Illustrations de Les Voyages de Champlain: Isle Ste Croix 1613 This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.

Françoise Langlois

Birth and Early Life

Françoise Langlois was born around 1602 in Normandy, France, likely in or near Lisieux.[1] The names of her parents are unknown, and no record of her birth has yet been found. It is established that she was not the daughter of Guillaume Langlois and Jeanne Millet, and had no familial relationship with Noël Langlois.[2][3]

Marriage and Family

Around 1616, Françoise married Pierre Desportes, son of Louis Desportes and Anne Dupoteau, who was an employee for the Company of 100 Associates, representing France’s interests in the New World.[1:1] Shortly after the birth of their only child, Marie-Hélène (also referred to simply as Hélène Desportes), Pierre and Françoise decided to leave for Quebec.

Journey to the New World

The couple departed for New France, taking along Françoise’s two younger sisters, Marie and Marguerite Langlois. The small group arrived at Tadoussac aboard the ship ‘Le Sallemande’ on August 30, 1620. From there, they were transferred to the Kebec Habitation (Quebec settlement), where Pierre would be employed.

Life in New France

Françoise Langlois and Pierre Desportes are documented as being in Quebec, New France, as early as 1619. They lived in Canada, New France during this period. Their presence in Quebec predated the arrival of the ‘Le Sallemande,’ suggesting they may have made an earlier journey or that there is some discrepancy in the historical record.

Return to France and Death

On July 24, 1629, following the conquest of Quebec by the Kirk brothers, Françoise Langlois, Pierre Desportes, and their daughter Hélène traveled back to France. Françoise died in France, in Dieppe (Saint-Jacques parish), and was buried there on April 20, 1632.[1:2] She passed away before being able to return to New France, though her husband and daughter Hélène did eventually return to the colony.

Family Connections

There is documented evidence confirming that Marguerite Langlois was Françoise’s sister. The relevant text from the 1665 marriage contract between Marguerite Langlois and René Branche states: “et de la part de ladite future épouse l’honorable homme Noël Morin habitant du pays son nepveu” (and on behalf of the said future wife, the honorable man Noël Morin, inhabitant of the country, her nephew). (page 1)

The only individuals named Noël Morin in the colony at that time were Noël Morin and his son Noël Morin. Any others with this name were born after this marriage contract. It is highly unlikely that this refers to the son, who would have been only 13 years old at the time, and thus not qualifying as an “honorable man.”

The parents of Noël Morin are known, and neither was named either Langlois or Martin. Therefore, Noël can only be considered Marguerite’s nephew by marriage; he was the second husband of Hélène Desportes, who was the daughter of Françoise Langlois. This is how Marguerite and Françoise are demonstrated to be sisters.

Sources

  1. Fichier Origine: http://www.fichierorigine.com/recherche?numero=250052 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Dossier annexe fichier Origine: http://www.fichierorigine.com/dossiers/250052.pdf (see “Françoise Langlois, Pierre [Desportes]’s wife and Marguerite’s sister”) ↩︎

  3. Francogene, dossier Inconnu Langlois père de Françoise et Marguerite, avec données ADN: http://www.francogene.com/genealogie-quebec-genealogy/003/003966.php ↩︎

ManyRoads