1867 - Lower Canada
1867 to present - Québec, Canada.

Thanks to Micheline Gadbois MacDonald for providing this information.

Québec Généalogie - The Seigneurial System (1627 - 1854)
The seigneurial system was a form of land settlement modeled on the French feudal system. It began in New France in 1627 with the formation of the Compagnie des Cent-Associés (or Company of 100 Associates), which was initially responsible for handing out land grants and seigneurial rights. The land was divided into five by 15 kilometer plots, usually along major rivers like the St. Lawrence. They were then further subdivided into narrow, but long lots for settlement. These lots were usually long enough to be suitable for faming, and they provided everyone who lived on them with equal access to neighbouring farms and the river. There were three main groups of people who lived off the land in this system: Seigneurs, Habitants and Engagés

Louis COUILLARD DE L'ESPINAY was a seigneur.
Seigneurs were the most important colonists, as they were usually in the military or aristocracy prior to being a settler. These seigneurs then were charged with the task of subdividing large parcels of land into five by 15 kilometer concessions, then renting this land to a habitant. Under regulations set up by the French government in France, the seigneur could also set up a court of law, set up a mill on his land and organize a commune.

Source: Canada in the Making (www.canadiana.ca/citm/index_e.html)

A Glimpse into 17th-Century New France: Life of the Average Man

The Definitive Guide for Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors in 2025

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