Per Gagné, a Filles à Marier for David D7:

Marie Godard was born about 1639, though her origins in France and her parents' names are unknown. "Probably originally from the countryside around Mortagne [in Perche], Marie would have come to Canada in the service of Madame [Robert] Giffard, who, on several occasions, showed her particular marks of kindness.”

On 29 September 1654, Marie married Toussaint Giroux in a ceremony presided over by Father Paul Ragueneau, S.J. in the seigneurial manor of Robert Giffard at Beauport. The act is recorded in the registers of Notre-Dame de Québec. A marriage contract - mentioned in Toussaint Giroux's inventory - was drawn up by notary Badeau a few days before the ceremony, but was later lost. Marie could sign her name, 12 but her husband could not.

A linen weaver, Toussaint was baptized 02 November 1633 by Father Jean Ritor in Réveillon (arrondissement of Mortagne, diocese of Sées). Perche, the sixth of seven children of weaver Jean Giroux and Marguerite Quilleron or Cuilleron,' who lived in the hamlet of Bignon in Réveillon. His godparents were Zacharie Maheu dir Point du Jour and Marguerite Launay. He may be related to Simon Girou, former husband of filleà marier Marie Boissel. Toussaint's father was buried at Réveillon 10 January 1641 (when he was seven years old) and his mother also died some time before his departure for Canada. Toussaint left for New France about 1650 with godfather Zacharie Maheu and his son René Maheust, future husband of fille à marier Jeanne Garnier. On 20 June 1654, the three received a grant a Beauport from seigneur Robert Giffard.

Toussaint and Marie had 12 children. Since the couple first worked as servants for seigneur Robert Giffard after their marriage, they lived for a while in the seigneurial manor or in one of its outbuildings. As a result, their first three children were born in the seigneurial manor at Beauport. Son Charles was born 30 April and baptized 07 May 1655 at Québec City, but was buried the same day as his baptism. Raphaël was baptized at Québec City 30 July 1656, followed by a second Charles, who was born 10 August at Beauport and baptized 01 September 1658 at Québec City. Toussaint Giroux then bought a plot of land in the Bourg de Fargy section of Beauport, where he was confirmed 24 February 1660. Son Toussaint was baptized 02 May 1660 at Québec City, where he was buried two months later on 07 July. Michel was baptized 19 June 1661 at Québec City, where a second Toussaint (born at Beauport) was baptized 21 October 1663. Sadly, this Toussaint also died shortly after his birth and was baptized 10 November 1663 at Québec City. Jean, born at Beauport, was baptized at Québec City on 26 October 1664, followed by Marie-Anne, who was born 28 December 1666 and baptized 01 January 1667 at Québec City. The 1666 and 1667 censuses find the family at Beauport. Son Jean-Baptiste was baptized 16 December 1668 at Québec City, followed by Madeleine, who was born 29 December 1669 at Beauport and baptized 01 January 1670 at Québec City. A third son was baptized with the name Toussaint at Québec City on 02 March 1672 and would survive to adulthood. Lastly, daughter Monique was born about 1679. Sadly, son Jean-Baptiste died some time before the 1681 census, which finds the family still at Beauport with 53 arpents of land under cultivation.

Marie Godard died 21 November 1684 *after having lived a good life," according to Father Étienne Boullard, who entered her burial notice in the parish register. She was buried the next day at Beauport. An inventory of the marriage community was drawn up 30 November 1685 by notary Vachon. Five days later, a division of the estate was agreed upon by Toussaint and his children.

On 29 October 1686, Toussaint married Thérèse Leblanc (widow of Pierre Lavallée), with whom he had one child. The couple obtained a separation on 12 April 1691, but Toussaint agreed to raise their daughter. Toussaint spent the month of July 1692 in the Hötel-Dieu de Québec. Confronted with death, on 25 April 1711, he sold a tract of land at Beauport to his grandson Raphael (child of his own son Raphaël), on the condition that young Raphaël accept "the charge of feeding and caring for the donor until his death, to have him buried, to pray to God for him and also, after his death, to pay each of his children the sum of six hundred lives five sols."22 Thérêse Leblanc, Toussaint's estranged wife, opposed this arrangement, but it was upheld by the Conseil Souverain. Toussaint Giroux died 15 February 1715 at Beauport, where he was buried the next day.
Marie Godard
(1641-1684)


Marie Godard was the younger of the two sisters and was contracted to marry Toussaint Giroux.  The wedding took place on September 29, 1654 at La Nativite de Notre-Dame, Beauport, Montmorency, Québec.  Toussaint was born on November 02, 1633 in Reveillon, Mortagne, Perche, France; the son of Jean Giroux and Marie Quilleron.  He and Marie would have twelve children before her death on November 21, 1684 at La Nativite.  Toussaint then married Marie Leblanc and died himself on February 16, 1714.



The Next Generation


Charles Giroux - Was born on April 30, 1655 and died a week later on May 7 at La Nativite.

Raphael Giroux - Was born on July 21, 1656 at Nativite and died on February 10, 1715 at Beauport.  He married Marie-Madeleine Vachon and the couple had thirteen children.

Charles-Toussaint Giroux - Was born on August 10, 1658 and died on December 23, 1708 at Beauport.

Toussaint-Robert Giroux - Was born on April 25, 1660 and died on July 07, 1660 in Beauport.

Michel Giroux - Was born on June 13, 1661 and died on August 06, 1715 at Beauport.  He married Marie-Therese Provost and the couple had twelve children.

Toussaint-Jean Giroux - Was born on October 17, 1663 and died on November 10, 1663 in Beauport.

Jean Giroux - Was born on October 19, 1664 and died on January 16, 1733 at Beauport.  He married Suzanne Belanger and the couple had twelve children.

Marie-Anne Giroux - Was born on December 28, 1666 and died unknown.  She married Jean-Baptiste Provost and the couple had one daughter.

Jean-Baptiste Giroux - Was born on December 16, 1668 and died in 1680 at Beauport.

Madeleine Giroux - Was born on December 29, 1670 and died unknwon.

>>>>Toussaint Giroux - Was born on March 01, 1672 and died on February 25, 1750 at Beauport.  He married Marie-Therese Dauphin and the couple had fifteen children.

Monique Giroux - Was born in 1679 and died unknown.  She married Noel Vachon and the couple had three children.