Davids of New France

Marie Magdelaine Monmellian dit Saint Germain

Québec City, Nouvelle France



1698

Marie Magdelaine Monmellian dit Saint Germain, wife of Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel, was born on 04 April 1698 in Quebec City, Nouvelle France to Jean Baptiste Monmellian dit Saint Germain and Marie Helene Juneau Journeau). Her godparents were Jacques Queyla, a tailor by profession, and Marie Madeleine Richausme. Fre Francois Dupre, priest and resident of Quebec, presided at her baptism. in the Parish of Notre Dame de Quebec, oldest parish in North America, at the Notre-Dame de Quebec basilica-cathedral, Originally built in 1647.

Marie Magdelaine's paternal grandparents were Jacques Monmellian and Claudine Guilet of the Parish of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France located in the Saint Germain district which may have been the source from which her families' name dit Saint Germain was derived. Her maternal grandparents were Jean Jouineau and Marie Anne Videau Delagassonnerie of the Parish of Notre Dame de Cogne in La Rochelle, France.

Marie Magdelaine was the 7th child and 3rd daughter of a family of 8 children that included 4 boys and 4 girls. From numerous Archives of Louisbourg source records, it appears that her younger sister by 5 years, Genevieve Monmellian dit Saint Germain, was a close sibling and would follow Marie Magdelaine for many years from Quebec City to the Fortress of Louisbourg.

        Notre Dame de Quebec

Note: The spelling of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian's name appears throughout uncovered primary source records in numerous variations. Her given name appears as Marie Magdelaine, Marie Magdeleine and Marie Madeleine. In addition, there are 17 different spellings for the Monmellian surname in the Quebec City church records. In the 18th century, spelling was often phonetic and occasionally creative. The Records Archivists made the decision to use "Monmellian" as the only valid field entry for this surname in their PRDH (Le Programme de recherche en demographie historique) database.

 

The Birth of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian dit Saint Germain and the David Family Timeline Anchor

It is with the birth of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian dit Saint Germain and with the primary source record of her baptism below, the oldest uncovered family record to date, that the commencement of this Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel family timeline is established.


Baptism Record of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian - 4 April 1698




1698 to 1716

The Quebec 1716 Census

Virtually nothing is yet known of Marie Magdelaine's infant, adolescent and young adult years in Quebec City. However, her marriage to Jean Pierre appears to have taken place sometimes after the Quebec 1716 Census which lists Marie Magdelaine as single at the age of 18 and living with her parents.


Quebec 1716 Census




1716 to 1718

From all indications, Jean Pierre’s marriage to Marie Magdelaine occurred about 1717, sometimes shortly after the Quebec 1716 Census and the birth of Jean and Marie's 1st child about 1718.

The actual date and place of their marriage is unknown at this time, however, the location of the marriage would probably have been somewhere between Québec City and the township of Louisbourg on the northern coast of Cape Brenton Island (Île Royale). As is a traditional Catholic marital custom often practiced at that time as well as current times, there exists the very likely possibility that Jean and Marie were married in the same church in which Marie was baptized in 1698, Notre-Dame de Quebec Basilica-Cathedral.




1718 to 1722

The Births of Pierre, Michel and Magdeleine

Between 1718 and 1722, Marie Magdelaine gave birth to her 1st 3 children, Pierre about 1718, Michel about 1720 and Magdeleine about 1721.  The exact date and place of their births is yet unknown, however, it is highly likely that they were born somewhere between Quebec City, Acadie or at the Fortress of Louisbourg.


Fortress of Louisbourg, Île Royale, Nouvelle France




1722 to 1726

Marie Magdelaine's 1st Document Presence in Louisbourg, the Birth of Marie Josephe

The 1st primary source record which documents Marie Magdelaine's presence at Louisbourg is the birth of her and Jean Pierre's 2nd daughter and 4th child, Marie Josephe, on 08 November 1722.


