Interesting preliminary information on

Nicolas Rivard de la Vigne

Various pages were copied in their entirety so as to be able to return the

sites were available to confirm information
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~havens5/p14515.htm

Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne1 8th great grand uncle and husband of 9th great
grand aunt
b. 16 June 1617, d. 1 July 1701, #14515
Pop-up Pedigree

Whether the Rivard family used a "coat of Arms" or even were

entitiled to do so, is not known. This has been
Suggested as their Arms.

Father **Pierre Rivard2 b. 7 January 1591, d. 16 March 1651

Mother **Jeanne Mullard2 b. 9 July 1597, d. 21 April 1649

Name Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne was also found as Nicholas Rivard dit
Variation Lavigne.

Nicolas, oldest son of Pierre Rivard, was the first of the family to
arrive in New France in 1648. Nicolas' mother, Jeanne Mullard, owned
a small piece of land in Tourouvre, named "Clos de La Vigne". This
LaVigne location exits in Tourouvre to this day, where one of our
cousins visited and kindly provided us with a picture of a local road
sign. Nicolas' oldest son Nicolas and youngest son Antoine also used
the dit name LaVigne, but the dit name was not routinely used after the
first three generations. While most families in this line retained Rivard,
we have recently discoverd numerous families in Quebec that dropped
Rivard and kept Lavigne as the surname. Many of the Lavigne families
were from the Nicolet area.

Link to road sign.

Name Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne was also found as Nicolas Rivard-
Variation Delavigne that is, Nicholas Rivard of Vigne..3

Birth 16 June Nicholas was born on 16 June 1617 at St-Aubin-De-Tourouvre,

1617 Renouard, Orme, France. Link to church picture.3 More pictures
of the church in St. Aubin de Tourouvre

Purported to be the
This is the third
first This was a later home
home in which the
home of the Rivard's of the Rivard's in
Rivard's lived in
in Tourouvre.
Tourouvre
Tourouvre, France

Click on thumbnail to see larger version of each picture. Use BACK

to return here

The pictures above were taken by cousins that visited Tourouvre,

France in 1977 and 1980 and provided this pictures for the family to
enjoy. Pictures provided by Mary Ann Mickey.

See http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/1865/pictures.htm

1646 He arrived in Quebec in 1646. Hired for Canada by Noel Jushereau c.

6 mar 1648. Military/Militia captain [Tanguay].3

6 March The following extract is from Our French Canadian Ancestors.

1648
It was on a Friday, 6 March 1648, when Nicolas knocked on the door
of notary Chouaiseau in Tourouvre. He was there to sign a contract to
work in Canada. He had been recruited by Pierre Juchereau, Sieur des
Moulineaux, on behalf of his brother Noel Juchereau, Sieur des
Chastellées, living in Quebec, for "a time of three years to begin the
day of embarkation which will be this year from la Rochelle." Rivard
was promised free passage to and from Canada, including meals and
66 livres "tournois" as an annual wage. He was also advanced 15
livres, deductible from his first years pay. A normal livre was worth
25% less than a livre tournois at the time.

As early as 27 February 1649, Nicolas appeared as a Godfather in the

parish registry of Trois-Rivières. In 1651, he was named the Captain of
 Militia in Cap-de-la-Madeleine and later in Batiscan. "This was an
honorary position and held without monetary compensation. The
captain of the militia was, in fact, the administrator of the seigneury.
He trained the troops, led them into battle, carried out the orders of the
Intendant, and was also the governor's agent. When the seigneur lived
outside the seigneury, the captain had the first pew in church, on the
left side of the main aisle. He was usually referred to as "Sieur" and
most often, at his demise, he was buried in the crypt of the church." He
worked at this duty until old age overtook him. On 6 June of 1649, he
received a piece of land from the Jesuits, measuring two arpents in
frontage on the river by twenty arpents in depth.4

24 Nov On 24 Nov 1652 PierreGuillet and his brother-in-law to be, Nicolas

1652 Rivard dit Lavigne sold Mathurin Guillet's land on the Cap to Gilles
Trottier. It is quite probable, the death of his brother, Mathurin and the
constant threat of the Iroquois gave Pierre Guillet the desire to
establish his young family nearer the safety of Quebec City.5

Marriage 21 June Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne, 36 years old, married Catherine de St.
1653 Père, who was 18 years old, daughter of Etienne de St. Père and
Madeleine Couteau, 21 June 1653 in Trois Rivières, cté Champlain,
Quebec, Canada. They had at least 10 children.

Both Nicholas and Catherine are related to the children of Pomala

Morin Black and Rex Morin. Nicholas is an 8th great grand uncle and
Catherine is an 8th great grand aunt, each in their own right.

Nicolas Rivard II - Was born on February 01, 1654 at Trois-Rivieres

and died on December 02, 1719 at Batiscan. He married Elisabeth-
Blanchet Trottier and the couple had ten children.

Marie-Jeanne Rivard - Was born on August 24, 1656 at Trois-Rivieres

and died on November 25, 1698 in La Visitation, Yamaska,
Champlain, Quebec. She married Charles Duteau and the couple had
eleven children.

Julien Rivard - Was born on December 09, 1657 in Trois-Rivieres and

died on December 09, 1708 in Batiscan. He married Elisabeth Thunay
and this couple had at least one child.

Francois Rivard - Was born on September 27, 1659 in Trois-Rivieres

and died on September 14, 1726 in Batiscan. He married Marie-
Madeleine Lepelle and the couple had seven children.

Pierre Rivard - Was born in 1661 at Trois-Rivieres and died on and

March 01, 1724 in Batiscan.
 Marie-Madeleine Rivard - Was born in 1663 at Trois-Rivieres and died
on March 11, 1637 in Batiscan.

Michel Rivard - Was born in 1665 at Trois-Rivieres and died on

August 17, 1687 in Batiscan.

Jean-Preville Rivard - Was born in 1668 at Trois-Rivieres and died on

June 30, 1731 at Ile-Dupas, Berthier, Quebec.

Marie-Catherine Rivard - Was born in 1673 at Trois-Rivieres and died

on February 15, 1703 in Batiscan.

Antoine Rivard - Was born in 1675 at Trois-Rivieres and died on

September 14, 1699 in Batiscan.3,6
Not all are followed further.

