Pierre Parent (or Parant)

1610-1698

Pierre Parent

This biography was taken from "Our French-Canadian Ancestors"

by Thomas J. Laforest

Volume 19, Chapter 18, Page 197

(15 October 1998)

The son of Andre Parent and Marie Coudret was born, at Mortagne-sur-Gironde, today an important community, in the Canton of Cozes, Arrondisement of Saintes, in the Charente-Maritime, in the former province of Saintonge or the land of the Santones. The Gironde is a river formed by the junction of the waters of the Garonne and the Dordogne. Mortagne is located 24 kilometers from the mouth of the Gironde, an important seaport.

We know few things about the family of Pierre Parent, in France. A cousin of Pierre's went to New France. Andre Coudret, the son of Pierre and Jeanne Mettias, from Fort-de-Cognac, today Fort-sur-Gironde, the Canton of Segonzac, Arrondisement of Cognac, in Saintonge. This first cousin, of Pierre Parent, was married, on October 25, 1665, at Quebec, to a daughter of the King, Jeanne Bourgeois. This couple lived at Charlesbourg. They have no descendants.

Pierre Parent was born about 1638. He did not know how to write but, he signed his name by drawing a dagger.

BEFORE THE MARRIAGE

Pierre Parent very probably arrived, in New France, in 1650, perhaps in 1649. Like the majority of the colonists, he must have agreed, at La Rochelle or elsewhere, to an indenture contract for 3 years. As soon as he could do so, Pierre tried to find a home of his own. On April 7, 1651, he acquired a concession of land from the Jesuits, in the Seigneurie of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, near Quebec. Father Jacques de La Place granted him 3 arpents by 16 deep, of frontal land, on the river, as far as the boundary of the Beauport River.

Pierre was not a man to look down at the tip of his shoes. On July 16, 1652, he acquired 4 arpents of frontage by a league and a half deep, between Jean Gagnon and Jean Doyon, at Chateau-Richer, Seigneurie of Beaupre. Pierre built a cabin, on his new property because he vowed to have a home. But, on March 10, 1653, Pierre relinquished to Gilles Bacon an arpent of frontal land and the right to cut all of the pine trees which he needed. And on October 30, of the same year, Pierre sold his homestead, at Beauport to Mathieu Hubou dit Deslongchamps, for 300 livres tournois. He had decided to live near Beauport. His land, at Beauport, was ten times smaller than on the Beaupre Coast but, it offered many more advantages because, it was nearer to services and businesses.

WIFE JEANNE BADEAU

Pierre owned his plot of land near Jacques Badeau. The latter had been hired, at La Rochelle, his native city, on April 12, 1647, to go to Canada. He had married Anne Ardouin, in 1631. In the year of their move to France, the couple had 3 known children, Francois, a notary, Jeanne and Jean, the future husband of Marguerite Chalifou. Madeleine was baptized, on April 24, 1634, at Saint-Marguerite, in

La Rochelle, she had died in France. Jeanne Badeau was born, at La Rochelle, about 1638 or 1639. She was about 15 or 16 years old when, she caught the eye of Pierre Parent. All romance novels have their secret and conceal their mystery. Their parents and friends decided that, February 9, 1654 would be a holiday, a Monday, according to the custom of the era. After the publication of the 3 banns, December 20, 1652, January 11, 1654 and January 18, 1654, the Jesuit Father, Barthelimi Vimont, married them "in the house of Sieur Giffart in the presence of known witnesses Robert Giffard, Sieur de Beauport and the Sieur de Charny his son-in-law". The act was recorded, in the registry of Quebec.

Was it possible that, this matrimonial union was made without a contract, in the presence of a notary? There had been one, on February 2, 1654, signed by the brother of the fiancé, Francois Badeau. The document is lost.

Where did the newlyweds live? Perhaps at the Badeau home for a year. We also know that, on May 11, 1654, Etiennette Despres had sold an area of 60 arpents of land to Pierre Parent, son-in-law of Jacques Badeau. Pierre resold this property, with a house, barn and a stable to the first owner, on July 8, 1659, for 500 livres, according to Marcel Trudel (?).

