Marie Marguerite LEJEUNE
Biography

Joseph, also called Jean, son of perhaps Jean Boutin and Susanne Rocheteau of Québec, born in c1676 perhaps at Québec, was a 25-year-old fisherman at Port-Royal in 1701. He married Marie-Marguerite, daughter of Pierre Lejeune dit Briard, at Port-Royal in c1708. They moved to La Hève on the Atlantic side of the peninsula and then to the Minas Basin, where they settled at Pigiguit, but they did not remain there either. Joseph was 76 years old when he was counted at Baie-des-Espagnols, Île Royale, today's Cape Breton Island, with his youngest son Paul in April 1752. Île Royale was part of greater Acadia and was controlled by the French at the time, so Joseph evidently had taken his family there in c1749 probably to escape turmoil in British Nova Scotia. The census taker at Baie-des-Espagnols said that Joseph lived "Alone in a small house his children built for him," and that "He makes hand barrows and other small things for his own amusement." Jean-Joseph died at Baie-des-Espagnols either just before or at the beginning of Le Grand Dérangement. He and Marie-Marguerite had eight children, including six sons. Their two daughters did may not marry, but five of their sons created families of their own:

Oldest son Jean-Joseph, fils, born at Minas in April 1710, married Françoise, daughter of Jean Pitre, in c1731. They lived at Pigiguit and then followed his father and brothers to Baie-des-Espagnols probably during the 1740s. In early 1752, a French official counted Joseph at Baie-des-Espagnols. The census taker said that Joseph, a ploughman, was age 42, that his wife also was age 42, and that they lived with eight children: Joseph III, age 20; Euphrosine, age 18; Ambroise, age 15; Bernard, age 13; Paul le jeune, age 9; Marie, age 6; Anne, age 5; and Michel, age 1. The census taker noted that their "land was verbally by Messrs. Desherbiers and Prevost [Des Herbiers was the King's commissioner, or commandant, for Île Royale, and Prevost was the colony's financial commissary]." Joseph, fils died on Île Royale in June 1755 of an abcès qui a crévez dans le corps (an abscess that burst in his body).

Eustache, also called Antoine, born at Minas in January 1712, married Agathe, daughter of François Viger, in c1734 and also moved to Île Royale in the late 1740s. In early 1752, a French official counted Antoine, who he called Boulin, and his family at Baie-des-Espagnols on Île Royale. The census taker said that Antoine was a ploughman, age 40, wife Agathe, who he called Bige, also was age 40, and that they were living with five children: Jean-Baptiste, age 17; Qualier, age 12; Angélique, age 9; Joseph, age 7; and François, age 5. The census taker also noted that the family had been "Three years in the Colony come September," that "They have rations for 33 mos., and that their "land was given verbally by Messrs. Desherbiers and Prevost."

Pierre, born probably at Minas, married Marie-Marcelle, daughter of Claude Trahan, in c1745 and also moved to Île Royale, where he died in 1751 or 1752 on the eve of Le Grand Dérangement. His widow remarried to Jean Pineau.

Charles, born probably at Minas in c1723, married Marie-Josèphe, daughter of Paul dit Gravois Guédry of Mirliguèche, in c1746 and settled at Baie-des-Espagnols. In early 1752, a French official counted Charles and his family at Baie-des-Espagnols. Charles, called a ploughman, was age 29, his wife, called Josèphe, was age 28, and they lived with three children--Jean-Charles, age 5; Olivé or Olivier, age 3; and Marie-Françoise, age 3 months--and Josèphe's sister Eleine, age 28. The census taker also noted that their "land was given verbally by Messrs. Desherbiers and Prevost." Charles died in the late 1750s or early 1760s during Le Grand Dérangement.

Youngest son Pierre-Paul, called Paul, born probably at Minas in c1727, married Ursule, daughter of Augustin Guédry of l'Assomption, Pigiguit, at Louisbourg on Île Royale in November 1750. They settled near brother Charles at Baie-des-Espagnols. In early 1752, a French official counted Paul and his family at Baie-des-Espagnols. Paul, described as a ploughman, was age 25, his wife, called Eustache, was age 21, that they had no children but were living with Pierre Guédry, "their brother," age 11. The census taker also noted that their "land was given verbally by Messrs. Desherbiers and Prevost."

By 1755, descendants of Joseph Boutin could be found on Île Royale and perhaps at Pigiguit.

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