Marie Brazeau & Sylvain Guérin

Madeline Clement & Charles Marin Deneau

Marie Brazeau

Biography

Serge Bouchard recounts the tumultuous life of Marie Brazeau, a woman who lived in Ville-Marie (modern-day Montreal). Through her story, we gain insight into daily life in the early days of the colony.¹

Context

The story takes place in the second half of the 17th century. Montreal, then known as Ville-Marie, was a town frequently attacked by the Iroquois. Epidemics ravaged the population, and the fur trade was booming. Ville-Marie was also a religious center for fanatics and had a population of fewer than 1,500 people. In New France, single women aged 25 and older, as well as widows, could represent themselves in court.²

Immigration to New France

Marie Brazeau arrived in Ville-Marie in 1681 with her parents, brothers, and a child, but no husband. Her father, Nicolas Brazeau, was a cartwright, a craftsman who made carts. Due to difficult socio-economic conditions, the Brazeau family decided to emigrate to Canada. The journey was perilous, with nonexistent hygiene conditions.³

Early Life and Marriage

In 1685, Marie’s husband, Sylvain Guérin, joined her in Ville-Marie, and they settled together. In 1686, the couple opened a tavern in their home, which was illegal but tolerated by the authorities. They had two more children. In 1688, Sylvain Guérin returned to France and never came back. Marie Brazeau was left to support her family alone. In 1690, she obtained land and built a house.⁴

Legal Struggles

Marie Brazeau frequently found herself in court, either fighting to get paid or being sued for debts. Almost every month, she appeared before a judge. Numerous notarial acts document the key moments of her life. Her father sued her to recover money borrowed by her son-in-law, who was hanged for bigamy. Marie also pursued a former lover, detailing everything that had happened between them. In 1695, her house was seized, but her father bought it. Eventually, she found happiness with Guillaume Tougas, with whom she had six children. However, this was not her last marriage.⁵

Death and Legacy

Marie Brazeau died in 1735. She left many descendants in New France, including Rémi Tougas, the author of the historical novel Marie Brazeau, Femme en Nouvelle-France.⁶

Marriages and Children

Marie Brazeau was married four times and had children from her first two marriages, as well as illegitimate children.

First Marriage: Sylvain Guérin

Marie Brazeau and Sylvain Guérin were married on October 30, 1679, in Amboise, France. They had the following children:⁷

Marie, born around 1681; married Guillaume Robidaut on June 11, 1697, in Montreal.
Raphaël, baptized on October 19, 1686, in Montreal.
Antoine, baptized on August 16, 1688, in Montreal; married Catherine Dardenne on April 7, 1712, in Montreal.

Sylvain Guérin returned to France and was found to be a bigamist. He was executed for this crime in 1692.⁸

Illegitimate Children

Marie Brazeau had the following illegitimate children:⁹

Antoine Baujan, son of Antoine Baujan, baptized on July 9, 1691, in Montreal.
Joseph Baujan, son of Antoine Baujan, baptized on March 17, 1693, in Montreal; married Marie Goguet on November 17, 1721, in Montreal.
Thérèse Brasau, father unknown, born on March 1, 1695, baptized on March 2, 1695, in Quebec; married Paul Daniel Bizet on January 20, 1716, in Montreal.

Second Marriage: Guillaume Tougas

Marie Brazeau married Guillaume Tougas on November 10, 1698, in Montreal. They had the following children:¹⁰

Guillaume, born and baptized on September 16, 1699, in Montreal; married Reine Viau on November 4, 1727, in Longueuil.
Marie Anne, born and baptized on June 27, 1701, in Montreal; married Daniel Gélinot on November 15, 1716, in Montreal.
Marie, born on February 13, 1703, baptized on February 14, 1703, in Montreal; married Pierre Cadieu on November 5, 1725, in Montreal.
Gabriel, born on November 21, 1704, baptized on November 23, 1704, in Montreal; married Marguerite Letendre on August 31, 1733, in Montreal.
Charles Tougas, born on October 15, 1706, baptized on October 16, 1706, in Montreal.
Pélagie, born and baptized on January 9, 1708, in Montreal; married Pierre Leduc on June 12, 1730, in Montreal.

Third Marriage: Didier Bourgouin

Marie Brazeau remarried on October 29, 1712, to Didier Bourgouin in Quebec. This marriage produced no children.¹¹

Fourth Marriage: Pierre Tastet

Marie Brazeau remarried on June 18, 1713, to Pierre Tastet in Montreal. This marriage also produced no children.¹²

Death

Marie Brazeau died on May 29, 1735, and was buried the following day in Montreal. She was listed as a 75-year-old widow of Pierre Tastet.¹³

Sylvain Guérin

Biography

Sylvain Guérin was born on September 24, 1659, in Tours, France. He married Marie Brazeau in 1679 in Amboise, France. They had at least two sons and one daughter. Sylvain worked as a shoemaker and immigrated to New France in 1685. However, he returned to France in 1689 and was executed for bigamy in 1692.¹⁴

Marriage and Children

Sylvain Guérin and Marie Brazeau were married on October 30, 1679, in Amboise, France. They had the following children:¹⁵

Marie, born in 1680 in Amboise; married Guillaume Robidaut on June 11, 1697, in Montreal.
Raphaël, baptized on October 19, 1686, in Montreal.
Antoine, baptized on August 16, 1688, in Montreal; married Catherine Dardenne on April 7, 1712, in Montreal.

Sylvain Guérin was hanged in Amboise in 1692 for bigamy.¹⁶

Notarial Acts

The following are translations of the notarial acts related to Marie Brazeau:¹⁷

Obligation of Louis Le Compte Dupré against Marie Brazeau, wife of Sylvain Guérin (January 21, 1692). Volume V, page 152, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Obligation for M. de La Chesnaye against Marie Brazeau, wife of Sylvain Guérin (January 21, 1692). Volume V, page 152, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Agreement between Marie Brazeau, wife of Sylvain Guérin, and Jean Mars (January 25, 1692). Volume V, page 152, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Obligation of Marie Brazeau to François Hazeur (June 28, 1693). Volume V, page 181, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Obligation of Marie Brazeau to Nicolas Brazeau, her father (September 21, 1693). Volume V, page 193, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Obligation of Marie Brazeau to Nicolas and Charles Brazeau, her brothers (September 21, 1693). Volume V, page 193, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Engagement of Marie Brazeau’s son to Jean Roy (February 24, 1697). Volume V, page 265, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Pension to Perine Billard, wife of N. Brazeau, for Guillaume Tougard and Marie Brazeau (February 9, 1699). Volume V, page 317, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Sale of house by Nicolas Brazeau to Guillaume Tougard (February 9, 1699). Volume V, page 317, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Declaration of Nicolas Brazeau to Marie Brazeau, his daughter (February 9, 1699). Volume V, page 317, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Counter-letter by Nicolas Brasot to Marie Brasot, widow of Guérin (December 2, 1695). Volume I, page 311, Notary Bénigne Basset.
Agreements between Nicolas Brazeau, father and son, and Charles and Marie Brazeau (August 6, 1700). Volume VI, page 34, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Exchange between Nicolas Brazeau and Marie Brazeau, his daughter (November 5, 1700). Volume VI, page 44, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Act to register a donation from Nicolas Brazeau to Marie Brazeau, his daughter (November 2, 1701). Volume VI, page 74, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Engagement of Marie Brazeau, widow of Guérin, to Marie Guérin (June 7, 1710). Volume VI, page 249, Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Agreement between Marie Brazeau and Pierre Pinsonneau (November 12, 1711). Volume VI, page 272, Notary Antoine Adhémar.