An act notarized, on October 8, 1656, sheds some light. Parent had leased a house, located a few arpents from his land and owned by the Jesuits. A small bedroom, in this house, was occupied by Pierre Guillet. Parent paid Guillet 40 livres to vacate so that, he could expand. In the beginning, Pierre and his family lived in a rented house.

BUTCHER

The life of the Parent family was very active. Their numerous visits to notaries, a veritable saga, are proof of it. According to the census of 1667, Pierre had 15 arpents of land under cultivation and owned 3 head of cattle. But, in 1681, he told the census taker that he had 4 guns, 1 pistol, 18 head of cattle, 24 sheep and 100 arpents of land under cultivation. Four hired servants worked for him. This family property was the envy of all the farmers of the region.

Pierre Parent's life, especially in the beginning, was centered around his trade of butcher, He raised and bought animals, in order to sell the meat at the market. On September 9, 1657, Pierre Gagnon, from Chateau-Richer, sold him a beef valued at 129 livres. On September 28, 1659, he acquired from Robert Giguere, a resident of Sainte-Anne du Petit-Cap, a 3 year old beef for which he paid 75 livres.

On August 30, 1662, Pierre Parent obtained from Governor Pierre du Bois, the Baron d'Avaugour, the right to use, as a slaughterhouse, a site in the Upper-Town of Quebec.

On another occasion, Pierre was asked, as an expert, by the widow Couillard, to judge the value of a beef, which had been wounded by one of the Hubou family. The Sovereign Council accepted his decision, on March 29, 1664.

On May 14, 1665, the name of Pierre Parent reappeared at the Sovereign Council. This time on a more burning matter. He was accused of an altercation while intoxicated. He was acquitted. He had only severely warned his servant, Jean Davies, who had gotten drunk by downing a bottle of eau-de-vie, a gift from his master.

One day, the presence of Pierre Parent and his butcher shop, in the Upper-Town was contested. Frontenac agreed with the protesters, on April 24, 1677, before the Sovereign Council. Fortunately, Pierre was able to find another location, on October 24, 1678.

QUARRYMAN AND LIME MERCHANT

On April 4, 1660, when the Jesuits ceded to Pierre Parent a piece of land with 16 square arpents. It was located near his mother-in-law, the widow Badeau, in the Seigneurie of Notre-Dame-des-Anges. The act by the Notary Audouart specified that, this site was near a quarry. Did the Ancestor buy this quarry to feather his own nest? I would not know what to say. One fact is certain, He threw himself into the work of quarrying, what was called Beauport stone. He even developed furnaces to make lime. Therefore, he deserves the title of quarryman and lime merchant.

Before introducing the proof, I must state that, Pierre was the head of a large family, as we will soon see. He had good family-related manpower. Beginning in 1672, it was still Jeanne Badeau, who concluded the transactions. Was Pierre sickly, ill, handicapped? History does not give up its secrets.

On December 9, 1670, Pierre was required to furnish and deliver, to Charles Aubert, the necessary lime and stone for the construction of a building joining his large house, in the Lower-Town, of Quebec.

On October 15, 1675, it was Jeanne Badeau, who was committed to provide the Seminary of Quebec with 50 Toises of Beauport stone for the corners, doors, windows and chimneys and to deliver it to the bottom of the slope, at the hospital, near the brewery.

On December 22, 1678, Charles Aubert ordered, from Jeanne Badeau, all of the Beauport stone and the quick lime to build a building 54 x 25, with a vaulted cellar, partition wall, chimneys, doors and windows, on the lot acquired from Marie Bourdon, on Rue Sault-au-Matelot. Also, she was to furnish the stone for building the wind mill tower, near the stream, which seperated it from the Ursulines, at Pointe-aux-Lievres. On this occasion, a rider was added to the contract. Michel Chretien dit Lebrun was hired to extract the stone from the quarry, at Beauport, in order to abide by the transaction.

An agreement, between Antoine Cadde and Jeanne Badeau, was reached, on April 19, 1681, to have a masonary gable built, with two chimneys on each side, owned jointly between their houses, on a street which leads to Sault-au-Matelot, tells us that, the Parents had a house, in the Lower Town.

