MARIE ANTOINETTE BARBARÉ
(1674-bef 1721)

This section of the Auger family has been a challenge, and those associated with them.

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          I found the birth of Marie Antoinette Barabé in the parish records for Trois-Rivières, Québec. She was born 15 October 1674 to parents Nicolas Barabé and Michelle Ouinville, one of the “King’s Daughters”. It would appear that Nicholas died after the birth of her youngest sister Marie Madeleine, in May 1676, and August 26th of the same year, Antoinette’s mother had a notarial contract drawn which identifies her as the widow of Nicolas Barabé.

          The 12th of April 1677, a notary drew up a contract of marriage between her mother and Michel Lemay where the notary again identifies her as the widow of Nicolas Barabé. Antoinette would have been just three years old. She would have most likely considered Michel Lemay her father. 

          I found an interesting article about Michel Lemay and the history of the Lemay family that would shed more light on the Barabés and possibly Louis Auger himself.

          Michel Lemay was a man who gathered no moss on his feet. Rather than settle in the most likely places of the new world, he traveled the shores between Cap de la Madeleine and Trois-Rivières. Arriving in North America in 1653/4 as a young man in his twenties.

It was not until he married his first wife, Marie Dutaut or Dutost, did he somewhat settle in Trois-Rivières, where he began his family. His marriage was in 1659, and the first child was born within the first year.

          Over the next sixteen years, until her death in 1675, the couple produced at least eight children. His passion for eel fishing would supplement his living and keep him in the area.

          Two years after Marie’s death, in 1677 Michel Lemay and Michelle Ouinville (Marie-Antoinette’s mother) were married according to some at Côte Champlain, probably near Trois-Rivières, but no documents are available to confirm it.

René-Louis Chartier, Lord of Lotbinière, granted Michel land in the County, and fishing rights at Pointe-Ste-Croix, near Lotbinière and it is here he settled for the rest of his days.

          According to research, the Lemays were heavily involved in both fishing and the fur trade and gained permits coveted by many. Perhaps this is how Louis came to Trois-Rivières. Despite attempts, by 1641, the population of New France was well below the 4000 promised in the lower city. The fur trade was lucrative, and rich land was available along the shores of the St-Lawrence.

          Lemays being heavily involved in the fur trade gained hunting permits coveted by many. Perhaps this is how Louis came to Lotbinière to seek his fortune? The fur-trade was one of the most lucrative trades of the day.

          Michel Lemay was himself an eel fisherman with a profitable business. The seigneur René-Louis Chartier de Lotbinière (1641–1709) offered him a concession in Lotbinière with the fishing rites in return for a percentage of his catch. In a good season, they could catch as many as 70,000 eels, after which, once cured and stored in barrels, would provide a good income as they would fetch 25 to £30 per barrel at market.

          In 1679, Jean Lemoyne delivered to the Lemay family, “a windmill with all the parts, ready to grind wheat into flour.” The price was 80 livres, or 3 livres per hundred eels.  (Source:  Thomas J. Laforest from the book Michel Lemay dit Poudrier). This would also prove Michel Lemay’s success as an entrepreneur in the area. When he died in 1684, his widow would have been a wealthy woman. Antoinette would have been a desirable mate.

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ADDENDUM: The names Auger, Lemay and Maillot intermingle many times over the next generations.

NOTE: with our French ancestry, they all came from the same region in France. Both Boissonneau and Auger are from Saintonge and the Côté de Mortagne, Perche, also a possession of Henry II Plantagenet.