François Peltier (Pelletier dit Antaya)

Variations: Peltier, Peletier, Antayat

Early Life and Immigration

François was born in France around 1635 (aged 32 in the 1667 census, 48 in the 1681 census) [^1]. He was the son of Nicolas Peltier and Jeanne De Vouzy [^1]. He is presumed to have been born in Gallardon, where his father was born, but neither his parents’ marriage nor the baptisms of François and his brother Jean have been found.

François arrived in New France (Canada) with his parents and his brother Jean around 1636 [^2] [^3].

Life in New France

François Pelletier dit Antaya lived in Canada, New France [^4] [^5].

First Marriage (Dorothée)

François Peltier married the Native American woman Dorothée in Tadoussac in April 1660 without publication or notice to anyone, which caused quite a stir (according to Jetté, citing the Jesuit Journal) [^1]. Father Charles Albanel officiated [^6]. No children were born from this marriage [^1].

On April 13, 1661, Dorothée, described as a “sauvagesse” (Native woman) and wife of François Peltier, was buried in the cellar beneath the hospital after receiving all the sacraments of the Church [^7].

Second Marriage (Marguerite Madeleine Moriseau)

On September 26, 1661, in the church of Sillery, François Peltier, son of Nicolas Peltier and Jeanne de Voisy, married Marguerite Madeleine Moriseau [^8]. She was the daughter of Julien Moriseau and Anne Brelancour from the parish of St-Pierre in the town of Roye in Picardy. The ceremony was attended by Nicolas Peltier (father of the groom), Jean Peltier (his brother), Jean Denys and Jean Hayot (brothers-in-law), and was celebrated by Father Pierre Bailloquet, a Jesuit (registered at Notre-Dame de Québec) [^8] [^9].

Children

François and Marguerite had the following children [^1] [^10] [^11]:

1. Marie Angélique Peltier, baptized October 14, 1662, in Sillery [^12]; married François Banliac dit Lamontagne around 1680 (probably in Sorel); remarried Antoine Gerlaise dit St-Amant on May 25, 1709, in Trois-Rivières.
2. François Xavier Pelletier, baptized December 2, 1663, in Sillery [^13]; married Madeleine Tunay on May 2, 1690, in Champlain.
3. Joseph Pelletier, baptized March 22, 1665, in Sillery; present at Geneviève’s wedding in 1690.
4. Marguerite Pelletier, baptized August 30, 1666, in Sillery; Marguerite Agnès married Charles Boucher on May 7, 1685, in Sorel.
5. Geneviève Pelletier, born and baptized March 16, 1668, in Sillery; married Jacques Desganiers on May 14, 1690, in Montréal (Notre-Dame).
6. Catherine, born around 1672 (aged 9 in 1681); married Denis Fouceault on November 12, 1697, in Trois-Rivières.
7. Michel, born around 1674 (aged 7 in 1681); married at age 23 to Françoise Meneux on July 9, 1697, in Ste-Famille, Île d’Orléans.
8. Jean Baptiste Mauriceau, born July 16, 1676, baptized on the 20th in Sorel, son of Marguerite Mauriceau, with François Pelletier as godfather and Marie Pelletier as godmother.
9. Pierre, aged 6 in 1681; Pierre Peltier married at age 26 to Marguerite Rousseau on August 13, 1703, in Ste-Famille, Île d’Orléans.
10. Élisabeth Peletier, born September 16, 1677, baptized on the 18th in Sorel; died before the 1681 census.
11. Louise Pelletier, baptized September 22, 1678, in Sorel; married Jean Baptiste Deblois on August 13, 1703, in Ste-Famille, Île d’Orléans.

Census Records

1667 Census: Quebec City [^14] [^15]

François Pelletier, 32; Marguerite Morisseau, 24, his wife; children: Marie, 5; François Xavier, 4; Joseph, 2; Marguerite Agnès, 15 months.

1681 Census: Seigneurie d’Autray [^16]

François Pelletier, 48; Marguerite Maurisseau, his wife, 37; children: François, 16; Joseph, 14; Marguerite, 13; Geneviève, 11; Catherine, 9; Michel, 7; Pierre, 6; Louise, 3; 3 guns; 10 horned animals; 16 arpents developed.

