Francois Lemaitre

     Francois was born circa 1631 in Flers-sur-Noye, Somme, Picardie, France. He was the son of Fiacre Lemaitre &Anne Loie.¹ He immigrated to Quebec in 1651.² A contract for the marriage of Francois and Judith Riguad was signed on 24 February 1654. The Contract was witnessed by her employer, Marguerite LeGardeur wife of Jacques LeNeuf de LaPoterie.³ Francois married Judith Riguad on 6 May 1654 in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, at the church of Notre-Dame-du-Cap.⁴ The couple became involved in the fur trade and apparently did very well as it had been noted that Judith had a wardrobe that was exceptional for the time and that the couple's home was furnished with "superb furniture". Judith was active in the business and in 1665, she returned to France to conduct business with the Merchants in La Rochelle. Francois departed this life in Trois-Rivieres. He had been found wounded and unconscious and later died without regaining conscoiusness. The record is quoted as saying "he was slaughtered most miserably; he died without regaining speech". He was buried there in the cemetery of Notre-Dame-du-Cap on Thursday, 14 January 1666. His wife was in France on business during this time.⁵