Individual Details

Pierre Guillet

(Abt 1628 - 8 May 1695)

Events

Birth	Abt 1628	La Rochelle, Aunis, France
Marriage	Abt 1648	Québec, Canada, Nouvelle-France - Jeanne de St Pere
Death	8 May 1695	Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Trois-Rivières, Canada, Nouvelle-France
Burial	8 May 1695	Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Trois-Rivières, Canada, Nouvelle-France
Life sketch		DRAFT BIOGRAPHY IN PROGRESS Pierre Guillet dit Lajeunesse was born in 1627 in La Rochelle, located in the Département de la Charente‑Maritime in the Poitou‑Charentes region of France. Like many young men of his time, his early years were marked by the maritime culture and vibrant trade that characterized La Rochelle—a major seaport that connected France to the wider Atlantic world. In keeping with a common 17th‑century French practice, Pierre carried a “dit” name—Lajeunesse—which likely distinguished his branch of the Guillet family. The epithet “dit Lajeunesse” (meaning “called Youth”) may have been used either to distinguish him from other relatives or to highlight a personal characteristic admired by his community. At some point during his early adulthood, Pierre chose the challenging path of emigration—a decision that would forever alter the course of his family’s destiny. Drawn by the promise of new opportunities in New France, he made his way across the Atlantic and eventually settled in what is now Quebec. His new home became Cap‑de‑la‑Madeleine in the Mauricie region, a location that was part of the early pulse of French colonial life in North America. During his time in New France, Pierre Guillet dit Lajeunesse would have been part of the colony’s gradual transformation under the seigneurial system, participating in the social and economic life that helped fuel the growth and development of the colony. Although specific details of his occupation or personal endeavors are not extensively recorded in the surviving documents, his life in Cap‑de‑la‑Madeleine suggests that he embraced the challenges of colonial life—adapting to a new world while maintaining the cultural and familial traditions of his French heritage. Pierre died on 8 May 1695 in Cap‑de‑la‑Madeleine. His death marked the end of an era for the earliest generation of French colonists in the region. Yet, his legacy was firmly planted; his descendants continued to build and shape the fabric of Canadian society. Today, the Guillet dit Lajeunesse line is an enduring reminder of the courage and enterprise that propelled many French settlers from regions such as La Rochelle to the challenging frontiers of New France. This biography not only emphasizes Pierre’s journey from France to Canada but also situates him within the broader context of 17th‑century migration and colonial expansion. His life story—though only fragmentarily recorded—acts as the cornerstone for subsequent generations and is a cherished part of my family history. .Arrivée: 1642 Occupation à l'arrivée: Charpentier

Families

Spouse	Jeanne de St Pere (1627 - 1669)
Child	Madeleine Guillet (1650 - 1736)
Child	Louis La Jeunesse (1657 - 1730)

Endnotes