FIRST GENERATION

1. Claude ROBILLARD was born about 1650 in Vicinity of Rouen , Normandie, France.⁽¹⁾ He may have been born in St. Euverte. Orleans, Loiret, France rather than Normandie.
However the fact that both his wives were born in Rouen, Normandie would at least suggest that he more likely came from there. He died on 25 May 1719 in St. Sulpice, Quebec. Claude was born about 1650 in the north of France, probably in the vicinity of Rouen (site of the execution of Jeanne d'Arc two centuries previous). He left for the New World from the port of Larochelle on the East coast in 1663, a few months short of his 13th birthday. The names of his parents are not known and there is no evidence that he was accompanied by a family member.
He arrived in the port of Quebec Sept.15th,1963. He was recruited as an apprentice farmer by the Sieur de Beauport, Robert Gifford. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of Monseigneur Laval, the first Bishop of New France.
He left Beauport in 1666 to be apprenticed by Denis Duquet, a well to do farmer, across the river from Quebec City in Pointe Lévy. While employed by Duquet he took part in a military expedition against the indians that travelled all the way to Lake Champlain.
He purchased his own first farm in Champlain, upriver from Quebec city near Trois Rivières, in 1669. He likely married his first wife, Marie Bénard, at this time but documentation is lacking.
Some years later he moved upriver again to St. Sulpice near Montreal Island where he continued to farm.
In 1692 we have evidence of him purchasing two lots on rue St. Paul in Ville Marie (later Montreal) . The lot next to his was owned by Marguerite Bourgeoys (now Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys), where she built the Church of Notre Dame de Bonsecours. Archeological digs have discovered foundations of the original church. In 1691 he purchased a property on the corner of St. Paul and Chagouamigon where he opened a butcher shop.Chagouamigon, now a lane, still exists in Old Montreal. He retired to St.Sulpice where he is buried.

He was married to Marie GRONDIN DIT GRANDIN (daughter of Michel GRONDIN DIT GRANDIN and Marie LEJEUNE) in 1672 in Champlain, Quebec. Marie GRONDIN DIT GRANDIN was born in 1648 in St. Hubert Orleans Loiret, France. ⁽²⁾ Adhémar states her birth as 1650/01/01 in Rouen She died on 30 Oct 1708 in Montreal,Quebec. Claude ROBILLARD and Marie GRONDIN DIT GRANDIN had the following children:

+2 i. Marie Jeanne Anne ROBILLARD.
+3 ii. Claude ROBILLARD.
+4 iii. Adrian ROBILLARD.
5 iv. Louis ROBILLARD was born on 15 May 1682 in Champlain, Quebec. He died on 5 Jun 1683 in Champlain, Quebec.
+6 v. Nicolas ROBILLARD.
+7 vi. Marie Theresa ROBILLARD.
+8 vii. Joseph ROBILLARD.
9 viii. Jean Baptiste ROBILLARD was born on 10 Apr 1691 in Montreal,Quebec. He died on 14 Jul 1722 in Kaskaskia, Que..
+10 ix. Pierre ROBILLARD.

He was married to Marie Francoise GUILLIN (daughter of Pierre GUILLIN and Antoinette LACROIX) on 27 Jan 1709 in Montreal,Quebec. Marie Francoise GUILLIN was born on 1 Jan 1649 in St.Pierre d'Aumale, France. She died on 9 Nov 1732 in St. Sulpice, Quebec.

He was married to Marie BENARD.