1665 The Carignan soldiers arrived in New France in the summer of 1665.
On September 6, 1666, 1,300 men: 600 soldiers, 600 habitants and 100
Natives went into Iroquois lands, and destroyed several villages. Pierre
Boucher was involved with this expedition. He was the ambassador
from New France to the French Court. While he was gone, either with
the Carignan soldiers or to France, Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne was left
in charge at Cap de la Madeleine.5

April In the spring of 1666, the Jesuits, in possession of the Seigneurie of

1666 Batiscan, granted the first 30 land concessions there. The contracts
were drawn by the notary Jacques de la Touche. It was a family
affair!!! Claude Houssard, Pierre Guillet's father-in-law was the
first;(husband of Madeleine Couteau) he got his land concession on
March 21, 1666. Robert Rivard, the husband of Madeleine Guillet
(Pierre's daughter) got his on the 22 of March. His brother, Nicolas
Rivard, Pierre's brother-in-law (he's Catherine Saint Père's husband)
signed for his land consession on March 23 of the year. Mathieu
Rouillard, who married Jeanne Guillet in June 1667 and Jean
Moreau who married Pierre's daughter, Anne in 1667 also received
land concessions. On August 6, 1666, Pierre obtained his property here
making him among the first landowners of this area of Quebec. On
November 17, 1667 he sold this land to Jean-Baptiste Crevier. Three
days later, on November 20th 1667, he bought 80 arpents of land at
Cote Saint-Marc, next to his own property on the Cap. His son, Louis
would later be known as Louis Guillet dit St Marc. Even later,
Abraham Guillet dit St Marc became St Mars then Cinq Mars. These
name changes, (the author of this peice suspects), originated from this
land purchase. At the end of 1667, he exchanged land he had on the
Cap for property in Batiscan owned by Jean Cusson.5

1670 On 7 March 1661, notary Claude Herlin drew up a most unusual

contract. It concerned the purchase of a chapel by the literate and well
respected Nicolas Rivard from Governor Pierre Boucher. The deed
read in part "A chapel which he (Bouchar) had built in his yard, 20 feet
long by 20 feet wide," would be disassembled piece by piece,
transported to the Cap and reassembled. It was erected on the precise
spot where the second church, which still exists, is located.

On 23 March 1666, Nicolas acquired two properties from the Jesuits,

one at Batiscan and the other on the Ile Saint-Eloi. Each measured 2 by
40 arpents and both were recorded by notary Jacques de la Tousche.
The Rivards lived awhile longer at the Cap, where they were listed in
the census of 1666. Then they moved to Batiscan in 1668: There is
reason to believe that Msgr de Laval conferred the sacrament of
Confirmation in the house of Nicolas at Batiscan on 25 May 1669. In
addition, the Bishop found the place to his liking, so he asked Father
Germain Morin, the first priest to be born in Canada, to establish a
parish there. On 26 June 1670,

Nicolas was elected the first churchwarden of this parish.

Because of his influential position in the community, he was often

called upon to defend the rights of his people. On 13 August 1663, we
see him bring a complaint against Michel Pelteir de Laprade, the future
seigneur of Gentilly, when our valiant militia captain found a man
named Pierre Retoucq at Peltier's home "stretched out unconscious"
after a violent quarrel. As a result, a tribunal composed of Pierre
Boucher, Quentin Moral and Louis Laurent found the defendant guilty
and fined him twenty livres.

Another example comes to us through the pen of Madame Jeanne

Petenaude, who writes:

"Nicolas Rivard had traits of character and aptitude which involved

him in protecting the public welfare. On a few occasions, the Archives
tell us in detail how he took the initiative to defend the common
interest of the citizens of Batiscan. Often the reports were expressed in
these terms: Nicolas Rivard, Sieur de la Vigne, knowing how to read
and write, acting for and in the name of all the colonists being their
procurer and defender ask, etc... and the petitions were addressed to
the Intendant, to the civil or religious authorities, etc... In 1676, he
appeared before the tribunal to plead the case of the colonists because
they were dissatisfied with the "alignment and boundary markers
placed by surveyor Jean Guyon du Buisson." After a rather sharp
exchange between Nicolas Rivard, "procurer and plaintiff", and the
representative of the King, an order, signed on 13 October 1676 in
Trois-Rivieres by Boyvinet, was published, to the effect that the
 boundaries would be re-examined by the surveyor Jean Le Rouge, to
the satisfaction of all interested parties. Nicolas was to examine the
deeds of the habitants to see that justice was done. As their complaints
were settled, Rivard was recognized as a truly good lawyer."

In spite of all of the good will and conviction that he put into his
lawsuits, ancestor Nicolas did not win all the cases he brought to the
attention of the Sovereign Council. In 1682, in another class action
suit, he apposed the parish priest of Batiscan, Messire François Dupré,
on the subject of a supplemental tithe. This business grew out of a
royal ruling issued in May of 1679 concerning the manner in which
tithes were to be collected. On 5 September 1682, the inhabitants
learned, at their own expense, that it was useless to oppose His
Majesty, on pain of fine, or worse...corporal punishment! In November
an ordinance reinforcing the manner of tithing was signed by the
Intendant and given to Rivard to post on the door of the parish church
for everyone to see.4

In the census of 1681, Nicolas was 60 years old, and he lived with his
wife and ten children at Batiscan. There he worked at the duties of
Captain of Militia until 1697, that is to say until the age of 81 years.

Death 1 July Nicholas died on 1 July 1701 at Batiscan, Quebec Canada at age 84.1
1701
Burial 1 July Nicholas was buried at St-François-Xavier in Bastican,
1701 Quebec,Canada.. This is a small Parish cemetery. On his death
certificate the Curate wrote that Nicolas had shown all the signs of a
singular piety.3

More on Nicholas here. A Special thank you to Frederick Dumas and

his son for his work providing us with this insight into the life of our
ancestor

Family Catherine de St. b. 26 August 1634, d. 27 June 1709

Père
Children 1. Nicholas II Rivard dit Lavigne b. 1 Feb 1654, d. 2 Sep
17197
2. Jeanne Rivard+ b. 24 Aug 1656, d. 25 Nov 16958
3. Pierre Rivard dit Lanouette+ b. c 1661, d. 1 Mar
17241
4. M-Madeliene Rivard. bc 1663 d. 1737

Citations

1. [S1308] Download, Tiffany Fugere <e-mail address> http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-

bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tdfugere&id=I26614.
 2. [S1308] Download, Tiffany Fugere <e-mail address> http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-
bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tdfugere&id=I26614 citing Renee Jette, "Dictionnaire
Genealogique des Familles du Quebec" 1883, Publ. University of Montreal.
Covering years 1608 to 1730. Page 987
3. [S1308] Download, http://epf.planete.qc.ca/base/affiche.asp?ID=I87128#info
Raynard Drouin.
4. [S1308] Download,
http://www.imagineworks.com/dumasfam/html/montegut.6.html.
5. [S1308] Download, http://guilletcinqmarsfamily.homestead.com/PierreGuillet.html
citing multiple sources. No author of this page is given.
6. [S1308] Download,
http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Kebec/saint_pere.html.
7. [S1308] Download, Descendants of Jules Trottier - 4 Feb 2004.
8. [S1308] Download, http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-
bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wisegal&id=I28837 Kim Lalonde <e-mail address> .

