Francois Marguerie

     Francois was born in Rouen, Normandy, France. He was christened there on 22 October 1612 in St-Vivien Church.¹ Francois has a significant place in early French-Canadian history. He was an interpreter between the indignant tribes and the French. Among the Indians, he was known as “the double man” since in their eyes, he was the only Frenchman who had completely adopted himself to their culture. He was in Canada prior to the takeover by the Kirks; he sought refuse among the Algonquins during the English rule, learning their language and customs. He acted as a guide and interpreter for the Jesuit missionaries during the year of 1636, but from 1637 to 1640 he seldom left Trois-Rivieres and at least by 1641 had become the chief interpreter for that settlement. On 20 February 1641, he and a fellow interpreter, Thomas Godefroy, were taken prisoner by some members of the Iroquois tribe and taken to their village. While there, the two men took advantage of the time to learn the language of the Iroquois, and in the meantime learned of a plot by the Iroquois to attack the settlement at Trois-Rivieres. The courage of the two men during the planning of this raid and in the negotiations between the two encampments, prevented the battle from taking place and saved countless lives.² Francois married Marie-Louise Cloutier, daughter of Zacharie Cloutier and Sainte Dupont, on 26 October 1645 in ville de Quebec, Quebec, Canada, at the Basilica of Notre Dame.³ Francois drowned when his canoe capsized near Trois-Rivieres on Saturday, 23 May 1648. His body was found on the river bank at Quebec on 10 June. His Fellow interpreter, Thomas Godefroy, survived the accident.² He was buried there in the Notre Dame Cemetery on Wednesday, 10 June 1648. Thomas Godefroy, his fellow intrepreter and prisoner also died tragically four years later, being tortured & killed by the Indians.⁴