Catherine Caron & Jacques Dodier: Pioneers of Beaupré

Jacques Dodier (c. 1637 – 1677)

Jacques Dodier was a pioneer settler in the Beaupré region of New France.

Origins and Arrival

• Born: Circa 1637-1638 in the parish of Saint-Médard de Champaissant, diocese of Le Mans, in Maine, France [^6], [^7]. This location is now attached to the French commune of St-Côsme-en-Vairais [^8].
• Parents: Fiacre Dodier and Catherine Moineau (or Maineau) [^9].
• Migration: He migrated to Canada around 1656. His first recorded mention is on November 30, 1656, in Québec during a land purchase (notary Audouart) [^10].

Death

Jacques Dodier died on November 30, 1677, and was buried on December 7, 1677, at Beaupré [^15], [^16].

Catherine Caron (1649 – 1725)

Catherine Caron was a native of the colony, born just years after the founding of Québec.

Origins

• Born: November 23, 1649, in Québec, Canada, New France [^1].
• Parents: Robert Caron and Marie Crevet [^2].
• Siblings: Marie, Jean Baptiste, Robert, Joseph, Pierre, and Aymée Caron.

Death

Catherine died on June 14, 1725, at the age of 75, in Baie-Saint-Paul, Canada, New France [^5].

Marriages and Family

First Marriage (Jacques Dodier)

The couple signed a marriage contract on May 29, 1662, before notary Claude Aubert in Québec. They were married on November 30, 1662, at Château-Richer [^3], [^13].

Second Marriage (Pierre Dupre)

After Jacques' death, Catherine remarried Pierre Dupre on April 30, 1680, in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Canada, New France. Their contract was dated January 1, before notary Gilles Rageot [^4].

Children with Jacques Dodier

The following children are generally associated with Catherine Caron and Jacques Dodier, though some sources suggest Dodier had other children with Marie Guay dit Castonguay [^25], [^26]:

• Barbe Dodier (b. c. 1664, listed in 1666/1667 censuses)
• Anne Dodier
• Ange Dodier
• Claire Dodier
• Note: The source document mentions additional children (Louise, Louis) in relation to a possible prior relationship, indicating historical confusion in the records regarding the full family unit.

Census Records (Beaupré)

The family was recorded in the Beaupré censuses during the first marriage:

• 1666 Census: Jacques Dodier, 28, habitant; Catherine Caron, 17, his wife; Barbe, 18 months [^17].
• 1667 Census: Jacques Dodier, 30; Catherine Carron (Caron), 18; Barbe, 3; possessing 3 arpents of cultivated land [^18].

The 1667 Legal Case: An Affair of Insult and Battery

In 1667, Catherine Caron, along with three other women (Anne Saint-Denis, Marie Trotinne, and Suzanne Rocheleau), was involved in a series of legal actions against Nicolas Huot dit St-Laurent, the sergeant of the seigneury of Beaupré [^19].

The case centered around mutual accusations:

1. March 8, 1667: The women initially won a judgment in their favor against Huot [^20].
2. July 2, 1667: Huot was condemned for using injurious terms against the civil and criminal lieutenant during his appeal [^21], [^22].
3. July 21, 1667: The final judgment convicted Catherine Caron and the three other women of having beaten Nicolas Huot. They were sentenced to ask his forgiveness at the judge's house in Beaupré and to pay him 25 livres in damages [^23].
4. July 30, 1667: The women's opposition to the Council's sentence was quashed [^24].

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

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

Sources

[^1]: PRDH: Research Programme in Historical Demography (free): Pioneer: 76091 [^2]: Document mentions that Catherine Caron was the daughter of Robert Caron and Marie Crevet [^3]: Marriage - FamilySearch (Catherine Caron & Jacques Dodier) [^4]: Second Marriage: Pierre Dupre. Contract dated January 1, Gilles Rageot, notary [^5]: PREFEN File 12881, Life in New France [^6]: PREFEN File 12881, Origins [^7]: PRDH: Research Programme in Historical Demography (free): Pioneer: 17350 [^8]: Historical and modern geography of birthplace: Compaissant is today attached to the French commune of St-Côsme-en-Vairais located in the department of Sarthe in the Pays de la Loire region. [^9]: PREFEN File 12881 [^10]: PREFEN File 12881, Departure [^11]: Carpin (1999), Appendix D, p. 576 [^12]: Lesperance (2002) citing Jetté (1983), p. 355: “DODIER, Jacques (Laborer) from Champaissant.” [^13]: Marriage - FamilySearch [^14]: PREFEN File 12881, Life in New France [^15]: PREFEN File 12881, Life in New France [^16]: Burial - FamilySearch (Jacques Dodier) [^17]: Senécal, 1666 Census [^18]: Senécal, 1667 Census [^19]: BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec) documents [^20]: March 28, 1667 Code: TP1,S28,P462 Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec Id 400042 [^21]: July 2, 1667 Code: TP1,S28,P491 Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec Id 400100 [^22]: July 2, 1667 BIS Code: TP1,S28,P492 Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec Id 400102 [^23]: July 21, 1667 Code: TP1,S28,P511 Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec Id 400141 [^24]: July 30, 1667 Code: TP1,S28,P522 Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec Id 400163 [^25]: Généalogie Québec 4621 [^26]: PRDH: Research Programme in Historical Demography (membership): family: 85519 PRDH Family 85519