Main Page - Master Index - Surname Index

This database was prepared for my children and their children......but I hope that you
enjoy it, also. If you find any broken LINKS, or any errors........or if you have anything to
add to this work please contact me. Thank you
Compiler: Pomala Black

This page was created by John Cardinal's Second Site v1.9.16.

Site updated on 10 May 2008; 23,025 people
website source
http://genealogiequebec.info/en/testphp/info.php?no=52766
hil530added this on 12 Jan 2009

Also known as Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne 5 et Nicolas Rivart 4.

Il est le fils de Pierre Rivard de Lavigne 5 and Jeanne Mullard 5.

Il est peut-être le père de Robert Rivard dit Loranger 6. He is born on june 16th 1617 in
Tourouvre, Orne, Perche, France 5, 11, 12, 13, 14. He marries Catherine Saint-Per daughter of
Étienne de Saint-Père and Marie-Madeleine Cousteau on june 21st 1653 in Trois-Rivières,
Mauricie, Québec, Canada 1, 2, 4, 5, 15. Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne, Catherine Saint-Per,
Jacques, Michel Rivard, Madeleine Rivard, Pierre Rivard, François Rivard dit Lacoursière,
Julien Rivard de la Glanderie, Jeanne Rivard et Sieur Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne vivaient in
1666 à Trois-Rivières 1. Jacques fut domestique de Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne from 1666 to
1667 à Trois-Rivières 1, 2. Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne, Catherine Saint-Per, Jacques, Michel
Rivard, Madeleine Rivard, Pierre Rivard, François Rivard dit Lacoursière, Julien Rivard de la
Glanderie, Jeanne Rivard et Sieur Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne vivaient in 1667 aux Trois-
Rivières, le Cap ou la Touche-Champlain, Mauricie 2. Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne, Catherine
Saint-Per, Catherine Rivard, Madeleine Rivard, Jeanne Rivard, Antoine Rivard, Jean Rivard,
Michel Rivard, Pierre Rivard, François Rivard dit Lacoursière, Julien Rivard de la Glanderie et
Sieur Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne vivaient in 1681 à Batiscan, Champlain, Québec, Nicolas
Rivard de Lavigne possédait quatre fusils, "J" (sic) bêtes à cornes et vingt-cinq arpents de
terre en valeur 4. He is capitaine de milice 5, 6. He is buried on july 1st 1701 in Batiscan 6.

Liste de ses enfants connus:+ 1. Sieur Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne (1654 - 1719) 1, 2, 4, 6 (de Catherine
Saint-Per) + 2. Jeanne Rivard (1656 - 1698)1, 2, 4, 8 (de Catherine Saint-Per) + 3. Julien Rivard de la
Glanderie (1657 - 1708) 1, 2, 4, 6 (de Catherine Saint-Per) + 4. François Rivard dit Lacoursière (1659 -
1726) 1, 2, 4, 7 (de Catherine Saint-Per) + 5. Pierre Rivard (1662 - 1724) 1, 2, 4, 6 (de Catherine Saint-Per)
+ 6. Madeleine Rivard (1663 - 1724) 1, 2, 4, 9 (de Catherine Saint-Per) 7. Michel Rivard (1665 -
1687) 1, 2, 4, 6 (de Catherine Saint-Per) + 8. Jean Rivard (1668 - ) 4, 6 (de Catherine Saint-Per) + 9.
Catherine Rivard (1674 - 1703) 4, 10 (de Catherine Saint-Per) 10. Antoine Rivard (1676 - ) 4, 5 (de
Catherine Saint-Per)

1. Internet - Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France, référant au tome IV, chapitre IV du

livre Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, compilé par Jean-Guy Sénécal
(senecal@fmed.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998.

2. Internet - Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France, référant au tome IV, chapitre IV du

livre Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, édition 977, compilé par Jean-Guy
Sénécal (senecal@fmed.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998.

3. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 221, 336, 409, 519, 520

4. Internet - Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France, référant au chapitre IV du livre

Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, compilé par Jean-Guy Sénécal
(senecal@gel.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998.
5. Courriel de Patrick Lahoudie - 31 décembre 2004

6. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 519

7. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 519, 520

8. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 221, 519

9. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 336, 519

10. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 409, 519

11. Internet - Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France, référant au chapitre IV du livre

Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, compilé par Jean-Guy Sénécal
(senecal@gel.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998. Âgé de 60 ans.

12. Internet - Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France, référant au tome IV, chapitre IV

du livre Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, compilé par Jean-Guy Sénécal
(senecal@fmed.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998. Âgé de 42 ans.

13. Internet - Recensement de 1667 en Nouvelle-France, référant au tome IV, chapitre IV

du livre Histoire des Canadiens-Français de Benjamin Sulte, édition 977, compilé par Jean-
Guy Sénécal (senecal@fmed.ulaval.ca) le 17 mars 1998. Âgé de 40 ans.

14. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 519 (1624)

15. Tanguay - Volume 1, p. 519 (1652), 555 (pas de date)

http://genealogiequebec.info/en/testphp/info.php?no=52766

Additional information about this story

Description

Date

Location

Attached to  Nicolas Rivard de Lavigne (1617 - 1701)

Richard Rivard - A Short Biography
Futuremuse2added this on 28 Feb 2008

In about 1660. twelve years after his arrival in Nouvelle-France, Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne, well-
established at Cap-de-la-Madeleine and already father of four children, had the immense joy of
welcoming his younger brother Robert dit LaRangee or Loranger. Robert cleared and cultivated the
land for more than twenty-five years. Then, suddenly, while he had cleared the threshhold (my note:
age) of about fifty, he became a coureur de bois, to go unto Lakes Abitibi and Temiscamingue to trade
for furs with the Ottawa. [ With Michel Roy dit Chatellerault contracting with Compagnie du Nord -
tdfugere]

At the time of Nicolas' departure in 1648, he is still but a child. A Tenacious worker, Robert succeeded
in beating down two arpents of forest per year to convert as many arpents of cultivable land, which
was not common for the time. The date of arrival of most of our pioneers constitutes an enigma
(riddle) for genealogists, as competent as they are. The answer, if still to be found, is perhaps over the
Atlantic in contracts notarial yet to be revealed. One French-Canadian historienne who has not
succeeded, explains this detail. She makes allusion to two hundred persons who embarked at
LaRochelle in 1659, as well as one hundred or so recruits of Pierre Boucher in 1662, and only sixty-
seven of whom succeeded in touching our shores. Other groups more restricted arrived in 1661 and
1663.

