Individual Details
Suzanne Delavoye
(25 May 1650 - 24 Jul 1687)
The Life and Journey of Suzanne De LavoyeEarly Life in Aytré, Aunis (1650–1665)
Suzanne De Lavoye (also recorded as Lavoie, Delavoix, or de la Voye) was born in the spring of 1650 in the coastal village of Aytré, near the Protestant stronghold of La Rochelle in the province of Aunis, France. She was baptized on May 29, 1650, at the parish church of Saint-Étienne, the eldest surviving daughter of Pierre De Lavoye and Jacquette Grignon.
Growing up in Aytré during a period of socio-economic rebuilding in western France, Suzanne was part of a large family. Her parents recorded the births and baptisms of several children at Saint-Étienne d'Aytré:
• Jean De Lavoye (b. October 1, 1651; d. November 9, 1652)
• Catherine De Lavoye (b. January 28, 1653)
• Jean De Lavoye (b. April 2, 1654)
• Marguerite De Lavoye (b. December 12, 1655)
• Marie De Lavoye (b. April 1, 1657)
• Michel De Lavoye (b. April 11, 1659)
• Olive De Lavoye (b. December 11, 1663)
First Voyage to New France and Marriage to Jean Tesson (1666–1668)
In the spring of 1666, at sixteen years of age, Suzanne joined the transatlantic migration to New France as a young pioneer. Arriving in Quebec City, she met Jean Tesson, a native of Coignac near La Rochelle and an inhabitant of Charlesbourg.
On August 24, 1666, before notary Romain Becquet, Suzanne signed a marriage contract bringing a modest dowry of 200 livres. The couple was officially married on September 13, 1666, at the Church of Notre-Dame de Québec. They established a homestead on a land grant in the village of Charlesbourg within the Seigniory of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.
However, their stay in the colony was short-lived. On August 29, 1667, Jean Tesson and Suzanne sold their land concession to Pierre Rolandeau for 120 livres and boarded a vessel back to France. Shortly after returning to Aunis in late 1667, Suzanne gave birth to a daughter, also named Suzanne.
Widows, Contracts, and Return to Canada (1669–1687)
By early 1669, Jean Tesson had died in France, leaving Suzanne a young widow with an infant child.
On March 27, 1669, in La Rochelle, Suzanne signed a second marriage contract before notary Jean Rabusson with Pierre Guibert, a mariner from Les Sables-d'Olonne (Poitou) and son of Étienne Guibert and Marguerite Gibouleau. Around the same time, Pierre Guibert was listed among the indentured laborers (engagés) hired by merchant Pierre Gaigneur to travel to Canada (recorded by notary Teuleron).
While historical debate exists regarding whether this contract was formally fulfilled or replaced by another arrangement, Suzanne returned to New France that summer. By August 11, 1669, she was united with Pierre Girard in Quebec, establishing a permanent home at the Côte de Desmaures (Neuville).
Over the following decade, Suzanne and Pierre Girard raised a large family at Neuville, having eight children.
Passing and Memory (1687)
Suzanne De Lavoye passed away on July 24, 1687, at the age of thirty-seven. She was buried the same day in the parish cemetery of Saint-François-de-Sales in Neuville, New France.
Following her death, her husband Pierre Girard managed the family homestead until his death in 1710, securing guardianship records for her surviving minor children on June 21, 1700.
Family Summary
• Parents: Pierre De Lavoye and Jacquette Grignon (of Aytré, Aunis, France)
•
Spouses:
1. Jean Tesson (married September 13, 1666, Quebec City; died c. 1668, France)
2. Pierre Guibert / Pierre Girard (marriage contract March 27, 1669, La Rochelle; settled at Neuville, Quebec)
• Children:
1. Suzanne Tesson (born November 1667, France)
2. Jean-Pierre Girard (born c. 1677)
3. Marie-Françoise Girard (born c. 1684)
4. Louis-Pierre Girard (born c. 1686) (And additional siblings recorded in Neuville parish registers)
References and Sources
1. Perron, Guy. Le blogue de Guy Perron: L'Aytrésienne Suzanne De Lavoie (1650–1687). Research on La Rochelle emigrants and notary contracts (Jean Rabusson, 27 mars 1669; Teuleron, 1669).
2. Fichier Origine. Notice no. 242318 (Suzanne De Lavoie / Lavoie).
3. Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH). Université de Montréal, Registres paroissiaux de Saint-Étienne d'Aytré, Notre-Dame de Québec, et Saint-François-de-Sales de Neuville.
4. Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec des origines à 1730. Presses de l'Université de Montréal.
5. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). Actes des notaires Romain Becquet (24 août 1666), Paul Vachon (29 août 1667), et François Genaple (22 juin 1700).
Suzanne De Lavoye (also recorded as Lavoie, Delavoix, or de la Voye) was born in the spring of 1650 in the coastal village of Aytré, near the Protestant stronghold of La Rochelle in the province of Aunis, France. She was baptized on May 29, 1650, at the parish church of Saint-Étienne, the eldest surviving daughter of Pierre De Lavoye and Jacquette Grignon.
