TENTH GENERATION

986. Jean PROU @ was born in 1645. He died on 28 Feb 1703 in Montmagny, Montmagny, P.Quebec. He was buried on 1 Mar 1703 in Montmagny, Montmagny, P.Quebec. <From "Our French Canadian-Ancestors" by Thomas J. Laforest. vol.3 pg.214-221>

Jean Prou arrived in Quebec in 1666 and worked as a household domestic. In 1669, after three years in service, Jean was legally allowed to put down roots in Canadian soil. On 23 June, before notary Romain Becquet, in the house of Louis Couillard, he listened to the reading of a contract which would obligate him to a piece of land at the river Caille in Montmagny. "Three arpents of land comprised of high woods" was his lot. It was a challenge to his tender hands, to his poorly prepared muscles and to his courage as well. In addition Jean had to render homage to the Seigneur annually, in the form of 1 sol in "cens," 3 live capons and 9 silver livres in "rentes," and 9 days of work on the seigneurie. It was a maximum requirement for the times. He also acquired the right to fish on the river in front of his property, provided that he give his seigneur "the tenth of all fish he shall catch."

Jean took his axe to the woods, cleared a piece of land and built a cabin. Two years later he was still at it and coming along well. Every tree cut and burned increased his capital investment in cleared land, but how slowly and at what price in time and effort? On 22 February 1671, Guillaume Fournier from the St-Charles area of Quebec, offered Jean 150 livres for his property, of which 30 would be a cash down payment. Jean took the offer, secured it before notary Becquet, pocketed his money and went back to town in search of something a little more profitable and less back-breaking.

The next year the record tells us that Jean was again "working and living in this town" of Quebec. On 22 August 1672, Noel Morin, Seigneur of St-Luc at Montmagny, granted Jean Prou some land at St-Luc, under conditions less onerous than his first experience. Jean had the right to fish but was required to have four arpents of trees felled and cut before the end of the next winter and to make his home there as well. It was on this property that Jean settled down for all time. On the census of 1681, we find him with a rifle, 12 head of cattle and 6 arpents of land under cultivation.

On 6 October 1676, Jean accepted another land grant from Louis Couillard, of 3 arpents in frontage by 40 in depth. Jean was required to live on the land but no other details are known. The next year, on 7 July 1678, Jean became associated with Alphonse Morin dit Valcour, son of the Seigneur. They worked as a team, plowing, sowing, cultivating and harvesting their land. Each proprietor provided his oxen and wagons, etc., but Valcour made more because he had the well-polished plow.

There is a 20-year hiatus during which Jean Prou is never mentioned in official or civil documents. He surfaced on 14 October 1701, completely run down and out. Had he tried his hand in the fur trade? On his return to Quebec, Marie-Anne Fortin, widow of Jean Picard, a provisions merchant, was waiting for him. She demanded, before the notary Chambelon, that he pay his debt of 700 livres and 16 sous for provisions furnished, which he admitted owing her. this debt was settled only after his death, from the proceeds ofhis estate.

He was married to Jacquette FOURNIER @ on 5 Jun 1673 in N.-D.-de-Quebec, Quebec, P.Quebec.

987. Jacquette FOURNIER @ was born on 9 Apr 1659 in N.-D.-de-Quebec, Quebec, P.Quebec. She was baptised on 10 Apr 1659 in N.-D.-de-Quebec, Quebec, P.Quebec. She died in 1736. She was buried on 23 Jan 1736 in St-Thomas, Montmagny, P.Quebec. Children were:

493 i. Anne PROU(LX) @.