Hélène Desportes – The First European Child Born in Canada

Hélène Desportes, one of my French Canadian ancestors, is recognized as one of the earliest settlers in Quebec and a member of one of the founding families of New France. As a pioneer in the colony, she has become a significant figure in French Canadian history. If you want to learn more about Hélène Desportes, join me as I explore her fascinating story.

Early Life

Hélène’s exact date of birth is unknown; however, most sources suggest she was born around 1620 in New France. At that time, Quebec was sparsely populated. Only about 60 people lived in the colony, which comprised French settlers and religious figures, such as the Recollets, who had arrived in 1615.

Because no other children had been born alive in the colony before her birth, Hélène is widely considered the first European child born alive in Canada. She has one more honour — Samuel de Champlain’s wife, Hélène Boullé, was her godmother.

Her parents, Pierre Desportes and Françoise Langlois were early arrivals in Quebec. Some sources say her father arrived alone in Quebec in 1614 while others say he and his wife Françoise Langlois arrived in 1617 and 1620. Françoise’s sister Marguerite Langlois and her husband Abraham Martin also arrived in New France in 1620. Pierre Desportes played an important role in Quebec as the town’s baker. He also managed a warehouse that was part of the fur trade.

In 1629, Hélène Desportes and her parents left New France and returned to France when the Kirke brothers took over the young colony. While in France, both of her parents died. Pierre died on May 18, 1629, and Françoise died at some point before April 20, 1632.

When Quebec was returned to France in 1632, Hélène returned on May 16, 1633, with Marguerite Langlois and Abraham Martin. 

Relationship with Samuel de Champlain

The exact nature of the relationship between Hélène Desportes and Samuel de Champlain remains unclear. As mentioned, Hélène Boullé, Champlain’s wife, was her godmother, establishing one known connection. However, Champlain’s actions suggest a deeper bond, as he left Hélène Desportes 300 livres in his will when he died in Quebec City in 1635 — a sum equivalent to approximately $15,000 in 1997.

Hélène Desportes’ First Marriage

Hélène Desportes married Guillaume Hébert on October 1, 1634 Guillaume was the son of Louis Hébert and Marie Rollet, who also belonged to the Founding Families of Quebec. The Hébert family arrived in 1617 and are considered the first family to settle in New France. 

Hélène and Guillaume had three children, Joseph Hébert, Françoise Hébert and Angélique Hébert, but only Joseph and Françoise survived to adulthood. Joseph died at the age of 24 when he was captured and killed by the Iroquois in the early 1660s, which meant the Hébert name did not carry on. 

In 1636, Hébert received a land grant from Charles Huault de Montmagny, the Governor and Lieutenant General for the King in New France. The plot was located on the outskirts of Quebec, bordered by a road to Cap-Rouge, Abraham Martin’s land and properties owned by Sieur d’Arpentigny and Sieur Hubou.

On September 23, 1639, at 25, Guillaume Hébert passed away in Quebec; however, his cause of death is unclear. Some speculate that he died of smallpox or was killed by the Iroquois. The former seems more likely. His burial took place at Notre Dame parish.

Second Marriage

After Guillaume Hébert died, Hélène Desportes married Noël Morin on January 9, 1640. Morin had come to New France in 1632. Morin, a wheelwright from Brie-Comte-Robert, France, was recruited by Robert Giffard and arrived in Quebec in 1632. 

Desportes and Morin had 12 children: Agnès Morin, Germain Morin, Louyse Morin, Nicolas Morin, Jean Baptiste (Morin) Morin de Rochebelle, Marguerite Morin, Hélène Morin, Marie Morin, Alphonse Morin, Noël Morin, Charles Morin and Marie Madeleine Morin.

While Noël Morin lived until the age of 64, passing away in 1680, Hélène passed away in 1675 at the age of 54. 

Life as a Midwife

In the 1650s, Hélène Desportes began working as a midwife, reportedly learning the trade from her aunt, Marguerite Langlois, who was the first midwife recorded in Quebec’s church records. Desportes’ name appears frequently in parish records, with her first mention as a midwife dating back to 1659.

Two of Hélène’s daughters, Françoise and Louise, followed in her footsteps and also became midwives.

Hélène Desportes’ Legacy

Hélène Desportes holds a special place in Quebec’s history. As the colony of New France was only founded in 1608, her family’s early arrival marks them as some of the first settlers. By 1625, when only seven families were living in the settlement, Hélène and her parents, Pierre and Françoise Desportes, were among them. 

Desportes has numerous Canadian and American descendants, including some more famous people, such as Pierre Trudeau, Jack Kerouac, Madonna, Celine Dion, Justin Trudeau, Shemar Moore, Jim Carrey, Nathan Fillion, Angelina Jolie, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough and Bridget Fonda.

My Relation to Hélène Desportes

I have two connections to Hélène Desportes in my family tree through my mother. 

Connection One

1. Noël Morin (abt. 1616 – 1680) and Marie Hélène Desportes (aft. 1620 – 1675)
2. Louyse Morin (1643 – 1713) and Charles Cloutier (1629 – 1709) 
3. Marie Cloutier (1679 – 1744) and Joseph Gagnon (abt. 1677 – 1745)
4. François Gagnon (1711 – 1757) and Marie Thecle Deblois (1716 – 1748)
5. Marie Francoise Gagnon (1742 – 1745) and Pierre François Labaleine Bénéteau (1745 – 1803)
6. Francoise Beneteau (1775) and Charles Grondin (1780 – bef. 1818)
7. Charles Grondin (1807 – 1881) and Susanne Renaud (1811 – 1893)
8. Alexander Grondin (1853 – 1922) and Elizabeth Metivier(1860 – 1931)
9. Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) and Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and) 
10. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
11. Martha Grondin (Born 1950) and Gary Willis (Born 1946) – my parents

Connection Two

1. Noël Morin (abt. 1616 – 1680) and Marie Hélène Desportes (aft. 1620 – 1675)
2. Agnès Morin (1641 – 1687) and Nicolas Gaudry dit Bourbonnière (abt. 1620 – 1669)
3. Marie Françoise Gaudry dit Bourbonnière (1662 – bef. 1710) and Jean Pilote (1657 – 1738)
4. Marie Anne Pilote (1701 – 1744) and Antoine Tremblay (1698 – 1758)
5. Marie Marguerite Tremblay (1725 – 1768) and Guillaume LaForest (1725 – abt. 1782)
6. Marie Archange LaForest (1766 – 1797)) and Simon Drouillard (abt. 1762 – aft. 1810)
7. Marguerite Drouillard (1790 – aft. 1832) and Jacques Larchevêque (1777 – aft. 1832)
8. Marie Marguerite Larche (1821 – 1902) and Jean Metivier (1807 – 1883)
9. Elizabeth Metivier (1860 – 1931) and Charles Alexander Grondin (1853 – 1922) 
10. Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) and Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966)
11. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
12. Martha Grondin (Born 1950) and Gary Willis (Born 1946) – my parents

Do you want to know more about the earliest settlers in New France? Check out New France’s Founding Families and Their Fascinating Stories.