1. JEAN-

?bpt. 13 Aug. 1641 St. Germain en Laye, Seine et Oise
? bpt. 21 Nov. 1641 Ploudalmezeau, Finistere, Bretagne
m. MARGUERITE SAMSON (bur. 24 July 1721 L'Ile Dupas)
bur. 5 Dec. 1699 St. Pierre de Sorel

A Jean Beaugrand was baptised in St. Germain in 1641 the son of Barthelemy Beaugrand and Perrette Bongare. However, other than having the same name, no other link between this Jean and our Jean in Quebec is found. The same issue occurs with the Jean Bougaran from Finistere baptised also in 1641, although, our Jean often gave his name as "gean Bougeren" or "Gean Bougueren" which would more closely match Jean from Finistere. Also, our Jean settled on L'Ile Dupas, a wind swept land of reeds where every move must be made by boat and where the daily fare consisted of stewed fish, frog legs, cattail tubers and the eggs of the local waterfowl... this sounds like an area where an accomplished sailor from Finistere would settle and not somebody from Paris.

Jean was one of the first settlers in Berthier and was involved in the contruction of Fort Richelieu (number 3 on the map). He first lived on the north shore of the St. Lawrence in the Seigneurie of Villemur Autray where the church stands today (number 1 on the map). He then purchased land on L'Ile Dupas (number 2).

Map of Richelieu and islands in 1695

Jean was part of the Champagne company of the Carignan regiment. It's interesting that 11 of the men in that company took the name "dit Champagne" even though none of them were from that area. It was a common practice for a company to assume a new name, their "nom de guerre".

Jean, age 40, and Marguerite, age 32, were listed in the 1681 census for D'autray along with Jean Baptiste, age 9, Charles age 7, and Marie, age 6. Their homestead was 1.5 miles upstream from the church with 3 arpents on the river and 40 deep. From the records of Berthier for 1723 Jean Baptiste was then in possession of 5 arpents, two of which he acquired from Jean Plouffe on 27 July 1714. Catalogne's map places Jean between Parisien and La Grandeur in Lot no. 48. The house that is currently on this lot was built by his descendant Basile Beaugrand dit Champagne in 1825.

"The year 1693, March 3 before noon, I, the royal bailiff residing at Champlain, and Jean Beaugrand-Champagne aforesaid, residing in Berthier, for both himself and his son, and his household, along with his daughter who has promised to be a witness. Being summoned of the king, he recognizes Sieurs Dandonneau Brisset and lords of Ile-Dupas, as having said Beaugrand and son, in possession of land in the said Lordship and is said to recognize Baugrand dit Dufort (Prudent bougret-Dufort aforesaid) or other person as lords of that manor and make me holder (presenting evidence) of the title they have and give Sirs Brisset and Du Sable (Dandonneau) a new title to their land they hold by grant, declaring the said Beaugrand to meet shortly to present my summons, the said lords Brisset and Du Sable continue against him by means of the law. Made and neglected my copy of this summons to the said Baugrand's home, where I purposely transported distance of eighteen places of my house, etc.. (signed) D. Normandin, royal bailiff."

Pierre Dupras, Sieur de Brach, an officer in the Carignan Regiment, inhabited the island in 1669, having been attacked by a small group of Iroquois July 19 that year, then had an official license of Jean Talon 3 Nov. 1672. He died on 20 Dec.1677 and is buried in Sorel. His widow, Charlotte Denis, had retired to Three Rivers and left the manor in liquidation. It was acquired by Sieur Charles Aubert de la Chesnaie, who resold it to Mr. Jacques Brisset and Louis Dandonneau, residents of Champlain on 10 Nov.1690. It seems that after that date only concessions were given and very few because we found none before 1700. All concession contracts we have are dated 1700 to 1713. (The concession to Jean Beaugrand may be the only one. According to the note, he has no neighbors). Jean Beaugrand must be a first, if not the first to get his grant, as the map of Gideon de Catalunya, dated 1709, gives his son John Baptiste the lot immediately following that given to the church, the latter including 25 arpents at the southeast end of the island. The map seems to give 3 or 4 arpents wide. Furthermore, the challenge and demand seems to be a typical case for the first concessions and implies that Jean Beaugrand should be a land holder at that time, that is to say, a little before 3 Mar.1693 . The text of the document indicates that he had his franchise as Bougret dit Dufort, which triggered the action of the Lords and the bailiff. The words "make me holder of the title they have" and "give Sieurs Brisset and Du Sable a new title to their land" does not seem to have other meanings. The concession would have occurred between 18 June1692 and 3 Mar.1693.

