Michel  LEMAY dit LE POUDRIER

LEMAY - from the abbreviated form of the Latin 'ulmum' which means 'elm'. Nickname given to someone who lives near an elm plantation. Or, nickname given to someone who comes from one of the localities called 'Le May'.

Michel Lemay born around 1630 to François and Marie Gaschet of Chenehutte in Anjou, married in Trois-Rivières on June 15, 1659 Marie Duteau born in La Rochelle on August 21, 1639, daughter of Pierre and Jeanne Perrin. She died in 1675 after having had 9 children. He remarried in 1677 to Michelle Ouinville of Paris, also a widow. Two children will be born from this union. In 1655, he received land at the mouth of Trois-Rivières, the first sign of his presence in the country, then another in Cap-de-la-Madeleine where he settled and married. He received concessions in Batiscan then in 1673 in Lotbinière where he settled with his second wife. He died before February 9, 1685.

'Michel Lemay left his country for Canada in 1653.'

SOURCE: OUR FRENCH-CANADIAN ANCESTORS BY THOMAS J. LAFOREST, Volume II

'On 16 June 1659, Michel Lemay married Marie Dutaut (Duteau) at La Magdeleine, near Trois-Rivieres. Father Rene Menard, S. J., blessed the union. Marie was born at LaRochelle in 1640 and her story is worth telling: It is described by Gabriel Debien in these words, 'On 16 April 1658 Jeanne Perrin, wife of Pierre Dutaut, a porter of LaRochelle, and with his permission, indentured herself for 5 years at 50 livres per year, to Jacques de la Poterie of Quebec. This contract was made through his agent, Pierre Denis. Jeanne Perrin-Dutaut departed with her daughter Madeleine, age 9 years.' This is not all, because, according to the manifest of the ship Prince Guillaume, on that same day, the sixteen-year-old son of Jeanne, one Charles Dutaut, signed a 3 year contract of service, as did his 19 year old sister, Marie, before Notary Teuleron. Up until this time, no trace of the father! It is Archange Godbout who has the last word: 'As for the father, one knows not for what reason, he remained at

Michel lemey - 36 habitant

Marie dutost - 26 sa femme

Charles lemey - 6 fils

Joseph lemey - 5 fils

Marie lemey - 4 fille

Ignace lemey - 1 fils

Jacques dutost - 23 frere de lad. dutost

Et pierre - .20 domestique

'MICHEL LEMAY NO LONGER SUFFERED FROM WANDER-LUST. NOW HE STAYED HOME TO ENGAGE IN HIS FAVORITE PASTIME--EEL FISHING. THIS SPORT STARTED IN 1666 AS A MEANS OF EARNING SOME EXTRA MONEY. AT FIRST HE FISHED WITH NETS OFF THE POINTE-SAINT-CROIX. LATER, WHEN THE SPORT BECAME A BUSINESS, HE WOULD BUILD WEIRS, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIDAL EBB AND FLOOD, IN ORDER TO TRAP THE WRIGLEY CREATURES. IT WAS NOT BY CHANCE THAT, WHEN SEIGNEUR CHARTIER OFFERED MICHEL A CONCESSION IN LOTBINIERE, HE INCLUDED FISHING RIGHTS IN THE RIVER IN EXCHANGE FOR 'SIXTEENTH PART OF HIS CATCH, SALTED AND CONDITIONED.' IN 1722, BACQUEVILLE DE LA POTHERIE WROTE THAT ON A SINGLE TIDE ONE COULD LAND AS MANY AS 3000 EELS. NOW THAT IS GOOD FISHING INDEED! LEMAY WOULD PUT THE FISH IN HOLDING TANKS, THEN SALT THEM DOWN IN BARRELS OF 500 EELS EACH. IN A GOOD SEASON, THE CATCH WOULD AMOUNT TO 60-70,000 EELS. THIS 'FRUIT OF THE SEA' WAS SOLD FOR 25 TO 30 LIVRES A BARREL. IN 1679, JEAN LEMOYNE DELIVERED TO THE LEMAY FAMILY, 'A

Michel Lemee (Lemay) 50
Marie Ouenville (Dutost, Ouenville et Ouimet), sa femme, 34
enfants:
Michel, 21
Joseph, 18
Marie, 16
Ignace, 14
Noel, 13
Charles, 12
Jean, 11
Pierre, 10
Marie, 9
Jean, 8
Xavier, 7
Antoinette, 6
Madelaine, 4
Antoinette, 1 1/ 2

Source: Histoire des Canadiens-Francais 1608-1880 by Benjamin Sulte, Montreal, 1882