Michel LEMAY dit LE POUDRIER
1659

"On 16 June 1659, Michel Lemay married Marie Dutaut (Duteau) at La Magdeleine, near Trois-Rivieres. Father Rene Menard, S. J., blessed the union. Marie was born at LaRochelle in 1640 and her story is worth telling: It is described by Gabriel Debien in these words, "On 16 April 1658 Jeanne Perrin, wife of Pierre Dutaut, a porter of LaRochelle, and with his permission, indentured herself for 5 years at 50 livres per year, to Jacques de la Poterie of Quebec. This contract was made through his agent, Pierre Denis. Jeanne Perrin-Dutaut departed with her daughter Madeleine, age 9 years." This is not all, because, according to the manifest of the ship Prince Guillaume, on that same day, the sixteen-year-old son of Jeanne, one Charles Dutaut, signed a 3 year contract of service, as did his 19 year old sister, Marie, before Notary Teuleron. Up until this time, no trace of the father! It is Archange Godbout who has the last word: "As for the father, one knows not for what reason, he remained at LaRochelle. He died there a few months later at the age of 53 years, leaving a daughter, Marie, issue of a former marriage with Marthe Renaudin." Bersyl tells us that Jeanne Perrin left no trace of herself in New France."

Source: OUR FRENCH-CANADIAN ANCESTORS BY THOMAS J. LAFOREST, Volume II



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