Jean  GUYON

'JEAN GUYON WAS BAPTIZED AT SAINT-AUBIN DE TOUROUVRE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1592, A CENTURY AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. HIS GODFATHERS WERE JEAN COLLIN AND PIERRE DOLINET AND HIS GODMOTHER CATHERINE GODDIN. JEAN GREW UP AT TOUROUVRE, ATTENDED SCHOOL, LEARNED A TRADE AND PREPARED THE FOUNDATION FOR HIS HOME. ON MAY 18, 1614, AT THE AGE OF 22, HE LENT TO PANTALEON BIGOT, A LABORER AT AUTHEUIL, A SMALL VILLAGE TO THE SOUTHEAST OF TOUROUVRE (THE SMALL VILLAGE OF ROBERT GIFFARD), AN AMOUNT CONSISTING OF 'A SMALL PISTOLET D'OR, FIFTY-TWO SOLS IN COINS, QUARTS D'ECUS AND OTHER MONNAIE BLANCHE', VALUED AT 84 LIVRES. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS TRADE AS A MASON ALREADY ALLOWED HIM TO HAVE SOME SAVINGS.'

SOURCE: OUR FRENCH-CANADIAN ANCESTORS BY THOMAS J. LAFOREST

DION - alteration of Guyon, a diminutive of Guy, which comes from the Germanic 'Wido' from the root 'wid' which means 'wood'. Or again, agglutination of the nickname given to one who comes from Ion or Yon, either D'Ion or D'Yon.

Jean Guion-Guyon was born on September 18, 1592 in Tourouvre, France. Son of Jacques Guyon, local notable, and Marie Huet. He married Mathurine Robin on June 2, 1615 in Saint-Jean and Saint-Malo de Mortagne, France. His main profession is master mason and enjoys an excellent reputation. He was also a colonizer, carpenter, notary and wrote the first marriage contract in the country. Nine children were born from their union. Lord Robert Giffard recruits him in France to clear and populate his stronghold. Jean then bore the title of 'Sieur du Buisson' name of the fief received. They arrived in the country on June 4, 1634. He owned two thousand acres of land. He died on May 30, 1663 in Beauport and his wife had died on April 17, 1672 in Beauport.

GUYON DU BUISSON, JEAN (senior), master mason, pioneer at Beauport; baptized 18 Sept. 1592 at Tourouvre (Orne, France), son of Jacques and Marie Guyon; m. 2 June 1615 Mathurine Robin; d. 30 May 1663.

On 14 March 1634, at Mortagne, Guyon and his fellow-countryman Cloutier signed an undertaking with Robert Giffard. Guyon settled at Beauport that year with his wife and most of their children, of whom there were at least eight. When he received from Giffard an arriere-fief near the Rivière du Buisson, he assumed that nobiliary surname. Several of his descendants now bear the name Dion.

Honorius Provost

'In particular, Giffard met with Jean Guyon, master mason and Zacharie Cloutier, master carpenter and presented his plans to them. Come with me to New France with each of your children for a period of three years: 'you will cut, clear and farm the lands and the woods of my seigneurie of Beauport'... This of Beauport on March 14, 1634. Guyon was promised 1,000 arpents of land with hunting and fishing rights. During the first three years, all of his expenses would be paid by the seigneur. The commitment was signed on Saint-Jean-Baptiste day. Also, in 1636, Giffard will pay the expenses for the family members, who stayed in France to come here. Several other conditions and advantages were signed in the presence of the notary, such as Roussel, Giffard, Damien Chamboy, Jean Pousset and Jean Guyon.'

'...The Guyon family, at the last minute, decided to go to New France in 1634. Together, they wanted to share the risks, the hardships and the joys of such an adventure. We know that,

30 May 1663
Jean Guion
Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Quebec, Canada