de Manou, diocèse de Chartres, Perche, France

Listed as a founding family of Ile-de-Orléans, Quebec

Occupation mason.

He arrived in New France in 1647 and worked for at least three years in the household of the Seigneur Noel Juchereau de Chastellees. He quickly acquired land in Saint Augustin in Quebec City (Grand Allee now) and in the seignory of Sillery. Within the next two years Louis acquired new farms in Beaupre and on the Lle d'Orleans. In 1658, the family was established on land with a frontage of four arpents (about 767 feet) along the river and extending into the island. They remained there over the twenty four years that saw the birth of thirteen of their fourteen children) Most of the history of French Canada, land was held by "Seigneurs" or land lords who received rents from those who held leases which were bought, sold and passed to heirs much like deeds.

As the children began to establish their own homesteads, the farm was obviously too small, Consequently, the family moved to Sainte Croix de Lotbiniere (above Quebec on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence) on a huge holding acquired from the Ursulines of Quebec. The sons each had their own holding and some of them took surnames reflecting the characteristics of their land: Desrochers (stony), Desruisseaux (with brooks), Bellefeuille (with trees)

Louis Houde was obviously successful in his business dealing and by way of philanthropy donated the land for the first church of Sainte Croix.


Source: Institut Drouin, Drouin, Volume 1, page 668, 670 671 and Volume 2 page 824