de l’Ile-de-Ré, diocèse de La Rochelle, Aunis, France

Fille à Marier per Gagné for Lovina L8:

Catherine Méliot was born about 1645 in Ars on the Île de Ré (arrondissement and diocese of La Rochelle), Aunis, the daughter of François Méliot and Marie Chanson. She came to Canada in 1662.

On 20 November 1662, Catherine married Jean Routhier or Router in Sillery, though the marriage can be found in the register of Notre-Dame de Québec. Neither spouse could sign the marriage contract drawn up 18 November by notary Audouart. Jean was born about 1642 in the parish of Saint-Rémi in Dieppe (archdiocese of Rouen), Normandy, the son of Jean Routhier or Routier and Rogère Crousette. He was confirmed 01 May 1662 at Québec City. Jean and Catherine settled at the Côte Saint-Michel in Sillery and had six children. Daughter Jeanne was baptized 15 February 1666 at Sillery, followed by Marie-Geneviève (16 October 1667) and Jean-Baptiste (24 January 1670). Catherine was born at Cap Rouge and baptized 15 February 1673 at Québec City, followed by Marie-Charlotte (born about 1675) and Charles-Marie, born 20 August 1677 at the Côte Saint-François-Xavier and baptized two days later at Québec City.

Jean Routhier or Routier died at Sainte-Foy some time before 29 September 1677, when notary Duquet drew up an inventory of his estate. On 02 December 1677, notary Gilles Rageot drew up a marriage contract between Catherine and François Fréchet, but it was annulled. On 04 January 1678, Catherine married Pierre Bouvier in Québec City. It is not known if her second husband could sign the marriage contract drawn up 13 January by notary Duquet. A taillandier and Maréchal, Pierre was born about 1631 in the parish of Saint-André-de-Hieville in Rouen, Normandy, the son of Sébastien Bouvier and Jeanne Leconflette. He could be found in the 1666 census as the servant of Denis Derome in Québec City and was previously (1667) married to Catherine Ballie, with whom she had four children.

Catherine and Pierre had three children together. Son Antoine was baptized 13 April 1681 at Neville, where the family can be found in that year's census. Charles was baptized 21 April 1683 at Québec City but buried only a few weeks later on 12 May. Sadly, son Jacques also died in the cradle. He was baptized 02 December 1684 and was buried the next day at Québec City.

Pierre Bouvier died 03 December 1690 at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. Catherine Méliot is noted as a patient at the Hötel-Dieu de Québec on 19 March and 03 August 1698. She died 23 September 1699 at Sainte-Foy, where she was buried the same day. The lack of the usual 24-hour waiting period before burial suggests that she was probably a victim of an unidentified epidemic that struck the colony that year.