biography of Nicolas here: http://soapbaux.com/files/sb_ancestry_audet_nicolas.pdf

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"Nicholas Audet was the first settler of the family in Québec, who came to Canada in 1663. He was confirmed on 23 March 1664 at Québec City. He worked for Bishop Laval, first at the Saint-Joachim farm near Cap-Tourmente in 1666, then as a caretaker at the bishopric and seignorial manor in Québec City in 1668. In return for his services, Bishop Laval granted him land on L'Île-d'Orléans on 22 June 1667. Madeleine Després was one of the 768 Filles du Roi or Founding Mothers of New France who came to Canada in 1670 at about age 17, bringing with her goods worth an estimated 200 livres for her dowry. She signed the marriage contract drawn up on 30 August 1670 by the notary Becquet, as her husband could not read or write and so could not sign the contract. She received the King’s Gift of 50 livres upon their marriage. They settled at Sainte-Famille, L'Île-d'Orléans, then in about 1679 moved to Saint-Jean, L'Île-d'Orléans, where they both died and were buried."

David L. Moody MD USA

Researching: Moody, Matkovich, Beckwith,

Wright, Eve, LaPointe, MacKay, Anderson, Hagstrom

IMMIGRATION: 1663

Nicolas came to Canada in 1663 and was confirmed 23 Mar 1664 at Québec City. He worked for Bishop Laval, first at the Saint-Joachim farm near Cap-Tourmente in 1666, then as a caretaker at the bishopric and seigniorial manor in Québec City in 1668. in return for his service, Bishop Laval granted him land on the Île d'Orléans on 22 Jun 1667.

NICOLAS AUDET DIT LAPOINTE from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest

Nicolas Audet was born about 1641. He was the son of Innocent Audet and Vincente Riene (Roy), of Saint-Pierre-Maille, in the diocese of Poitiers. The surnames Audet and Lapointe originated, naturally enough, in France. The story is that, three families of Audets lived in the same area that formed a triangle and to tell one family of Audets from another, "dit Lapointe" was added to the same because they lived at the "point" of this area.

We know that Nicolas came to Canada before 1664 because there is a record of his confirmation at Québec on March 23 of that year.

Poitiers is a town in Poitou; that beautiful and bountiful Province of France where wheat is grown, the vine is cultivated and many varieties of fruit are raised. It is wooded country, yet covered by excellent pasture-land . In this province, Charles Martel repulsed the Saracins and Clovis battled the Goths.

Just about all of the colonists who came from France in the 17th century started in one of three ways: by working for the government, by working for a religious order, or by working for one of the more prosperous landowners. Nicolas seems to have been taken under the wing of Monseigneur François de Laval, Bishop of Québec. In the census of 1666, we find him working on the farm owned by the Bishop at Saint-Joachim, nearby Cape Tourmente. Two years later, he was still working for the Bishop as a porter in the lordly Château of Québec. Confirmation of this comes through an act of Notary Pierre Duquet which records: "Today, at the entrance gate of the estate, Sieur Jean Madry rang a little bell, in response to which he was met by Nicolas Audet, porter of the Château. After admitting him, Audet went to inform his master, the Bishop."

For more than four years, Nicolas worked in service for others, earning his way. In preparing for his future, he was counting more on savings than on credit.

THE SETTLER

Nicolas Audet, the porter, decided to become a settler on the Île d'Orléans, just opposite the Beaupré coast. On June 22, 1667, he received a concession from the Bishop "of three arpents of land fronting the Saint Lawrence River and running Southward......" His grant was in the Parish of Saint-Famille, from which the Parish of Saint-Jean was later formed. His neighbors were Guy Boivin and Robert Boulay. He hired them "to help him build a house to be finished within one year from this day."

Each year, on the Feast of Saint Martin, the 11th of November, he was required to give 20 sols in seigneurial rent for each arpent of river frontage, 12 deniers for "cens" and 3 capons chosen by the Seigneur. It is worth noting that the signatures on the contract, other than those of notary Paul Vachon, are those of Jean Crete, Master Cartwright, of Paul de Rainville, sheriff of Beauport and of the Bishop of Québec himself. Nicolas Audet appears to have been well connected!

As soon as he could, Nicolas busied himself building his house with the help of his neighbors. The census of 1681 tells us that by then he had cleared fifteen arpents of land and had acquired 6 animals.

