Marie-Marguerite ANTHIAUME
Biography

"Marguerite Anthiaume wished to try her luck, to discover new horizons unknown, to unite with someone she would choose...she wished to become a kings daughter. M.de Colbert and the Sovereign Council had both specified the subjects, in order to be accepted, would have to be not only hardworking and industrious, but docile. According to the circumstances of the voluntary emigrant, the dowry, taken from the kings money box varied from one hundred to five hundred livres. Marguerite was granted three hundred livres as soon as she would arrive in New France and her signature was on a contract of marriage. That was not all: the carefree daughter was soon in possession of so much riches that she lost her head. Ten livres for the "levee", that is to say a sort of outstanding bonus to honor having been chosen, thirty more livres for new clothes, sixty more for the future voyage! In addition a headdress, a bonnet, a taffeta handkerchief, a pair of stockings, a pair of gloves, a ribbon for shoes, four shoelaces, a thousand pins, a hundred needles, a pair of scissors, two knives, two livres of pocket money and a box to hold it all. And once the ocean was crossed, still more gifts waited her: clothes appropriate for the climate, provisions taken from the stores of the king and foodstuffs from his household representing a value of fifty livres. Plus evidentially, a husband. It was at Dieppe that her father turned her over to Madame la Duegne, title of royal commission, who was to accompany that time, twenty-five kings daughters to New France. The crossing was one of the longest and most difficult that the crew had ever known. One hundred and twelve days! All the group were victims of seasickness and feeling disenchanted. The petty grievances were soon forgotten on arriving in Québec. Twenty-four hours later, the 20th of October 1675, the governor gave a ball in honor of the kings daughters. The 21st of October, Andre Jarret dit Beauregard, a friend of M. de Vercheres, also from Dauphine and in the service of his Majesty, came to find one of the ladies who were presiding at the ball and subtlety arranging the meetings. He asked for the hand of Marguerite Anthiaume.In spite of the happy turn of events and the excellent reputation of the postulant Marguerite refused him. He was poor. She wanted to be rich and possess a drawing room in Québec or to be able to go to Montreal. Nothing was hurrying her. But, when she had refused successively three respectable offers, she was made to understand that it was time to decide. After having surveyed her swarm of suitors, she decided on Antoine de la Jardiere, son of a rich banker and affluent of hopes. Three weeks of engagement were carried on to the evening everyone was hopeful of a signed contract. The fiance did not show up there; he was killed on the way by a band of Iroquois. Mlle. Anthiaume spent six weeks in tears and seclusion. When she reappeared at the fetes, most of the bachelors were no longer single and it was a pain finding a partner for the minuet or the pavane. Only Andre de Beauregard, silent and somber presented himself. Tired of resisting, seeing her treasure disappearing and judging that she would soon be reduced to placing herself as a servant or returning to Saint Nicholas-des-Champs, Marguerite married him on January 12, 1676."

*Translated from: Une Genealogie Fontaine dit Bienvenu et ses descendants: 1668-1991 by Roger R. Fontaine -- from Rootsweb.com



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