🇨🇦 Anne Cloutier & Robert Drouin: Early Settlers of New France

Tags: Pioneers, Fille du Roi (Note: While Anne was a pioneer, she predates the Filles du Roi program, but the tag is included for organizational consistency.)

Introduction

Anne Cloutier and Robert Drouin were among the very earliest European settlers in New France (now Quebec, Canada). Their historical importance is cemented by their marriage contract, signed in 1636, which is recognized as the first of its kind preserved in Canadian archives $\text{[7], [8]}$. This document details their lives, family connections, and enduring demographic legacy in early Canadian history.

👧 Anne Cloutier (1626–1648)

Early Life and Migration

Anne Cloutier was born on January 19, 1626, in Saint-Jean de Mortagne, in the Perche region of France $\text{[1], [2]}$. She was the daughter of Zacharie Cloutier (c.1590–1677), a master carpenter, and Sainte Dupont (1596–1680) $\text{[3]}$.

At just eight years old, Anne migrated to New France in 1635 with her mother and siblings, joining her father and older brother, who had arrived the previous year $\text{[5], [6]}$. The family settled in Beauport, where her father became a prominent figure in the developing colony.

Marriage and the Historic Contract

On July 27, 1636, at only ten years of age, Anne was promised in marriage to Robert Drouin $\text{[7]}$. This contract, drawn up in the home of family friend Jean Guyon in Beauport, remains the oldest surviving marriage contract in Canadian archives $\text{[8]}$.

• Delay and Stipulations: Due to Anne's extreme youth, the actual wedding ceremony was delayed for a year. The marriage was finally solemnized on July 12, 1637, at the Church of Notre-Dame de Quebec $\text{[10]}$. Anne was eleven, while Robert was 29. The marriage contract included the highly unusual stipulation that prohibited "conjugal visits" between the bride and groom for two years $\text{[11]}$.
• Early Married Life: As specified in their agreement, Anne and Robert lived with her parents, Zacharie Cloutier and Sainte Dupont, for the first three years of their marriage (1637–1640) $\text{[12]}$.

Children and Premature Death

Anne and Robert had six children, though only two daughters survived infancy:

Anne became ill and was brought to the hospital, where she died on February 4, 1648, at the age of 22 $\text{[19]}$. Her funeral, documented in the Jesuit Journal, was a significant event, with vespers and a high mass held due to the difficulty of transporting her body in the harsh winter conditions $\text{[20], [21]}$. Despite her short life, Anne Cloutier's demographic impact was enormous: by 1729, she had 479 descendants in New France $\text{[22]}$.

🧱 Robert Drouin (1607–1685)

Early Life and Professional Career

Robert Drouin was born and baptized on August 6, 1607, in Le Pin-la-Garenne, also in the Perche region of France $\text{[23], [24]}$. His family were skilled tile and brick makers. Robert managed the family tile factory with his older brothers until his departure for Canada in 1634 $\text{[25], [26], [27]}$.

Upon arrival in Quebec, he was employed by the Jesuits as a brick maker $\text{[28]}$. His work included supplying bricks for the construction of the Hospitalières' hospital in Sillery in 1640.

Land Ownership and Settlement

Drouin was a committed settler and active landholder in the Côte de Beaupré.

• By 1641, he was settled on land near the Rivière aux Chiens, though he didn't receive official title until 1646 $\text{[29]}$. His location is documented on Jean Bourdon's 1641 map alongside other key founders $\text{[30]}$.
• He received a six-arpent concession in the Seigneurie of Beaupré from Olivier Le Tardif $\text{[31]}$. He was among 22 Beaupré inhabitants to receive official land titles on July 4, 1650 $\text{[32]}$.
• He later obtained concessions at Cap-de-la-Madeleine (1653) and Notre-Dame-des-Anges (1651), the latter of which he sold in 1656 $\text{[33], [34]}$.

Second Marriage and Later Life

Following Anne's death in 1648, Robert remarried Marie Chapelier (aged 25) on November 29, 1649, at Notre-Dame de Quebec $\text{[35]}$. The marriage contract included a stipulation that Drouin must establish a residence closer to Quebec City within a year $\text{[36]}$.

• Children with Marie Chapelier: Robert and Marie had eight children together (Marie, Nicolas, Pierre, Marie Marguerite, Étienne, Catherine, Jean-Baptiste, and Marie-Madeleine) $\text{[37]-[44]}$.
• Family Conflict: Notably, Anne Cloutier's surviving daughters, Geneviève and Jeanne, were raised by her family, who disapproved of Robert's quick second marriage $\text{[45]}$.
• Census Records: Robert Drouin appears in the Beaupré census records, confirming his occupation as a brick maker and showing the growth of his household and land development (10 arpents in 1667, 20 arpents in 1681) $\text{[46], [47], [48]}$.

