Marguerite Barbeau

The Matriarch with an Eventful Past (1674 — 1733)

The first woman to marry a Jubinville in North America lived a life of extraordinary drama. Born in Quebec City on September 3, 1674, she was the eldest of 13 children.

Her mother, Marguerite Hédouin, was a Fille du Roy (King's Daughter) ↗, one of the pioneers sent as part of a program sponsored by King Louis XIV to populate the colony.

1690: First Marriage At age 16, Marguerite married Pierre Gendreau dit LaPoussière. They had two children together in l'Ancienne Lorette.
1695: Tragedy & Scandal Pierre Gendreau died in what was initially thought to be an accident in St-Antoine. Marguerite was a widow at 22.

Mystery: The Gendreau Murder

Historical research reveals a darker truth. In 1696, Jean Denis was found guilty of murdering Pierre Gendreau. His sentence was brutal: to have his limbs broken on the gallows and be tied to a wheel until death.

Marguerite Barbeau herself was accused of being an accessory to the murder. She escaped prison only after her father made a formal representation on her behalf. The actual killer, Jean Denis, escaped justice and was never seen again.

1701 - 1705: The Montreal Years Marguerite moved to Montreal, perhaps fleeing the gossip of Quebec City. During this time, she had two children out of wedlock: Rose (fathered by a soldier named Pierre Jourdain) and Jean-Michel (father unknown).
June 8, 1706: A New Beginning Marguerite married Michel Jubinville dit St-Michel. He was 35; she was 32. This union brought stability to her life, and they settled in the Côte St-Michel area of Montreal island.
1707 - 1719: The Jubinville Children Marguerite and Michel had seven children together. Despite her turbulent youth, she became the foundation of the Jubinville lineage in the New World.

Marguerite Barbeau's story is one of survival and resilience in a harsh, budding colony. Her life connects the King's Daughters, the military outposts of Montreal, and the early legal drama of New France.

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