A KING OF THE HEARTH

Having built a house, Nicolas sought to make a home. To this end, he courted Madeleine Després, a young girl of fourteen years. The betrothed appeared before notary Romain Becquet, at Québec, August 30, 1670, to arrange a contract of marriage.

The future bride was sponsored by "Dame Anne Gagnier, widow of the late Master Jean Bourdon and Elizabeth Étienne." In accordance with the custom of the time, Madeleine would bring Nicolas a dowry, a considerable one it seems. She had saved or acquired 200 livres but also she would receive "the sum of 50 livres given her by His Majesty in consideration of her marriage ." In short, these two were hardly poor in material goods.

This help given Madeleine by the king signifies that she was alone in Canada, most likely an orphan. We know that she could write. She penned herself as the daughter of François Després and of Madeleine LeGrand, from the Parish of Saint-Sauveur in Paris. This young lady born about 1656 was one of many generous girls who came to Canada under the protection of the King of France.

At Sainte-Famille Île d'Orléans the following September 15th, the missionary priest, Father Thomas Morel, blessed their union in the presence of the witnesses Pierre Rondeau and Mathurin Dube. When Pierre and Mathurin were married the year before, each in turn asked Nicolas to stand up for him, now the favor was being returned.

This marriage brought forth twelve children, nine boys and three girls but, the elder two died young. All were born in the Parish of Sainte-Famille except the youngest three who were born at Saint-Jean, Île d'Orléans. These ten children founded the family line. The following information is available on the Audet children: 1) Nicolas, the first to be named after his father, was born and baptized on September 21, 1671 at Sainte-Famille, Île d'Orléans but was not alive at the census in 1681. 2) Nicolas, the second to be named after his father, was born on September 13, 1672 and baptized eight days later, at Sainte-Famille, Île d'Orléans but was also not alive at the 1681 census. 3) Pierre was baptized on July 1674 at Sainte-Famille, Île d'Orléans and married Marie Dumas on February 3, 1698, at Saint-Jean. Marie was the daughter of François and Marguerite Foy. Pierre and Marie had eight children, four boys and four girls, all baptized at Saint-Jean 4) Jean-Baptiste was born, on November 17, 1675 and baptized on December 1, at Sainte-Famille. He married Marie-Louise Godbout on April 16, 1708 at Saint-Laurent, Île d'Orléans. The contract for this marriage was notarized by Chambalon, on May 25, 1708. Marie-Louise was the daughter of Nicolas and Angelique Lemelin. Jean-Baptiste and Marie-Louise had eleven children, three boys and eight girls, all baptized at Saint-Jean, Île d'Orléans. Jean-Baptiste died an early death on November 12, 1728 and was buried the following day at Saint-Jean. 5) Madeleine was born on September 18, 1677 and baptized eleven days later at Sainte-Famille. She married Jean Pouliot on February 11, 1697, at Saint-Jean. The contract had been notarized that same day by Chambalon. Jean was the son of Charles and Françoise Meunier. Madeleine and Jean had nine children, five boys and four girls, all baptized at Saint-Laurent, Île d'Orléans. 6) Joseph was probably born in 1678 since he was reported to be four years old in the 1681 census. He married Jeanne Pouliot on November 5, 1703, at Saint-Laurent. The contract for this wedding had been notarized on October 25 by the senior Jacob. Jeanne was the daughter of Charles and Françoise Meunier. Her brother, Jean, had married Joseph's sister, Madeleine, six years earlier. Joseph and Jeanne had six children, four boys and two girls, all born at Saint-Jean. 7) Nicolas was baptized between July and October of 1680 at Saint-Jean. He married Marie-Louise Chabot, daughter of Mathurin and Marie Mesange on April 15, 1697, at Saint-Laurent. The contract had been notarized by Chambalon on February 12 one day after he notarized the marriage contract for Madeleine and Jean Pouliot. Marie-Louise was the widow of Antoine Pouliot, the brother of Jean, who she had married on January 30, 1696, also at Saint-Laurent. Antoine died without children, but Marie-Louise and second husband Nicolas Audet had nine children, two boys and seven girls, all born at Saint-Laurent. 8) Marie was born, on August 28, 1682 and baptized seven days later, at Saint-Jean. She married Maurice Crepeau, son of Maurice senior and of Marguerite Laverdure on February 6, 1702, at Saint-Jean. The contract had been notarized on January 27 by LePailleur. Marie and Maurice had twelve children, seven boys and five girls, all but one was baptized at Saint-Pierre. The next to the youngest was baptized at L'Ange-Gardien. 9) François was born, on April 10, 1684 and baptized two days later, at Saint-Jean. He married Marguerite Bernard, daughter of Andre and Marie Giton, on June 3, 1709 at Saint-Laurent. The contract was notarized by Chambalon, on May 24. By 1730, Francois and Marguerite had nine children, six boys and three girls, all baptized at Saint-Laurent. 10) Marguerite was born, on December 10, 1686 and baptized the following day, at Saint-Jean. She married Louis Émery dit Coderre, son of Louis senior and of Marie-Madeleine LeClerc, on August 26, 1722 at Boucherville. The contract had been notarized three days earlier by Tailhandier. By 1725, Marguerite and Louis had two children, a boy and a girl, both baptized at Saint-Sulpice. 11) Innocent was baptized on April 16, 1689 at Saint-Jean. He married Geneviève Lemelin, daughter of Louis and Marie-Anne Delomay on November 12, 1710, at Saint-Laurent. The contract had been notarized by Chambalon on October 15. Innocent and Geneviève had thirteen children, seven boys and six girls, all baptized at Saint-Jean. 12) Joachim was born probably in 1691. He married Louise Roberge, daughter of Pierre and of Marie LeFrançois, on November 23, 1716 at Saint-Laurent. By 1730, Joachim and Louise had nine children, six boys and three girls. The first two were baptized at Saint-Jean, but the rest were all baptized at Boucherville.

