François Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1646-after 1700) & Anne Lepere (c. 1651-after 1700)

François Pinsonneau dit Lafleur: The Soldier

Origins and Early Life

François Pinsonneau (also spelled Pinsonnault), known by the dit name "Lafleur," was born around 1646 in France. Records suggest he originated from the parish of Saint-Médard in Paris [^1].

His parents were:

Military Career and Settlement

François arrived in New France around 1665 as a soldier in the Carignan-Salières Regiment, specifically serving in the Saint-Ours company [^2]. The regiment was instrumental in defending the colony against Iroquois attacks.

After his military service, François chose to remain in New France as a settler (habitant) in the Montreal region, establishing himself at Laprairie (La Prairie de la Madeleine), south of Montreal [^3]. This pattern of settlement was common for many former soldiers of the regiment.

Anne Lepere: The King's Daughter

Origins and Fille du Roi

Anne Lepere (sometimes recorded as Leper) was born around 1651 in France. She was a Fille du Roi (King's Daughter), one of approximately 800 women sent to New France between 1663 and 1673 as part of a royal program to boost the colony's population and address the severe gender imbalance [^4].

Her parents were:

Anne arrived in New France in 1669 [^5]. Her journey as a Fille du Roi is a significant chapter in the colony's demographic growth, forming the foundation of French-Canadian society.

Marriage and Family

François Pinsonneau and Anne Lepere were married on September 30, 1670, at Montreal [^6]. Their marriage contract was executed shortly before, on September 22, 1670, by notary Bénigne Basset [^7].

Children

François and Anne had several children, including:

  1. François Pinsonneau: Baptized November 7, 1673, at Montreal [^8].
  2. Jean-Baptiste Pinsonneau: Born circa 1675.
  3. Jacques Pinsonneau: Born circa 1677.
  4. Marie-Anne Pinsonneau: Born circa 1680.
  5. Catherine Pinsonneau: Born circa 1682.
  6. Antoine Pinsonneau: Born circa 1684.

Land Holdings and Later Life

François was granted land in Laprairie (La Prairie de la Madeleine), which was part of the seigneury owned by the Jesuit Order [^9].

The couple appears to have remained in the Laprairie area throughout their lives. François is believed to have died sometime after 1700, though the exact date is not clearly established. Limited information exists regarding the later years and death of Anne Lepere.

Legacy and Historical Context

The Pinsonneau family, like many founded by a former Carignan-Salières soldier and a Fille du Roi, contributed directly to the establishment and defense of the French settlement around Montreal. The Carignan-Salières Regiment's arrival in 1665 was pivotal, and the Filles du Roi program was crucial for establishing stable families. The Pinsonneau family descendants continued to live in the region, with the surname often evolving to Pinsonnault in later records.

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

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

Sources

[^1]: Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec: des origines à 1730. Montréal: Presses de l’Université de Montréal, 1983, p. 918. [^2]: Verney, Jack. The Good Regiment: The Carignan-Salières Regiment in Canada, 1665-1668. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1991, pp. 120-130. [^3]: Trudel, Marcel. La Population du Canada en 1666: Recensement reconstitué. Montréal: Éditions du Septentrion, 1995, p. 245. [^4]: Landry, Yves. Les Filles du roi au XVIIe siècle: Orphelines en France, pionnières au Canada. Montréal: Leméac, 1992, p. 325. [^5]: Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH), Université de Montréal, Individual #66813. [^6]: Registre de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal, September 30, 1670. [^7]: Parchemin Database, Société de recherche historique Archiv-Histo, Notarial act by Bénigne Basset, September 22, 1670. [^8]: Registre de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal, November 7, 1673. [^9]: Mathieu, Jacques. La Nouvelle-France: Les Français en Amérique du Nord, XVIe-XVIIIe siècle. Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval, 2001, pp. 160-165.

Digital Archives and Resources

For further research on François Pinsonneau, Anne Lepere, and their descendants, the following resources may be helpful: