Hélène Desportes

Hélène Desportes is often considered the first French child born in New France. While records are not entirely clear, most historians believe she was born between 1620 and 1621, shortly after her parents arrived in the colony. Her life provides a valuable glimpse into the challenges and experiences of early French settlers in North America.

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Birth: The baptism record for Hélène Desportes has not been found, but historians believe she was born after July 7, 1620, since baptism records started being kept in 1621. So, her birth is estimated around 1620. Ethel Bennett, in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, suggests she was “probably the first white child born along the shores of the St. Lawrence River.”

Parents: Her parents were Pierre Desportes and Françoise Langlois.

Migration to New France: Louis Hébert moved to Quebec with his wife Marie Rollin and their children in 1617. The Desportes family arrived in New France in 1619, around the same time as Abraham Martin (the man the Plains of Abraham are named after) and Françoise Langlois’s sister, Marguerite Langlois, who were from Dieppe. Hélène was one of the first settlers in New France.

In 1619, workers from the company helped build homes for the Recollets, Louis Hébert, a blacksmith, and a baker. It’s likely that the Desportes and Martin families had their own homes, clearing land and planting gardens. By 1620, sixty people spent the winter there.

According to Bennett, Hélène’s father “must have had some prestige among the settlers and was likely able to write, as he was one of the signatories of a petition to the king in 1621.”

About the Desportes Family: We don’t know much about the Desportes family, but it seems they left New France in 1629 when the Kirke brothers took over Quebec. After that, no records show the Desportes family in the area. Hélène, however, likely returned around 1634, possibly with her uncle Abraham Martin and aunt Marguerite Langlois, when Quebec came back under French control.

First Marriage: On October 1, 1634, in the Notre-Dame parish of Quebec, Hélène Desportes, about 14 years old, married Guillaume Hébert, about 20 years old. Guillaume was the son of Louis Hébert and Marie Rollet. Her parents were not witnesses to the marriage contract or ceremony.

Known Children of Hélène and Guillaume Hébert:

• Joseph Hébert (1636 – 1662)
• Françoise Hébert (1638 – 1716)
• Angélique Hébert (1639 – unknown)

On November 3, 1636, Hélène and Guillaume had their first child, a son named Joseph. Then came Françoise on January 23, 1638, and Angélique, baptized on August 2, 1639. Sadly, just two months after Angélique’s birth, Guillaume passed away, leaving Hélène a widow and struggling financially.

The death of Samuel de Champlain, founder of Quebec, on December 25, 1635, shook the small colony. In his will, Champlain gave all his possessions to the Virgin Mary. Françoise Desportes, Hélène’s mother, was one of the few named in his will, inheriting some humble items like pins and cloths—precious items in that time.

Life in Poverty: After Guillaume’s death, Hélène’s life was tough. The sale of her belongings brought in 367 livres, but their home was in such poor condition that it was considered uninhabitable. She had to pay 45 livres to get a feather bed, sheets, and a mattress.

Hélène requested a guardian for her three children, and the document, which still survives, shows her signature.

Second Marriage: Widowed with three children, Hélène didn’t remain single for long. On January 9, 1640, in Quebec, she married Noël Morin, a 31-year-old man from Brie-Comte-Robert, France. Noël, a wagon maker, had been recruited by Robert Giffard and given land in Quebec. Together, they had twelve children.

Known Children of Hélène and Noël Morin:

• Agnès Morin (1641 – 1687)
• Germain Morin (1642 – 1702)
• Louise Morin (1643 – 1713)
• Jean-Baptiste Morin (1645 – 1694)
• Nicolas Morin (1644 – unknown)
• Marguerite Morin (1646 – 1646)
• Hélène Morin (1647 – 1661)
• Marie Morin (1649 – 1730)
• Alphonse Morin (1650 – 1711)
• Noël Morin (1652 – 1666)
• Charles Morin (1654 – 1671)
• Marie-Madeleine Morin (1656 – 1720)

Hélène became a midwife and helped other women in Quebec with childbirth. She also taught her daughter Françoise how to be a midwife.

In 1645, Noël Morin received land in Sainte-Geneviève. The family settled there, and in 1663, Noël was granted more land and became the “lord” of the Rivière La Caille region, which would later become Montmagny.

Census Records: In 1666, the census listed Noël Morin as 57 and Hélène as 46, living with their children and a domestic worker. In 1667, they were listed again, with their children and another worker, having cleared 40 acres of land.

