Robidou-Denote Marriage 7 Jun 1667

André Robidou dit l’Espagnol & Jeanne Denote

André Robidou dit l’Espagnol’s story is fascinating, and there’s more to explore. Born around 1640 in Galicia, Spain, André made his way to France, where he worked as a sailor in Nantes before signing a three-year indenture contract to work in New France. He arrived in Québec in 1661 and eventually settled in Laprairie (now La Prairie, Québec). His tale offers another compelling example of the soldiers of the Carignan-Salières Regiment who transitioned from military service to the challenges and opportunities of settler life in New France. His nickname, l’Espagnol (the Spaniard), is intriguing, hinting at a possible connection to Spanish territories, whether through his origins, travel, or perhaps even ancestry. This detail adds a layer of complexity to his background and raises questions about his journey to New France. As a soldier in the Carignan-Salières Regiment, Robidou played a role in King Louis XIV’s strategy to solidify French control over the region and protect it from Iroquois attacks. He would have participated in the regiment’s key activities: building and garrisoning forts along the St. Lawrence River, patrolling the frontier, and potentially engaging in military expeditions against the Iroquois. These campaigns, while often arduous and dangerous, were essential to establishing a degree of security that allowed the colony to grow.

André married Jeanne Denot, a “fille du roi,” in 1667, and they had at least five children together. After André’s sudden death in 1678, Jeanne remarried Jacques Surprenant dit Sansoucy, a soldier with the Carignan Regiment, and had eight more children.

  • Children:
    • Romaine (Robidoux) Robidou
    • Marguerite Robidou
    • Jeanne (Robidou) Robidou
    • Guillaume Robidou
    • Joseph (Robidou dit Lespagnol) Robidou
    • Jean Surprenant,
    • Marguerite (Surprenant) Supernand,
    • Pierre (Supernant) Surprenant,
    • Laurent Surprenant,
    • Catherine (Supernand) Surprenant,
    • Claude Supernant,
    • Marie (Surprenant) Supernant
    • Anne (Supernan) Supernant

André’s Life in New France

  • Sailor and Settler: André worked as a sailor, a soldier with the Carignan Regiment and later a settler, taking up farming and contributing to the colony’s agricultural development.
  • Land Concession: In 1664, André received a land concession from the Hôtel-Dieu in Québec, located on the côte and seigneurie of Lauzon (present-day Lévis, Québec).
  • Community Life: André was part of the community in Laprairie, where he exchanged land with Jean Caillou and sold property to Pierre Lefebvre.

Jeanne’s Story

  • Jeanne was born about 1645 in Paris, Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, Île-de-France, France
  • Fille du Roi: Jeanne Denot was a “fille du roi,” one of the many women sent to New France as part of a program to encourage settlement and marriage.
  • Widowhood and Remarriage: After André’s death, Jeanne remarried Jacques Surprenant dit Sansoucy, another soldier with the Carignan Regiment, and had eight more children.

The Robidou family’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination of the early settlers of New France.

ManyRoads