Baptism Record of Marie Josephe David - 08 November 1722


The Births of Jean Jacques and Jean Baptiste

By 1722, Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine had now arrived and established their home at the Fortress of Louisbourg. There, the family continued to prosper and grow with the births of 2 additional children, Jean Jacques on 19 June 1724 and Jean Baptiste on 22 July 1725.


The Louisbourg 1724 Census

Marie Magdelaine's presence in Louisbourg is indirectly recorded in the Louisbourg 1724 Census which lists her husband, Jean David dit Saint Michel of Nantes, a blacksmith, a wife (Marie Magdelaine), 3 sons under 15, (Pierre, Michel and Jean Jacques) and 2 daughters (Magdeleine and Marie Josephe).


Louisbourg 1724 Census


The Louisbourg 1726 Census

In addition, the Louisbourg 1726 Census which also indirectly includes Marie Magdelaine continues to coincide with the Louisbourg 1724 Census with the family addition of Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine's son, Jean Baptiste David, in 1725.


Louisbourg 1726 Census




1726 to 1734

The Births of Francois, Francoise Charlotte, Etienne Thomas and Louis

Between the Louisbourg Census of 1726 and 1734, the births of 4 more children blessed the David dit Saint Michel household, Francois on 16 June 1727, , Francoise Charlotte on 10 April 1729 , Etienne Thomas on 21 December 1730 and Louis on 02 September 1732. 

Unfortunately, along with this joy came much sorrow. For during this period, Jean and Marie tragically buried 3 of their children wirh the deaths of Pierre on 30 January 1730 at the age of 11 years , Magdeleine on 09 February 1733 at the age of 12 and Etienne Thomas on 01 April 1733 at the infant age of 2 years .




1734 to 1745

The Louisbourg 1734 Census

The Louisbourg 1734 Census seems to account for all surviving family members at that time. It also lists Jean David dit Saint Michel of Nantes, a blacksmith, his wife, Marie Magdelaine Monmellian, 4 sons under 15, who would have been Jean Jacque, Jean Baptiste, Francois and Louis, and 2 daughters, who would have been, Marie Josephe and Francoise Charlotte. In 1734, their 2nd son, Michel would have been at least 15 years of age or older and for that reason was possibly not included in this census.


Louisbourg 1734 Census


The Births of Claude Thomas, Jacque Andre, Jeanne Olive, Marie Magdeleine and Jeanne Angelique

The last 5 of Marie and Jean's children to be born at Louisbourg were Claude Thomas born on 20 December 1735, Jacques Andre born on 30 November 1737, Jeanne Olive born on 10 July 1739, Marie Magdeleine born on 16 January 1741 and Jeanne Angelique born on 21 December 1743.


The David Family in 1744

According to the Fortress of Louisbourg Historical Memoranda Series 1964 to Present H F 25 1989 titled Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel: Blacksmith authored by Eric Krause of Krause House Info-Research Solutions, Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine were still living at Louisbourg in 1744 along with their surviving children of "5 boys for certain, possibly 6 and 5 girls." These children would probably have included their sons Jean Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Francois, Louis, Claude Thomas and Jacques Andre and their daughters Marie Josephe, Francoise Charlotte, Jeanne Olive, Marie Magdeleine and Jeanne Angelique. The "possibly 6" son referred to was probably Michel who married Genevieve Hebert on 20 January 1744 in Grand-Pré, Acadie and was probably living there with his wife.




France




1745 to 1748

The 1st Seige of the Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745

After the 1st siege and capture of the Fortress of Louisbourg on 16 June 1745 by British forces commanded by Sir William Pepperell during the War of the Austrian Succession, it is believed that Jean Pierre, Marie Magdelaine and their children left Louisbourg but it is not known if they were deported to France by the British with most of the other Louisbourg French-Acadian inhabitants or escaped to Acadie or one of the Quebec, Nouvelle France communities along the St. Lawrence River.


Capture of Louisbourg by British in 1745, Germain Engraving


The Whereabouts of Jean and Marie's Children

Since it is recorded that there were 11 surviving children in 1744 at Louisbourg prior to their deportation or escape from the Fortress in 1745, it is not known for certain which children accompanied Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine from Louisbourg since only 7 are recorded in the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census along with 3 new additions to the family, Joseph, Jacob and Anne Bernard.