Growing up in Aytré during a period of socio-economic rebuilding in western France, Suzanne was part of a large family. Her parents recorded the births and baptisms of several children at Saint-Étienne d'Aytré:
• Jean De Lavoye (b. October 1, 1651; d. November 9, 1652)
• Catherine De Lavoye (b. January 28, 1653)
• Jean De Lavoye (b. April 2, 1654)
• Marguerite De Lavoye (b. December 12, 1655)
• Marie De Lavoye (b. April 1, 1657)
• Michel De Lavoye (b. April 11, 1659)
• Olive De Lavoye (b. December 11, 1663)
First Voyage to New France and Marriage to Jean Tesson (1666–1668)
In the spring of 1666, at sixteen years of age, Suzanne joined the transatlantic migration to New France as a young pioneer. Arriving in Quebec City, she met Jean Tesson, a native of Coignac near La Rochelle and an inhabitant of Charlesbourg.
On August 24, 1666, before notary Romain Becquet, Suzanne signed a marriage contract bringing a modest dowry of 200 livres. The couple was officially married on September 13, 1666, at the Church of Notre-Dame de Québec. They established a homestead on a land grant in the village of Charlesbourg within the Seigniory of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.
However, their stay in the colony was short-lived. On August 29, 1667, Jean Tesson and Suzanne sold their land concession to Pierre Rolandeau for 120 livres and boarded a vessel back to France. Shortly after returning to Aunis in late 1667, Suzanne gave birth to a daughter, also named Suzanne.
Widows, Contracts, and Return to Canada (1669–1687)
By early 1669, Jean Tesson had died in France, leaving Suzanne a young widow with an infant child.
On March 27, 1669, in La Rochelle, Suzanne signed a second marriage contract before notary Jean Rabusson with Pierre Guibert, a mariner from Les Sables-d'Olonne (Poitou) and son of Étienne Guibert and Marguerite Gibouleau. Around the same time, Pierre Guibert was listed among the indentured laborers (engagés) hired by merchant Pierre Gaigneur to travel to Canada (recorded by notary Teuleron).
While historical debate exists regarding whether this contract was formally fulfilled or replaced by another arrangement, Suzanne returned to New France that summer. By August 11, 1669, she was united with Pierre Girard in Quebec, establishing a permanent home at the Côte de Desmaures (Neuville).
Over the following decade, Suzanne and Pierre Girard raised a large family at Neuville, having eight children.
Passing and Memory (1687)
Suzanne De Lavoye passed away on July 24, 1687, at the age of thirty-seven. She was buried the same day in the parish cemetery of Saint-François-de-Sales in Neuville, New France.
Following her death, her husband Pierre Girard managed the family homestead until his death in 1710, securing guardianship records for her surviving minor children on June 21, 1700.
Family Summary
• Parents: Pierre De Lavoye and Jacquette Grignon (of Aytré, Aunis, France)
•
Spouses:
1. Jean Tesson (married September 13, 1666, Quebec City; died c. 1668, France)
2. Pierre Guibert / Pierre Girard (marriage contract March 27, 1669, La Rochelle; settled at Neuville, Quebec)
• Children:
1. Suzanne Tesson (born November 1667, France)
2. Jean-Pierre Girard (born c. 1677)
3. Marie-Françoise Girard (born c. 1684)
4. Louis-Pierre Girard (born c. 1686) (And additional siblings recorded in Neuville parish registers)
References and Sources
1. Perron, Guy. Le blogue de Guy Perron: L'Aytrésienne Suzanne De Lavoie (1650–1687). Research on La Rochelle emigrants and notary contracts (Jean Rabusson, 27 mars 1669; Teuleron, 1669).
2. Fichier Origine. Notice no. 242318 (Suzanne De Lavoie / Lavoie).
3. Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH). Université de Montréal, Registres paroissiaux de Saint-Étienne d'Aytré, Notre-Dame de Québec, et Saint-François-de-Sales de Neuville.
4. Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec des origines à 1730. Presses de l'Université de Montréal.
5. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). Actes des notaires Romain Becquet (24 août 1666), Paul Vachon (29 août 1667), et François Genaple (22 juin 1700).
Events
| Birth | 25 May 1650 | Saint-Étienne, Aytré, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France |  | ||
| Christen | 29 May 1650 | Saint-Étienne, Aytré, Charente-Maritime, France | |||
| Marriage | 13 Sep 1666 | Québec, Québec, Canada - Jean Tesson | | ||
| Marriage | 27 Mar 1669 | Québec, Québec, Canada - Pierre Girard | | ||
| Death | 24 Jul 1687 | Neuville, Québec, Canada | | ||
| Burial | 24 Jul 1687 | Saint-François-De-Sales, Québec, Canada, New France |
Families
| Spouse | Jean Tesson (1646 - 1669) |
| Spouse | Pierre Girard (1645 - 1710) |
| Child | Marie Francoise Girard (1683 - 1741) |
| Father | Pierre Delavoye (1631 - 1708) |
| Mother | Jacquette Grignon (1635 - 1664) |
| Sibling | Olive Delavoye (1654 - 1729) |
| Sibling | Marie Lavoie (1657 - 1727) |
| Sibling | Jean Delavoye (1661 - 1724) |
Endnotes
1. Diane Lebrun , "Ancestors of Calixte Perreault," pp. 1-137; Unpublished family tree, 2025-02-04, Al Perreault, Calgary, AB, Canada.
2. Diane Lebrun , "Ancestors of Calixte Perreault," pp. 1-137; Unpublished family tree, 2025-02-04, Al Perreault, Calgary, AB, Canada.
3. Diane Lebrun , "Ancestors of Calixte Perreault," pp. 1-137; Unpublished family tree, 2025-02-04, Al Perreault, Calgary, AB, Canada.
4. Diane Lebrun , "Ancestors of Calixte Perreault," pp. 1-137; Unpublished family tree, 2025-02-04, Al Perreault, Calgary, AB, Canada.