Le Messager des descendants de Nicolas Perrot volume 2, no 3 – november 2008 (english version) 1595, rue Piette, Joliette (Quebec), J6E 3W3 Summary A word from the President page 1 The wedding of Nicolas page 3 A coat of arms for the Association page 5 Therese Perrault-DeGuire page 6 The three panels from Nicolas-Perrot Hall page 7 Portrait : Pierre Perreault page 10 A bit of genealogy page 12 A word from the president To underline the 400th anniversary of the French presence in America, we took part last September, together with the City of Becancour, in a commemoration of shared memory sites. Indeed, the city of Becancour had decided to rename the local community centre as «salle Nicolas Perrot» and we unveiled three display panels illustrating the life and work of our ancestor, from his departure from Darcey in Burgundy to establishing himself in Becancour where he died in 1717. The text of these three panels are presented in this edition of the Messager. In the name of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank the mayor, Maurice Richard and the Becancour city council who responded to our request and warmly received us September 21 last. I must also thank the Caisses Populaires Desjardins of Kildare and Godefroy for their financial support. A warm thank you as well to Association Quebec-France their Mauricie reginal office who contributed to making this event a success. The annual get-together which subsequently took place at the auberge Godefroy was marked by two very emotional moments : the presence of Nicolas and Madeleine Raclos and the rendition of the song Metaminens by Manon Vincent accompanied by Sylvie Boudreau at the piano. (continued on page 2) <<< photo - Standing, from left to right: Michel Godefroy (Andre Clement Perreault), Perrine Picote de Belêtre, wife of Michel (Chantal Perreault), Claude Perreault, Therese Perrault-DeGuire, Maurice Richard, mayor of Becancour, and Margot Bolduc, vice-president of Association Quebec-France; in front, Madeleine Raclos (Suzanne Marier) and Nicolas Perrot (Donald Racine) - photo by Jean-Pierre Perreault >>> NOTICE We’re always looking for old family photos, anecdotes, or picture of a descendant of Nicolas Perrot who has distinguished him/herself in some sector or other to highlight in our PORTRAIT pages and a new section which will be added, entitled AMONG OURSELVES. Website : www.nicolasperrot.org Email: claude.perreault43@videotron.ca 1 <--- page 2 ---> A word from the president (continued) This day closed with a quickly held General Assembly. Two persons are leaving the Board after many years of volunteer work : Nicole and Therese. On behalf of the Board, I wish to extend my thanks to them. You will be missed. The General Assembly ratified the nomination of Chantal Perreault to the position of vice-president (2-year mandate) and of Yves Perreault to the position of secretary (one-year mandate). At the end, 3 seats on the Board were still vacant. At the last Board meeting held in Joliette on October 15, Jean-Marie Perreault of Victoriaville was appointed to Director position no 2 (2-year mandate). Steps are underway to fill the remaining two vacant seats. As to the next get-together of the descendants of Nicolas Perrot in 2009, this will take place in Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, in the Lanaudiere region. More details of this event will be available in the next issue of the Messager. Also, the Board would like to determine what facilities are available to the Association to assist in planning ahead for future annual get-togethers. Municipalities or cities interested in eventually hosting our Association should direct proposals to the Secretariat, making particular reference to : - Available meeting places (capacity, catering, other services available) - An estimate of Nicolas Perrot descendants in the municipality and surrounding area) - Persons in the neighbourhood willing to help out with the preparations for the event. Claude Perreault President <<< photo: Nicolas-Perrot Hall - photo by Chantal Perreault >>> <<< photo: Nicolas and Madeleine - photo by Chantal Perreault >>> 2 <--- page 3 ---> THE WEDDING OF NICOLAS Andre Clement Perreault The original marriage contract between Nicolas and Madeleine has never been found. We know of its existence because of an entry in the greffe (clerical record) of notary Guillaume de LaRue of Champlain, and a note discovered in the fonds Verreau (papers of Father H. A. Verreau, chair of History at Laval University) in the Quebec Seminary archives. This is a partial transcription which is reproduced here. <<< image : note from the Verreau fonds >>> translation of the note : « Nicolas "Perrot", son of Francois Perrot and of Marie Sivot, his mother and father, living and residing in Davray, Bishopric of Autun, and upstanding girl Magdeleine Raclos, daughter of Sieur Bon Raclot and upstanding woman Marie Viennot, his wife, her father and mother / On the part of said Perrot, Etienne Pezard La Touche, Seigneur, and Magdeleine Mullois, his wife, Master Morin, parish priest, Pierre Artault, Sieur de la Tour, juge ordinaire of said place, Rene Beaudoin / On the part of the future wife, Sieur Bon Raclos, her father, upstanding girl, Francoise and Marie Raclos, his daughters, Sieur Lous Tetreau. » Note the error, "Davray" instead of Darcey, which confounded researchers for many years, making it difficult to locate the parish of origin of Nicolas. 3 <--- page 4 ---> All indications are that the marriage ceremony would have taken place in Champlain. This seigneurie had been conceded to Etienne Pezard (de) La Tousche, on August 8, 1664. As it happens, there would have been a wooden chapel on that property since at least the month of October 1665, and doubtless that is where Nicolas and Madeleine were married. But no parish register from before 1679 has survived, and construction of a stone church would not have started before 1697. The presumed signatories Pezard was a career military man and wasted no time in erecting a stockade around his property and the chapel, which measured, in French "feet", 55 long by 25 large (approximately 60 by 27 in English feet). The site became known as Fort La Tousche, or Fort La Tousche-Champlain. No trace of that stockade exists today because of progressive erosion of the Saint-Lawrence shoreline. It is thought that the site of the fort may be submerged in the river roughly 7 arpents (1/4 of a mile) offshore, following a straight line along Lefrançois avenue in Champlain, since this would have been the southwest boundary of the property. No archaeological dig has ever been attempted. Master Morin would be none other than Germain Morin, the first Canadian-born priest, and the brother of Marie Morin, herself the first Canadian-born hospitaler nun of the Hôtel-Dieu of Montreal, and author of the annals of her community under the title « Histoire simple and veritable de l’établissement des religieuses hospitalières de Ville-Marie » (The simple and true story of the establishment of the hospitaler nuns in Ville-Marie). Germain was born January 14, 1642, in Quebec City, son of Noël Morin and Helene Desportes. He became a priest in 1665, was named secretary to Mgr De Laval, and from 1669, would serve as missionnary priest to several parishes including Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre and Neuville. Pierre Artault, sieur de La Tour, is a somewhat obscure individual. He may have arrived in Quebec City on September 14, 1665, either on the vessel Justice or the Saint-Sebastien, being part of the Saint-Ours company of the Carignan regiment. On June 10, 1670, in Champlain, he is witness to the marriage of his sergeant, Jacques Baby. In any case, he seems to have become Pezard's trusted companion to have earned the position of “juge ordinaire” of the seigneurie. Rene Beaudoin had already wed Marie Raclos. Their marriage contract, dated October 12, 1671, was drawn up by Romain Becquet, royal notary and secretary to the Conseil Souverain (Sovereign Council) in Quebec City. It is possible that Rene and Marie could have been married in Quebec City, but more likely that they would have preferred to be wed at Champlain, sourrounded by family and friends. Marie's sisters, accompanied by their father, Idebon (or Ildebon) Raclos, would thus have gone upriver to Trois-Rivieres to find suitable husbands for Françoise and Madeleine among Rene's entourage. Time was of the essence since Idebon must return to Quebec City before the river freezes to take the last ship back to France. The presence of Idebon in the house of Guillaume de Larue, that November 11, 1671, seems evident judging by the phrase « De la part de la future epouse, le sieur Bon Raclos, son pere... ». Louis Tetreau was wed to Noëlle Landeau whose first husband, Jean Beaudoin, brother of Rene, had died in 1662. Which meant he was brother-in-law to Rene and Marie Raclos. On September 27, 1671, Rene had bought a concession (2 arpents by 40) in the Champlain seigneurie from Louis Pinard, the local doctor. This property had previously been conceded to Louis Tetreault, on March 17, 1665. Louis had cleared the land and had sold it in 1668; this