Marie Grandin & Jacques David dit Pontife: Pioneers of Château-Richer
Jacques David dit Pontife (c. 1632 – pre-1681)
Jacques David, known by the dit name Pontife, was a sailor and caulker who became an early settler of New France.
Origins and Arrival
- Born: Circa 1632 in Notre-Dame de Bracquemont, Dieppe, Normandy, France [^9].
- Parents: Blaise Didier David and Flavie (Fleurie) Morel [^9].
- Arrival in New France: The exact date is unknown. His earliest recorded presence is on December 10, 1658, when he acquired property on the Beaupré coast with Jacques Lesot [^10].
Death
Jacques David died in La-Visitation-de-Notre-Dame, Château-Richer, before 1681, as his wife is recorded as a widow in the 1681 census [^13]. An inventory of the couple's goods was taken on August 19, 1686, by notary Étienne Jacob [^14].
Marie Grandin (c. 1646 – 1728)
Marie Grandin (variations: Grandry, Granderie) was one of the early female settlers who migrated to the colony to marry.
Origins and Migration
- Born: Circa 1646 in St-André-des-Arts, Paris, France [^1].
- Parents: Claude Grandry and Jeanne Doussin/Toussain [^1].
- Baptism Note: Fichier Origine records a baptism on August 7, 1653, but this would make her only 9 at the time of her marriage. The c. 1646 birth year, making her 16 at marriage, is considered more plausible [^2].
- Arrival in New France: 1662 [^2].
Death
Marie Granderie died on June 29, 1728, and was buried the same day in the cemetery of La-Visitation-de-Notre-Dame in Château-Richer [^8]. She was approximately 82 years old (though the burial record states 90).
Marriage and Family Life
Jacques David and Marie Grandin were married on August 29, 1662, at the parish of La-Visitation-de-Notre-Dame, Château-Richer [^3], [^11].
Census Records
The family's settlement life on the Beaupré coast is documented in the 17th-century censuses:
- 1666 Census (Beaupré): Jacques David dit Pontife, 35 (sailor and caulker); Marie Grandry, 20; Marie, 2; Jean, 1 [^6].
- 1667 Census (Côte de Beaupré): Jacques David, 36; Marie Grandre, 22; Marie, 4; Jean, 2; owning 2 cattle and 8 arpents under cultivation [^6].
- 1681 Census (Seigneurie de Beaupré): Marie Grandery, widow, 30; children: Marie, 18; Jean, 16; Marguerite, 15; Jeanne, 12; Anne, 10; Jacques, 7; owning 3 horned cattle and 10 arpents under cultivation [^7].
Children
The couple had six children, all born in Château-Richer:
- Marie David (b. Dec 5, 1663); m. Noël Faveron (1681).
- Jean David (b. Oct 12, 1665); m. Marie Anne Prévost (1692).
- Marguerite David (b. Nov 2, 1667); m. Joseph Lesot (1689).
- Jeanne David (b. Nov 5, 1669); m. Germain Gagnon (1688).
- Jacques David (b. Oct 22, 1670); mentioned in Hôtel-Dieu de Québec records in 1689 [^4].
- Anne David (b. Jun 7, 1672); m. Vincent Gaignon (1694) [^5].
Credits and Licensing
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.
Sources
[^1]: Tanguay, Cyprien. Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Canadiennes... (Montréal, 1887), Vol 1, p. 160. [^2]: Fichier Origine, Marie Grandry, record 241871. [^3]: Marriage record of Jacques David & Marie Grandry, FamilySearch. [^4]: Hôtel-Dieu de Québec register, p. 27. [^5]: Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec des origines à 1730 (1983), p. 312. [^6]: Censuses of 1666-1667 in New France, referring to Chapter IV of Benjamin Sulte's Histoire des Canadiens Français. [^7]: 1681 Census according to Benjamin Sulte, Histoire des Canadiens-français, Tome 5, chap. 4. [^8]: Burial record of Marie Granderie, FamilySearch. [^9]: Confirmation by marriage record. [^10]: Guillaume Audouart, Acts, Files 1-837 (Sep 15, 1634 – Nov 23, 1659), FamilySearch. [^11]: Marriage record of Jacques David & Marie Grandin, FamilySearch. [^12]: Fichier Origine, Marie Grandry, record 241871. [^13]: Hôtel-Dieu de Québec register, p. 27. [^14]: BAnQ Notarial Acts Index, Inventaire des greffes des notaires du régime français, Inventory of Jacques David & Marie Granderye, August 19, 1686, Notary Étienne Jacob.