Land Ownership and Seigneurie d’Antaya

In 1672, Philippe Gaultier de Comporté received a seigneurie called d’Orvilliers from Intendant Jean Talon [^17]. He sold it to François Pelletier and his wife Marguerite Morisseau on October 22, 1675, before notary Romain Becquet [^18]. The seigneurie would also bear the name of Antaya [^19] [^20] [^21].

This seigneurie was located between those of Autray and Berthier (en-Haut). The 1681 census does not differentiate it from its neighboring Autray. The seigneurie would be subject to seizure and litigation by François Chorel de Saint-Romain and his heirs because of an obligation of François Pelletier to him. This conflict was not finally resolved until 1724 (see notes), and the heirs of François and Marguerite would sell it to Louis Balthazar Marie de Koberio (or Kerberio), priest of Berthier-en-Haut, in 1754 or 1756 [^19] [^22].

Land Transactions and Legal Documents

• On February 13, 1667, Reverend Father François le Mercier gave and granted a parcel of land measuring one arpent wide by twenty arpents deep, located between the Saint-Ignace and Saint-Michel roads on the Sillery seigneurie, to Sieur François Pelletier d’Antaya.
• Obligation of Marg. Morisseau, wife of Frs. Pelletier dit Antaya, to M. de Tracy (August 22, 1667) (Amendments of May 6 and 11, 1668). Vol II pg 271 Notary Romain Becquet [^18].
• Nicolas Pelletier rented for two years at twenty livres per year the house, barn, and land of François Pelletier d’Antaya on August 20, 1669, at Cap-Rouge; Sieur Denis Ruette d’Auteuil representing.
• Concession of Marguerite Morrisseau, wife of François Pelletier dit Antaya, to Antoine Caddé (November 5, 1675). (No. 1370.) Vol IV pg 5 Notary Gilles Rageot [^18].
• Sieur François Pelletier d’Antaya sold his land in Sorel to Pierre Comtois dit Bonnehumeur on September 17, 1677. Sale of François Pelletier dit Antayat and his wife to Pierre Comtois dit Bonhumeur (September 17, 1677). Vol V pg 26 Notary Antoine Adhémar [^18].

Death and Estate

François died before May 30, 1688. The location is unknown, as he had sold his land in Sorel in 1677. His wife is cited as his widow on May 30, 1688 [^18].

Several legal documents mention his widow:

• Obligation of M.-M. Mauriceau (Morisseau), widow of François Pelletier-Antayat, to sieur de Couagne (May 30, 1688). Vol V pg 88 Notary Antoine Adhémar [^18].
• Act passed between sieur de Couagne and M.-M. Mauriceau, widow of F. Pelletier Antayat, by which said sieur de Couagne obligates himself to pay to Mre de Lavaltrie a certain sum to said widow (May 30, 1688). Vol V pg 89 Notary Antoine Adhémar [^18].

After François’s death, there were extensive legal proceedings regarding his estate and obligations, particularly relating to the seigneurie d’Orvilliers/Antaya, involving his widow, children, and creditors. These proceedings continued until 1724 [^23] [^24] [^25] [^26] [^27] [^28] [^29] [^30] [^31] [^32] [^33].

Travels and Explorations

François Pelletier, along with Denis Guyon, traveled in the northern part of Québec to find the northern sea to determine if it connected to the western sea and southern sea. They explored among the northern Native American tribes.

In 1661, François agreed to take part, along with Fathers Gabriel Druillettes and Claude Dablon, Denis Guyon, and others, in an expedition sent by Governor Voyer d’Argenson to discover the northern sea. The Native guides, dreading the presence of Iroquois in the region, abandoned the French at the watershed. The journal, probably written by Dablon about the journey, can be found in The Jesuit Relations, Vol. 46, p. 245.

Origin of the “dit” Name Antaya

François was given the “dit” name of Antaya/Antoya because his first wife was Dorothée. She was listed in official documents as “Dorothée La Sauvagesse” (a common term used for natives). They were married at the Mission in Tadoussac by Father Albanel. Some records indicate that her tribal group’s name for itself sounded like Antaya — hence his “dit” name. Most Antayas descend from him (but not all) [^34].