Francois Hazeur, a merchant, asked Jeanne Badeau, on March 11, 1682, to deliver to him, the necessary stone and lime for the construction of buildings and walls, on a road, which goes from the Lower to the Upper Town.

The surprise is increased when we learn that the Ursulines, themselves, appealed to Jeanne Badeau, on February 4, 1688. They wanted lime, cut stone and common stone for the masonary of their convent.

The Parent business went like clockwork. On November 14, 1688, the hour had sounded. Jeanne Badeau wanted a small sky-scraper in the Lower Town. Guillaume Jourdain, master mason, was hired to build, on Rue-Sault-au-Matelot, for Dame Pierre Parent, a house, in Beauport stone, 3 stories, 45 x 30, with openings, in stone, cut by chisel like those of the Ursulines and 2 chimneys, side by side above and below, in cut stone. This was indeed the material consecration of a very full life.

Finally, on March 8, 1704, Jeanne Badeau and her son, Charles, promised to provide Francoise Juchereau with all the necessary lime to buils a water mill and its outbuildings, on the river Ferree, at Saint-Pierre, on the Ile d'Orleans.

Undoubtedly, a Parent descendant could easily find a stone souvenir, at Quebec having belonged to his Ancestors.

THE PARENT FAMILY

Did you know that, the Parent family was made up of 18 offspring, 4 girls and 14 boys, in the second generation? How could a mother, like Jeanne Badeau, provide all of these children with bread, three times a day, for more than 40 years? How could she be everything to everyone? Here we have a striking example of the power and the goodness of a mother, who instead of dividing herself, multiplied herself according to need. And here they are, the children of Jeanne Badeau and Pierre Parent.

   1) Marie was born, on November 25 and baptized December 5, 1655, at Quebec. She married David Corbin, the son of Jean and Anne Carmel, on November 25, 1670, at Beauport. They had five children, 1 daughter and 4 sons. David died, on August 19, 1684 and was buried the next day, at Quebec. Marie remarried to Joseph Rancourt, the son of Pierre and Jeanne-Claude de Boisandre, on February 5, 1685, at Beauport. They had nine little ones, 6 girls and 3 boys. Marie died and was buried, on December 6, 1700, at Quebec. Joseph remarried to Francoise Daveau, the daughter of Charles and Marguerite d'Aubigny, on September 18, 1701, at Chateau-Richer. They had eight children, 5 boys and 3 girls.

   2) Jacques was brought into this world, on November 15, 1657 and baptized, on the 25th, at Quebec. Louise Chevalier, the daughter of Rene and Jeanne Langlois, became the first of Jacques' three wives, on February 1, 1677, at Beauport. This couple had thirteen children, 7 sons and 6 daughters. Louise passed away and was buried, on September 29, 1703, at Beauport. Jacques married again. Marie Belanger, the daughter of Nicolas and Marie de Rainville and widow of Ignace Choret, became Jacques wife, on November 9, 1705, at Beauport. They had five children, 2 girls, 2 boys and 1 that died at birth, gender unknown. Marie died on January 6, 1719 and was buried the next day, at Beauport. The third wife of Jacques' was Marie-Madeleine Huppe, the daughter of Michel and Madeleine and widow of Louis Bedard. They were married, on August 17, 1719. They had no children.

   3) Pierre came into this world September 30 and was baptized October 17, 1660, at Quebec. He became the husband of Marguerite Baugis, on November 23, 1683, at Beauport. She was the daughter of Michel Baugis and Madeleine Dubois. Eleven babies graced their home, 7 sons and 4 daughters.

   4) Andre was born, on December 4, 1662, at Beauport and baptized the 12th, at Quebec. He married Marguerite Cote, the daughter of Martin and Suzanne Page, on October 29, 1692, at Saint-Pierre, Ile d'Orleans. They had four children, 2 girls and 2 boys, before Andre died on July 15, 1699 and was buried two days later, at Beauport. Marguerite remarried to Noel Marcoux, the son of Pierre and Marthe de Rainville and the widower of Marguerite Chapleau, on February 1, 1701, at Beauport. They had five children, 1 boy and 4 girls. Marguerite died, on March 2, 1709 and was buried the next day, at Beauport. Noel then remarried for a third time to Jeanne-Therese Baugis, the daughter of Jean and Jeanne-Therese Parent and granddaughter to our Ancestor, Pierre Parent, on August 4, 1710, at Beauport. This couple had ten offspring, four girls and 6 boys.

