Claude Robillard

     Claude was born circa 1646 in Rouen, Normandy, France. In June 1663, Claude left his home in France aboard the ship, "Garden of Holland", |They arrived in Quebec in July with 279 passengers on board..¹ Claude had signed a contract to work for Robert Giffard, a doctor in Beauport. On the registers at the Hotel Dieu on 3 June 1664 and again on the registers of the Bascilica at Quebec on 25 July 1664, he was listed as being confirmed into the catholic church. In 1666, he was recruited to serve in the Carignan campaign and fought against the Mohawks near Sorel. After serving out his contract, Claude moved to Champlain where he bought land on which to farm; it was located on the river’s edge.² Claude married Marie Binard on 8 August 1670 in Champlain, Les Chenaux County, Quebec, Canada, at the church of La Visitation.³ Claude's wife, Marie, died circa 1680 in Champlain, leaving him a widower. Claude married 2nd Marie Grandin on 4 March 1681. She is the widow of Michel Morel.⁴ 1681, Claude and Marie were listed on the Canadian Census in Champlain. Enumerated in this household were Claude Robillard [35 years], hs wife: Marie Grandin [21 years], Marie [8 years], Claude [3 years], Adrien [2 years] & Francois Morel [11 years].⁵ He continued farming, buying land and hiring out for work there until in 1685, when he moved his family by canoe down river to Montreal. There he signed a contract to work for the Sisters of the Saint-Joseph Hospital in Montreal, which would later be known as Hotel Dieu. The contract was for 5 years. He was to manage the farm lands and his pay was half of the harvest each year. His step-son Francois Morel was also arranged to be his laborer at the farm. The estate where he worked was in what is now in the center of Old Quebec. The family name has been preserved there, as a street bears the name Robillard. Claude's wife, Marie, died before 31 October 1708 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, leaving him a widower. A contract for the marriage of Claude and Marie-Francoise Guillin was signed on 9 January 1709. It was drawn up by notary Lepailleur. Claude married 3rd Marie-Francoise Guillin on 27 January 1709 in Montreal at the Basilica of Notre Dame.⁶ Claude departed this life on Thursday, 25 May 1719 in St-Sulpice, Quebec, Canada. He was buried there in the churchyard of St-Sulpice on Friday, 26 May 1719.⁷