According to Louise Pelletier, the name Antaya originated from Montagnais roots and appeared for the first time in 1641 in the forms of Antanye and Antaya. Yves J. Antaya believes the word comes from the Huron language, mentioning an old French-Huron dictionary written by the Jesuits in the seventeenth century, which contains the words “antaye” and “ataya,” meaning “near the lands” and “tobacco” respectively [^2].

Notarial Acts

Notary Romain Becquet [^18]

• Obligation of Marg. Morisseau, wife of Frs. Pelletier dit Antaya, to M. de Tracy (August 22, 1667) (Amendments of May 6 and 11, 1668). Vol II pg 271
• Sale of François Peltier and Marguerite Morisseau, his wife, to Denis-Joseph Ruette D’Auteuil and de Monceaux (January 17, 1671). Vol III pg 62
• Sale of Philippe Gaultier de Comporté to François Pelletier, and Marguerite Moriseau, his wife (October 22, 1675). Vol III pg 137

Notary Gilles Rageot [^18]

• Concession of Marguerite Morrisseau, wife of François Pelletier dit Antaya, to Antoine Caddé (November 5, 1675). (No. 1370.) Vol IV pg 5

Notary Antoine Adhémar [^18]

• Obligation of M.-M. Mauriceau (Morisseau), widow of François Pelletier-Antayat, to sieur de Couagne (May 30, 1688). Vol V pg 88
• Act passed between sieur de Couagne and M.-M. Mauriceau, widow of F. Pelletier Antayat, by which said sieur de Couagne obligates himself to pay to Mre de Lavaltrie a certain sum to said widow (May 30, 1688). Vol V pg 89
• Engagement of Jean Bougrand (Bougueran) to Marguerite Mauriceau, widow of Jean Pelletier-Antayat (August 1, 1688). Vol V pg 95 (sic François)

Notary Hilaire Bourgine [^18]

• Obligation of François Pelletier and Marguerite Morrisseau his wife to Charles de Couagne for 339 livres one sol for goods sold (May 14, 1685). Vol XI pg 12

Legal Proceedings and Estate Matters

Litigation and Succession

• June 1, 1693: Louis Fafard de Longval, acting for François Chorel de Saint-Romain, successfully sued Marguerite Morisseau, widow of François Pellettier (Pelletier) Antaya, and his children for the sum of 740 livres, 6 sols and 6 deniers [^23].
• July 13, 1693: Following the judgment, a real seizure on the land and seigneurie called Dorvilliers was declared valid. It was ordered that, failing payment from the widow Antaya, the land and seigneurie of Dorvilliers be cried and put up for auction [^24].
• July 13, 1693: Guy Vacher dit Laserte (Lacerte), carpenter living in Trois-Rivières, was appointed curator to the vacant succession of the late Antaya [^25].
• February 17, 1723: Act of faith and homage of Pierre Pelletier dit Antaias (Antaya), eldest son and heir of the late François Pelletier Antaias (Antaya) and Marguerite Morisseau, acting for himself and his siblings, in respect of said fief d’Orvilliers [^27].
• July 24, 1724: Decree that grants a sum of 404 livres, 12 sols, 5 deniers etc., to François Chorel Dorvilliers, acting for his co-heirs in the succession of the late François Chorel de Saint-Romain, in his case against Pierre-François Pelletier dit Antaya, attorney-in-fact for his siblings [^29].

Historical Context

François Pelletier dit Antaya was one of the early settlers in New France during the early to mid-17th century. His life spanned a critical period in the development of the colony, when French settlers were establishing permanent settlements, developing agriculture, and building relationships (sometimes through marriage) with indigenous peoples.

His participation in northern expeditions with the Jesuits to find the “northern sea” (likely Hudson Bay) reflects the colonial ambitions of France to establish trade routes and extend their influence in North America. The seigneurial system, under which François acquired land, was the primary method of land distribution in New France.

François’ first marriage to an indigenous woman named Dorothée represents the cultural interactions and intermarriage that occurred between French colonists and indigenous peoples, particularly in the early days of settlement when French women were scarce in the colony. His second marriage to a French woman, Marguerite Moriseau, reflects the increasing French immigration and settlement as the colony developed.