During this period between 1745 and 1748, it is unknown where 5 of Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine's children may have spent these years. It is highly likely that Michel, having just been married in 1744, may have been in Grand-Pré, Acadie with his new wife, Genevieve Hebert. However, the whereabouts of Marie Josephe, Francois, Jacques Andre and Jeanne Angelique during this period are unknown. The Family Reconsturction File based on the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census indicates that these 5 children did not return with Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine when they were repatriated to Louisbourg in 1748 from their exile.

No records of the David family's life between 1745 and 1748 has been yet uncovered after the 1st seige of the Fortress at Louisbourg by the British in 1745. The records of their lives pick up once again with the Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census and the marriage of Marie Josephe to Jean Paul Pouilly on 1 June 1751 at Louisbourg.


David Children Born in Exile

Their exile from Louisbourg did not deter Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine from continuing to grow their family. For when they returned to the Fortress in 1749 they did so with 2 new boys, Joseph and Jacob, along with an adopted daughter, Anne Bernard.

Joseph David was born between 1745 and 1749 during Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine exile from Louisbourg after the 1st siege of Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745. Virtually nothing is known at this time of Joseph's date or place of birth.

Jacob David was born between 1745 and 1749 during Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine exile from Louisbourg after the 1st siege of Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745. Virtually nothing is known at this time of Jacob's date or place of birth.

Anne Bernard was adopted by Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine between 1745 and 1749 during their exile from Louisbourg after the 1st siege of Fortress of Louisbourg in 1745.




Fortress of Louisbourg, Île Royale, Nouvelle France




1748 to 1755

In 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of the Austrian Succession, restored Louisbourg to France in return for the British trading post at Madras in India. The New England forces left Louisbourg, taking with them the famous Louisbourg Cross which had hung in the Fortress chapel. This cross was only rediscovered in the Harvard University archives in the latter half of the 20th century and is now on long-term loan to the Louisbourg historic site.

The Davids are Repatriated to Louisbourg

When Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine returned to Louisbourg in 1749, they did so with 9 children and an orphan. These included 2 new sons, Joseph and Jacobs, who apparently were born during the 4 years of their exile, and an orphan by the name of Anne Bernard. According to the Louisbourg Census of 1749-1750, it appears that the other (7) children returning to Louisbourg from exile were Jean Jacques, Jean Baptiste, Louis, Claude Thomas, Francoise Charlotte, Jeanne Olive and Marie Magdeleine.

The Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census


Louisbourg 1749-1750 Census




1755

The Death of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian

On 1 February 1755, at the age of 57 years, Marie Magdelaine Monmellian, Jean Pierre's wife, who had shared his life for 38 years and who had born him 17 children, died and was buried in the Cemetery of Louisbourg. Fre Julien Moisson presided at her burial. The cause of her death is yet unknown. Her death record indicates she was "age of about sixty years" when she died, however, her actual age from her date of birth to her date of death was exactly 57 years and 27 days.


Burial Record of Marie Magdelaine Monmellian - 1 February 1755

Although Marie Magdelaine died at a relatively young age, she lead a very full life that was centered on her child bearing years spaning from about 1718 at the age of 20 years with the birth of her 1st child until the birth of her 16th and 17th child between 1745 to 1749 at the age of 46 to 50 years.




Other Compiled Abstracts

Marie Magdelaine's documented presence in Louisbourg is recorded in a Family Reconstitution File of her husband, Jean Pierre David, which is archived at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada. This Family Reconstitution File was abstracted and compiled from original source documents archived at the Archives of Canadian and the Archives Nationale in France.

Further documented evidence which notates Marie Magdelaine in Louisbourg during this period has been extracted and compiled from original source documents into the Fortress of Louisbourg Historical Memoranda Series 1964 to Present H F 25 1989 titled Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel: Blacksmith authored by Eric Krause of Krause House Info-Research Solutions.