   5) Jean-Francois was born February 9, 1665, at Beauport and baptized the 15th, at Quebec. Pierre Vallee and Therese Leblanc's daughter, Marie, became Jean-Francois' wife, on February 10, 1687, at Beauport. They had eleven children, 2 girls and 9 boys. Marie died December 10, 1720 and was buried the next day, at Beauport. Jean-Francois then married Anne Duquet, the daughter of Pierre and Anne Lamarre and the widow of Jean Thomas, on March 18, 1721, at Quebec. They had no children. On August 17, 1722, at the Hotel-Dieu of Quebec, Jean-Francois died. Anne then remarried to Louis Jourdain, the son of Jean and Mitchelle Honensard and widower of Barbe Boucher, on October 21, 1724, at Lauzon. They had no children.

   6) Francois first saw the light of day, on March 29, 1667, at Beauport and was baptized, on April 3, at Quebec.He died sometime before the census of 1681.

   7) Joseph was born, on January 25th and baptized the 27, 1669, at Quebec. Marie-Madeleine Maret, the daughter of Jacques and Marie Page, on January 31, 1690, at Beauport. Marie-Madeleine and Joseph had nine offspring, 5 boys and 4 girls.

   8) Genevieve was born, at Beauport, on February 1670 and was baptized March 2, at Quebec. Noel Langlois, the son of Noel and Francoise Grenier and widower of Aimee Caron, married Genevieve, on December 2, 1686, at Beauport. Four children blessed their home, 2 daughters and 2 sons. Noel died October 8, 1693 and buried the next day, at Beauport. She then married Jacques Avice, the son of Denis and Jeanne Crevier, on January 10, 1695, at Beauport. Ten children came into their lives, 5 daughters and 5 sons.

   9) Michel was born, in Beauport and baptized, in Quebec, on February 21, 1671. On November 24, 1692, at Beauport, Jeanne Chevalier, the daughter of Rene and Jeanne Langlois, became the wife of Michel. They had thirteen little ones, 7 sons and 6 daughters.

  10) Jeanne-Therese was born October 28, 1673 and baptized the 29th, at Beauport. She married Jean Baugis, the son of Michel and Madeleine Dubois and brother to Marguerite, who married Pierre, on January 11, 1689, at Beauport. Fifteen little Baugis' were brought into the world by this couple, 7 girls and 8 boys.

  11) Joseph was born about 1674 and was a triplet with Jean and Etienne. Marie-Francoise Belanger, another daughter of Nicolas and Marie de Rainville and sister to Marie, who was the second wife to Jacques, became his bride, in February 1696, at Beauport. This couple had ten babies, 5 girls and 5 boys.

  12) Jean was born about 1674 and was a triplet with Joseph and Etienne. He married Marie Belanger, the daughter of Nicolas and Marie de Rainville and sister to Marie, who was Jacques' second wife and also a sister to Marie-Francoise, who was married to Joseph, in February, 1696, at Beauport. They had fourteen children 9 daughters and 5 sons.

  13) Etienne was born about 1674 and was a triplet with Joseph and Jean. He married Marie-Therese Chevalier, the daughter of Rene and Jeanne Langlois and sister to Jeanne, who was married to Michel. They gave to the world twelve more little Parents, 7 boys and 5 girls. Marie-Therese died, on August 16 1725, at the Hotel Dieu and was buried the 17th, at Beauport. Etienne got remarried to Genevieve Trudel, the daughter of Nicolas and Barbe Letarte, on April 28, 1727, at L'Ange Gardien. They had eight children, 6 sons and 2 daughters.

  14) Charles was born in Beauport and baptized November 13, 1676, at Quebec. Marie-Anne Duprac, the daughter of Jean-Robert and Marguerite Vachon, became the wife of Charles, on January 7, 1699, at Beauport. Twelve children were born to them, 8 boys and 4 girls.