This is certain, that Robert had arrived among us by July 28, 1663. Notary Claude Herlin mentions that
on that date, Robert received a concession (of) Pere C. Allouez, in the name of the seigneurs Jesuits.
The plot of ground is situated in the limit of Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

February 16, 1664, Robert signed with Francois Brunet a lease to farm fronting on the river and next to
Calude Housant, the second husband of Madeleine Couteau, mother-in-law of Nicolas. The following
May 1, Msgr. de Laval passed the Cap and Robert profited by making his confirmation. ...Oct 28 of the
same year, Notary Jacques de Latousche drafted the clauses of contract of marriage of Robert with
Madeleine Guillet, age 14, daughter of Pierre Guillet dit Lajeunesse and Jeanne de St-Pere. Present
were: Nicolas and Catherine, uncle and aunt of Robert, Claude Housard and Madeleine Couteau,
grandmother of (same that) Mathurin Guillet, brother of Madeleine. The religious ceremony (must
have) taken place at Cap in the little chapel constructed by Pierre Boucher in 1659, but the registers
before 1673 are, sadly, lost. It is almost certain that the young household lived a certain time at the
Cap.

February 8, 1666, Robert sold to Pierre Prou his concession on the Coast of St Mare. The following
March 22 (greffe Latousche) the Jesuits gave him a new concession of four arpents frontage at
Batiscan, about the time of those obtained by Claude Houssard and Nicolas. Fifteen years later Robert
had rendered thirty arpents cultivable...(? double the mouthful?) (?put his lips together?)

In 1681 the census affirms that Robert is 43 and Madeleine "counts 31 springs". their children are
Claude (16), Mathurin (14), Nickolas (11), Madeleine (9), Marie (7), Francois (4) and Charlotte (18 mos).
They own 2 guns and 5 horned beasts.

January 22, 1689, Robert decides to try the grand adventure of fur trade. At the home of Gilles
Rageout, he signs a lease (?)(contract) with the Compagnie du Nord to go to Lakes Abitibi and
Temiscamigue for three consecutive years to trade for furs from the Ottawa Indians. The profits were
divided between the company, Robert and the Notary Michel Roy dit Chattelereault. The latter two pay
also Alexandre-Rene Lemoyne, another member of the crew. Like father, like son, August 31, 1691,
Mathurin and Nicolas are engaged for the Illinois before Notary Antoine Adhemar, for Captain Francois
de la Forest. In 1692, the eldest son, Claude, organizes his own voyage with Francois Mercure dit
Villeneuve in the country of the Ottawas.
June 13, 1695, Robert signs a new contract for another three years to be associated this time with
some parents and friends: Known by the name of Company Royal before Notarus Benigne Basset and
Claude Maugus of Montreal. Many voyages were organized, up to 1707. But Robert without doubt used
(up) by the heavy work had had imposed on himself....Buried at Batiscan May 11, 1699 at 61. Madelein
survived him 37 years, buried near her spouse April 27, 1736 at 86. s/Jean P. Massicotte Secy Societe
d'Histoire du Cap.... translated by Betty J Revard 10/11/1995
Land Concessions to Rouillard, Guillet, Rivard, Houssard,
Moreau
mauriemacadded this on 30 Aug 2008

In the spring of 1666, the Jesuits, in possession of the Seigneurie of Batiscan, granted the
first 30 land concessions there. The contracts were drawn by the notary Jacques de la
Touche. It was a family affair!!! Claude Houssard, Pierre Guillet's father-in-law was the
first;(husband of Madeleine Couteau) he got his land concession on March 21, 1666. Robert
Rivard, the husband of Madeleine Guillet (Pierre's daughter) got his on the 22 of March. His
brother, Nicolas Rivard, Pierre's brother-in-law (he's Catherine Saint Père's husband)
signed for his land consession on March 23 of the year. Mathieu Rouillard, who married
Jeanne Guillet in June 1667 and Jean Moreau who married Pierre's daughter, Anne in 1667
also received land concessions. On August 6, 1666, Pierre obtained his property here
making him among the first landowners of this area of Quebec. On November 17, 1667 he
sold this land to Jean-Baptiste Crevier. Three days later, on November 20th 1667, he
bought 80 arpents of land at Cote Saint-Marc, next to his own property on the Cap. His son,
Louis would later be known as Louis Guillet dit St Marc. Even later, Abraham Guillet dit St
Marc became St Mars then Cinq Mars. These name changes, (the author of this piece
suspects), originated from this land purchase. At the end of 1667, he exchanged land he
had on the Cap for property in Batiscan owned by Jean Cusson.3
Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne contract for voyage to Canada
ddragonflydreamsadded this on 12 Jan 2009
TranslationOn the aforesaid day and year in the afternoon, at the
house of the notary
Was present Nicolas Rivard residing at Tourouvre
Who has voluntarily promised and has obliged himself
and all his belongings in favour of maître Noël Juchereau
Sieur des Chastellées residing at Québec in
New France absent, hereto represented
by Pierre Juchereau Sieur des Moulineaux
residing at Tourouvre, hereto present, to wit:
by the said Rivard to go serve the said Juchereau Sieur des
Chastellées at the said country of New France
also known as Canada for the time of three
years starting upon embarkment day
this year at La Rochelle and
terminating upon disembarking at the end of
the said time in France; the said Juchereau being responsible
for assuming the said Rivard's return fare and
to nourish him during the said time. And moreover
this contract was entered into in consideration of the sum of sixty
six Pounds Tournois for each year, that the said Juchereau
has promised to pay or cause to be paid by Maître Noël
his brother to the said Rivard upon each and every year, on
account whereof the said Rivard acknowledges having
received from the said Juchereau the sum of fifteen Pounds
Tournois, whereof he is content. Done and passed in the presence
of Guillaume Massard and Jean Chevallier residing
at Tourouvre witnesses who have with the said Juchereau
[words in paranthesis are ruled out:
who has declared not knowing how to sign when
requested by] who has declared not knowing how to sign when
requested
by & me notary, signed. The said Rivard has declared
not knowing how to sign when requested by me
notary, and I notified the parties to seal these
presents in conformity with the edict and arrest of the king.
(signed) P. Juchereau (paraph) (signed) G. Massard (paraph) (signed)
Chouaiseau notary (paraph) (signed) Chevallier
(paraph) _________________________________________________________
_____________________Note:The Livre (or Pound) Tournois is a currency that was first
struck and minted at Tours (hence its name), its value being 1/4 less than the Pound
Parisis. Starting in the 1300's, the King's currency adopted the design of the Pound
Tournois.Photograph
of original document and translation
provided by Andre Dufresne.
Nicholas Rivard Background
robertbarrette_1added this on 2 Feb 2008
Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne1
b. 16 June 1617, d. 1 July 1701, #14515
Pop-up Pedigree

Father Pierre Rivard2 b. 7 January 1591, d. 16 March 1651Mother Jeanne Mullard2 b. 9 July 1597, d.
21 April 1649
HYPER* HYPERLINK this file: another picture of the Rivard house. May still in My
Pictures. Name Variation Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne was also found as Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne
Nicolas, oldest son of Pierre Rivard, was the first of the family to arrive in New France in 1648. Nicolas'
mother, Jeanne Mullard, owned a small piece of land in Tourouvre, named "Clos de La Vigne". This
LaVigne location exits in Tourouvre to this day, where one of our cousins visited and kindly provided
us with a picture of a local road sign. Nicolas' oldest son Nicolas and youngest son Antoine also used
the dit name LaVigne, but the dit name was not routinely used after the first three generations. While
most families in this line retained Rivard, we have recently discoverd numerous families in Quebec
that dropped Rivard and kept Lavigne as the surname. Many of the Lavigne families were from the
Nicolet area.