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Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.

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Sources and Legal Citations

[^1]: Dictionary of Genealogy of Quebec Families from Origins to 1730, René Jetté, with the collaboration of PRDH, 1983, University of Montreal Press, pg 888 (Pelletier) (IGD membership) [^2]: Association Pelletier: Nicolas Peltier [^3]: Source: #S811 Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1636; Page Number: Data: Text: Arrival date: 1636, Arrival place: Quebec, Canada [^4]: PRDH: Research Programme in Historical Demography (free): Pioneer: 60567 FRANÇOIS PELLETIER dit ANTAYA [^5]: Source: #S811 Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1636; Page Number: Data: Text: Arrival date: 1636, Arrival place: Quebec, Canada [^6]: Moses Creighton: Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents [^7]: Burial-Funeral Dorothée image IGD [^8]: Marriage 2 image IGD image on profile; Source: #S2 Page: Certificate 66573 Text: PRDH marriage 66573 Québec 1661-09-26. MARRIAGE CELEBRATED IN THE CHURCH OF SILLERY [^9]: Source: #S2 Page: Certificate 66573 Text: PRDH marriage 66573 Québec 1661-09-26. MARRIAGE CELEBRATED IN THE CHURCH OF SILLERY [^10]: Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1997 – Drouin IGD [^11]: Migrations Filles à Marier – M [^12]: Hebert, Leo Paul. “Le Registre de Sillery (1638-1690).” Published in collaboration with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi Foundation. Collection: Tekouerimat. 1994, p. 307. Baptism of Marie Angélique, October 14, 1662. [^13]: Hebert, Leo Paul. “Le Registre de Sillery (1638-1690).” Published in collaboration with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi Foundation. Collection: Tekouerimat. 1994, p. 308. Baptism of François Xaverius, December 2, 1663. [^14]: Wikisource: Recensements 1666-1667 Censuses according to Benjamin Sulte Histoire des Canadiens-français, Volume 4, chapter 4 [^15]: BAC-LAC: 1667 Census page 1 [^16]: Wikisource Census 1681 according to Benjamin Sulte Histoire des Canadiens-français, Volume 5, chapter 4 [^17]: Archives Canada, d’Orvilliers concession [^18]: BAnQ Notarial acts index Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, by Pierre Georges Roy and Antoine Roy; 27 Vol + index 1-8 [^19]: Mémoire du Québec, Seigneurie d’Antaya [^20]: Map of seigneuries #12 on map [^21]: Source: #S978 Database online. Data: Text: Record for Francois Pelletier [^22]: Archives Canada, acquisition by Louis Balthazar... [^23]: June 1, 1693 Code: TL3,S11,P2380 Fonds Juridiction royale des Trois-Rivières – BAnQ Trois-Rivières Id 436047 [^24]: July 13, 1693 Code: TL3,S11,P2384 Fonds Juridiction royale des Trois-Rivières – BAnQ Trois-Rivières Id 436051 [^25]: July 13, 1693 Code: TL3,S11,P2385 Fonds Juridiction royale des Trois-Rivières – BAnQ Trois-Rivières Id 436052 [^26]: October 2, 1702 Code: TP1,S28,P7394 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 407483 [^27]: November 6, 1702 Code: TP1,S28,P7433 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 407522 [^28]: February 15, 1717 Code: TP1,S28,P15007 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 409932 [^29]: June 28, 1717 Code: TP1,S28,P15068 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 409993 [^30]: November 27, 1719 Code: TP1,S28,P15348 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 410273 [^31]: February 17, 1723 Code: E1,S4,SS2,P308 Fonds Intendants – BAnQ Québec Id 92101 [^32]: March 1, 1723 Code: E1,S4,SS3,P17 Fonds Intendants – BAnQ Québec Id 90672 [^33]: July 24, 1724 Code: TP1,S28,P16047 Fonds Conseil souverain – BAnQ Québec Id 410972 [^34]: Association des Pelletier. Nicolas Pelletier: The family name Antaya [^35]: Source: #S978 Database online. Data: Text: Record for Francois Peltier [^36]: numero=243216 Fichier Nicolas Pelletier [^37]: Source: #S978 Database online. Data: Text: Record for Francois Peltier