View of Québec from Beauport

GRATON HÉLENE
(1653-1735)

Hélène Graton was born in Aubigny, Lucon, Poitou, France in 1653, eldest daughter of Claude-Jacques Graton and Marguerite (Moncion dit Devillefort). According to a passenger document, I found she arrived in Nouvelle France in 1670, accompanied by her parents, her sister Renée, and her aunt Mathurine Graton (fille du Roi) Their last child, Jacques, was born in Beauport, Québec. This is most likely where Noël met Hélene. While some believe Hélene had four other siblings, I can only confirm Joseph and Renée.

Hélène married Jean-Noël the 13th of February 1673,(2). The marriage took place in Beauport, where her parents lived. Her father was not present at her wedding and is thought to have returned to France, leaving her mother with the three children. Marguerite, (her mother), died in 1674, leaving the two younger children orphaned. Renée would have been about ten and Jacques two years of age.

After Hélène’s marriage, she and Noël lived in Sainte-Famille and farmed until they secured land in Saint-Pierre from the Ursuline nuns. This became their home.

Her sister Renée married Antoine Paulet in August 1683 at age seventeen and died in November of the same year. Her death appears to be in childbirth. The boy Ignace died before his second birthday.

Her youngest brother, Joseph born in 1672, married Anne Perron in 1697 and died in 1703.

Hélene would have faced significant risks both during her pregnancy and in childbirth. During the birthing process, a midwife or female family member assisted the mother, while the father usually left the home. Midwife methods and tools were not very sanitary, leading to infection, disease, and death for both the mother and the infant. The process was often excruciatingly painful, and alcohol was the only available anaesthesia.

Hélene gave birth to ten children, most of whom would live until they reached adulthood. During those years, as many as two-thirds of children died before the age of ten. Because of the high mortality rate, parents often had approximately six to eight children to ensure that some would live through to adulthood.

Noël died in 1701, leaving her a widow with at least five children still at home.

Hélen died November 23rd 1735,(3) thirty-four years after the death of Pierre and was buried in the village of Saint-Pierre on the island with her husband. She was eighty-two years of age.

CHILDREN OF JEAN-NOËL CÔTÉ AND HÉLENE GRATON

Jean-Baptiste (1674-1681) Died at age seven.

Louise (1676-1706) married Anet-Jean-Baptiste Jaladon and had one child. Like her brother Jean-Baptiste, she died in 1706 at the age of thirty. She had four children

Genevieve (1679-1706) She was a nursing sister (nun) at Hotel Dieu in Québe City. She died in her mid-twenties.
Jean-Baptiste (1682-1712) Born one year after his namesake remained a bachelor
and died at the age of thirty.
Pierre (1684-1684) Born in November Pierre would die less than three weeks later.
Jacques (1686-1734) (our pivitol Côté point. (family split)
(1) Madeline Rondeau, four children (Côté/Boissonneault)
(2) Marie-Catherine Therese Lambert Briene Vincenne Lambert, seven children (Côté/Auger)
(3) Genevieve Cauchon, no children.
Marie-Charlotte (1688-1688) Born in July and died four months later.
Marie-Anne (1690-1743) married François Pauze, five children.
Joseph-Noël (1692-1737) married

(1) Marie-Francoise Huot, four children
(2) Marie-Anne Lambert, three children
Augustin (1695-1737) married Marie-Madeleine Baillargeon, five children

NOTE:

There appears to be several confusing factors about the two sons both named Jean-Baptiste as follows:

The census for 1681 as per the PRDH has Noël and Hélèn listed as 36 and 26 years of age respectively. The children are Jean-Baptiste 7, Louise 5, and Genevieve 2. According to Tanguay, Vol, 3 Sect.1, Cha-Deh page 141 the ages should be correct. Tanguay does not give a date of death.

The PRDH has both Jean-Baptistes in their research as follows: (1) Jean-Baptiste b.1674 St-Famille and d.1712 St-Pierre and (2) Jean-Baptiste b.1682 St-Pierre and d.1736 St-Pierre

If this is correct then the research appears confusing. Why would a couple name a second son the same as one who is still living.

Another research site “Généalogie du Québec et d’Amérique française” has the first JB (1674-1681) and the second (1682-1612). this would make more sense. It was common for a family to name a newborn after one who had recently died. Unfortunately, the Drouin records do not appear to be available for the years 1682 through 1684.

Citations

(1) B. 1646 Graton Hélene, Aubigny, Lucon, Poitou, France
(2) M. 1673 Cote/Graton Québec (Québec Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families Tanguay Collection
(3) D. 1735 Graton Hélene, St-Pierre, Ile d'Orlean, QC, Canada,Vital and Church Records Drouin Collection 1621-1968

(4) U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s

Background: Death Register

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GRATON HÉLENE (1653-1735)

CHILDREN OF JEAN-NOËL CÔTÉ AND HÉLENE GRATON

GRATON HÉLENE
(1653-1735)