Link to road sign. Name Variation Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne was also found as Nicolas Rivard-
Delavigne.3 Birth*16 June 1617Nicholas was born on 16 June 1617 at Renouard, Orme, France. Link
to church picture.3 !AInfoNew*1646He arrived in Quebec in 1646. Hired for Canada by Noel Jushereau
c. 6 mar 1648. Military/Militia captain [Tanguay].3 !AInfoNew6 March 1648The following extract is
from Our French Canadian Ancestors.

It was on a Friday, 6 March 1648, when Nicolas knocked on the door of notary Chouaiseau in
Tourouvre. He was there to sign a contract to work in Canada. He had been recruited by Pierre
Juchereau, Sieur des Moulineaux, on behalf of his brother Noel Juchereau, Sieur des Chastellées, living
in Quebec, for "a time of three years to begin the day of embarkation which will be this year from la
Rochelle." Rivard was promised free passage to and from Canada, including meals and 66 livres
"tournois" as an annual wage. He was also advanced 15 livres, deductible from his first years pay. A
normal livre was worth 25% less than a livre tournois at the time.

As early as 27 February 1649, Nicolas appeared as a Godfather in the parish registry of Trois-Rivières.
In 1651, he was named the Captain of Militia in Cap-de-la-Madeleine and later in Batiscan. "This was
an honorary position and held without monetary compensation. The captain of the militia was, in fact,
the administrator of the seigneury. He trained the troops, led them into battle, carried out the orders
of the Intendant, and was also the governor's agent. When the seigneur lived outside the seigneury,
the captain had the first pew in church, on the left side of the main aisle. He was usually referred to as
"Sieur" and most often, at his demise, he was buried in the crypt of the church." He worked at this
duty until old age overtook him. On 6 June of 1649, he received a piece of land from the Jesuits,
measuring two arpents in frontage on the river by twenty arpents in depth.4 (Witness) !AInfoNew24
November 1652On 24 Nov 1652 Pierre and his new brother-in-law, Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne sold
Mathurin's land on the Cap to Gilles Trottier. It is quite probable, the death of his brother and the
constant threat of the Iroquois gave Pierre Guillet the desire to establish his young family nearer the
safety of Quebec City.5 Marriage*21 June 1653Nicholas Rivard dit Lavigne, 36 years old,
married Catherine de St. Père, who was 18 years old, , daughter of Etienne de St.
Père and Madeleine Couteau, 21 June 1653 in Trois Rivières, cté Champlain, Quebec, Canada. They
had at least 10 children.

Both Nicholas and Catherine are related to the children of Pomala Morin Black and Rex Morin. Nicholas
is an 8th great grand uncle and Catherine is an 8th great grand aunt, each in their own right.

Nicholas and Catherine would have ten children before his death on July 01, 1701.

Nicolas Rivard II - Was born on February 01, 1654 at Trois-Rivieres and died on December 02, 1719
at Batiscan. He married Elisabeth-Blanchet Trottier and the couple had ten children.
Marie-Jeanne Rivard - Was born on August 24, 1656 at Trois-Rivieres and died on November 25, 1698
in La Visitation, Yamaska, Champlain, Quebec. She married Charles Duteau and the couple had eleven
children.

Julien Rivard - Was born on December 09, 1657 in Trois-Rivieres and died on December 09, 1708 in
Batiscan. He married Elisabeth Thunay and the couple had at least one child.

Francois Rivard - Was born on September 27, 1659 in Trois-Rivieres and died on September 14, 1726
in Batiscan. He married Marie-Madeleine Lepelle and the couple had seven children.

Pierre Rivard - Was born in 1661 at Trois-Rivieres and died on and March 01, 1724 in Batiscan.

Marie-Madeleine Rivard - Was born in 1663 at Trois-Rivieres and died on March 11, 1637 in Batiscan.

Michel Rivard - Was born in 1665 at Trois-Rivieres and died on August 17, 1687 in Batiscan.

Jean-Preville Rivard - Was born in 1668 at Trois-Rivieres and died on June 30, 1731 at Ile-Dupas,
Berthier, Quebec.

Marie-Catherine Rivard - Was born in 1673 at Trois-Rivieres and died on February 15, 1703 in
Batiscan.

Antoine Rivard - Was born in 1675 at Trois-Rivieres and died on September 14, 1699 in
Batiscan.3,6 !AInfoNew1665The Carignan soldiers arrived in New France in the summer of 1665. On
September 6, 1666, 1,300 men: 600 soldiers, 600 habitants and 100 Natives went into Iroquois lands,
and destroyed several villages. Pierre Boucher was involved with this expedition. He was the
ambassador from New France to the French Court. While he was gone, either with the Carignan
soldiers or to France, Nicolas Rivard dit Lavigne was left in charge at Cap de la Madeleine.5 (Witness)
!AInfoNewApril 1666In the spring of 1666, the Jesuits, in possession of the Seigneurie of Batiscan,
granted the first 30 land concessions there. The contracts were drawn by the notary Jacques de la
Touche. It was a family affair!!! Claude Houssard, Pierre Guillet's father-in-law was the
first;(husband of Madeleine Couteau) he got his land concession on March 21, 1666. Robert Rivard,
the husband of Madeleine Guillet (Pierre's daughter) got his on the 22 of March. His brother, Nicolas
Rivard, Pierre's brother-in-law (he's Catherine Saint Père's husband) signed for his land consession
on March 23 of the year. Mathieu Rouillard, who married Jeanne Guillet in June 1667 and Jean
Moreau who married Pierre's daughter, Anne in 1667 also received land concessions. On August 6,
1666, Pierre obtained his property here making him among the first landowners of this area of
Quebec. On November 17, 1667 he sold this land to Jean-Baptiste Crevier. Three days later, on
November 20th 1667, he bought 80 arpents of land at Cote Saint-Marc, next to his own property on
the Cap. His son, Louis would later be known as Louis Guillet dit St Marc. Even later, Abraham Guillet
dit St Marc became St Mars then Cinq Mars. These name changes, (the author of this peice suspects),
originated from this land purchase. At the end of 1667, he exchanged land he had on the Cap for
property in Batiscan owned by Jean Cusson.5 !AInfoNew1670On 7 March 1661, notary Claude Herlin
drew up a most unusual contract. It concerned the purchase of a chapel by the literate and well
respected Nicolas Rivard from Governor Pierre Boucher. The deed read in part "A chapel which he
(Bouchar) had built in his yard, 20 feet long by 20 feet wide," would be disassembled piece by piece,
transported to the Cap and reassembled. It was erected on the precise spot where the second church,
which still exists, is located.

