Guillaume Pelletier
1598-1657
The son of Éloi Pelletier and Françoise Matte, Guillaume was born in 1598, in the former French province of Perche, which borders the provinces of Normandie, Maine, and Beauce. Documents in France from that era, scanned by Mrs. Pierre Montagne, reveal that several Pelletiers lived in Bresolette at the same time, among whom were Mathieu, Jean, and Laurent. Guillaume had only one other brother, Antoine, and he crossed the Atlantic to New France with Guillaume.
Wedding
It was at the Church of Saint-Aubin, in Tourouvre, that "the marraiage of Guillaume Pelletier, of the parish of Bresolette, and Michelle Mabille, daughter of Guillaume of this parrish of Bresolitte, was celebrated on the twelfth day of the aforementioned month and year" -- which is to say, February 1619.
Occupation
Like his father, Guillaume was a coal merchant. An act dated 1630 testifies to this: "Macé Guyot...yields to Jehan Maunoury and to Guillaume Pelletier, coal merchants, living in said Tourouvre, 106 cords of wood for the purpose of making coal. In exchange, Maunoury and Pelletier will deliver 175 coal pipes and will pay four gold coins." From the Jesuit Journal of 1646, he was known in New France as being a "logger, sawyer, carpenter, coalman, etc".
Children
According to the research of P. A. Godbout, Mrs. Pierre Montagne found no more than three children in the Tourouvre archives born to Guillaume Pelletier and Michelle Mabille: Claude, forn February 11, 1622, who was named in honor of his mother's brother and godfather, Claude Mabille; Guillaume, born February 26, 1624; and Jean, born June 12, 1627, whose godparents were Jehan Loyseau and Michelle Bahére, wife of Claude Mabille. In addition to these children, Monsignor Tanguay mentions a daughter, Marie, who apparently married Julien Perreault in 1647. The two eldest children, Claude and Guillaume, apparently died at an early age; we find no further mention of them in the archives. Guillaume and his wife only had one child with them, their youngest son, Jean.
The Gobloteur
Guillaume had a nickname, "Gobloteur," but whether he had this name in France or earned it in Canada, we do not know. The Jesuit Journal of 1646 mentions "the Gobloteur, named Guillaume Pelletier." Use of this byname has not perpetuated to the 21st century, so we must consult the 1762 edition of Trévoux's dictionary, in which we find the word "gobelotor." Coming from the word "gobelot" or goblet," meaning drinking mug, "gobelotor" means one who drinks often and, by extension, one who likes to laugh and sing. The English version of the Jesuit Journal translates "Gobloteur" as "Tippler," or drunkard, about Guillaume, it lacks the French nuances! Instead, we prefer the Trévoux definition, found also in Bélisle's General Dictionary of the French Language in Canada, which recognizes the Gobloteur as a happy man who likes to drink, laugh, and sing! Guillaume passed his byname along to his son, Jean, who in turn transmitted it to some of his descendants. Léon Roy, in his "Terre de l'île d'Orlóns," mentions Jean Pelletier Gobleteux, who owned parcel number fifty-three in the parish of Saint-Pierre. This land, later conveyed to his son René Goubleu was none other than René Pelletier himself, son of Jean Pelletier, nicknamed "Gobloteux." To anyones knowlege, "Gobloteur" is nowhere to be found among the names of Quebec today.
Immigration to New France
Like many of his compatriots, Guillaume came to Canada to answer the call of Lord Robert Giffard, the first professional in the colony to come from that region. Guillaume was most likely hired by one of the Juchereau brothers, either directly or by one of their representatives, Noël and Jean Juchereau, associates of Giffard and members of La Compagnie des Cent-Associés. On March 8, 1641 Guillaume Pelletier and Michelle Mabille, who were residing in La Gazerie, sold a portion of their land to Robert Loyseau, and entered into a five year lease agreement with Jean Rousseau, their brother-in-law, which included "any houses and those rights from the late Guillaume Mabille and Étiennette Monhée, her father and mother, to be in the possession of the said Rousseau during the said time, in consideration of fifteen pounds, which they have already recieved from the said Rousseau and of which payment they discharge him." The context of the act is clear, and it is obvious why the Pelletiers called upon a notary to draw up these provisions: having liquidated all their assets -house, inheritances rights, and titles- they meant to depart. Familial obligations seem to have kept them from settling these matters seener, but Michelle's parents having died, the couple was free to leave with their son, Jean and Guillaume's brother Antoine in 1641.
Hired Hand or Habitant?
