François LAREAU

(b. 31 December 1652 , Dieppe, France d. 30 June 1726 , Québec, Canada, New France )

Am I Your Ancestor?
LAREAU Family Tree – Connecting the Past to the Present!

What started out as our family is now your’s too!

François LAREAU was born 31 December 1652 in Dieppe, France

François LAREAU was the child of Jacques LAREAU and Anne FOSSE

François was an immigrant to Canada, arriving by 1666.

Immigration to New France: Shaping the Roots of Canada

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

François married Anne DEQUAIN 28 October 1669 in Québec, Canada, New France . The couple had (at least) 8 children.
Anne DEQUAIN was born 23 April 1645 in Usseau, Poitou, France. Anne died 7 February 1734 in Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City).

François LAREAU died 30 June 1726 in Québec, Canada, New France .

Son of Jacques Lareau and Anne Fosse

Death not found at Hotel Dieu, Quebec in Drouin Collection - check Notre-Dame-de-Quebec

Details of the family tree of François appear below.

Occupation

François LAREAU was a Habitant and carpenter.

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

François LAREAU was a habitant.
Habitants were usually farmers or labourers who were initially brought over from France to live on this land. They had to pay rent and taxes to the seigneur, though they co-owned the land with the seigneur, and even had to work entirely for the benefit of the seigneur a few days each year.

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

Habitants played an essential role in creating a permanent, settled population along the St. Lawrence River. But it was not an easy life...

Habitants had to clear the land, build a homestead, and plant and harvest a crop. The first task was never-ending, while the last one was annual. Building and repairing the house and barn were continual tasks. So were cutting and hauling firewood. The habitants had to be largely self-reliant in looking after all routine tasks such as cooking, baking, making furniture, and repairing tools. They had to attend to the educational and medical needs of the family. They had to endure the harsh physical climate and rough terrain, largely unaided by government support. The habitants had to pay taxes to the seigneurs and the church.

Canada: The Story of Our Heritage by Elspeth Deir, John Fielding, Nick Brune, Peter Grant, Stephanie Smith Abram; McGraw-Hill Ryerson School, 2000