In "Inventory of concessions ..., III, 83," we find the following note: "June 18, 1692: Faith and Homage Prudent bougret-Dufort said, residing in Ville-Marie, Island of Montreal for Jacques bougret his son for half a fief and manor called �le Dupas, �le-aux-cows with adjacent islets and other fiefs called Chicot, - The other half of that fief belonging to Jean Vinet , Boucherville ... "Prudent bougret had thus acquired rights to the manor. It had been put up for sale due to insolvency or for some other reason and bought by him. Hence the uncertainty and the summation and the elimination of the pretender to the title of Lord. And so on 23-10-1701, "by Sir Francis at Belmont, vicar of Bishop Issustrissime and the Reverend Bishop of Quebec, making a visit to the place and coste de Berthier were present in their Margaret Sanson person, widow of the late Jean Bougrand one hand, and John Bougrand, son of said John Bougrand and called Marguerite, Frances Gignar assisted his wife on the other hand, "which, for the sake of peace and salvation of their souls, were delivered into his hands and fixed their different finish for an act of transaction, giving full power to make them sleep in good and due form legally receive a royal notary. "Agreed the terms and conditions:" "Will give the said Jean Beaugrand, son, by year, Margaret Sanson, the mother, the quantity of 20 bushels (of) good and valid wheat, payable in two installments: the first from 10 bushels to the next Christmas, the second at Candlemas in the year 1702, as 10 bushels, and so on until the end of the life of the said Margaret Sanson, mother. "give now the said Jean Beaugrand his mother, a cow choose the three he has, " "Now give to his mother called a fat pig ready to kill and two nourritureaux six months." "Says Jean undertakes Bougrand to build his mother called the next year 1702 a building for herself and beasts and birds as he is wont to do in these directions. "Says Jean undertakes Bougrand to drag his mother said 10 cords of wood and to bring his corn to the mill and this time only she and he shall dwell in the same place, side or parish. "(S) require the Bougrand said John and Frances Guignard, his wife, if they came to die before the said mother and all their heirs (successors) and assigns to perform the said conditions shall be lawful for the said Margaret Sanson to return all its rights as if the contract had been made. "Carry the said Margaret Sanson his furniture, clothes and utensils, namely: bed lined curtains, her shrouds (sheets), two covered his chest with all linen, clothes and clothes she has for her own use, plus two pots, two kettles, two plates, a flat basin, six spoons. "In return for which yields the said Margaret Sanson said Jean Bougrand to his son, all and each (of) his duties on the Timetable (inheritance) of the late John Bougrand, her husband said ... Give the freedom to Margaret Jean Bougrand his son, sell, dispose, lease and exchange houses (land) he holds in his late father, based in Berthier and Ile-Dupas, provided he meets the terms and conditions of said contract to the satisfaction of which terms and conditions and said Bougrand mortgaging his wife (commit) all their property present and future and undertake to pay the debts of their father, if any. "Done to Berthier, this October 23, 1701, in the presence of witnesses below.." "Francois de Belmont, Grand Vicar, pray, priest Seguenot; Margarita Sanson (mark), John Bougrand (mark); Fran�oise Guignat (brand)". Issue-