Even if Guillaume did not come to New France under contract, evidence indicates that he was at the very least a hired hand, or engagé, commissioned for thirty six months of service. Having arrived in the colony in 1641, it was not until late 1644 that he purchased a parcel of land. Earlier, on April 17 of that year, Lord Robert Giffard had granted a concession measuring six arpents wide to Martin Grouvel, who that autumn, sold the property to Guillaume Pelletier, who in turn gave it to his brother, Antoine; when Antoine died in October 1641, ownership of the land transferred back to Guillaume. It is easy to interpret Guillaumes's actions as those of an engagé who had decided to invest his earnings in some property. It seems, however, that even after this transaction, Guillaume continued on as engagé, as he immedieately gave the land to his brother, instead of settling there himself. It is only after his brother's death in 1647 that Guillaume seems to finally decide to establish himself on his property and, undoubtedly, exploit it himself.
Jack of all Trades
It is easy to believe that, in the beginning, Guillaume worked in the colony as an artisan, as this would have merely been an extension of his occupation in France. His native Bresolettes, let us not forget, was situated in the very heart of an area populated by "coalmen, ironworkers, and loggers." In short, even it it were only by an oral agreement or under a private contract, Guillaume was undoubtedly an engagé, and it is safe to assume that it was in large part because of his expert woodworking skills that he had been recruited. At that time, everything in the colony was still under construction. Speaking only about the Jesuits, we see in their Journal that they were in the process of building a residence and parish church at that time. The Jesuits are a prime example of a group hiring Guillaume for his expertise as an artisan. In any case, the priests seem to have known him particularly well, as their Journal identifies him as a "logger, sawyer, carpenter coalman, etc."
Beauport
In 1647 Guillaume reclaimed possession of his land in the area on Montmorency Falls, which he had given to his brother, Antoine, in 1644. The falls had not favored this younger Pelletier and one might ask if he had dared to tempt fate by getting his little canoe as close to the falls as possible. On October 3, 1647, "Antoine Peltier, brother of Guillaume Peltier the Gobloteur, drowned when his canoe capsized close to his house in Saut de Montmorency." The loss of his brother was undoubtedly difficuld for Guillaume to accept, and even more so for Françoise Morin, whom Antoine had married only two months before, on August 17. Guillaume's property in Beauport, by the Montmorency Falls, consisted of six arpents along the Saint Lawrence River; the Montmorency River limited his concession to thirty four arpents in depth. In fact, because of the particular way in which Lord Giffard had chosen to distribute his concessions, each was limited in the south by the Saint Lawrence and in the north by the Montmorency River. As the two rivers approached to meet at the end of the seigneury, the first concession, closest to the Falls, was only twenty arpents deep. The land of guillaume Pelletier was second, and only extended inland thirty four arpents and the concessions continued this way down the line until reaching the property of Jean Langlois, which was 116 arpents deep. Guillaume did not keep all of his land and by 1655, Jean Mignaux had in his possession two arpents, part of which had been taken from Guillaume's land.
About Guillaume's time at Beauport, little is known. In 1646, his nineteen year old son, Jean, volunteered for service with the Jesuits and probably returned to his father the following year. In 1649, Jean married the young Anne Langlois, after which he settled on his father's property in Beauport. In 1654, Anne presented Guillaume with his first grandson, Noël Pelletier, the first Canadian born descendant of this line of Pelletiers from Tourouvre and two years later Guillaume saw the birth of his first grand -daughter, Anne Pelletier.
A Respected Citizen
Again turning to the Jesuit Journal, we see that on August 9, 1653, Guillaume is named assistant trustee in the Communauté des Habitants de Beauport; the priests spoke of it, mentioning that the group falls under their jurisdiction. This nomination is at once a great honor for Guillaume and an expression of the trust his fellow citizens of Beauport have in him. Thus, Guillaume Pelletier not only served the colony with his masterful woodworking skills, he was also productive, more or less anonymously, by his contributions to the Communauté des Habitants, where he gave freely of himself to further the economic life and policies of the young colony. Moreover, Guillaume was an educated member of his society and, as Mrs. Montagne notes, he had a "good signature," which she has found on a document among the archives in Tourouvre. Finally, Guillaume's knowledge and experience as a former charcoal merchant undoubtedly entitled him to supervise the interests of the Communauté, whose foremost economic activity was to manage the fur trade in New France.
His Death
Four years after his appointment to the Communauté des Habitants, Guillaume Pelletier died at his home in Beauport at the age of 59, and on November 28, 1657, he was buried in Quebec. His widow, Michelle Mabille, died in Beauport and was buried in Quebec eight years later, on January 21, 1665, at the age of 73. At the time of his death, Guillaume did not leave a very large Canadian born progeny; his son Jean, had only given him two grandchildren. However, Jean and his young wife Anne Langlois, eventually added seven children to their family, not counting two who died at birth. All but one of these children were born in the house in Beauport that Jean recieved from his father.