Robert Drouin died on June 1, 1685, at the age of 77 in Château-Richer $\text{[49]}$. By 1729, Robert Drouin had 790 descendants in New France, cementing his status as one of the most significant progenitors of French-Canadian families $\text{[51]}$.

Historical Significance

Anne Cloutier and Robert Drouin's story is vital to understanding the social foundations of Quebec. Their lives highlight the challenges and unique adaptations of early colonial existence, particularly the high infant mortality rates and the practice of arranging marriages at very young ages to establish dynastic families quickly.

The preservation of their 1636 marriage contract is a direct link to the formal legal and social practices of the earliest settlement period, making them central figures in French-Canadian genealogy and history.

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

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

References

1. Fichier Origine 240939, “Anne Cloutier,” Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie. $\text{[↩︎]}$
2. 1626 Baptism Record, Archives départmentales de l’Orne, Mortagne-au-Perche, Image 130/957. $\text{[↩︎]}$
3. PRDH Individu 22840, “Anne Cloutier,” Programme de recherche en démographie historique. $\text{[↩︎]}$
4. perche-quebec.com, “Anne Cloutier.” $\text{[↩︎]}$
5. Carpin, Gervais (1999), “Le Reseau du Canada: Étude du mode migratoire...,” Annexe D, p. 571. $\text{[↩︎]}$
6. Lesperance, Jerry (December 2002), “Le Perche,” Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society. $\text{[↩︎]}$
7. BAnQ: Contrat de mariage entre Robert Drouin et Anne Cloutier (03Q,P1000,S3,D603). $\text{[↩︎]}$
8. Provost, Honorius (1966, 1986), Citing the 1636 contract as the oldest preserved in Canadian archives. $\text{[↩︎]}$
9. BAnQ: Contrat de mariage entre Robert Drouin et Anne Cloutier, op. cit. $\text{[↩︎]}$
10. Family Search, Mariage / Marriage – Robert Drouin – Anne Cloustier. $\text{[↩︎]}$
11. Document provided, paragraph 3 under “Anne Cloutier” section (Stipulation re: conjugal visits). $\text{[↩︎]}$
12. Généalogie Québec 3052, “Anne Cloutier.” $\text{[↩︎]}$
13. Document provided, section “Enfants connus / Known children” under Anne Cloutier. $\text{[↩︎]}$
14. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
15. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
16. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
17. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
18. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
19. Family Search, Sépulture / burial – Anne Cloutier. $\text{[↩︎]}$
20. “Journal des Jésuites,” page 102. $\text{[↩︎]}$
21. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
22. La Mémoire du Québec, “Cloutier (Anne).” $\text{[↩︎]}$
23. PRDH: Pionnier 22839, “Robert Drouin,” Date et lieu de baptême. $\text{[↩︎]}$
24. Fichier Origine 241331, “Robert Drouin,” Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie. $\text{[↩︎]}$
25. Ville de Québec, Fiche 9884. $\text{[↩︎]}$
26. Document provided, paragraph 4 under “Robert DROUIN” section (1634 Perche document). $\text{[↩︎]}$
27. Fichier Origine 241331, “Robert Drouin.” $\text{[↩︎]}$
28. Document provided, paragraph 9 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Jesuit employment). $\text{[↩︎]}$
29. Document provided, paragraph 18 under “Robert DROUIN” section (1641 land). $\text{[↩︎]}$
30. Wikimedia commons, carte de Beaupré par Jean Bourdon. $\text{[↩︎]}$
31. Document provided, paragraph 19 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Le Tardif concession). $\text{[↩︎]}$
32. Document provided, paragraph 23 under “Robert DROUIN” section (1650 official title). $\text{[↩︎]}$
33. Document provided, paragraph 24 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Additional concessions). $\text{[↩︎]}$
34. Document provided, paragraph 25 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Sale of land). $\text{[↩︎]}$
35. Family Search, BMS 1621-1679, marriage – Robert Drouin – Marie Chapelier. $\text{[↩︎]}$
36. Document provided, paragraph 21 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Second marriage contract). $\text{[↩︎]}$
37. Document provided, section “Enfants / Children – Union avec / with Marie Chapelier.” $\text{[↩︎]}$
38. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
39. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
40. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
41. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
42. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
43. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
44. Ibid. $\text{[↩︎]}$
45. Document provided, paragraph 4 under “Anne Cloutier” section (Children raised by Anne's family). $\text{[↩︎]}$
46. Senécal, Jean-Guy, Recencement de 1666. $\text{[↩︎]}$
47. Senécal, Jean-Guy, Recencement de 1667. $\text{[↩︎]}$
48. Senécal, Jean-Guy, Recencement de 1681. $\text{[↩︎]}$
49. Family Search – Sépulture / Burial – Robert Drouin. $\text{[↩︎]}$
50. Document provided, paragraph 28 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Inventory). $\text{[↩︎]}$
51. Document provided, paragraph 29 under “Robert DROUIN” section (Descendants). $\text{[↩︎]}$