Guillaume Hébert (c. 1614–1639)

This document details the short but historically significant life of Guillaume Hébert, an early settler of New France and the son of Quebec's first farming family.

Biography and Early Life

• Birth: Guillaume Hébert was born around 1614 in Paris, Île-de-France, France [1].
• Parents: He was the son of the noted pioneers Louis Hébert and Marie Rollet [1].
• Migration to New France: On June 15 or 16, 1617, he immigrated to Quebec, Canada, with his parents and sisters Anne and Guillemette Hébert, and Paul Huet [1]. Guillaume lived in Canada, New France, and was recorded in Quebec in 1629.
• Historical Context: Guillaume Hébert was among the earliest French settlers in Quebec, arriving as a child. His father, Louis Hébert, is widely recognized as the first French settler to establish a farm in Canada.

Marriage and Family

• Marriage: On October 1, 1634, Guillaume Hébert married Hélène Desportes at the Notre-Dame de Québec church [1, 2, 3].
• Official Witness: He served as a witness to the marriage contract of Marguerite Couillard and Sieur Jean Nicolet de Belleborne on October 22, 1637.

Children of Guillaume Hébert and Hélène Desportes

Guillaume and Hélène had three children before his early death:

Land Grants and Community Service

• Land Grant (Quebec): On October 10, 1636, he received a land grant from Charles Huault de Montmagny, the Governor of New France. The property, located in the suburbs of Quebec, was bounded by the lands of Abraham Martin and Sieurs d’Arpentigny and Hubou [4].
• Official Witness (Trois-Rivières): On July 29, 1639, in Trois-Rivières, he was a witness to Charles Huault, Chevalier de Montmagny, ceding lands (Seigneurie de la Citière) to Sieur François de Lauzon de Lirec.

Death

• Death: Guillaume Hébert died prematurely on September 23, 1639, in Quebec, Canada, at the young age of 25 [1, 5].
• Burial: His funeral ceremony was held at the Notre-Dame parish [1].
• Documentation: Although his burial record is not preserved, his date of death is confirmed by the inventory of his possessions, made on October 21, 1639, by Martial Piraube.

Sources

1. La Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie. Laval, Quebec, Canada. Fichier Origine.
2. Généalogie Québec. Institut généalogique Drouin. LaFrance (paid subscription).
3. Mariage / Marriage (Guillaume Hebert & Hélène Desportes) – FamilySearch (Québec > Notre-Dame-de-Québec > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1621-1679 > image 128 of 512).
4. 1636 Concession, BAnQ Québec, Fonds Intendants (CN – 03Q,E1,S4,SS1,D179,P1).
5. Généalogie Québec. Institut Drouin. PRDH (paid subscription).
6. Baptême / Baptism (Angélique Hébert) – FamilySearch (Québec > Notre-Dame-de-Québec > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1621-1679 > image 30 of 512).

Additional References

• Tanguay, Cyprien. Dictionnaire Geneologique Des Familles Canadiennes (Volume 1).
• A Travers les Registres – p.16, 78.
• Histoire du Notariat au Canada – p. 32, 33, 34.
• Site Francois Marchi.
• Nos origines.

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

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