was the way he made his fortune, buying and developing new concessions. Françoise Raclos would sign, a few weeks later, a marriage contract with Michel David, son of Claude David, drawn up by La Rue in Champlain, in Rene and Marie's house, "avant midi" (before noon), on December 2, 1671. As fate would have it, we have almost the complete text of this contract, which provides us with a good example of what the contract between Nicolas and Madeleine would have looked like. The text will be published in the next issue of the Messager. sources: * Viger-Verreau fonds : www.mcq.org/fr/complexe/craf_fonds/craf_fonds.php?idEv=w518 * Champlain seigneurie : Jean-Pierre Chartier, Fiefs and seigneurie de Champlain ,une approche geographique et chronologique de l'evolution de l'espace champlainois, Montreal, Histoire Quebec, 2005 * Carignan regiment: www.migrations.fr/Leregimentcarignan.htm 4 <--- page 5 ---> A COAT OF ARMS for the Association of descendants of Nicolas Perrot The last General Assembly adopted a motion to authorise the Board to take steps during 2008-2009 to petition for a specific coat of arms to be granted to the Association of Descendants of Nicolas Perrot. To further this project, here are the main steps in the process which must be undertaken with the Canadian Heraldic Authority: Grants of armorial bearings are honours from the Canadian Crown. They provide recognition for contributions that Canadian individuals and corporate bodies make in Canada and elsewhere. All Canadian citizens or corporate bodies (municipalities, schools, societies, associations, institutions, etc.) may petition to receive a grant of armorial bearings. Such petition must be addressed to the Chief herald of Canada stating the wish to receive armorial bearings from the Canadian Crown under the powers exercised by the Governor General. A grant of armorial bearings, as an honour, recognizes the contribution made to the community by the petitioner. The background information is therefore an important tool for the Chief herald of Canada to assess the eligibility of the request. On the recommendation of the Chief herald of Canada, the herald Chancellor signs a warrant authorizing a grant of armorial bearings. An invoice for the processing fee is then sent to the petitioner. There are three main stages in the grant process: - the creation of a written description - the preparation of a preliminary design - the production of the official letters patent. Once the processing fee has been paid, the herald, a specialist in the field of emblematic design, begins work with the petitioner to determine the elements of a possible design, which must follow the rules of heraldry. After the written description of the armorial bearings has been approved by the Chief Herald of Canada, it is sent to the petitioner for acceptance. After the written description has been approved, a contract is signed between the petitioner and one of the Authority's artists, who then prepares preliminary artwork. This preliminary design is reviewed by Fraser Herald, the Authority's principal artist, approved by the Chief Herald of Canada, and sent to the petitioner for approval. The third stage involves the preparation of the grant document. Called letters patent, this official document includes the final artistic illustration of the armorial bearings accompanied by a legal text. It is signed by the appropriate officials, and the seal of the Canadian heraldic Authority is applied to it. The average time required to complete a grant is 12 to 14 months after the warrant has been signed. The proposed armorial bearings must satisfy both the petitioner and the Chief herald of Canada. For more information regarding the process and for a sample coat of arms, you may consult the web site of the Gouvernor General of Canada, heraldry page, at the following address: http://www.gg.ca/heraldry/pg/index_e.asp Claude Perreault President 5 <--- page 6 ---> THERESE PERRAULT-DEGUIRE <<< photo: Therese and Yann Perreau - 2007 photo by Michel Perreault >>> METAMINENS : the CD In 2007, Therese Perrault DeGuire, artist and poet, had penned a hymn to the memory of our ancestor, Nicolas Perrot. This poem was recited during the 2007 get-together by Yann Perreau. In 2008, Therese and her collaborators, Sylvie Boudreau, well-known pianist, and Manon Vincent, author-singer-songwriter, put the finishing touches on a project that has long been close to her heart. Manon adapted a few of the stanzas of the poem while retaining the essence of the wording and Sylvie added an arrangement for them. Here is the