~"Histoire et Généalogie de Guillaume Pelletier 1598-1657 et son fils Jean"~
by Maurice Pelletier, s.j. (Montreal: Société généalogique Canadienne-Française, 1976
1598-1657
The son of Éloi Pelletier and Françoise Matte, Guillaume was born in 1598, in the former French province of Perche, which borders the provinces of Normandie, Maine, and Beauce. Documents in France from that era, scanned by Mrs. Pierre Montagne, reveal that several Pelletiers lived in Bresolette at the same time, among whom were Mathieu, Jean, and Laurent. Guillaume had only one other brother, Antoine, and he crossed the Atlantic to New France with Guillaume.
Wedding
It was at the Church of Saint-Aubin, in Tourouvre, that "the marraiage of Guillaume Pelletier, of the parish of Bresolette, and Michelle Mabille, daughter of Guillaume of this parrish of Bresolitte, was celebrated on the twelfth day of the aforementioned month and year" -- which is to say, February 1619.
Occupation
Like his father, Guillaume was a coal merchant. An act dated 1630 testifies to this: "Macé Guyot...yields to Jehan Maunoury and to Guillaume Pelletier, coal merchants, living in said Tourouvre, 106 cords of wood for the purpose of making coal. In exchange, Maunoury and Pelletier will deliver 175 coal pipes and will pay four gold coins." From the Jesuit Journal of 1646, he was known in New France as being a "logger, sawyer, carpenter, coalman, etc".
Children
According to the research of P. A. Godbout, Mrs. Pierre Montagne found no more than three children in the Tourouvre archives born to Guillaume Pelletier and Michelle Mabille: Claude, forn February 11, 1622, who was named in honor of his mother's brother and godfather, Claude Mabille; Guillaume, born February 26, 1624; and Jean, born June 12, 1627, whose godparents were Jehan Loyseau and Michelle Bahére, wife of Claude Mabille. In addition to these children, Monsignor Tanguay mentions a daughter, Marie, who apparently married Julien Perreault in 1647. The two eldest children, Claude and Guillaume, apparently died at an early age; we find no further mention of them in the archives. Guillaume and his wife only had one child with them, their youngest son, Jean.
The Gobloteur
Guillaume had a nickname, "Gobloteur," but whether he had this name in France or earned it in Canada, we do not know. The Jesuit Journal of 1646 mentions "the Gobloteur, named Guillaume Pelletier." Use of this byname has not perpetuated to the 21st century, so we must consult the 1762 edition of Trévoux's dictionary, in which we find the word "gobelotor." Coming from the word "gobelot" or goblet," meaning drinking mug, "gobelotor" means one who drinks often and, by extension, one who likes to laugh and sing. The English version of the Jesuit Journal translates "Gobloteur" as "Tippler," or drunkard, about Guillaume, it lacks the French nuances! Instead, we prefer the Trévoux definition, found also in Bélisle's General Dictionary of the French Language in Canada, which recognizes the Gobloteur as a happy man who likes to drink, laugh, and sing! Guillaume passed his byname along to his son, Jean, who in turn transmitted it to some of his descendants. Léon Roy, in his "Terre de l'île d'Orlóns," mentions Jean Pelletier Gobleteux, who owned parcel number fifty-three in the parish of Saint-Pierre. This land, later conveyed to his son René Goubleu was none other than René Pelletier himself, son of Jean Pelletier, nicknamed "Gobloteux." To anyones knowlege, "Gobloteur" is nowhere to be found among the names of Quebec today.
Immigration to New France
Like many of his compatriots, Guillaume came to Canada to answer the call of Lord Robert Giffard, the first professional in the colony to come from that region. Guillaume was most likely hired by one of the Juchereau brothers, either directly or by one of their representatives, Noël and Jean Juchereau, associates of Giffard and members of La Compagnie des Cent-Associés. On March 8, 1641 Guillaume Pelletier and Michelle Mabille, who were residing in La Gazerie, sold a portion of their land to Robert Loyseau, and entered into a five year lease agreement with Jean Rousseau, their brother-in-law, which included "any houses and those rights from the late Guillaume Mabille and Étiennette Monhée, her father and mother, to be in the possession of the said Rousseau during the said time, in consideration of fifteen pounds, which they have already recieved from the said Rousseau and of which payment they discharge him." The context of the act is clear, and it is obvious why the Pelletiers called upon a notary to draw up these provisions: having liquidated all their assets -house, inheritances rights, and titles- they meant to depart. Familial obligations seem to have kept them from settling these matters seener, but Michelle's parents having died, the couple was free to leave with their son, Jean and Guillaume's brother Antoine in 1641.
Hired Hand or Habitant?
