History of Jacques Massicotte

In 1663 King Louis XIV of France decided to cancel the charter of the Company of New France (Canada) and make New France (Canada) into a royal province, with a Governor as the ceremonial and military head of the colony. In addition to creating a royal colony, the King sent a military commander, Alexandre de Prouville, the marquis de Tracy, and a regiment of soldiers who in 1666 defeated the Iroquois and forced them to make peace. It was then possible to proceed to populate and develop New France (Canada). More than 3,000 settlers, including girls of marriageable age, were sent out in the 1660s. Few followed thereafter, but by natural increase the population began to expand rapidly.

Several colonists were tempted by the adventure in New-France (Canada), because they were unable to earn their living in France or to carry out their ambitions. Curiously, for Massicotte, descendants of the ancestor Jacques Massicot, it seems that the idea to come here was a random decision. Jacques Massicot, whose name will become Massicotte, was born in 1661. A document will say he originated from " St-Pierre of Gist ", verified by people in Saintonge, But the signed genealogical search by Edward Zotique Massicotte details a village named St.-Pierre Cisq that is now disappeared. The parents of Massicot, Jacques and Jeanne Landry wanted their son to travel to New-France (Canada).

 

The mother of Jacques Massicot, Jeanne had a sister Louise in New-France (Canada). She married in 1667, in Quebec, at the age of 19. She does not give a child to her husband, Telling Pierre. The couple was unhappy. The absence of a child poses a problem of the estate inheritance. Who will get there estate? In 1694, Pierre Telling, who is 56 years old, is very unhealthy. April 1, he makes a will in which he designates his wife as the single heiress of the estate that they have together. This will confirms a provision registered in their marriage contract under the terms of which " the successor and successors in title " of Louise Landry could, without dispute, inherit the goods of the couple. Just after his arrival in New-France (Canada), Jacques inherits his uncle Pierre and his aunt Louise estate. A little later Pierre died, leaving a widow and nephew. Jacques Massicot is thus established in Batiscan and is able to save the inheritance of his aunt Louise. He acquires a good reputation and his friends are numerous.

About the same time, the Jesuits concede to him, within the limits of the future parish of Ste-Genevieve, the largest land on the river Batiscan. June 28 1696, in the house of Jean Barrel, Batiscan, his friends await the arrival of Massicot which comes to sign the marriage contract to bind the marriage Catherine Baril. Jacques then marries on July 2nd, 1696, in Ste-Genevieve de Batiscan, Marie-Catherine Baril. His wife, born around 1675, is the girl of Jean Baril and Marie Guillet. Marie-Catherine was given a sum of 500 pounds, 2 cows and some pieces of furniture by her parents. Twelve children were born from Jacques and Marie-Catherine: Marie-Louiset, Catherine, Jean, Marie-Anne-Josephte, Jacques, Jeanne, Marie-Angelique(1), Joseph, Francois, Antoine-Francois-Xavier, Marie Angelique(2), Marie-Anne.

Below is a copy of Jacques and Catherine's Marriage Document. The witnesses who sign the act are: the notary Francois Protein, Jean Dubois, Mr. of the Vine, Mr. Revered, Jean Revered, Ls Built. "

 

Reference:
p. 786, are colonne MASSICOT, Jacques de St-Pierre de Juicq [de " St-Pierre du Gist ", auj. Le Gicq] ar. St-Jean-d'Angely, ev. - Saintes, Saintonge (Charente-Maritime:17177) * m 1696 BARIL, Marie-Catherine

According to E.Z Massicotte, the young couple is undoubtedly established on the grounds and in the house of Telling and Louise Landry. It is there undoubtedly that Marie Louise, their first child, comes into the world, the beginning of July 1697. The couple does not intend to be satisfied with the land of the uncle. Therefore on October 10, Jacques Massicot finds himself once again in front of the notary Francois Trottain. He obtains then from the Father Jacques Vaillant, the concession of the one of the more vast grounds ever established by the Jesuits on northeastern bank of the river Batiscan. It is six arpents broad, which is double of what is usually established. For this reason, a family tradition wants that Jacques Massicot came to the country as engaged from the Fathers Jesuits and that in reward of his services, the latter granted a ground to him more extent equal to that of a stronghold! " Let us give him what he is worth, wrote E Z Massicotte, because we did not find any act which supports it or confirms it. Fortunately for the future generations, the concerns of Massicot are not exclusively centered on the ground or the augmentation of the material inheritance. The family increases thanks to the contribution of Marie Catherine Baril, who from July 1697 to May 1719, gives the world twelve children. Except for three, Marie Angelica, born in 1708 and deceased a little later Joseph born in 1710 and one second fore-mentioned girl Marie Angelica, the Massicot will be combined to other pioneer families of Quebec.