  15) Claude was born about 1677. He died, at the Hotel-Dieu, June 1, 1692.

  16) Charlotte was born about 1678. She married Michel Chevalier, the son of Rene and Jeanne Langlois and brother to Louise, who was the first wife of Jacques and also, the sister to Jeanne, who was married to Michel and also to Marie-Therese, who was the first wife of Etienne, on January 10, 1695, at Beauport. They had sixteen children, 16 children, 8 girls and 8 boys.

  17) Charles was born February 17, 1681 and baptized the 20th, at Beauport. He passed on, on March 1, 1681 and was buried, on the 2nd.

  18) Antoine was born and baptized, at Beauport, on September 3, 1683. Barbe Trudel, the daughter of Nicolas and Barbe Letarte and sister to Genevieve, who was the second wife of Etienne, on April 16, 1708, at L'Ange Gardien. They had five children, 3 girls and 2 boys. Barbe died on February 12, 1720, and was buried the next day, at Beauport. Antoine married for a second time to Charlotte Vachon, the daughter of Vincent and louise Cadieux, on September 2, 1720, at Beauport. They had seven babies, 1 girl and 6 boys.

The Parent family was productive. In the third generation, we must count not less than 193 members or grandchildren. A village by themselves.

TOWARDS THE BEAUTIFUL PORT

One day, it was necessary to pack his bags and to take the ferry across the river, in order to dock at the beautiful port of eternity. On Monday, August 5, 1698, Pierre Parent, after having received the last sacraments, of the Holy Church, left the banks of Beauport. The funeral was the next day, in the presence of a whole crowd of grieving people. Noel and Vincent Vachon signed the registry, as witnesses. The inventory, of the property, of the deceased, was drawn up, on the following October 16, carried a debt of 350 livres, to the surgeon, Gervais Baudouin, of Quebec. This was proof of an "illness somewhat prolonged". This notarized act informs us also that, the Parent family lived in a masonary house valued at 1,000 livres.

As for Jeanne Badeau, the former student of the Ursulines, the mother of 18 children, including triplets, a strong women, who conducted the family business for such a long time, fell ill, in 1702. On October 8, she had her will drawn up. She then regained her health. She renewed her last wishes, on November 18, 1706, only a few days before her death. In particular, she gave 100 livres to the curate of Beauport, 10 livres to the Congregation of Quebec, 10 livres to the Recollet fathers. She died, on November 22, 1706 and was buried, on the 23rd, in the cemetery, at Beauport, in the presence of Father Etienne Boullard, Charles and Jean Parent and the whole family. She had been an incomparable mother.

FAMILY NAME VARIATIONS

Ganant, Garent, Parant, Parisien, Parrant, Perreant and Relation

Pierre Parant, born 1610 in Mortange, La Perche, France; died August 06, 1698 in Beauport, Quebec, New France (now Canada). He was the son of Andre Parant and Marie Coudray. He married Jeanne Badeau February 09, 1653/54 in Beauport, Quebec.

Jeanne Badeau, died November 23, 1706. She was the daughter of Jacques Badeau and Anne Ardouin.

Notes for Pierre Parant:

More About Pierre Parant:

Occupation: “Maitre boucher” Master Butcher

Marriage Notes for Pierre Parant and Jeanne Badeau:

Pierre Parant was originally from Mortagne and arrived in Canada during the year 1650. On 16 July 1652, he acquired 4 arpents of frontage by a league-and-a-half deep, between Jean Gagnon and Jean Doyonm, at Chateau-Richer, seigneurie of Beaupre. Pierre built a cabin on his new property because he vowed to have a home. But on 10 March 1653, Pierre relinquished to Gilles Bacon an arpent of frontal land and the right to cut all the pine trees which he needed. Later, on 30 October of the same year, Pierre sold his homestead at Beaupre to Mathieu Hubou dit Deslongchames, for 300 livres tournois. He had decided to live near Beauport. His land at Beauport was ten times smaller than on the Beaupre Coast, but offered many more advantages because it was nearer to services and businesses.

