François BELANGER
Biography

François BÉLANGER (ca 1612 - ca 1686) - Marie GUYON (1624 - 1696)

Pioneer François Bélanger married Marie Guyon this day, July 12th, 1637, at Québec.

François and Marie were joined in matrimony at the same time as Robert Drouin and Anne Cloutier, "the first double marriage ceremony celebrated in Canada."

Like his father-in-law Jean Guyon, Bélanger was a mason. At the same time, his "bold signature denoted a degree of education superior to that of the average settler." He was chosen as mayor of the region of Longue Pointe and became church warden in the parish of Château-Richer. François was also a close associate of the illustrious Olivier Letardif; he became trustee of his affairs and guardian of his minor children at Letardif's death. And after "forty years of struggle and constant work" he became the "Seigneur of Bonsecours (L'Islet)."

François and Marie had twelve children, most of whom married. Their very long list of notable descendants include Alex Trebek, Ricky Gervais, Céline Dion, Gabrielle Roy and Chris Pratt.

[Sources: PRDH; "François Bélanger" Our French-Canadian Ancestors (vol.6, pp.21-30), Jacques Saintonge (Thomas J. Laforest (tr.)), Palm Harbor, Florida, 1988; Les anciennes familles du Québec, Brasserie Labatt limitée, La Brasserie, Québec, Franklin ("Archie") Arbuckle (illustrator), p.13]



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