Adrienne Du Vivier
Encyclopedia
Adrienne Du Vivier was a French pioneer and one of the first white women to settle in the colony of Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. She and her husband are often referred to as "Montreal's First Citizens."
, Picardy
, France
, a daughter of Antoine Du Vivier and Catherine Journe.
In 1646, in St. Bartholemi, Paris
, at the age of twenty, she married a soldier Augustin Hébert (1623 – 23 November 1653) who had just returned from Canada. He was a son of Guillaume Hébert and Marguerite Meunier of Caen
, Normandy
. In 1647, their first child Jeanne was born and baptised in St. Bartholemi, Paris.
At the end of the year, Adrienne, her husband and baby Jeanne sailed from La Rochelle
to New France
along with the founder of Montreal Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
. They arrived at Montreal Island, in early 1648, and they settled in Montreal, which was then called Ville-Marie. Adrienne was one of the few white women in the colony apart from Jeanne Mance
who had founded a hospital with a group of nuns.
Early in 1649, she had another daughter, Pauline, who was the first white child baptised in Montreal. Maisonneuve stood as godfather, Jeanne Mance was godmother. The child died a few weeks later.
Augustin and Adrienne were deeded a huge parcel of land on the island. Augustin was a fur-trader, merchant, farmer and master-mason. He often traded with the Iroquois
Indians. He and Adrienne had four children, of whom three reached adulthood. Adrienne and her husband were the first colonists to enroll an indentured servant
otherwise known as an engagé.
(died 28 July 1699). By Lecavelier, she had four children. They are listed on the 1666 Montreal Census.
Adrienne died on 20 October 1706 at the age of eighty. She was buried in Notre Dame de Montreal
. She has numerous descendants in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her name is engraved on the Pioneers Obelisk along with other Montreal pioneers in the city's Place d'Youville, commissioned by the Historical Society of Montreal.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She and her husband are often referred to as "Montreal's First Citizens."
Arrival in Montreal
Adrienne was born in 1626 in CorbenyCorbeny
Corbeny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:The river Ailette flows southward through the northwestern part of the commune....
, Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a daughter of Antoine Du Vivier and Catherine Journe.
In 1646, in St. Bartholemi, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, at the age of twenty, she married a soldier Augustin Hébert (1623 – 23 November 1653) who had just returned from Canada. He was a son of Guillaume Hébert and Marguerite Meunier of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. In 1647, their first child Jeanne was born and baptised in St. Bartholemi, Paris.
At the end of the year, Adrienne, her husband and baby Jeanne sailed from La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
to New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
along with the founder of Montreal Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
Paul de Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve was a French military officer and the founder of Montreal.- Early career :...
. They arrived at Montreal Island, in early 1648, and they settled in Montreal, which was then called Ville-Marie. Adrienne was one of the few white women in the colony apart from Jeanne Mance
Jeanne Mance
Jeanne Mance was a French settler of New France. She was one of the founders of Montreal who secured its survival and was the founder and head of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal.-Origins:...
who had founded a hospital with a group of nuns.
Early in 1649, she had another daughter, Pauline, who was the first white child baptised in Montreal. Maisonneuve stood as godfather, Jeanne Mance was godmother. The child died a few weeks later.
Augustin and Adrienne were deeded a huge parcel of land on the island. Augustin was a fur-trader, merchant, farmer and master-mason. He often traded with the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
Indians. He and Adrienne had four children, of whom three reached adulthood. Adrienne and her husband were the first colonists to enroll an indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
otherwise known as an engagé.
Second marriage
In 1653, her husband Augustin died. His goods and property were transferred to her and she became one of Montreal's largest landowners. Adrienne married secondly 19 November 1654, Robert Lecavelier, a gunsmith from Cherbourg, NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
(died 28 July 1699). By Lecavelier, she had four children. They are listed on the 1666 Montreal Census.
Adrienne died on 20 October 1706 at the age of eighty. She was buried in Notre Dame de Montreal
Notre-Dame Church (Montreal)
-History:In 1657, the Roman Catholic Sulpician Order arrived in Ville-Marie, now known as Montreal. The parish they founded was dedicated to Mary, and the parish church of Notre-Dame was built between 1672 and 1682...
. She has numerous descendants in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her name is engraved on the Pioneers Obelisk along with other Montreal pioneers in the city's Place d'Youville, commissioned by the Historical Society of Montreal.
List of children
- Jeanne Hébert (1647 Paris, France – 25 March 1687 Montreal, Canada). Married 7 March 1660 in Montreal, Jacques Milot (1632, Crouzille, Le MansLe MansLe Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, France – 15 August 1699, Montreal), by whom she had eleven children, including Catherine Milot, whose youngest son, Joseph, by her second marriage to voyageur Jean Joffrion, settled in LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and married Jeanne Marie Rabalais, by whom he had issue. Their direct line continues to this day (2011). - Pauline Hébert (16 January 1649 Montreal – 28 January 1649)
- Leger Hébert (19 April 1650 Montreal – 28 April 1719) St. Francois-du-Lac, Canada). Married Marguerite Gamelin (b. 1664), by whom he had 13 children, at least seven of whom survived childhood. Leger's direct line continues to this day (2011).
- Ignace Hébert (28 October 1652 Montreal – 25 July 1722 Varennes, Canada). Married firstly Jeanne Messier, by whom he had four sons. Married secondly Thèrése Choquette, by whom he had another four children.
- Marie Madeleine Lecavelier (1657 Montreal – 13 December 1716). Married Antoine Forestier (1646-1717)
- Jean Baptiste Lecavelier (b. 1659 Montreal). Married Anne La Marque (7 July 1648- 1686), by whom he had issue.
- Louis Michel Lecavelier (b. 1664 Montreal).
- Pierre Lecavelier (b. 1662 Montreal). He is presumed to have died young.
External links
- AugustinAdrieenHebert page at myerchin.org