result. <<< image : cover of Metaminens CD case >>> For more information or to obtain a copy of the CD, please contact the Secretariat of the Association at 450-755-1552. Tribute to a great lady Just a note to pay tribute to a great lady, Therese Perrault-DeGuire, a close relative for whom I am full of admiration for what she has accomplished these many years. Because she is passionate about genealogy, she has succeeded in spreading the news about this great family of ours, always with great respect for historical accuracy. Her surprising tenacity as well as her untiring involvement make her a worthy descendant in the image of Nicolas Perrot. If the time has come for her to rest awhile, she remains an important link in this wondrous human chain. We can be proud both of her and her accomplishments. With much affection, Marguerite S. Charron <<< photo : from left to right : Madeleine Raclos (Suzanne Marier), Nicolas Perrot (Donald Racine), Christyane Perrault-DeGuire, Therese Perrault-DeGuire, Claude Perreault - photo by Jean-Marie Perreault >>> 6 <--- pages 7,8,9 ---> <<< images of the display panels unveiled at the September 21 ceremony re-christening the local community centre in Becancour as the Nicolas-Perrot Hall >>> 9 <--- page 10 ---> PORTRAIT : Pierre Perreault (1923 – 1988) - Mayor of Vankleek Hill, Ontario (1971 – 1978) <<< photo of Pierre Perreault - from private collection of Jean-Pierre Perreault >>> Born June 21, 1923, in Vankleek Hill, he would always live on Stanley street, where he was born and raised. Son of Alexandre Perreault and Isabelle Lamoureux, he married Jane Sauve on November 12, 1942. A daughter, Therese, was born on January 25, 1944, followed by a son, Jean-Pierre, on April 19, 1945. Both children would become teachers: Therese Hoffman in L'Orignal and Jean-Pierre Perreault at the Casselman High School. At the end of his teens, he worked for, among others, Intercity Lumber, then owned by Dr Kelly of Hawkesbury, and also in the lumber camps of Lost River and Morin Heights in Quebec province. On August 17, 1944, he started work in Kilmar, Quebec for Canadian Refractories Ltd. He had to be hospitalised in the spring of 1948, suffering from blood poisoning in the patella, evidently a consequence of the chemical products he handled in the laboratory where he worked. When the company established a new plant in Marelan (Quebec) in 1953, Pierre Perreault was transferred to the new research lab where he did quality control of refractory products. The union representative 1953 was also the beginning of his union career when he obtained the position of secretary-treasurer of the Magnesite Workers Union, collecting 70% of the vote; this union was then affiliated with the Syndicat des Travailleurs Canadiens (Canadian Workers Union). The following year, the workers in that plant would come under the United Metal Workers, local 6213. From 1954 to 1984, he would work tirelessly to negotiate every collective agreement. He actively supported the troubles in Murdochville in Gaspe, brandishing the union poster along with the striking miners. At that time, 1954-1955, Pierre Elliot Trudeau sided with the metalworkers. In 1961, Pierre Perreault took part in the general congress for this union held in Vancouver. Over the years, he made many such trips for the union, always accompanied by his wife. Life in Politics Then came a long period of political involvement which would leave an imprint on life in Vankleek Hill, from 1967 to 1985, some 18 intensely felt years. Pierre Perreault was first elected in 1967 as First councilman. Already, he felt he could collect a voting majority. At that time Sidney Siversky was the reigning mayor of Vankleek Hill. Re-elected councilman for a second mandate in 1969, Pierre Perreault became mayor in 1971, supported by an imposing majority of the electorate. 10 <--- page 11 ---> <<< photo : Pierre Perreaulat greeting Pierre Elliot Trudeau in 1978 >>> There followed seven years as mayor, with a somewhat impressive set of accomplishments: reconstruction of the Vankleek Hill community centre, completion of the storm sewer connections, acquisition of a truck used for snow-plowing, opening a new dumpsite, celebrating the centenary of Vankleek Hill in 1978, enhanced by the presence of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau on opening day. We should also mention a new subdivision of 154 lots, construction of affordable housing, a new plan of Vankleek Hill with proper numbering of houses, traffic lights at the central crossroads of the village... the list goes on and on. With much regret