Death: Hélène Desportes died on June 24, 1675, around 54 years old, and was buried in Montmagny. At the time of her death, the family had come a long way from their earlier struggles. Her land in Sainte-Geneviève was sold for 3000 livres. Though her burial record hasn’t survived, it’s noted that she passed away at her son Alphonse’s house.

Legacy

Hélène Desportes is remembered as one of the founding women of New France. Many people with French Canadian ancestry can trace their lineage back to her. Her survival, marriages, and large family played a key role in the early population growth of the colony. As the first European child born in New France, she not only witnessed the birth of Quebec as a colony but also contributed greatly to it, helping many families and raising a large family herself. Many Quebecers trace their ancestry back to her. Today, she stands as a symbol of the strength and resilience of the first European settlers in Canada.

For a broader understanding of the conditions in which Hélène lived, see The Builders of New France, which explores the early settlers’ struggles and triumphs.

• You can find more details on Wikipedia.
• More information is also on Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Desportes, Hélène (1620–Unknown):

• Born: after 7 Jul 1620 in Québec, Canada, Nouvelle France
• Death: 24 June 1675 (aged 54–55) in Saint-Thomas, Québec, Canada, Nouvelle France

Parents:

• Daughter of Pierre Desportes and Françoise Langlois

Marriages:

• Wife of Guillaume (Hebert) Hébert — married 1 Oct 1634 in Québec (Notre Dame), Canada, Nouvelle-France
• Wife of Noël Morin — married 9 Jan 1640 in Notre-Dame de Québec, Canada, Nouvelle-France

Children:

• Joseph Hébert
• Françoise Hébert,
• Angélique Hébert,
• Agnès Morin,
• Germain Morin,
• Louyse Morin,
• Nicolas Morin,
• Jean Baptiste (Morin) Morin de Rochebelle,
• Marguerite Morin,
• Hélène Morin,
• Marie Morin,
• Alphonse Morin,
• Noël Morin,
• Charles Morin and
• Marie Madeleine Morin
  

Resources for Further Learning

If you looking for more information on Hélène Desportes, a significant figure in early New France! Here’s a guide to help you in your search:

Key Resources & Strategies:

1. “Dictionnaire biographique du Canada” (Dictionary of Canadian Biography – DCB): This is an excellent starting point. The DCB provides scholarly biographies of notable figures in Canadian history, and Hélène Desportes is likely included. Search the DCB online for “Hélène Desportes” or variations of her name.
2. “Fichier Origine”: This website (https://www.fichierorigine.com/) is a fantastic resource for researching French-Canadian ancestry. It contains information on immigrants to New France, including women like Hélène Desportes. You can search for her by name and find details about her origins, marriages, and family.
3. “Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes” by Cyprien Tanguay: Tanguay’s genealogical dictionary is a foundational resource for French-Canadian genealogy. Search for Hélène Desportes and her husbands (Guillaume Hébert and Noël Morin) to trace her family connections.
4. Notarial Records (BAnQ): The Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) holds a wealth of notarial records (contracts, land grants, wills, etc.) from the time period.¹ These records can provide valuable details about Hélène Desportes’s life, property ownership, and family relationships. Search for records related to her, her husbands, and her children.
5. Parish Registers (BAnQ): Church records (baptisms, marriages, burials) are essential for genealogical research.² Search the parish registers for Quebec City and other relevant locations for records related to Hélène Desportes and her family.
6. “Histoire des familles Hébert” by Georges Hébert: If you’re interested in her first marriage to Guillaume Hébert, this book might contain additional information about their family.
7. “Les Filles du roi” by Silvio Dumas: While focused on the Filles du roi, this book might mention earlier female immigrants like Hélène Desportes, especially in the context of comparing and contrasting their experiences.
8. Local Historical Societies: Historical societies in the regions where Hélène Desportes lived (especially Quebec City) might have relevant information or publications.
9. Academic Articles and Journals: Scholarly articles on early New France, women in New France, or the Hébert and Morin families might provide further insights. Use academic databases like JSTOR or Project MUSE to search.

Research Tips:

• Name Variations: Be aware that her name might appear in different forms (Desportes, Hébert, Morin). Search using all variations.
• Dates: Knowing her approximate birth and death dates (c. 1620 – 1675) will help you narrow your search.
• Marriages: She was married twice, first to Guillaume Hébert and then to Noël Morin. Researching both marriages will be important.
• Children: Focus on researching her children, as their records can lead you to more information about her.
• Cross-Reference: Always compare information from different sources to ensure accuracy.

Hélène Desportes was an important early settler in New France, and researching her life can provide valuable insights into the challenges and experiences of women in the colony’s formative years.

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