Jean Gervais

     Jean was born in Souvigne, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France. He was the son of Urbain Gervais & Jeanne Herise. On 24 March 1616, he was christened in Souvigne, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France.² He was one of the men recruited for the voyage to Ville-Marie in 1653. This was one last attempt by Paul Chomedey to bring 100 new immigrants to Montreal to save the settlement, as by this date, the colony was down to barely 50 people.³ A contract for the marriage of Jean Gervais & Anne Archambault was signed on 3 February 1654. Jean married Anne Archambault, daughter of Jacques Archambault and Francoise Chaveau, on 3 February 1654 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Basilica of Notre Dame.⁴ 1666, Jean and Anne were listed on the Canadian Census at Montreal. Enumerated in this household were Jean Gervaise [55 years], Anne Archambault [45 years], Marguerite [11 years], Cunegonde [9 years], Jeanne [6 years], Jean [4 years], Louis [2 years] & servants: Giles Devenus [45 years] & Antoine Deserre [22 years].⁵ 1667, Jean and Anne were listed on the Canadian Census at Montreal. Enumerated in this household were Jean Gervaise [52 years], Anne Archambault [36 years], Marguerite [13 years], Cunegonde [11 years], Jeanne [8 years], Jean [6 years], Louis [4 years], Nicolas [1 year] & servants: Antoine Lesueir [20 years] & Barthelemy Lemaistre [32 years].⁵ 1681, Jean and Anne were listed on the Canadian Census at Montreal. Enumerated in this household were Jean Gervaise [60 years], Anne Archambault [50 years], Louis [18 years], Nicolas [16 years], Cecile [10 years] & Urbain [8 years].⁵ Jean departed this life in Montreal. He was buried there in the cemetery of Notre Dame on Sunday, 12 March 1690.⁶