he had to leave active politics in 1978 after devoting seven years as mayor. His diabetes was starting to give him problems. But he nevertheless promised to be back in 1980. He kept his promise, and in December 1980, he was unanimously elected councilman. Even in this role, there were several more accomplishments: moving the public library, purchase of a fire truck (1983) and an access ramp for paraplegics in front of City Hall. The irony was that he would himself become a user of the ramp because of amputations he would endure in the following years. He had to retire from political life during the elections of 1985, definitely this time, to go through a leg amputation. So passed into memory a fertile period in the political history of Vankleek Hill. Summing up a life Is it not symbolic that a politician of such stature was buried on November 14, 1988, a day of municipal elections? Some five hundred persons stopped by to pay their respects to the body of Pierre Perreault between November 12 and 14, and some three hundred mourners took part in the funeral on that Monday, November 14. Why were so many people touched by this man? Firstly because Pierre Perreault had succeeded, with his well-known generosity, in garnering a large circle of friends and his many years of political activity had made him renowned and respected by many. Pierre Perreault, one-time mayor of Vankleek Hill, had died on Friday morning, November 11, struck down by a heart attack. During his last three years, his diabetes was creating complications and they had to amputate both legs. Strengthened by inordinate courage, he still managed to get around proudly with the help of two prostheses. Since June, after his 65th birthday, he seemed to be getting healthier and he would move about jauntily. His sudden death was a shock to all who loved and respected him. Many had come to appreciate the talents of this councillor but all who knew him were able to recognize the generosity, dignity and honestry of this remarkable man. To this day, on the edge of Vankleek Hill, a street proudly carries his name: Perreault street. <<< photo : Perreault street sign : photo by sue valiquette >>> Written by Jean-Pierre Perreault 11 <--- page 12 ---> A BIT OF GENEALOGY Nicolas Perrot and Marie-Madeleine Raclos November 11, 1671, Champlain | Pierre Perrault and Marie-Anne Lescarbot April 26, 1718, Saint-Sulpice | Nicolas Perrault and Madeleine Rivest January 25, 1751, Saint-Sulpice | Pierre Perrault and Isabelle Brien-Desrochers September 29, 1789, L'Assomption | Louis Perrault and Marguerite Payet-Saint-Amour February 24, 1820, Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan | Jean-Baptiste Perrault and Obeline Lavigne dit Poudrette May 3, 1858, Rigaud | Ronnel Perreault and Marie-Louise Beaulne October 18, 1880, Saint-Eugene | Alexandre Perreault and Isabelle Lamoureux January 7, 1916, Vankleek Hill (Ontario) | Pierre Perreault and Jane Sauve November 12, 1942, Vankleek Hill (Ontario) | Therese Perreault Jean-Pierre Perreault NEW MEMBERS 120 Perreault, Claude Saint-Liguori 121 Pauze, Lucille Saint-Liguori 122 Perreault, Jean-Marie Victoriaville 123 Pare, Yoland Montreal 124 Filion, Isabelle Ste-Anne-des-Plaines 125 Perreault, Richard Warwick 126 Perreault, Douglas Riverview (Florida) 127 Perreault, Julie Riverview (Florida) -------------------------------------------------- | The newsletter editorial staff | | | | Andre Clement Perreault [ nicolas > claude ] | | Lisette David [ nicolas > claude ] | | | | email: acp00@aserty.com | -------------------------------------------------- Board of Directors 2008-2009 President : Claude Perreault Vice-president : Chantal Perreault Treasurer : Albert Perreault Secretary : Yves Perreault Director 1 : Serge Perreault Director 2 : Jean-Marie Perreault Director 3 : vacant Director 4 : vacant Director 5 : Andre C. Perreault As you'll no doubt have noticed, there are two vacant seats on the Board. All members interested in being on the Board are asked to contact Claude Perreault at 450-755-1552, or by email: claude.perreault43@videotron.ca <<< photo : Monument in back of the church Nativite-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie in Becancour photo by Jean-Marie Perreault >>> Inscription : HOMMAGE A NICOLAS PERROT / INHUME A BECANCOUR LE 13 NOV. 1717 / PRINCIPAL INSTIGATEUR DE L'ALLIANCE / ENTRE LES NATIONS INDIENNES DE L'OUEST / ET LES FRANÇAIS ( In homage to Nicolas Perrot / intered at Becancour on Nov. 13, 1717 / main instigator of the alliance / between Western Indian nations / and the French ) <--- end of document --->