On 23 March 1666, Nicolas acquired two properties from the Jesuits, one at Batiscan and the other on
the Ile Saint-Eloi. Each measured 2 by 40 arpents and both were recorded by notary Jacques de la
Tousche. The Rivards lived awhile longer at the Cap, where they were listed in the census of 1666.
Then they moved to Batiscan in 1668: There is reason to believe that Msgr de Laval conferred the
sacrament of Confirmation in the house of Nicolas at Batiscan on 25 May 1669. In addition, the Bishop
found the place to his liking, so he asked Father Germain Morin, the first priest to be born in Canada,
to establish a parish there. On 26 June 1670,

Nicolas was elected the first churchwarden of this parish.

Because of his influential position in the community, he was often called upon to defend the rights of
his people. On 13 August 1663, we see him bring a complaint against Michel Pelteir de Laprade, the
future seigneur of Gentilly, when our valiant militia captain found a man named Pierre Retoucq at
Peltier's home "stretched out unconscious" after a violent quarrel. As a result, a tribunal composed of
Pierre Boucher, Quentin Moral and Louis Laurent found the defendant guilty and fined him twenty
livres.

Another example comes to us through the pen of Madame Jeanne Petenaude, who writes:

"Nicolas Rivard had traits of character and aptitude which involved him in protecting the public
welfare. On a few occasions, the Archives tell us in detail how he took the initiative to defend the
common interest of the citizens of Batiscan. Often the reports were expressed in these terms: Nicolas
Rivard, Sieur de la Vigne, knowing how to read and write, acting for and in the name of all the
colonists being their procurer and defender ask, etc... and the petitions were addressed to the
Intendant, to the civil or religious authorities, etc... In 1676, he appeared before the tribunal to plead
the case of the colonists because they were dissatisfied with the "alignment and boundary markers
placed by surveyor Jean Guyon du Buisson." After a rather sharp exchange between Nicolas Rivard,
"procurer and plaintiff", and the representative of the King, an order, signed on 13 October 1676 in
Trois-Rivieres by Boyvinet, was published, to the effect that the boundaries would be re-examined by
the surveyor Jean Le Rouge, to the satisfaction of all interested parties. Nicolas was to examine the
deeds of the habitants to see that justice was done. As their complaints were settled, Rivard was
recognized as a truly good lawyer."

In spite of all of the good will and conviction that he put into his lawsuits, ancestor Nicolas did not win
all the cases he brought to the attention of the Sovereign Council. In 1682, in another class action
suit, he apposed the parish priest of Batiscan, Messire François Dupré, on the subject of a
supplemental tithe. This business grew out of a royal ruling issued in May of 1679 concerning the
manner in which tithes were to be collected. On 5 September 1682, the inhabitants learned, at their
own expense, that it was useless to oppose His Majesty, on pain of fine, or worse...corporal
punishment! In November an ordinance reinforcing the manner of tithing was signed by the Intendant
and given to Rivard to post on the door of the parish church for everyone to see.4 Census_Oth* In the
census of 1681, Nicolas was 60 years old, and he lived with his wife and ten children at Batiscan.
There he worked at the duties of Captain of Militia until 1697, that is to say until the age of 81
years. Death*1 July 1701
Nicholas died on 1 July 1701 at Batiscan, at Quebec at Canada at age 84.1 Burial*1 July 1701Nicholas
was buried in Bastican, Quebec, France. This is a small Parish cemetery. On his death certificate the
Curate wrote that Nicolas had shown all the signs of a singular piety.3
Family Catherine de St. Père b. 26 August 1634, d. 27 June 1709Children 1.Nicholas II Rivard dit
Lavigne b. 1 Feb 1654, d. 2 Sep 17197 2.JeanneRivard+ b. 24 Aug 1656, d. 25 Nov
16958 3.Pierre Rivard dit Lanouette+ b. c 1661, d. 1 Mar 17241
Citations
1. [S1308] Download, Tiffany Fugere <e-mail address> http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-
bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tdfugere&id=I26614.
2. [S1308] Download, Tiffany Fugere <e-mail address> http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-
bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tdfugere&id=I26614 citing Renee Jette, "Dictionnaire Genealogique des
Familles du Quebec" 1883, Publ. University of Montreal. Covering years 1608 to 1730. Page 987
.
3. [S1308] Download, http://epf.planete.qc.ca/base/affiche.asp?ID=I87128#info Raynard
Drouin.
4. [S1308] Download, http://www.imagineworks.com/dumasfam/html/montegut.6.html.
5. [S1308] Download, http://guilletcinqmarsfamily.homestead.com/PierreGuillet.html citing
multiple sources. No author of this page is given.
6. [S1308] Download,
http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Kebec/saint_pere.html.
7. [S1308] Download, Descendants of Jules Trottier - 4 Feb 2004.
8. [S1308] Download, http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wisegal&id=I28837
Kim Lalonde <e-mail address> .
Mercier/Lousche/Mullard/Rivard
The enate side of your mother's ancestry began half a millenium ago in the province of Percheron,
France. Your first ancestor of record, Jean Mercier, lived before the Council of Trent (1545-1563)
which was the nineteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. It was at that council that all
Catholic Churches were mandated to keep records of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and
Deaths.

Civil records of births, marriages and deaths did not exist in most countries until the middle of late
nineteenth century, as follows: Germany, 1875, France, 1792, Spain, 1870, Portugal, 1878, Italy,
1860, England, 1836, and Scotland, 1855.

The Church of England has registers of baptisms, marriages and deaths dating to as early as 1538
in England. Most other protestant denominations did not maintain records until the late 18th or
early 19th century 1.

The area of France where Jean Mercier and his descendants lived is much like Quebec, but has no
river of note. Mortagne is a quaint town, built on a hill and has maintained the medieval appeal of
a former fortress with its ramparts and gates.

It was there that Jean Mercier's daughter, Perrine, married Thomas Lousche on 14 Jun 1528.
Thomas Lousche died after 21 Jan 1564.

Thomas Lousche and Perrine Mercier had a son named François, born c 1535, who became a
butcher. On 26 Nov 1604, he married Martine Portier. They had a daughter, Françoise, who
married Robert Mullard c 1588. Robert Mullard died 8 Aug 1600. Françoise died about 6 Mar
1614.