Even if Guillaume did not come to New France under contract, evidence indicates that he was at the very least a hired hand, or engagé, commissioned for thirty six months of service. Having arrived in the colony in 1641, it was not until late 1644 that he purchased a parcel of land. Earlier, on April 17 of that year, Lord Robert Giffard had granted a concession measuring six arpents wide to Martin Grouvel, who that autumn, sold the property to Guillaume Pelletier, who in turn gave it to his brother, Antoine; when Antoine died in October 1641, ownership of the land transferred back to Guillaume. It is easy to interpret Guillaumes's actions as those of an engagé who had decided to invest his earnings in some property. It seems, however, that even after this transaction, Guillaume continued on as engagé, as he immedieately gave the land to his brother, instead of settling there himself. It is only after his brother's death in 1647 that Guillaume seems to finally decide to establish himself on his property and, undoubtedly, exploit it himself.
Jack of all Trades
It is easy to believe that, in the beginning, Guillaume worked in the colony as an artisan, as this would have merely been an extension of his occupation in France. His native Bresolettes, let us not forget, was situated in the very heart of an area populated by "coalmen, ironworkers, and loggers." In short, even it it were only by an oral agreement or under a private contract, Guillaume was undoubtedly an engagé, and it is safe to assume that it was in large part because of his expert woodworking skills that he had been recruited. At that time, everything in the colony was still under construction. Speaking only about the Jesuits, we see in their Journal that they were in the process of building a residence and parish church at that time. The Jesuits are a prime example of a group hiring Guillaume for his expertise as an artisan. In any case, the priests seem to have known him particularly well, as their Journal identifies him as a "logger, sawyer, carpenter coalman, etc."
Beauport
In 1647 Guillaume reclaimed possession of his land in the area on Montmorency Falls, which he had given to his brother, Antoine, in 1644. The falls had not favored this younger Pelletier and one might ask if he had dared to tempt fate by getting his little canoe as close to the falls as possible. On October 3, 1647, "Antoine Peltier, brother of Guillaume Peltier the Gobloteur, drowned when his canoe capsized close to his house in Saut de Montmorency." The loss of his brother was undoubtedly difficuld for Guillaume to accept, and even more so for Françoise Morin, whom Antoine had married only two months before, on August 17. Guillaume's property in Beauport, by the Montmorency Falls, consisted of six arpents along the Saint Lawrence River; the Montmorency River limited his concession to thirty four arpents in depth. In fact, because of the particular way in which Lord Giffard had chosen to distribute his concessions, each was limited in the south by the Saint Lawrence and in the north by the Montmorency River. As the two rivers approached to meet at the end of the seigneury, the first concession, closest to the Falls, was only twenty arpents deep. The land of guillaume Pelletier was second, and only extended inland thirty four arpents and the concessions continued this way down the line until reaching the property of Jean Langlois, which was 116 arpents deep. Guillaume did not keep all of his land and by 1655, Jean Mignaux had in his possession two arpents, part of which had been taken from Guillaume's land.
About Guillaume's time at Beauport, little is known. In 1646, his nineteen year old son, Jean, volunteered for service with the Jesuits and probably returned to his father the following year. In 1649, Jean married the young Anne Langlois, after which he settled on his father's property in Beauport. In 1654, Anne presented Guillaume with his first grandson, Noël Pelletier, the first Canadian born descendant of this line of Pelletiers from Tourouvre and two years later Guillaume saw the birth of his first grand -daughter, Anne Pelletier.
A Respected Citizen
Again turning to the Jesuit Journal, we see that on August 9, 1653, Guillaume is named assistant trustee in the Communauté des Habitants de Beauport; the priests spoke of it, mentioning that the group falls under their jurisdiction. This nomination is at once a great honor for Guillaume and an expression of the trust his fellow citizens of Beauport have in him. Thus, Guillaume Pelletier not only served the colony with his masterful woodworking skills, he was also productive, more or less anonymously, by his contributions to the Communauté des Habitants, where he gave freely of himself to further the economic life and policies of the young colony. Moreover, Guillaume was an educated member of his society and, as Mrs. Montagne notes, he had a "good signature," which she has found on a document among the archives in Tourouvre. Finally, Guillaume's knowledge and experience as a former charcoal merchant undoubtedly entitled him to supervise the interests of the Communauté, whose foremost economic activity was to manage the fur trade in New France.
His Death
Four years after his appointment to the Communauté des Habitants, Guillaume Pelletier died at his home in Beauport at the age of 59, and on November 28, 1657, he was buried in Quebec. His widow, Michelle Mabille, died in Beauport and was buried in Quebec eight years later, on January 21, 1665, at the age of 73. At the time of his death, Guillaume did not leave a very large Canadian born progeny; his son Jean, had only given him two grandchildren. However, Jean and his young wife Anne Langlois, eventually added seven children to their family, not counting two who died at birth. All but one of these children were born in the house in Beauport that Jean recieved from his father.
~"Histoire et Généalogie de Guillaume Pelletier 1598-1657 et son fils Jean"~
by Maurice Pelletier, s.j. (Montreal: Société généalogique Canadienne-Française, 1976