Marie Louise Cloutier – Who Was Zacharie Cloutier’s Youngest Child?

Marie Louise Cloutier was the youngest daughter of Zacharie Cloutier. She’s also my ancestor on my mother’s side, so I feel a special connection to her. As the daughter of a habitant, Cloutier played an essential role in New France. Many French Canadians today can draw their lineage back to her. Learn more about Marie Louise Cloutier, her interesting marriages and her life in New France.

Marie Louise Cloutier’s Early Life in France

Marie Louise Cloutier was born on March 18, 1632, in Mortagne, Perche, France, to Zacharie Cloutier and Xainte Dupont. Baptismal records from the church of Saint-Jean de Mortagne confirm her birthdate. She was the youngest of six siblings, including Zacharie Cloutier Jr., Jean Cloutier, Sainte Cloutier, Anne Cloutier and Charles Cloutier. Sadly, Sainte passed away during childhood.

Life in New France

In 1634, Marie Louise and her family relocated from France to Beauport, a settlement located outside Quebec City in New France. Robert Giffard de Moncel recruited her father, Zacharie, a carpenter, to aid in constructing his manor house and other essential buildings in the burgeoning colony. Upon the Cloutier family’s arrival in 1634, the colony’s population numbered only around 100 individuals.

Marie Louise Cloutier’s First Marriage

On October 26, 1645, Marie Louise Cloutier married François Marguerie in Quebec City, New France, at the young age of 13, while Marguerie was 33 years old. Marguerie, renowned as one of the most colourful figures in the colony, served as a guide and interpreter, earning the nickname “the double man” for his deep immersion in the language and customs of the local tribes.

Tragically, less than three years into their marriage, Marguerie died suddenly in a canoe accident on May 23, 1648. He was accompanied by Jean Amiot when their canoe capsized on the St. Lawrence River near Trois-Rivières, resulting in both men drowning. Marie Louise and Marguerie did not have any children.

Second Marriage

Following François Marguerie’s death, Marie Louise wasted little time before marrying Jean Mignault dit Châtillon on November 10, 1648. Jean Mignault, also spelled Mignot, worked as both a tailor and a soldier.

Before his marriage to Marie Louise, Jean Mignot had expressed interest in marrying an Indigenous woman named Barbe, who resided in an Ursuline convent. However, Barbe chose to honour her parents’ wishes and married an Indigenous man instead.

Marie Louise and Jean Mignault had a large family, raising 14 children together: Jean Aubin Mignot, Thérèse (Mignaux) Migneaux, Sainte (Mignot) Mignault, Marie Madeleine Mignot, Françoise Mignault, Jeanne Mignot, Charles Mignault, Louis (Mignault) Mignot, Nicolas (Mignault) Mignaux, Jean Baptiste (Mignault) Migneault, Marie Mignaut, Marie Charlotte Mignaux and Marie Charlotte Mignot. 

Jean Mignot actively contributed to his father-in-law Zacharie Cloutier’s endeavours, including clearing some of his property. Records indicate that by 1667, Jean had cleared 16 arpents of Zacharie’s land.

Unfortunately, the exact date of Jean Mignault’s death is not known. He passed away before 1681 in Beauport, New France, at an age younger than 58.

Third Marriage

After the passing of her second husband, Jean Mignot, Marie Louise Cloutier entered into a third marriage. On February 3, 1684, she wed Jean Matteau in Château-Richer, New France. At the time of their marriage, Marie Louise was 53 years old, while Jean Matteau was 52. Despite their union, they did not have any children together.

Marie Louise and Jean Matteau resided in Château-Richer until her passing on June 22, 1699. Jean Matteau survived her by several years, passing away on February 10, 1706.

My relation to Marie Louise Cloutier

Connection One

1. Marie Lousie Cloutier (1632 – 1699) and Jean Mignault (1622 – bef. 1681)
2. Antoine Gaboury dit Lemajor (abt. 1635 – bef. 1708) and Jeanne Mignot (1658 – 1713)
3. Marguerite Gaboury (1680 – 1749) and Pierre Vallières (1673 – 1726)
4. Marguerite Vallières (1708 – 1781) and Pierre Michel D’Autour (1701 – bef. 1742)
5. Augustin Dautour (1726 – 1792) and Marie-Geneviève Bergevin (1725 – 1789)
6. Francoise Angelique Dautour (1751 – 1813) and Louis Dufour (1749 – 1809)
7. Pierre Dufour (abt. 1785 – bef. 1900) and Marie Archange Garand (1792 – abt. 1814)
8. Catharine Dufour (1805 – 1912) and Edward Jones (1808 – 1901)
9. Elizabeth Jones (1838 – 1931) and Nathan Brush (1836 – 1903)
10. Amelia Isabella Brush  (1864 – 1935) and Joseph Eli Bondy (1858 -1944)
11. Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973)
12. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
13. Martha Grondin (Born 1950) and Gary Willis (Born 1946) – my parents

Connection Two

1. Marie Lousie Cloutier (1632 – 1699) and Jean Mignault (1622 – bef. 1681)
2. Saint Mignault (1653 – 1736) and Jean Grondin (1640 – 1714)
3. Sébastien Grondin (1687 – 1749) and Marie Anne Pinel (1694 – 1761)
4. Jean Baptiste Grondin (1713 – 1775) and Geneviève Ouellet (1714 – 1761)
5. Joseph Grondin (1742 – 1815) and Marie-Anne Jacques dit Sansoucy (1754 – 1822)
6. Charles Grondin (1780 – bef. 1818) and Francoise Beneteau (1775 – )
7. Charles Grondin (1807 – 1881) and Susanne Renaud (1811 – 1893)
8. Alexandre Grondin (1853 – 1922) and Mary Elizabeth Matevia (1860 – 1931)
9. Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) and Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966)
10. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
11. 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.