Isaac Bédard

It's interesting that Isaac (according to his marriage record and place of birth, at least) was a Huguenot, yet immigrated to New France, which was virtually all Roman Catholic. Wikipedia says, "By the end of the 17th century and into the 18th century, roughly 500,000 Huguenots had fled France during a series of religious persecutions. They relocated to Protestant nations. . .." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenot But the article says nothing about Huguenots relocating to Catholic areas of North America. So, what are we to make of this? Were Isaac and his family "secret Catholics"? Did they disguise their Protestant affiliation to flee religious persecution?

Background on the Huguenots

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia's article on that subject which has some relevant information: Huguenot

The Edict of Nantez (1598) by Henry IV established Catholicism as the state religion of France, but granted the Protestants equality with Catholics under the throne and a degree of religious and political freedom within their domains. With the proclamation of the Edict of Nantes, and the subsequent protection of Huguenot rights, pressures to leave France abated. However, enforcement of the Edict grew increasingly irregular over time, and it was increasingly ignored altogether under Louis XIV. The Huguenot population of France dropped to 856,000 by the mid-1660s [This was around the time Isaac and his family left France] Louis later imposed dragonnades, [punative quartering of troops in Huguenot homes] and other forms of persecution for Protestants, which made life so intolerable that many fled the country. [Although, this was after the Bedard’s immigration.]

Most French Huguenots were forced to convert to Catholicism, because they did not want to emigrate or they could not.[The Bedards converted less than a year before their immigration to New France.] More than three-quarters of the Protestant population finally converted to Catholicism; the others (more than 200,000) moved to different countries. [This seems like the most likey explanation for the Bedards' conversion, even though they immigrated to New France, Quebec, rather than some of the other places mentioned as favorable to Protestants, like the English Colonies.]

Barred by the government from settling in New France [another fact that suggests that Isaac converted to circumvent the laws], Huguenots led by Jessé de Forest, sailed to North America and settled instead in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (later incorporated into New York and New Jersey); as well as Great Britain's colonies, including Nova Scotia.

The exodus of Huguenots from France also created a brain drain, as many Huguenots had occupied important places in society. The kingdom did not fully recover for years. The French crown's refusal to allow non-Catholics to settle in New France may help to explain that colony's slow rate of population growth compared to that of the neighboring British colonies, which opened settlement to religious dissenters. Later, the government encouraged descendants of exiles to return, offering them French citizenship in a 15 December 1790 law.

The following article on the "Great Temple" where Isaac was married gives you some idea of how volatile the times were.

From http://www.histoirepassion.eu/spip.php?article1567:

1568 - 1629 - History of the Great Temple of La Rochelle [awkwardly translated]

The true construction of the Grand Temple began in 1577 when peace returned. Under Henry IV signed the Edict of Nantes, opened a new period of tolerance. In 1600, so we went foundations while appealing to the generosity of Protestants who gave ECU 6,000 and walls finally rose to the top ledges. The construction plans were attributed to Philibert Delorme, the architect of the Tuileries. In September 1603, the Temple was completed. Sunday, September 7th the first sermon was delivered by Pastor Dumont in the middle of 3500 people.

If the Edict of Nantes brought peace in the kingdom, it had the effect of consolidating the power of the Huguenots and create the eyes of royal power a state within a state. Louis XIII and devout Catholic fearing La Rochelle became a sort of bastion financially supported by England and a threat to royal authority in 1627 ordered the capture of La Rochelle, now seen as a heretic citadel. The siege led by Richelieu was appalling. When the city went there were only 5,500 survivors of the 28,000 inhabitants. The walls of La Rochelle razed after the surrender of La Rochelle, Louis XIII granted pardon. However, even if the Protestants kept religious freedom became their increasingly difficult to practice.

In 1629, the Great Temple was assigned to the parish of St. Bartholomew and thus returned to the Catholic faith. At the foundation of the Diocese of La Rochelle in 1648, the Grand Cathedral Temple will burn but the building in 1648 and the ruins used to build fortifications in 1689.

