René BRANCHE

(b. abt. 1641 , Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, France d. 9 January 1681 , Québec, Canada, New France )

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René BRANCHE was born abt. 1641 in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, France

René BRANCHE was the child of ? and ?

René was an immigrant to Canada, arriving by 1665.

Immigration to New France: Shaping the Roots of Canada

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

René married Marguerite LANGLOIS 17 February 1665 in Québec, Canada, New France . Marguerite LANGLOIS was born abt. 1602 in France. Marguerite died 17 December 1665 in Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City). Marguerite was the child of Guillaume-Jean LANGLOIS and Jeanne MILLET.

René married (2) Marie VARIN 23 October 1667 in Québec, Canada, New France . The couple had (at least) 1 child.
Marie VARIN was born abt. 1644 in Rouen, France. Marie died 25 March 1701 in Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City).

René BRANCHE died 9 January 1681 in Québec, Canada, New France .

Son of Jean Branche and Jeanne Bardon

Details of the family tree of René appear below.

Occupation

René BRANCHE was a habitant.

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

René BRANCHE 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

Family and Children of René BRANCHE

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René BRANCHE married

Marguerite LANGLOIS-- Date: 17 February 1665 Place: Québec, Canada, New France

See marriage record for René BRANCHE and Marguerite LANGLOIS
Marguerite LANGLOIS was the child of Guillaume-Jean LANGLOIS and Jeanne MILLET

Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Children of René BRANCHE and Marguerite LANGLOIS:

René BRANCHE married

Marie VARIN-- Date: 23 October 1667 Place: Québec, Canada, New France

See marriage record for René BRANCHE and Marie VARIN
Contract Notary Rageot
Notre Dame de Quebec

Children of René BRANCHE and Marie VARIN:

Marie-Françoise BRANCHE (b.abt. 1668, Québec, Canada, New France d. 23 September 1738, Québec, Canada, New France )
m. Adrien LEGRIS 25 November 1686 in Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City)

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