David Estourneau (c. 1616 – 1670), Sébastienne Guéry, & Jeanne Baril
This document details the life and family of David Estourneau, a pioneer settler in New France.
Key Information and Name Variations
- Name Variations: L’Estourneau, L’Estoumeau, Lestourneau, Létourneau.
- Dates: c. 1616 – 1670.
Early Life and Trade in France
- Parents: David Estourneau was the son of David Létourneau and Jeanne Dupen (or Veillon dit Dupen).
- Birth: Born around 1616 in Muron, Aunis (Charente-Maritime), France, in the Arrondissement of Rochefort, near the border of Poitou and Aunis.
- Trade: He learned the trade of miller from his father at the watermill Les Tourneaux (also called ETOURNEAU on a 1719 map), located near the road to Rochefort, approximately 35 km east of La Rochelle.
Marriages and Children
First Marriage: Sébastienne Guéry (Guerry)
- Contract: Signed a marriage contract with Sébastienne Guéry on June 10, 1640, in La Rochelle, France, before notary Ballangay.
- Note: David was about 24; Sébastienne was 20. Notary Vachon later erroneously referred to Guéry as David's second wife, yet described the children from this union as being from the "first marriage" in the inventory of June 30, 1670.
| Child Name | Baptism Date | Baptism Location |
|---|---|---|
| David Estourneau (III) | February 3, 1642 | Muron (St-Sixte), France |
| Jean (Joslin) Estourneau | August 29, 1647 | Muron (St-Sixte), France |
| Marie Estourneau | September 24, 1649 | Muron (St-Sixte), France |
| Pierre Estourneau | September 24, 1649 | Muron (St-Sixte), France |
Second Marriage: Jeanne Baril (Barreil)
- Contract: Signed a marriage contract with Jeanne Baril, daughter of François Baril (Barreil) and Catherine Ligneron, on July 6, 1654, before André Cassint, royal notary in Marencennes, France.
- Marriage: Married on July 20, 1654, at the Church of St. Peter in Surgères, France.
- Note: David was about 34; Jeanne was 20.
| Child Name | Years | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Élisabeth Létourneau | 1654 – (Survived) | |
| Philippe Létourneau | 1657 – 1707 | |
| Jacques Létourneau | 1667 – (Survived) | |
| Gabriel Estourneau | 1670 – 1670 | Died young |
Migration and Life in New France
Arrival
- Migration: In 1658, David (II) Estourneau emigrated to Canada, likely aboard the ship Taurus.
- Companions: He was accompanied only by his two sons from his first marriage: Jean (14) and David (III) (17).
- Family Separation: His second wife, Jeanne Baril, and her son Philippe remained in France, as did his daughter Marie. Jeanne and Philippe later joined him in New France in 1665.
Career and Land Acquisitions
David worked as a miller at the mills of Monseigneur François de Laval in Château-Richer, where he earned a reputation as the best miller in Beaupré and amassed a modest fortune.
| Date | Location | Acquisition/Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1661 | Île d’Orléans (Sainte-Famille) | Acquired land (3 arpents frontage) | Acquired from François Dupont; land was later given to his son David (III) upon his marriage to Françoise Chaperain. |
| Mar 13, 1664 | Île d’Orléans (Saint-Laurent) | Granted land (Minute no. 179) | Granted 3 arpents frontage on the southern side of the island, bounded by Jean Pavie and his son, Jean Estourneau. |
| Mar 13, 1664 | Île d’Orléans (Saint-Laurent) | Son Jean (I) granted land (Minute no. 174) | Jean L’Etourneau was granted 3 arpents frontage adjacent to his father's new land. |
| 1669 | Château-Richer | Purchased a home | Purchased a 24 x 20 feet house in the village, priced at 700 pounds. |
Death and Legacy
- Death: David died in 1670 at the age of 54. Due to his relatively young age, it is assumed he died from a contagious disease or an accident.
- Estate: He left a widow and a considerable estate, including movable property (900 pounds), cattle (160 pounds), and cash (260 pounds).
- Widow's Remarriage: After David’s death, Jeanne Baril remarried to Julian Bion, known as “the Breton.” They lived in the manor of St. Mary, St. Nicolas, with Philippe and Jacques Létourneau.
- Létourneau Lineage: The Létourneau lineage was successfully carried on through his son David (III) from his first marriage, and also significantly through the descendants of his son David (IV) (from the marriage to Françoise Chapelain).
Sources and References
This content was originally translated and compiled from various primary sources, including church and notarial records.
- Original Publication: The text was published on ManyRoads on March 19, 2010
- WikiTree Profile: David Estourneau (abt. 1616-1670)
- General Genealogical Sources (Used in Original Text):
- The Genealogy Center of French America (Original page no longer active).
- Notarial records (Ballangay, Cassint, Vachon, Auber).
-
Parish registers (Muron, St-Sixte, St. Peter in Surgères).
Credits and Licensing
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.