| Notes |
- http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Kebec/marthe_arnu.html
A Marriageable Young Girl
Marthe Arnault (1632-1700)
Marthe Arnault (also seen as Arnu) was born about 1632 and baptized on March 28, 1632 at Ste-Marguerite, La Rochelle, France; the daughter of Marc Arnault and Louise Brodeur. In the days before the state sponsored 'King's Daughters' scheme; seigneurs, churches, merhants; or indeed anyone with a vested interest in 'New France' were trying to promote settlement in the colony.
However, moving entire families was costly, so instead they recruited single tradesmen, labourers and soldiers, and then financed sisters, cousins and freinds; or more precisely "marriageable young girls", willing to become the wife of a habitant. Their expenses were paid and sometimes a small dowry provided; but as an added enticement, if the young ladies did not find their intended suitable, or could not handle the difficult life; their passage was paid back to France and they were released from their contract; an option rarely available in the days of arranged marriages.
Repentigny, Quebec
If her parents were unable to provide a dowry, her only other option would be to enter a convent, so Marthe; then in her early twenties;, instead decided to try her chances in Quebec; probably recruited by Maisonneuve or Dauverserie, though she was not listed with the 'Grand Recruitment'.
We do know that she was in Montreal by the fall of 1658, since that year she married Pierre Richaume on September 16. Pierre and his father Simon were amoung the first group brought to Ville-Marie by Maisonneuve to help with construction of the fort. The elder Richaume had signed a contract on May 2, 1644; for a period of three years, where he would be employed as a carpenter and wagoneer, for an annual salary of 100 livres. (Simon may also have been Pierre's older brother, since no age is given) After his contract was up, he stayed on in Montreal, but was killed on February 9, 1655, when a tree he had been clearing, fell on him and he was crushed to death.
By then Pierre was nineteen, and his occupation listed as cultivator of vineyards, though he no doubt also acted as a labourer in the construction around Ville Marie. By the time he was 22, he must have decided, or at least had it decided for him, that it was time to settle down and raise a family, so a contract was negotiated for a French bride, and Marthe on her way to meet her intended.
Satisfied with each other, they were married soon after and began a family immediately, though there was a gliche. Pierre Richaume was a hugenot; an unacceptable situation in the Catholic colony, so on August 24, 1660; the 24 year old Pierre took confirmation and changed his faith. Whether he actually embraced Catholicism, or just did it for the good of family, is unknown; but he did allow his children to be raised as Catholics.
The family eventually moved to Repentigny, Quebec; a Seigneury granted to Pierre Le Gardeur on April 16, 1647; and Richaume joined the Sainte Famille Militia in 1663. Pierre Richaume died on May 8, 1688 and Marthe on August 26, 1700; and both are buried at Repentigny.
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