 

 


 



Other Recorded Events

 


 



Parents

Marie Magdelaine's father was Jean Baptiste Monmellian dit Saint Germain, born about 1664 in Paris, France and was baptized in the Parish of Saint-Sulpice. He died on 04 April 1720 in Quebec at the age of 56. Her mother was Marie Helene Juineau (Journeau), born 24 Dec 1665 in Quebec City, Nouvelle France, and died 04 April 1723 in the same city of her birth. Jean Baptiste and Marie Helene were married on 30 January 1690 in the Parish of Notre Dame de Quebec at the Notre-Dame de Quebec basilica-cathedral.


Marriage Record of Jean Baptiste Monmellian and Marie Helene Juineau - 30 January 1690

According to the secondary source abstracts, Marie Magdelaine's paternal grandparents were Jacques Monmellian and Claudine Guilet of the Parish of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France and her maternal grandparents were Jean Jouineau and Marie Anne Videau Delagassonnerie of the Parish of Notre Dame de Cogne in La Rochelle, France.


 



Spouse

Marie Magdelaine married Jean Pierre David dit Saint Michel, born about 1695 in Nantes, Province of Brittany, France. It is believed they were married about 1717 at the Notre-Dame de Quebec basilica-cathedral, Parish of Notre Dame de Quebec. It is also believed that Jean Pierre may have died during his deportation oyage from the Fortress of Louisbourg that landed at La Rochelle, France by 28 April 1759 after the 2nd and final siege of the Fortress by the British in 1758.

 


Children

Jean Pierre and Marie Magdelaine were the parents of (18) know children, including 11 sons, 7 daughters and 1 adopted daughter.

1. Pierre, a son born about 1718 somewhere between Québec City and the Fortress of Louisbourg. He died on 29 Jan 1730 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

2. Michel, a son born about 1720 somewhere between Québec City and the Fortress of Louisbourg. He died in St. James Parish. Louisiana. The date of his death is unknown at this time.

3. Magdeleine, a daughter born about 1721 somewhere between Québec City and the Fortress of Louisbourg. ;She died on 09 February 1733 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

4. Marie Josephe, a daughter born on 09 November 1722 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. She died on 10 October 1758 at St-Louis de Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, France.

5. Jean Jacques, a son born on 19 June 1724 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of his death is unknown at this time.

6. Jean Baptiste, a son born on 23 July 1725 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. He died on 18 March 1758 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

7. Francois, a son born on 16 June 1727 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of his death is unknown at this time.

8. Francoise Charlotte, a daughter born on 11 April 1729 at Louisbourg, Acadie. The date and place of her death is unknown at this time.

9. Etienne Thomas, a son born on 20 December 1730 at Louisbourg, Acadie. He died on 01 April 1733 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

10. Louis, a son born on 02 September 1732 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of his death is unknown at this time.

11. Claude Thomas, a son born on 21 December 1735 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of his death is unknown at this time.

12. Jacques Andre, a son born on 30 November 1737 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of his death is unknown at this time.

13. Jeanne Olive, a daughter born on 10 July 1739 at Louisbourg, Acadie. She died on 4 July 1805 at Cayenne, French Guyana.

14. Marie Magdeleine, a daughter born on 17 January 1741 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. She died on 30 January 1752 at the Fortress of Louisbourg.

15. Jeanne Angelique, a daughter born on 21 December 1743 at the Fortress of Louisbourg. The date and place of her death is unknown at this time.

16. Jacob, a son born between 1745 and 1749 in France. The exact date and place of his birth and death is unknown at this time.

17. Joseph, a son born between 1745 and 1749 in France. The exact date and place of his birth and death is unknown at this time.

18. Ann Bernard, a daughter adopted between 1745 and 1749 in France. The date and place of her birth and death is unknown at this time.



History of Updates

The following chronological history of updates document the changes that have been made to this ancestorial life story and the date those changes were made by the author.


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Earl Joseph David, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125

Last Update: 1/14/21