It is noted that all were married, on the island, except Marguerite. She married Louis Émery dit Coderre at Boucherville on August 26, 1722. It is believed that she followed her brother, Joachim there, after the death of her parents when he and Louise Roberge moved there with their young family.

In 1689, old Nicolas fell gravely ill, a situation from which he never fully recovered. He was hospitalized for 19 consecutive days in the heat of the August summer and in September, he spent 26 more days under the care of the nursing sisters at the Hôtel-Dieu in Québec. He had always worked his farm with stubborn tenacity but no more would he be active.

He had seen the marriage of three of his children, Nicolas, Pierre and Madeleine, but that left seven children at home to be cared for by the strong arms of his wife, alone. But, he could still plan ahead and on July 9, 1696, he acquired yet another concession. This grant of land was three arpents of river frontage, some distance to the west of his own place. On August 2, 1698, he gave this land to his son Jean-Baptiste.

There were so many things yet to be done but the bell tolled for Nicolas when he was fifty-nine years old. He was buried, on December 10, 1700 in the cemetery at Saint-Jean where, his headstone bore the surname Lapointe. His widow passed on her inheritance by donation to her son Joseph.

An inventory of the belongings of old Nicolas was made by notary Etienne Jacob, on September 27, 1706. It recorded seventy-five arpents of usable land, a nearby new house, measuring eighteen by twenty-four feet, a shed and a stable.

Madeleine Després survived her husband for twelve years, and at her death, children Joachim and Marguerite were still unmarried. She was buried beside him on December 19, 1712 at the age of fifty-six.

POSTHUMOUS GLORIES The Audets truly could be called a religious family. For 150 years, they gave hundreds of priests and other religious devotees to the Roman Catholic Church of Canada.

FAMILY NAME VARIATIONS Adatte, Adote, Adotte, Aude, Audette, Audy, Belhumeur, Cocuret, Debailleul, Hode, Lapoint, Lapointe, O'Day, Oday, Odet, Odette, Oudy, Ouelette, Owdet, Piercot, Pierre-Cot, and Simon.

This biography was taken from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest; Volume 1, Chapter3, Page 23 [3-4-98 by James Gagne, www.jamesgagne.net]

Nicolas came to la Nouvelle France with the Carignan/Salières Regiment in 1663. He was confirmed on 23 March 1664 at Québec City. He worked for Bishop Laval, first at the Saint Joachim farm near Cap Tourmente in 1666, then as a caretaker at the bishopric and seigneurial manor in Québec City in 1668. In return for his services, Bishop Laval granted him land on L’Île d’Orleans on 22 June, 1667.

The origin of the family name in France is that three families of Audets lived in the same area that formed a triangle, so to tell one family of Audets from another, “dit-Lapointe” was added to the same because they lived at the “point” of this area.

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2177::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 17 1,2177::201026

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25118976

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2177::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 17 1,2177::201026

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25118976

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::25118976

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2177::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 1 Sect. 1 : A-Hel; Page: 17 1,2177::201026