Marie Brazeau & Sylvain Guérin
Marie Brazeau (c. 1660 – 1735)
Marie Brazeau led a tumultuous and well-documented life in early New France, known for her frequent appearances in court and her four marriages. Her story provides rich insight into the daily struggles and legal rights of women in 17th-century Ville-Marie (Montreal).
Biography and Life in Ville-Marie
Immigration and Early Years
- Born: Circa 1660 (estimated from her age at death), France.
- Immigration: Arrived in Ville-Marie in 1681 with her parents, Nicolas Brazeau (a cartwright), her brothers, and her first child.
- Context: She settled in a turbulent colony with fewer than 1,500 people, dealing with Iroquois attacks and epidemics. Single women aged 25 and older, as well as widows, held the right to represent themselves in court.[^2]
- Business: In 1686, she and her first husband, Sylvain Guérin, opened a tavern in their home, a practice that was illegal but often tolerated.[^4]
Legal Struggles and Resilience
Marie Brazeau was a prolific figure in the courts of Ville-Marie, constantly dealing with legal issues, often regarding debts and payments.
- Financial Battles: She appeared before a judge almost monthly, fighting to collect money owed to her or defending herself from lawsuits for debts.[^5]
- Family Conflicts: Her father sued her to recover money borrowed by her son-in-law (who was later executed for bigamy). She also pursued a former lover through the courts.
- Property: In 1690, she obtained land and built a house. In 1695, this house was seized, but her father, Nicolas Brazeau, bought it back, reflecting her family's involvement in her life.[^5]
Marriages and Children
Marie Brazeau had a total of four marriages and children from her first two marriages, as well as three illegitimate children. She died on May 29, 1735, in Montreal, listed as the 75-year-old widow of Pierre Tastet.[^13]
1. First Marriage: Sylvain Guérin (1659 – 1692)
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Sylvain Guérin (Shoemaker), born September 24, 1659, Tours, France.[^14] |
| Marriage | October 30, 1679, Amboise, France.[^7] |
| Separation | Guérin returned to France in 1688 and never came back.[^4] |
| Fate | Guérin was hanged for bigamy in Amboise, France, in 1692.[^8][^16] |
| Children (3) | Marie (c. 1681), Raphaël (1686), Antoine (1688).[^7] |
Illegitimate Children (3)
Born between the departure of her first husband and her second marriage.
| Name | Baptism Date | Alleged Father | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antoine Baujan | July 9, 1691 | Antoine Baujan | |
| Joseph Baujan | March 17, 1693 | Antoine Baujan | Married Marie Goguet in 1721.[^9] |
| Thérèse Brasau | March 2, 1695 (Quebec) | Father Unknown | Married Paul Daniel Bizet in 1716.[^9] |
2. Second Marriage: Guillaume Tougas
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Guillaume Tougas |
| Marriage | November 10, 1698, Montreal.[^10] |
| Children (6) | Guillaume (1699), Marie Anne (1701), Marie (1703), Gabriel (1704), Charles (1706), Pélagie (1708).[^10] |
3. Third Marriage: Didier Bourgouin
- Marriage: October 29, 1712, Quebec.[^11]
- Children: No children from this marriage.
4. Fourth Marriage: Pierre Tastet
- Marriage: June 18, 1713, Montreal.[^12]
- Children: No children from this marriage.
Notarial Acts
Marie Brazeau's active role in the colony's legal life is reflected in the numerous notarial records that chronicle her financial and personal transactions between 1692 and 1711.
| Date | Notary | Subject (Excerpt) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 21, 1692 | Antoine Adhémar | Obligation of Louis Le Compte Dupré against Marie Brazeau, wife of Sylvain Guérin. |
| Jan 25, 1692 | Antoine Adhémar | Agreement between Marie Brazeau, wife of Sylvain Guérin, and Jean Mars. |
| Dec 2, 1695 | Bénigne Basset | Counter-letter by Nicolas Brasot to Marie Brasot, widow of Guérin (related to the seized house). |
| Feb 24, 1697 | Antoine Adhémar | Engagement of Marie Brazeau's son to Jean Roy (Apprenticeship). |
| Feb 9, 1699 | Antoine Adhémar | Sale of house by Nicolas Brazeau to Guillaume Tougard (After the house was seized and purchased by her father). |
| Sep 21, 1693 | Antoine Adhémar | Obligation of Marie Brazeau to Nicolas Brazeau, her father (and her brothers). |
| Jun 7, 1710 | Antoine Adhémar | Engagement of Marie Brazeau, widow of Guérin, to Marie Guérin. |
Credits
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
Sources
[^1]: Serge Bouchard's account of Marie Brazeau's life. Nos Origines: Marie Brazeau. [^2]: Context of life in Ville-Marie. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^3]: Immigration details. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^4]: Early life and marriage. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^5]: Legal struggles and later life. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^6]: Death and legacy. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^7]: First marriage and children. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^8]: Sylvain Guérin's execution. WikiTree: Sylvain Guérin. [^9]: Illegitimate children. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^10]: Second marriage and children. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^11]: Third marriage. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^12]: Fourth marriage. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^13]: Death details. WikiTree: Marie Brazeau. [^14]: Sylvain Guérin's biography. WikiTree: Sylvain Guérin. [^15]: Marriage and children. WikiTree: Sylvain Guérin. [^16]: Execution for bigamy. WikiTree: Sylvain Guérin. [^17]: Notarial Acts Fichier Origine: Marie Brazeau.