After staying in Chateau-Richer for only one year and marrying Jeanne Badeau on 9 Feb 1654, he moved to Beauport where he raised seventeen children and spent the remainder of his life.

Jeanne was 15 or 16 years old when she caught the eye of Pierre Parent. Their parents and friends decided that February 1654 would be a holiday, a Monday according to the custom of the era. After the publication of the 3 banns: 20 December 1653, 11 January 1654 and the 18th of the same month, the Jesuit Father Barthelemi Mimont solemnly married them “in the house of Sieur Giffard in the presence of known witnesses Robert Giffard Sieur de Beauport and the Sieur de Charny his son-in-law”. The act was recorded in the registry of Quebec.

It seems that this matrimonial union was made without a contract in the presence of a notary. There had been one on 2 Feb 1654 signed by the brother of the fiancee, Francois Badeau. The document seems to be lost.

Pierre and Jeanne’s marriage produced many many children. They were:

1. Marie b 25 Nov 1655 1m 25 Nov 1670 David Couruin; 2m 5 Feb 1685 Joseph Rancour; d 6 Dec 1700

2. Jacques b 25 Nov 1657;  1m Genevieve-Louise Chevalier; 2m 9 Nov 1705 Marie Belanger; 3m 1719 Madeleine Huppe

3. Pierre b 17 Oct 1660 m 22 Nov 1683 Marguerite Baugis d 29 June 1715

4. Andre’ b 8 Dec 1662 m Marguerite Cote d 17 July 1699

5. Jean-Francois b 15 Feb 1665; 1m 10 Feb 1687 Marie Lavallee; 2m 18 Mar 1721 Anne Duquet

6. Francois b 3 Apr 1667

7. Joseph b 27 Jan 1669 m 31 Jan 1690 Madeleine Marette

8. Genevieve b 2 Mar 1670; 1m 2 Dec 1686 Noel Langlois; 2m 10 Jan 1695 Jacques Avisse

9. Michel b 21 Dec 1671 m 24 Nov 1692 Jeanne Chevalier

10. Charles M. b 13 Nov 1676 m 7 Jan 1699 Marie-Anne Duprat (Duprac)

11. Charlotte b--m 10 Jan 1695 Michel Chevalier

12. Jeanne-Therese b 29 Oct 1673 m 11 Jan 1689 Jean Baugis

13. Charles A. b 20 Feb d 1 Mar 1681

14. Antoine b 3 Sep 1683 m 2 Sep 1720 Marie-Charlotte Vachon

15. Etienne b -- 1m 1696 Therese Chevalier; 2m 28 Apr 1727 Genevieve Trudel 16. Jean b -- m Feb 1696 Francoise Belanger.

17. Joseph b--m Feb 1696 Marie Belanger

18. Antoine b--- m 16 Apr 1708 Barbe Trudel.

[Etienne, Jean, and Joseph were triplets and were all married on the same day]

We know that on 11 May 1654, Etiennette Despres had sold an area of 60 arpents of land to Pierre Parent, son-in-law of Jacques Badeau. Pierre resold this property with a house, barn and stable to the first owner, on 8 July 1659, for 500 livres, according to Marcel Trudel.

An act notarized on 8 October 1656, sheds some light. Parent had leased a house located a few arpents from his land and owned by the Jesuits. A small bedroom in this house was occupied by Pierre Guillet. Parent paid Guillet 40 livres to vacate so that he could expand. In the beginning, Pierre and his family lived in a rented house.

The life of the Parents was very active. Their numerous visits to notaries, a veritable saga, are proof of it. According to the census of 1667, Pierre had 15 arpents of land under cultivation and owned 3 head of cattle.

But in 1681, he told the census taker: 4 guns, 1 pistol, 18 head of cattle, 24 sheep and 100 arpents under cultivation. Four hired servants worked for him. This family property was the envy of all the farmers of the region.

Pierre Parent’s life, especially in the beginning, was centered around his trade of butcher. He raised and bought animals in order to sell the meat at the market and though it was lucrative enough he not only sold his meats, he also sold at good prices, the hides of his cows and sheep to tanners and shoemakers. On 9 September 1657, Pierre Gagnon, from Chateau-Richer, sold him a beef valued at 129 livres. On 28 September 1659, he acquired from Robert Giguere, a resident of Sainte-Anne du Petit-Cap, a 3 year old beef for which he paid 75 livres.

