FRANÇOIS-XAVIER CÔTÉ (1823-1903)

​           When François-Xavier, son of François Côté and Angèlique (Bedard) was born March 29, 1823, much change was in the works for what was then the county of Buckinghamshire. He was their second child in a marriage that would produce twelve children. His birth record identifies Jean-Baptiste Côté and Angel (Bibeau) as his godparents. He would grow up a farmer, as did his ancestors.

           In 1845, he married Emilie Monfet of the same village, January 20, 1845, daughter of Jean-Marie Monfet and Therèse Baron. The couple was married in St-Antoine-de-Tilly, in what is referred to today as one of Quebec's most beautiful village.

           In 1820, there were two groups fighting for control over the colony: those who supported the British administration and those who wanted more power for the francophone population. The Brits allies were large merchants, civil servants, and the old French seigneurial families, which strongly linked their careers to the British Empire and developing exports to Great Britain.

           The opponents comprised a new group of people, a small middle-class of French Canadian professionals. These sons and grandsons of artisans, and sometimes farmers, had gained more learning in colleges or seminaries before becoming notaries, lawyers or doctors. They had also secured the trust of the French Canadian population. Hence, change was in the air.

           The St. Lawrence River Valley, the summers were short and winters severe. While the soil was extremely fertile, the crops had to be chosen carefully because of the climate. The growth of the populace would prove to be a problem for the limited amount of land forcing younger sons of the French families to travel farther to earn a living for their families. By the time this generation was of marrying age, many would migrate to the Upper United States seeking work. Others would travel north to become part of the fur and lumber trade, or to obtain land grants of what were meagre farming areas.

            The area of Saint-Flavien, where François maintained a farm, had now settled since the early 1800s. Formerly part of the seigneurie of Saint-Croix, the area divided, creating smaller hamlets.

            Referred to as the parish of Saint-Flavien-de-Sainte-Croix created in 1845, it would become part of the county (Lotbinière) municipality in 1847. The population was expanding and by 1849, Saint-Flavien erected its own chapel. The name chosen honors the memory of Monsignor Pierre-Flavien Turgeon (1787-1867), the fourteenth Bishop of Quebec from (1850-1867). Interestingly enough, I have found mention of St-Flavien in the Drouin record as being referred to as “Saint Flavien du bois a l’ail”.

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           While the family did not move far from their original homestead, creating the parish of Saint-Flavien gives the appearance they might have. In fact, it actually gives us a better idea of where they were located regarding the village of Saint-Croix. Saint-Flavien was directly south of Saint-Croix, approximately twenty kilometers..

           François and Émilie had twelve children; Edouard-Firmin, François-Xavier, Marie-Desneiges, Marie-Elisabeth, Marie-Anastasie, Louis-Edmond, Marie-Lucie, Jean-Baptiste Isaie, Louis-Remi, Marie-Emilie, Marie Philomene and Marie-Odile.

           François died  April 8, 1903, in Saint-Sylvestre, Nicolet, at eighty years of age.