Marie-Anne Sauvage

Hannah Sharon Irving There is no supporting primary evidence "of an aboriginal ancestry" for Catherine Sauvage, daughter of Jacques Sauvage and Marie Catherine Jean (dite Vien), but only guesses and faulty reading of secondary sources. I have a copy of the 20 September 1689 marriage contract (Notary Trotain) between Jacques Sauvage and Marie Catherine Jean (dite Vien). Here are some excerpts from it: Vivien Jean and his wife Catherine Gasteau (sic), habitants (inhabitants) of Champlain, were present and acting in the name of their daughter Marie Catherine Jean, also present and accepting, as one party; and Jacques Sauvage, major son of Jacques Sauvage and Marie Sajeau (sic), his father and mother, originally from (natif de) the parish of St. Sauveur in the city and archdiocese of Paris, for himself and in his name, as the other party. The contract was made in the presence of, on the side of the said Vivien Jean and his wife, who were acting for their minor daughter with her consent: francois Chorel sr de St Romain, merchant of Champlain; Ignace Jean, their son; and Jean Jean, their other son. Witnesses for Jacques Sauvage were Sieurs Jaques and Louis babie. The couple promised “to marry in the Holy Catholic Roman Church as soon as possible,” and the legal and financial arrangements in the marriage would be under the “Custom of the Ville et Viconte de paris,” the Custom of Paris.4 “The said Vivien Jean and his wife, Catherine, promise to give to their daughter 400 livres tournois as dot de mariage en avance de hoirier [as a dowry in advance of Catherine’s future right to inheritance from them after their deaths].” And Jacques Sauvage promises a douaire, dower’s rights, of 500 livres, should he predecease his wife.5 The couple married at Champlain 10 January 1690.6 Present as witnesses were Vivien Jean, father of the bride; Francois Chorel de St Romain, merchant; Jacques Babie, son of deceased Jacques Babie; and Jean Baptiste Montgodon dit Bellefontaine, all of whom signed, except Vivien Jean.7

 FrenchCanadian demoiselle Catherine Jean dite Vien,  by 1747 had been twice widowed and had children by Jacques Sauvage who also lived at Detroit: Marie Catherine Sauvage, married to Charles Chesne;21 Marie Françoise Sauvage, married to Joseph Séguin dit Ladéroute; and Marie Anne Sauvage, married to François Lotman dit Barrois. At least 30 grandchildren would be born from her daughters’ marriages.22 Note 21 See Diane Wolford Sheppard and Gail Moreau-DesHarnais, “Fall 1762 Census of Détroit – Part I”, page 79. This census does not identify wives at all, only a few widows who owned property.  Catherine, age 86 in 1762, may have lived with one of her daughters or even one of her grandchildren.