On 30 August 1662, Pierre Parent obtained from Governor Pierre du Bois, Baron d’Avaugour, the right to use, as a slaughter-house, a site in the Upper Town of Quebec.

On another occasion, Pierre was asked as an expert by the widow Couillard to judge the value of a beef which had been wounded by Hubou. The Sovereign Council accepted his decision on 29 March 1664.

On 14 May 1665, the name of Pierre Parent reappeared at the Sovereign Council, this time, on a more burning matter... He was accused of an altercation while intoxicated. He was acquitted. He had only severely warned his servant, Jean Daviet, who had gotten drunk by downing a bottle of eau-de-vie, a gift from his master!

One day, the presence of Pierre Parent and his butchershop in the Upper Town was contested. Frontenac agreed with the protesters, on 24 April 1677, before the Sovereign Council. Fortunately, Pierre was able to find another location on 24 October 1678.

On 4 April 1660, when the Jesuits ceded to Pierre Parent a piece of land with 16 square arpents located near his mother-in-law, the widow Badeau, in the seigneurie of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, the act by the notary Audouart specified that this site was near a quarry. Did the ancestor buy this quarry to feather his own nest? I would not know what to say. One fact is certain, he threw himself into the work of quarrying what was called “Beauport Stone”. He even developed furnaces to make lime. Therefore, he deserves the title of quarryman and lime-merchant.

Before introducing the proof, I must state that Pierre was the head of a large family, as we will soon see. He had good, family-related manpower. However, beginning in 1672, it was still Jeanne Badeau who concluded the transactions. Was Pierre sickly, ill, handicapped? History does not give up its secret.

On 9 December 1670, Pierre was required to furnish and deliver to Charles Aubert the necessary lime and stone for the construction of a building joining his large house in the Lower Town.

On 15 October 1675, it was Jeanne Badeau who was committed to provide the Seminary of Quebec with 50 toises of Beauport stone for the corners, doors, windows and chimneys, and to deliver it to the bottom of the slope at the hospital, near the brewery.

On 22 December 1678, Charles Aubert ordered from Jeanne Badeau all the Beauport stone and the quick lime to build a building, 54 x 25, with a vaulted cellar, partition wall, chimneys, doors and windows, on the lot acquired from Marie Bourdon, on Rue Sault-au-Matelot; also to furnish the stone for building the wind mill tower, near the stream which separated it from the Ursulines, at Pointe-aux-Lievres. On this occasion, a rider was added to the contract.

Michel Chretien dit Lebrun, was hired to extract the stone from the quarry at Beauport in order to abide by the transaction.

An agreement between Antoine Cadde and Jeanne Badeau was reached on 19 April 1681, to have a masonry gable built, with 2 chimneys on each side., owned jointly between their houses, on a street which leads to Sault-au-Matelot, tells us that the Parents had a house in the Lower Town.

Francois Hazeur, merchant, asked Jeanne Badeau, on 11 March 1682, to deliver to him the necessary stone and lime for the construction of buildings and walls, on a road which goes from the Lower to the Upper Town.

The surprise is increased when we learn that the Ursulines, themselves, appealed to Jeanne Badeau on 4 February 1688. They wanted lime, cut stone, and common stone for the masonry of their convent.

The Parent business went like clockwork. On 14 November 1688, the hour had sounded. Jeanne Badeau wanted a small sky-scraper in the Lower Town. Guillaume Jourdain, master mason was hired to build, on Rue Sault-au-Matelot, for Dame Pierre Parent, a house in Beauport stone, 3 stories, 45 x 30, with openings in stone cut by chisel like those of the Ursulines, and 2 chimneys side by side above and blow in cut stone. This was indeed the material consecration of a very full life.

Finally, on 8 March 1704, Jeanne Badeau and her son Charles promised to provide Francoise Juchereau with all the necessary lime to build a water mill and its outbuildings on the river Ferree, at Saint-Pierre on the Ile d’Orleans.