[The marriage occurred in 1644, so that is after the church was “returned to the Catholic faith,” but before 1648, the date mentioned in the last sentence (this is from the Google Chrome translator, so I’m not sure about what the words “will burn” mean.]

It is clear from the history of La Rochelle that Isaac and his wife were born during a period of great religious stife. I can only wonder what these Huguenots would say if they were alive today about the Muslim religious wars in the Middle East. What is going on today (2013) in Syria would seem tame by comparison to what happened in La Rochelle! --Bob S.

Details about Isaac Bedard

The answers to the religious questions and some additional biographical details of interest appear on Angelfire.com's website [1]. Here is a brief summary of those:

Isaac came to Quebec with his son first in 1662. His wife Marie followed the next year. He received confirmation by a Catholic bishop in Quebec City in 1644.

In La Rochelle, Isaac baptized all his children in the Calvinist Temple at La Rochelle. There is a document sited that says, "Those who have abjured in the church of Nostre dame de cogne sainte-marguerite and saint...since 1633" included the Bedards' names on it. That was in 1660. That sounds like they renounced their Huguenot faith for Catholicism.

Isaac came to Quebec first with his son in 1662. His wife Marie followed the next year. He received confirmation by a Catholic bishop in Quebec City in 1664. In the beginning, Isaac had "difficulty integrating himself," as evidenced by records excerted from telling of disputes with his neighbors. Finally, the Bedards sold their original farm and bought another one in Charlesbourg, village of St. Jerome. While living there, he took on a number of large-scale carpentry jobs that forged his reputation as a master carpenter. Still, even with this added income, had had to appeal to his neighbor Jesuits for a loan "to meet their most urgent needs." He was given additional land to farm in a later agreement.

The webpage ends with details of his death, how Marie outlived him and remarried, and an estimated 30,000 descended from the Bedard line (although it is left unclear if Isaac was the only ancestral Bedard who contributed to this line).

Our Huguenot Ancestors by Barbeau

The best article to understand the context of Isaac's "conversion" to Catholicism is "Our Huguenot Ancestors Their History and settlement in French Canada." By Michel Barbeau, 1998, available at [Huguenot Ancestors] This slideshow formatted discussion explains how Barbeau researched and found out that there were Huguenots in New France, even though historians have downplayed it. By 1616, Jesuits had started a campaign to "dinigrate" Huguenots and that it coincided with the fall of La Rochelle, where Isaac and Marie were from. Huguenots were actually forbidden to emigrate to New France. Luckily for Isaac and his family, he used the "protective coloration" of Catholicism to get out when he could, because things got much worse after he left with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (October 18, 1685).

Born La Rochelle or St Sulpice, Paris, France ;couple married by Huguenot pastor.

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Isaac was a master carpenter. Converted to Cathlocism in 1658 (in France?) & came to Canada with son, Jacques.

------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Isaac Bédard Ancêtre des Bédard d'Amérique

Le nom de Bédard découle de bedeau et porte en lui-même une allusion religieuse.

L'ancêtre, Isaac Bédard, a vu le jour vers 1616. Il a épousé, le 20 mars 1644, Marie Girard à Larochelle. Il exerçait principalement le métier de maître-charpentier.

De 1644 à 1658, ils portèrent au baptême sept enfants qu'ils nommèrent : Jacques François, Pierre, Richard, Isaac, Louis et Anne. Jacques et Louis furent les seuls survivants, les autres moururent en bas âge.

En 1660, les Bédard partaient pour la Nouvelle-France, ils y occupèrent un emplacement à la Haute-Ville.

Vers 1663, ils quittèrent ces lieux, semble-t-il pour Québec, car ils y eurent une dernière petite fille, qui portait le même prénom que sa mère , le 12 mai 1664.

