Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE

Born

7 May 1739 , Chambly, Canada, New France

Died

7 May 1795 , Beloeil, Lower Canada

Parents & Family of Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE

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Parents

Laurent-Louis VIAU dit LESPÉRANCE Marie-Charlotte DESNOYERS

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Born: 7 May 1739 in Chambly, Canada, New France

Father: Laurent-Louis VIAU dit LESPÉRANCE

Mother: Marie-Charlotte DESNOYERS

Paternal grandparents: Michel VIAU , Helene CHARLES LAJEUNESSE

Maternal grandparents: Jean DESNOYERS dit DESMARAIS , Thérèse MENARD

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

Laurent married Marguerite BROUILLETTE 26 January 1761 in Chambly, Canada . The couple had (at least) 2 children.
Marguerite BROUILLETTE was born 14 March 1739 in Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly). Marguerite died 12 October 1809 in Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly). Marguerite was the child of Pierre BROUILLET and Marguerite LEFORT.

Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE died 7 May 1795 in Beloeil, Lower Canada .
Details of the family tree of Laurent appear below.

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 - What is a 'dit/dite' name? When the first settlers came to Québec from France it was a custom to add a 'dit' nickname to the surname. The English translation of 'dit' is 'said'. The Colonists of Nouvelle France added 'dit' names as distinguishers. A settler might have wanted to differentiate their family from their siblings by taking a 'dit' name that described the locale to which they had relocated. The acquiring of a 'dit' name might also be the result of a casual adoption, whereby the person wanted to honor the family who had raised them. Another reason was also to distinguish themselves by taking as a 'dit' name the town or village in France from which they originated. This custom ended around 1900 when people began using only one name, either the 'dit' nickname or their original surname.

Source: American-French Genealogical Society, Woonsocket, Rhode Island (www.afgs.org/ditnames/index1.html)

The Definitive Guide for Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors in 2025

Spouse & Children of Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE

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Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE married

Marguerite BROUILLETTE
Marriage date: 26 January 1761
Marriage place: Chambly, Canada
Marguerite BROUILLETTE was the child of Pierre BROUILLET and Marguerite LEFORT

Children of Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE and Marguerite BROUILLETTE

Joseph VIAU

Born: 12 March 1772, Chambly, Province of Québec, Canada
Died: 3 May 1837, Chambly, Lower Canada

Married: Marie-Marthe GRISE dite VILLEFRANCHE 14 March 1804 Place: Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly)

Antoine VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE

Born: abt. 1772, , Québec Province, Canada
Died: ,

Married: Josephte DEMERS 10 November 1794 Place: Longueuil, Québec, Canada (Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil)

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Birth — 1739
7 May 1739
Chambly, Canada, New France

1753 - The lightning rod is invented (Benjamin Franklin, United States)

1761 Marriage / Partner
Laurent VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE and Marguerite BROUILLETTE 26 January 1761, Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly)

He was 21 years old.

1763 - France cedes its North American posessions to Britain by the Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years War (French and Indian War). Quebec City French-speaking Catholics were now under the rule of Protestant Britain under King George III.

1772 Birth of Child
Joseph VIAU was born 12 March 1772, Chambly, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly)

Laurent was 32 years old.

1775 - The Battle of Québec was fought on December 31 between the American Continental Army and British defenders of Québec City. It was the first major defeat for the Americans in the Revolutionary War.

1784 - The bifocal lens is invented (Benjamin Franklin, United States)

The oil lamp is invented (Aimé Argand, Switzerland)

1791 - The Constitutional Act divides Québec into Upper and Lower Canada

1793 - The cotton gin is invented (Eli Whitney, United States)

1794 Marriage of Child
Antoine VIAU dit L'ESPÉRANCE married 10 November 1794, Longueuil, Québec, Canada (Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil) to Josephte DEMERS