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Marriage of Anne Martin and Jean Côté

​MARTIN ANNE

(1621-1683)

            According to my research, Anne Martin was born 23 Mar 1621, in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Perche, France.  Some believe she is the daughter of Gallerin (1563 -), and Isabelle (Côté) (1567 -), a widower, who was living in Beauport. This is unlikely as Isabelle would have been past her childbearing years at the time of Anne’s birth. It is possible and more likely she is the daughter of Abraham (1589 -1664) and Marguerite (Langlois) (1592 -1663). There is some speculation, however, as Abraham is considered an important person in Québec's history, so why was he not mentioned in her marriage contract? Below is some information that could further link the two. *According to this tidbit, it would confirm that Anne’s mother’s maiden name was Langlois.

           Some well-known information follows. Who “discovered” it is hard to determine.

            Jean and Anne were married 17th of November 1635, according to an official document but there may be an error in the year. It could be 1634, not 1635. This would explain the birth of their first son before marriage.

           A neighbour and relative of Jean’s (the brother of his mother-in-law), pioneer Noël Langlois, owned 300 acres that Dr. Robert Giffard ceded to him in his seigneury of Beauport in 1637, and in return for Jean and family living close by, Langlois provided some homestead land for Jean. In 1641, Langlois and Jean made a contract with the Company of New France for the supply of 500 bundles of hay at the price of 80 livres, the currency. Jean built his house, and in 1645, Lord Giffard granted him ownership of the ground that he occupied; about three acres. This land became the subject of a dispute between the men over the previous verbal agreement made with Langlois. In the end, the act of generosity caused more problems than it solved. (See Note)

           Jean Côté became the owner of a house near the present corner of the rue Trésor (Trésor Street) and the rue Baude (Baude Street) in the modern Quebec City. Today this is an alley where artists display their creations for tourists. The house was on a plot of land with 150 feet of frontage and 60 feet in depth. On 15 November 1649, Côté offered it as a dowry for his eldest daughter Simone when she married Pierre Soumande. On 7 November 1655, Soumande sold this house to Jacques Boessel for 350 livres. Côté also owned a piece of land between la Grande-Allée and the river in what was then the outskirts of Québec. The act ratified on 5 April 1639 for the land Governor Montmagny had given him on 27 August 1636. The practice of passing the homestead to the oldest male doesn’t appear to have occurred in this case. Jean Noël was three when his older sister married Soumande, and the boys all had to look elsewhere for their homestead. Anne Martin died in the house of François Hazeur, a merchant in Québec, on the 4th of December 1684, and was buried the following day in Québec.

 

* Note: If this story is true, it would confirm Anne’s parentage.

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This would have been the site of the house in "haute ville" Québec

CHILDREN OF JEAN CÔTÉ AND ANNE MARTIN

Louis (1636-1668) born in Château Richer, October 25th, 1636. He married Marie-Elisabeth Langlois, the daughter of Noel Langlois and Marie-Francoise Garnier; on November 6, 1662. The couple had three children: Marie-Madeliene, Louise and Jean. Louis Cote died December 15, 1669 in Ville De Quebec.
Louise (1636-1668) twin sister of Louis, born in and died one day later. I have not yet found proof of this
Simone (1637-1696) born in Château Richer married Pierre Soumande in 1649. The couple had three children. married Pierre Soumande, a master edge-tool maker and boat captain. Simone was an experienced business woman, working several years with her son-in-law Francois Hazeur, a well known merchant of those times.
Jean Côté was the owner of a house situated near the present corner of the rue Trésor and the rue Baude. Today this is the alley where artistsdisplay their creations for the tourists. The house was on a plot of land with 150 feet of frontage by 60 in depth. On 15 November 1649, Côté offered it as dowry for his daughter Simone when she married Pierre Soumande. On 7 November 1655, Soumande sold this house to Jacques Boessel for 350 livres. Côté also owned a piece of land between la Grande-Allée and the river, in what was then the outskirts of Québec. Governor Montmagny had given it to him on 27 August 1636; this act was ratified on 5 April 1639.
Martin (1639-1710) born in Saint-Pierre, Isle d'Orleans married Susanne Pagé (dit Quercy) 1667, nine children 
Mathieu (1642-1696) born in Saint-Pierre, Isle d'Orleans married Elizabeth Gravel 1667, 9 children. Daughter Marie-Anne became an Ursuline nun in 1698 and took the name of Sister of Saint-Joachim.
*NOTE: In 1675, when the Ursulines departed from their last lands on the island, Marie-Anne Côté, daughter of Mathieu Côté and Elisabeth Gravel, was born in Saint-Pierre (lot 43). Unlike her eldest sister Charlotte, who became the wife of François Gosselin at the age of 18, Marie-Anne chose her vocation. At 21, she entered the cloister as a converse sister. On the 5th of November of the same year, Sister Marie-Anne officially became Sister Saint-Joachim. Sister Saint Joachim died on 15 January 1740. 
Jean-Baptiste (dit Lefrise) (1644-1722), became the Pater Familias of the family He married (1) Anne Couture 1669, seven children. All three girls, became nursing sisters at the Hôtel-Dieu of Québec. (2) Geneviève Verdon 1686, by whom he had eleven children, eight boys and three girls. This vigorous sire of twenty children was a captain of militia, a farmer, a fisherman and a coureur des bois at various stages in his colorful life. He finally settled in the Grondines, Portneuf, Québec.
Jean-Noël (1646-1701), married Helene Graton in 1673. They lived in Saint-Pierre and had ten children
Marie  (1648-1648) born in Saint-Pierre, Isle d'Orleans in January of 1648 and died two weeks later.
Louise (1650-?), married Jean Grignon in 1663. He travelled on business between La  Rochelle and Québec. This family had no children in Canada. Louise's date of death is unknown but her husband died in St-Jean-du-Perrot de La Rochelle, France in 1703. It is believed she died there as well.

ABRAHAM MARTIN dit l'Écossais (the Scotsman)... arrived in Québec about 1620 with his wife, MARGUERITE LANGLOIS, her sister Françoise and brother-in-law Pierre Desportes, and a child, Anne. If Anne Martin is indeed the daughter of Abraham Martin and Marguerite Langlois this would introduce a Scottish influence into my husband's lineages.

*ADDED INFORMATION  

ABRAHAM MARTIN dit l'Écossais (the Scotsman)... arrived in Québec about 1620 with his wife, MARGUERITE LANGLOIS, her sister Françoise and brother-in-law Pierre Desportes, and a child, Anne. If Anne Martin is indeed the daughter of Abraham Martin and Marguerite Langlois this would introduce a Scottish influence into my husband's lineages.

Citations​

(1) B. Martin Anne, circa 1613 La Rochelle, France (Unproven)                                                                                            
(2) M. 1635 Cotté/Martin, Basilique Notre Dame Quebec, Canada, Vital and Church Records Drouin Coll, 1621-1968  
(3) D. 1684 Martin Anne, 05/12/1683 Notre-Dame QC, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Coll.), 1621-1968    

Background: Marriage Register

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