On raconte que les Bédard éprouvèrent beaucoup de difficulté à se faire accepter de la communauté. C'est ainsi que deux ans plus tard, soit en 1665, ils partaient pour Petite-Auvergne, à Charlesbourg, petit village de St-Jérôme, dans une habitation de cinq arpents de front, qu'ils payèrent 60 livres.

Pendant 16 ans, tantôt fermier, tantôt maître-charpentier, Isaac Bédard tentait de faire vivre sa famille convenablement; pourtant il dut à quelques reprises se résigner à demander de l'aide aux pères Jésuites pour subvenir à ses besoins essentiels

Au recensement de 1681, Isaac Bédard , charpentier et habitant de Petit-Auvergne, possédait 1 fusil, 4 bêtes à cornes et 12 arpents de terre en culture.

Isaac Bédard fut inhumé le 15 janvier 1689, à 73 ans environ.

Les Bédard se sont multipliés de façon prodigieuse, on compte présentement au-delà de 30,000 Bédard, disséminés dans toutes les provinces du Canada et dans plusieurs états américains.

La famille Bédard a fourni à l'Église des centaines de prêtres, religieux et religieuses qui se dévouèrent dans les pays d'Afrique, de la Chine,en Amérique du sud et de l'extrême nord du Canada.

Elle a aussi brillé dans la magistrature et dans la politique, dans toutes les professions libérales, et dans toutes les carrières scientifiques et commerciales.

Cette valeureuse famille peut donc revendiquer une partie de l'édification de la nationalité canadienne-française.

Source: Le Centre de généalogie francophone d'Amérique

Le Centre de généalogie francophone d'Amérique URL: http://www.genealogie.org Conception et réalisation: Le Cid (Le Centre internet de développement) 1998

Charpentier de grosses oeuvres et Fermier

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/archild/isaaca.html

Isaac Bedard trade was that master-carpenter. He married Marie Girard in 1644 at La Rochelle, France. We find him in Canada with his family around 1663 where he established himself on farm at Notre-Dame-des-Anges near Quebec city. This Bedard ancestor died quietly in Charlesbourg where he was buried on January 15th, 1689, leaving one married daughter and two sons, Jacques and Louis. They had many descendants, the pride of French Canadian.

conflicting info about his parents here:

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/r/Michael-G-Bernier/...

vs here:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~degroff/pafg60.ht...

http://www.claude.dupras.com/les_b%C3%A9dard.htm

GEDCOM Source

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GEDCOM Source

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GEDCOM Source

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GEDCOM Source

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@R-1195646461@ Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,1091::0

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@R-1195646461@ Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,1091::0

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@R-1195646461@ Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,1091::0

GEDCOM Source

1,1091::14946210

GEDCOM Note

According to the Emigration Rochelaise en Nouvelle France he is listed as Canadian. However, there is very conflicting evidence. Was he sent to France? Or born there? See also Judith tree.

GEDCOM Note

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25109047

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

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1,9289::25293808

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Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

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Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Gale Research Ancestry.com Operations, Inc

GEDCOM Source

Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1660; Page Number: 431 1,7486::3667613

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25109047

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25293808

GEDCOM Source

Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,60527::962879

GEDCOM Source

Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 36 1,2177::203969

GEDCOM Source

Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Gale Research Ancestry.com Operations, Inc

GEDCOM Source

Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1645; Page Number: 13 1,7486::3667612

GEDCOM Source

Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 36 1,2177::203969

GEDCOM Source

Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,60527::962879

GEDCOM Source

Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 36 1,2177::203969

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25109047

GEDCOM Source

Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25293808

GEDCOM Source

Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,60527::962879

GEDCOM Source

Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Gale Research Ancestry.com Operations, Inc

GEDCOM Source

Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1660; Page Number: 431 1,7486::3667613

GEDCOM Source

Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 36 1,2177::203969

GEDCOM Source

Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s Genealogical Research Library, Ontario, Canada Ancestry.com Operations Inc

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1,7920::1717569

GEDCOM Source

Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Gale Research Ancestry.com Operations, Inc

GEDCOM Source

Place: Quebec, Canada; Year: 1645; Page Number: 13 1,7486::3667612