Robert Mullard and Françoise Lousche lived in the town of Tourouvre, which is about fifteen
kilometers to the west of Mortagne. The town is dominated by the bell tower of Saint-Aubin
Church. It was in that town that Jeanne Mullard, the daughter of Robert Mullard and Françoise
Lousche, was born on 9 Jul 1597. On 11 Nov 1613, she married Pierre Rivard, the son of Thomas
Rivard and Jeanne Chevreau.

Jeanne Chevreau had been born in La Poterie au Perche, but moved to Tourouvre after her
marriage to Pierre Rivard. Both Pierre Rivard and Jeanne Chevreau died at Tourouvre c 13 Sep
1620.

Jeanne Mullard died after 21 Apr 149; Pierre Rivard died 5 mar 1652. They had at least two sons,
Nicholas, born 16 Jun 1617, and Robert, born 10 Jul 1638.

These two sons were the migrants to New France. Their story is best told by the following extract
from Our French Canadian Ancestors. 2

It was on a Friday, 6 March 1648, when Nicolas knocked on the door of notary
Chouaiseau in Tourouvre. He was there to sign a contract to work in Canada. He
had been recruited by Pierre Juchereau, Sieur des Moulineaux, on behalf of his
brother Noel Juchereau, Sieur des Chastellées, living in Quebec, for "a time of
three years to begin the day of embarkation which will be this year from la
Rochelle." Rivard was promised free passage to and from Canada, including
meals and 66 livres "tournois" as an annual wage. He was also advanced 15
livres, deductible from his first years pay. A normal livre was worth 25% less
than a livre tournois at the time.
 As early as 27 February 1649, Nicolas appeared as a Godfather in the parish
registry of Trois-Rivières. In 1651, he was named the Captain of Militia in Cap-
de-la-Madeleine and later in Batiscan. "This was an honorary position and held
without monetary compensation. The captain of the militia was, in fact, the
administrator of the seigneury. He trained the troops, led them into battle,
carried out the orders of the Intendant, and was also the governor's agent. When
the seigneur lived outside the seigneury, the captain had the first pew in church,
on the left side of the main aisle. He was usually referred to as "Sieur" and most
often, at his demise, he was buried in the crypt of the church." He worked at this
duty until old age overtook him. On 6 June of 1649, he received a piece of land
from the Jesuits, measuring two arpents in frontage on the river by twenty
arpents in depth.

Nicholas Rivard had married Catherine de Saint-Père c 1653 at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Some
genealogists place the date of the marriage at 25 Nov 1652 while others opt for 21 June 1653.
Catherine de Saint-Père had been baptised on 26 Aug 1634, the daughter of Etienne de Saint-Père
and Naomi Coutand. She had probably come to Quèbec with her brother, Jean in 1643.

In 1849, Catherine had married Mathurin Guillet. She was fifteen years of age. Three years later,
Mathurin was killed in an abortive raid on an Iroquois village. A few months later, her marriage to
Nicholas Rivard occurred. He was thirty-five and Catherine eighteen years of age.

The account of Nicholas Rivard in Our French Canadian Ancestors continues:

On 7 March 1661, notary Claude Herlin drew up a most unusual contract. It

concerned the purchase of a chapel by the literate and well respected Nicolas
Rivard from Governor Pierre Boucher. The deed read in part "A chapel which he
(Bouchar) had built in his yard, 20 feet long by 20 feet wide," would be
disassembled piece by piece, transported to the Cap and reassembled. It was
erected on the precise spot where the second church, which still exists, is
located.

On 23 March 1666, Nicolas acquired two properties from the Jesuits, one at
Batiscan and the other on the Ile Saint-Eloi. Each measured 2 by 40 arpents and
both were recorded by notary Jacques de la Tousche. The Rivards lived awhile
longer at the Cap, where they were listed in the census of 1666. Then they
moved to Batiscan in 1668: There is reason to believe that Msgr de Laval
conferred the sacrament of Confirmation in the house of Nicolas at Batiscan on
25 May 1669. In addition, the Bishop found the place to his liking, so he asked
Father Germain Morin, the first priest to be born in Canada, to establish a parish
there. On 26 June 1670,

Nicolas was elected the first churchwarden of this parish.

Because of his influential position in the community, he was often called upon
to defend the rights of his people. On 13 August 1663, we see him bring a
complaint against Michel Pelteir de Laprade, the future seigneur of Gentilly,
when our valiant militia captain found a man named Pierre Retoucq at Peltier's
home "stretched out unconscious" after a violent quarrel. As a result, a tribunal
composed of Pierre Boucher, Quentin Moral and Louis Laurent found the
defendant guilty and fined him twenty livres.

Another example comes to us through the pen of Madame Jeanne Petenaude,

who writes:
 "Nicolas Rivard had traits of character and aptitude which involved him in
protecting the public welfare. On a few occasions, the Archives tell us in detail
how he took the initiative to defend the common interest of the citizens of
Batiscan. Often the reports were expressed in these terms: Nicolas Rivard, Sieur
de la Vigne, knowing how to read and write, acting for and in the name of all the
colonists being their procurer and defender ask, etc... and the petitions were
addressed to the Intendant, to the civil or religious authorities, etc... In 1676, he
appeared before the tribunal to plead the case of the colonists because they were
dissatisfied with the "alignment and boundary markers placed by surveyor Jean
Guyon du Buisson." After a rather sharp exchange between Nicolas Rivard,
"procurer and plaintiff", and the representative of the King, an order, signed on
13 October 1676 in Trois-Rivieres by Boyvinet, was published, to the effect that
the boundaries would be re-examined by the surveyor Jean Le Rouge, to the
satisfaction of all interested parties. Nicolas was to examine the deeds of the
habitants to see that justice was done. As their complaints were settled, Rivard
was recognized as a truly good lawyer."

In spite of all of the good will and conviction that he put into his lawsuits,
ancestor Nicolas did not win all the cases he brought to the attention of the
Sovereign Council. In 1682, in another class action suit, he apposed the parish
priest of Batiscan, Messire François Dupré, on the subject of a supplemental
tithe. This business grew out of a royal ruling issued in May of 1679 concerning
the manner in which tithes were to be collected. On 5 September 1682, the
inhabitants learned, at their own expense, that it was useless to oppose His
Majesty, on pain of fine, or worse...corporal punishment! In November an
ordinance reinforcing the manner of tithing was signed by the Intendant and
given to Rivard to post on the door of the parish church for everyone to see.

In the census of 1681, Nicolas was 60 years old, and he lived with his wife and
ten children at Batiscan. There he worked at the duties of Captain of Militia until
1697, that is to say until the age of 81 years. He had achieved his work in this
world and, on 1 July 1701, he was carried to his final resting place in the small
parish cemetery. On his death certificate the Curate wrote that Nicolas had
shown all the signs of a singular piety. His wife Catherine survived him for
almost eight years, then she too, died and was buried at Batiscan, on 28 June
1709.

