Zacharie Cloutier

     Zacharie was born in 1590 in Mortagne-au-Perche, Orne, Normandy, France. He was the son of Denis Cloutier [-12/11/1634] & Renee Briere [-5/01/1608]. [burial dates at St-Jean, Mortagne-au-Perche].² Zacharie married Sainte Dupont on 18 July 1616 in Feings, Orne, Normandy, France.³ In 1619, Henry II de Montmorency purchased New France as a colony from his brother-in-law, Henry II of Bourbon. Henry de Montmorency soon hired a group of laborers to assist Champlain in “inhabiting, clearing, cultivating and planting” in the colony. Included in this group was Zarcharie and his father Denis. These men were not settlers, but hired laborers and after their work was done, they returned to France. Zacharie, however, returned to New France in 1634, as a settler either with his family or with the family coming a short time later. As a Master Carpenter, he had been one of the first men recruited by Robert Gifford in Robert’s efforts to expand the colony by establishing a settlement at Beauport. He and Jean Guyon signed a contract on 14 March 1634, agreeing to go to Canada that same year; the agreement also included a grant of land for each at Beauport. Once here, they were given the assignment to build Gifford’s manor house. Upon completion of the house, the two went on to work on other building in the settlement. While working there as a carpenter, Zacharie lived in Beauport with his family and his home became known as La Clouterie.
On 15 July 1652, Cloutier was given a grant of land from the Governor, Jean de Lauzon, in Chateau-Richer, but he remained living in Beauport with his fellow carpenter, Jean Guyon as a neighbor. On 20 December 1670, he sold his land in Beauport to Nicholas Dupont. The transaction caused a dispute between Zacharie, Jean Guyon and Robert Gifford. As a result, he moved his family to the land he received in the grant at Chateau-Richer.^4,5 1666, Zacharie and Sainte were listed on the Canadian Census in Comte de Montmorency, Quebec, Canada. Enumerated in this household were Zacharie Cloutier [76 years], father & Sainte Dupont [70 years].⁶ 1667, Zacharie and Sainte were listed on the Canadian Census. Enumerated in this household were Zacharie Cloutier [77 years] & Sainte Dupont [72 years].⁷ 1677, Zacharie and Sainte were listed on the Canadian Census in Chateau-Richer, Montmorency County, Quebec, Canada. Enumerated in this household were Zacharie Cloutier age: 87 years & Xainte 81 years.⁸ Zacharie departed this life on Friday, 17 September 1677 in Chateau-Richer at age 87 years. He was buried there in the cemetery of La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame on Saturday, 18 September 1677.⁹