René GERVAIS

Born

abt. 1650 , La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France

Died

10 May 1694 , Québec, Canada, New France

René married Marie JOUSSELOT 10 November 1669 in Québec, Canada, New France . The couple had (at least) 6 children.
Marie JOUSSELOT was born abt. 1650 in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France. Marie died 17 November 1704 in Charlesbourg, Québec, Canada, New France . Marie was the child of Pierre JOUSSELOT and Ozanne DRAPEAU .

Parents & Family of René GERVAIS

Parents of René GERVAIS

Father

Not yet recorded

Mother

Not yet recorded

Grandparents of René GERVAIS

Paternal grandparents

Paternal grandfather not yet recorded Paternal grandmother not yet recorded

Maternal grandparents

Maternal grandfather not yet recorded Maternal grandmother not yet recorded

René was an immigrant to Canada, arriving by 1669.

Immigration to New France: Shaping the Roots of Canada

son of Martin Gervais and Perrine Aucillon?

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 GERVAIS 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

Spouses, Marriages & Children of René GERVAIS

René GERVAIS married

Marie JOUSSELOT
Marriage date: 10 November 1669
Marriage place: Québec, Canada, New France

See marriage record for René GERVAIS and Marie JOUSSELOT
Marie JOUSSELOT was the child of Pierre JOUSSELOT and Ozanne DRAPEAU

Marriage notes:

Notre-Dame-de-Quebec

Rene, son of Marin Gervais and Perette Auchon

Marie, daughter of Pierre Jousselot and Ranne Drapeau

Children of René GERVAIS and Marie JOUSSELOT

Marguerite GERVAIS

Born: 3 July 1672, Québec, Canada, New France
Died: abt. 1681, Québec, Canada, New France

Antoinette-Étiennette GERVAIS

Born: 24 November 1673 , Québec, Canada, New France
Died: 20 December 1708, Québec, Canada, New France

Married: Pierre FONTENEAU dit DESMOULINS 18 February 1697 Place: Charlesbourg, Québec, Canada, New France

Jacques GERVAIS

Born: 2 January 1676, L'Ancienne Lorette, Canada, New France
Died: 3 July 1754 , Charlesbourg, Québec, Canada, New France

Married: Marie-Madeleine DASSYLVA 15 November 1700 Place: Québec, Canada, New France

Jacques GERVAIS

Born: February 1677, L'Ancienne Lorette, Canada, New France
Died: 7 November 1708, Montréal, Canada, New France

Married: Louise VANDANDAIGUE 17 November 1704 Place: Beauport, Québec, Canada, New France

Pierre GERVAIS

Born: 15 January 1679, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Canada, New France
Died: 1 August 1739, , Québec Province, Canada

Jean-Baptiste GERVAIS

Born: 3 February 1683, Charlesbourg, Québec, Canada, New France
Died: 13 February 1750, La Prairie, Canada, New France

Married: Anne LEFEBVRE 1706 Place: La Prairie, 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.

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René GERVAIS - Title Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis

Title Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie
Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie, Cyprien Tanguay
Author Cyprien Tanguay
Published 1871
Original from Oxford University
Digitized Jun 9, 2006
Page 265

1656 - The pendulum clock is invented (Christiaan Huygens, Netherlands)

1666 - Isaac Newton discovers gravity

1669 Marriage / Partner
René GERVAIS and Marie JOUSSELOT 10 November 1669, Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City)

1672 Birth of Child
Marguerite GERVAIS was born 3 July 1672, Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City)

1673 Birth of Child
Antoinette-Étiennette GERVAIS was born 24 November 1673 , Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City)

1676 Birth of Child
Jacques GERVAIS was born 2 January 1676, L'Ancienne Lorette, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation)

1677 Birth of Child
Jacques GERVAIS was born February 1677, L'Ancienne Lorette, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation)

1679 Birth of Child
Pierre GERVAIS was born 15 January 1679, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Québec, Canada

1681 Canadian Census Petite Auvergne

Rene Gervais, macon, 31
Marie Jousselot, sa femme, 31
enfants:
Antoinette, 8
Jacques, 6
Jacques, 4
Pierre, 2

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

1683 Birth of Child
Jean-Baptiste GERVAIS was born 3 February 1683, Charlesbourg, Québec, Québec, Canada (Bourg Royal)

1694 Death

Died at Hotel-Dieu de Quebec, Quebec, QC, Canada

Source / record details
Familysearch.org. Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection) (Mormon Genealogy Records).
The French In North America: 1500-1783

RECORD HISTORY