Pierre François-Lepage

Pierre LeFrançois used the dit name of François according to Jetté. He was born in 1631 in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée, near Loire-les-Marais, (La Rochelle), Aunis (Charente-Maritime), France.

He was a clog maker and was contracted to work in Nouvelle-France while he was living in La Rochelle, France on 12 April 1667. The contract called for three years of work at 75 livres per year with 30 livres paid in advance.

He appeared on the census of 1667. He is listed as being 33 years old and living with Jesuit fathers in Charlesbourg, outside of Quebec City.

 He married Madeleine Gaumont, daughter of Jean Gaumont and Anne Remont, on 16 August 1670 in the Beauport chapel which was part of the Notre-Dame-de-Québec parish. Madeleine was the widow of Jean Langlois. Present at the marriage were Jacques Déry, a servant living in Québec, Jean Fonteneau amd Jean LaViolette. Officiating at the ceremony was Father Henri De Bernières who was the Superior of the Hôtel-dieu Religious and the first pastor of Québec City.  

He and Madeleine Gaumont resided in 1670 at Bourg-la-Reine, Nouvelle-France

Pierre LeFrançois witnessed the baptism of Marie LeFrançois on 2 July 1677 at Notre-Dame de Québec, Québec, Nouvelle-France.

He and Madeleine Gaumont appeared on the census of 1681. He is listed as being 50 years old and she is 35.

He died before 22 July 1703 in Nouvelle-France.

Pierre LeFrançois and Madeleine Gaumont were the ancestors of Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (1839 - 1920), a professor of civil and international law at Laval University of Québec, named chief judge of the Superior Court in 1904, President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, named a Knight of Saint Gregory by Rome. In 1911 he was awarded the Grand-Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George by the King. Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Letters, he was president of the Royal Society of Canada in 1914-1915.

A second descendant and cousin was Louis-François-Rodrigue Masson (1833 - 1903), who studied at Georgetown University in the District of Colombia. After law studies, he was admitted to the bar of Lower Canada in November, 1859. In September, 1887, the Terrebonne voters elected him to the Commons until 1882. On October 19, 1878, he accepted a position in the Militia until January 15, 1880. He presided over the Council from January 16 to July 31 of the same year. Named Senator on September 29, 1882, he resigned his seat on November 6, 1884, after having been named Legislative Councillor on March 27, and served until October 4 of that year. On November 7, the government promoted him to Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Québec, a post he held until October 29, 1887. On October 3, 1890, he retook his seat in the Senate.