René BRANCHE

Born

abt. 1641 , Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, France

Died

9 January 1681 , Québec, Canada, New France

Parents & Family of René BRANCHE

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding René BRANCHE.

Parents

Father unknownMother unknown

Grandparents

Explore grandparents

Spouse & Children

View family relationships2 recorded relationship(s)

Family Tree

Open family tree View pedigree chart

Born: abt. 1641 in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, France

Father: Unknown

Mother: Unknown

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, Canada, New France . 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, Canada, New France .

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.

WORK & OCCUPATION

Occupation

Recorded occupation: habitant

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

Spouse & Children of René BRANCHE

Hide Family & Children

René BRANCHE married

Marguerite LANGLOIS
Marriage date: 17 February 1665
Marriage 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

Marriage notes:

Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Children of René BRANCHE and Marguerite LANGLOIS

No children are currently listed for this couple.

René BRANCHE married

Marie VARIN
Marriage date: 23 October 1667
Marriage place: Québec, Canada, New France

See marriage record for René BRANCHE and Marie VARIN

Marriage notes:

Contract Notary Rageot

Notre Dame de Quebec

Children of René BRANCHE and Marie VARIN

Marie-Françoise BRANCHE

Born: abt. 1668, Québec, Canada, New France
Died: 23 September 1738, Québec, Canada, New France

Married: Adrien LEGRIS 25 November 1686 Place: Québec, Canada, New France

RESEARCH CONTEXT

Québec Genealogy Notes

Helpful background for understanding names and places that may appear in René's Québec records.

Québec Place Names Through History

Québec has been described by several names during different periods of its history. Knowing the period name can make older records easier to recognize.

Early 1600s–1760: Canada, New France
1760–1763: Canada
1763–1791: Province of Québec
1791–1867: Lower Canada
1867–present: Québec, Canada

Thanks to Micheline Gadbois MacDonald for providing this information.

Add Life Event

Have another record or photo?
Add a life event, census record, military record, obituary, achievement, or photograph for René BRANCHE.

Life & Records

Photos, life events, and historical records for René BRANCHE.

Hide Life & Records

How to read this timeline
Records about René BRANCHE and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.

Show:

Use these buttons to focus on the ancestor's own records or the wider historical context.