Their children, Marie Louise married Pierre Bourbeau; Catherine, Antoine Trottier; Jean, initially Louise Trottier, then Marie Angelica Valley; Marie Josephte gave children Alexis Moran Douville and to Marie Jeanne in Francois Thomas. Jacques was to be the third Massicot child to find charm in Trottier, because he married Marie Josephte Trottier. Francois was to contract two marriages, the first with Angelique Beland and the second with Marie Josephte Cotin Duval. Antoine Francois-Xavier married Marie Renee Vallee and Marie Anne entrusted her heart to Bonaventure Sauvageau.

Jacques Massicot died in June 1738. He was followed by Marie Catherine in October 1752. The Massicotte family is still in possession of the ancestral ground. This family founded by Saintongeois Jacques Massicotte and Marie-Catherine Baril, initially spread itself in the area of Batiscan, Champlain and the Cape-of-the-Madeleine. One finds now of Massicotte in all Quebec and the United States. Some names have changes over the generations. Some have the names of Mexicotte and Mexico, mainly residing in Michigan.

Jacques was buried on June 3, 1738 and Catherine on October 13, 1752.

All Massicotte are descendants of Jacques: Jean, Jacques and Francois. His son Jean (1701-1770) married to Marie-Angelica Valley is also our ancestor.

The Massicotte - text by Hélène-Andrée Bizier

The Massicotte Family Because they could neither earn a living nor make any of their dreams come true in France, many pioneers sought their fortune in New France. The decision by Jacques, the ancestor of the MASSICOT family, to immigrate to Canada may have been influenced by a chance event.

The son of Jacques MASSICOT and Jeanne Landry, the future pioneer was born around 1658/1661 in Saint-Pierre de Juicq, in the bishropic of Saintes, in Saintonge, a province which sent many settlers to New France. MASSICOT, who was in Quebec as early as 1689, when his name is first recorded, appears to have learned no trade. He will not be heard from again until seven years later, in Batiscan.

Did he work for the Jesuits who later supported him? Was he indentured as an engagé to other, more-established colonists? Did he return to France temporarily? In an attempt to find out why his ancestor finally set down roots across the Atlantic, Edouard-Zotique Massicotte, the historian, has discovered some documents that shed some light on the matter.

Jacques' mother had a sister, Louise Landry, who had married Pierre Content in Quebec on September 26, 1667. They had no children. Their marriage contract - referred to several times in subsequent events - implies that they are beginning to realize their marriage will be barren and that the absence of heirs may cause problems. Content wishes that, upon his death, "the said Landry and her descendants, will be his heirs notwithstanding any and all assertions or concerns to the contrary".On April 1, 1694, Content dictates his will where he reiterates his desire to have his property go to Louise Landry and then on to her heirs.

On June 28, 1696, several residents of Batiscan gather at Jean Baril's house where notary Fran�ois Trottain transcribes the necessary details for the marriage of Jacques MASSICOT, who promises to wed Marie-Catherine Baril, daughter of Jean Baril and Marie Guillet. Louise Landry is on record as a witness to the event, after which she will never be heard from again; she passes away near the end of December 1697.

According to E.-Z. Massicotte, after the wedding, which was celebrated in Batiscan on the following July 2nd, the couple probably settles on the banks of the Saint-Laurent River, on the land belonging to the Contents, which he inherits after 1697. Their first child, Marie-Louise is born there on July 16, 1697.

The following October 10th, the Jesuits, owners of the seigneury of Batiscan, cede to Jacques MASSICOT a plot of land six arpents square on the north-eastern bank of the Batiscan River. It is twice the size of the average grant. According to E.-Z. Massicotte, "Family history has it that Jacques MASSICOT came to this country indentured as an engagé to the Jesuit Fathers and, as a reward for his services, they granted him a piece of land equal in size to that of a fief! This must be taken with a grain of salt since there is no document to support or confirm this." Between July 1697 and May 1719, Marie-Catherine Baril gave birth to 12 children, nine of whom will marry into other pioneer families. Jacques MASSICOT was interred on June 3, 1738. He was followed by Marie-Catherine on October 13, 1752.

Jacques Home in France

Jacques Home ?
Abandoned house of the village of Gicq which " could " be the house of the Ancestor Jacques Massicot. No proof, no document, only one good possibility.

Jaques Church ?
At the time of the visit of Massicotte of Quebec in France in 1995, a plate was fixed inside the native church of Jacques Massicotte. It reads:
Homage to our ancestor Jacques Massicot Born in 1658 in Saint-Pierre of Gist. Today Saint-Pierre parish of Gicq (Diocese of the Small rock and Holy). Valorous pioneer of New-France Deceased in Batiscan (Quebec) in 1718. Thanks to the grateful descendants of Massicotte of Quebec, Canada and the United States 1995.

On the photograph in front of the plate, Aubert Massicotte Pallascio, gave the plate and organized the voyage.

Outside the church of Jacques in France

Inside the church of Jacques in France