Undoubtedly, a Parent descendant could easily find a stone souvenir at Quebec having belonged to his ancestors.

One day it was necessary to pack his bags and take the ferry across the river in order to dock at the beautiful port of eternity. On Monday, 5 August 1698, Pierre Parent, after having received the last sacraments of the Holy Church, left the banks of Beauport. The funeral was the next day, in the presence of a whole crowd of grieving people. Noel and Vincent Vachon signed the registry as witnesses The inventory of the property of the deceased, drawn up on the following 16 October, carried a debt of 350 livres to the surgeon Gervais Baudouin, of Quebec, proof of an “illness somewhat prolonged”. This notarized act informs us also that the Parent family lived in a masonry house valued at 1,000 livres.

Pierre Parant didn’t know to sign his name but adopted the trademark of an ax or small chopper. His mark was always recognizable and didn’t lack in originality

Children of Pierre Parant and Jeanne Badeau are:

i. Marie Parant, born November 25, 1655 in Quebec, Canada; died Abt. December 06, 1700; married (1) David Corbin November 25, 1670 in Quebec, Canada; married (2) Joseph Rancourt February 05, 1684/85 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

ii. Jacques Parant, born November 15, 1657 in Quebec, Canada; met (1) Louise Chevalier February 01, 1676/77 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (2) Marie Belanger November 19, 1705 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (3) Marie-Madeleine Huppe August 17, 1719 in Charlesbourg, Quebec.

iii. Pierre Parant, born September 30, 1660 in Quebec, Canada; died June 28, 1715; married Marguerite Baugis November 23, 1683 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

iv. Andre Parant, born December 04, 1662 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; died July 15, 1699 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married Marguerite Cote October 29, 1692 in St. Pierre, Quebec.

More About Andre Parant:

Cause of Death: Drowned at the seigneurie of Notre-Dame-des-Agnes

v. Jean-Francois Parant, born February 09, 1664/65 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; died August 17, 1722 in Hotel-Dieu, Quebec; married (1) Marie Vallee February 10, 1686/87 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (2) Anne Duquet March 18, 1720/21 in Quebec, Canada.

More About Jean-Francois Parant:

Occupation: “Charpentier de Navire” Shipwright

vi. Francois Parant, born March 29, 1667 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; died Bef. 1681.

vii. Joseph Parant, born January 25, 1668/69 in Quebec, Canada; married Marie-Madeleine Maret January 31, 1689/90 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

More About Joseph Parant:

Occupation: “Taillandier” Edge toolmaker

35 viii. Genevieve Parant, born March 02, 1669/70 in Quebec, Canada; died August 20, 1720 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (1) Noel Langlois December 02, 1686 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (2) Jacques Advisse January 10, 1694/95 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

ix. Michel Parant, born February 21, 1670/71 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; died December 16, 1726; married Jeanne Chevalier November 24, 1692 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

More About Michel Parant:

Occupation: “Maitre constructeur de navires” Master Shipbuilder

x. Jeanne-Therese Parant, born October 28, 1673; married Jean Baugis January 11, 1687/88.

xi. Jean Parant, born Abt. 1674; died April 01, 1727 in Hotel-Dieu, Quebec; married Marie-Francoise Belanger Bef. February 27, 1695/96 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

More About Jean Parant:

Medical Information: Jean was the second born triplet

xii. Joseph Parant, born Abt. 1674; died February 02, 1726/27 in Hotel-Dieu, Quebec; married Marie Belanger Bef. February 07, 1695/96 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

More About Joseph Parant:

Medical Information: Joseph was the first birn triplet.

xiii. Etienne Parant, born Abt. 1674; died August 23, 1756; married (1) Marie-Therese Chevalin Bef. February 27, 1695/96 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married (2) Genevieve Trudel April 28, 1727 in L’Ange-Gardien, Quebec, Canada.

More About Etienne Parant:

Etienne is the third born triplet

xiv. Charles M. Parant, born November 13, 1676 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada; married Marie-Anne Duprac January 07, 1698/99 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.

xv. Claude Parant, born Abt. 1677.

xvi. Marie-Charlotte Parant, born Abt. 1678; married Michel Chevalier January 10, 1694/95.