Nicholas and Catherine Rivard reared a family of ten children. 3

Births Marriages Deaths

Nicholas, 1 Feb. 1654 20 Nov 1678, Elizabeth Trottier 2 Dec 1719
Jeanne, 24 Aug 1656 22 Apr 1669 Charles Duteau
Julien, 9 Dec 1657 3 Feb 1682 Elizabeth THunay 9 Dec 1708
François, 27 Sep 1659 18 Feb 1697, Madeleine LePellé, engagé Ouest 2 Aug 1688 14 Sep 1726
Pierre, c. 1661 9 Jan 1685, Catherine Trottier 1 Mar 1724
Marie Madeleine, c. 1663 1677 Pierre La Fond-LaForce
Michael, c. 1665 17 Aug 1687
Jean, c. 1688 5 Sep 1703, Genevieve Trottier 30 Jun 1731
Marie-Catherine, c. 1674 18 Feb 1697 Alexis Marchand
*Antoine, c. 1675 Marie Briard (sic), Antoinette Fourier, cité 14 Sep 1699 11 Feb 1729
 Most of these children had second marriages, but, except for Antoine, these have been omitted.
Life was hard in frontier days and between Indian raids, accidents and illnesses life was generally
short.

Nicholas Rivard took the surname de la Vigne. Most French-Canadians took surnames or aliases.
Among the surnames taken by various members of the Rivard family were Laglanderie, Dufresne,
Lacoursiere,, Lanouette, Preville, Loraner, Feuilleverte, Bellefeuille, Monendre, Maisonville,
Mongrain, Rivac, Rival, Rivvault, Vertefeuille, and Lamy. These aliases often surplanted the
Rivard name, making the tracing of relationships impossible.

Their youngest son, Antoine, left Batiscan on 14 Sep 1699. The entry says "cité", which could
mean to go to a larger city (Quebec or Montreal) or to attend a university, which was also referred
to as "cité".

Antoine married Marie Birard in 1704. The name of the girl is variously written as Marie Briard,
Marie Briar, Marie Driard and Marie Druyard. One record indicates that she was a native of Ile
Dauphin, Canada, while another cites Ile Dauphin in Mobile Bay and a third states that she was a
native of Natchez, Mississippi.

Edna Freiberg states 4that Marie Driard was one of twenty-three Canadian girls sent to old Mobile
in 1704 by the Bishop of Quebec. Jay Higginbotham in his well researched book Old Mobile ,
states that the girls were recruited from orphanages in Paris and arrived in the ship, The Pelican .

The most probably scenario is that Antoine left Canada with Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1699 when
he established the colony on Ile Dauphin. He probably married Marie Briard within a year of her
arrival at that colony - about 1705. He is recorded in the census of 1 Aug 1706 in that area with a
wife and one child.

Antoine was granted a small concession on the east bank of Bayou St. john in 1708. By 1718 he
owned the Village of Acolapissas and by 1721 had enlarged his holdings to seventeen arpents
front.

The census of 1721 shows Antoine with a wife and six children. Only five can be identified:

Births Marriages Deaths

Marie Francois, Autumn, 1705 12 May 1722 Joseph Lamy
Gabrielle, 4 Aug 1707
Genevieve Monique, 8 Dec 1708 22 Jun 1733, Francois Boucher, Est., sieur de Monbrum
Francois Antoine 20 Feb 1730 Jeanne Antoinette de Volmont
Jean Baptiste*

In Memoirs on Louisiana, Bienville writes:

Bayou St. John which is behind this city is of such great convenience because of
the communication which it affords with Lake Pontchartrain and consequently
with the seat that it cannot be esteemed too highly. In order to facilitate the
navigation of it it would be necessary to clear it out, that is to say to remove
from it all the tree trunks with which it is filled and even blocked in many places
and to fell all the trees that hang over the banks and threaten to fall into it. A
good settler on this bayou named Rivart offers to undertake this work and
promises to complete it in three years because no work can be done on it except
when the water is low. For that purpose he asks that we lend him the pulleys,
iron tools and ropes necessary and that the Company grant him as a concession
one side of the low land along this bayou as far as the lake which is about three
quarters of a league. This is land subject to overflow which he would drain by
ditches in order to make pastures. This proposal appears to me to be
advantageous and so inexpensive for the Company and of such great assistance
for New Orleans that I do not think that it ought to be rejected. We have no
reason to fear that the enemies will come to disturb the peace of the inhabitants
of New Orleans where at any time whatsoever it is sufficient to have three
companies both for its safety and for that of the posts that might perhaps need
assistance.

It was not known when Marie Briard died, but shortly thereafter he married Antoinette Fouriere
the widow of Henri Martin de Mirbaize Sieur de Villemont (Vuillemont, Vilmont).

Antoine died and was buried on 11 Feb 1729 at New Orleans, Antoinette Fourier died 4 Oct 1736.

Jean Baptiste Rivard, the youngest child is listed as a member of the militia, but little is known
about him, except that he married Anne Bernard, the daughter of Antoine Bernard and Catherine
Betherine. They had a son also named Jean Baptiste Rivard, born 18 Dec 1761 in New Orleans.

Jean Baptiste Rivard, fils, married Maria Theresa Durand (5 Nov 1755 - 25 Apr 1838). Maria
Theresa Durand was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Durand (1732-25 Mar 1785) and Gabriella Du
Pre (born 26 Jan 1731) the daughter of Jacques Dupre and Madeleine Mercier who were married
on 6 June 1725. Madeleine Mercier's parents were Jean Baptiste Mercier and Louise Bourgeois.

Jean Baptiste Rivard, fils, and Maria Theresa Durand had six children:

Births Marriages Deaths

Juan Baptiste, 24 August 1784 19 Sep 1808, Ane Lavigne
*Achilles, 3 Feb 1787
Ana, 19 Nov 1790
Clara, 7 Dec 1792
Maria Emer, 7 Mar 1795
Maria Theresa, 7 Mar 1795

The church records for Achilles lists him as Archie Ribalda. He was baptised 20 Apr 1787.
Achilles Rivard lived with a free woman of color named Seraphin Christophe and fathered four
natural children named Eugenie, Marie, Achilles, and Aristide. Exact birth dates cannot be found,
but Marie was born c. 1820.

About 1842 she married Theodule Cerre. Marie died 8 Feb 1892.

1. Pine, L.G., New Orleans Genesis, Vol , p. 283.

2. LaForest, Thomas J., Our French Canadian Ancestors, Vol. 5, p. 216
3. Dictionaire Genealogique des Families du Quebec., p. 987
4. Freiberg, Edna B., Bayou St. John in Colonial Louisiana, p. 32.