The Trudelle Monument and the Land
Contents of the Page
The grounds of the Monument
Until 1825, the ancestral land, located in the current municipality of Beaupré, was always the property of direct descendants of Jean Trudelle and the house built on it was always inhabited by these same owners. From 1825 to 1869, the old house of Jean Trudel and Marguerite Thomas remained uninhabited. In 1869, Ambroise Trudel, who owned the land and the house at the time, demolished the house.
Planting of the First Cross
In 1873, Abbé Beaumont, parish priest of l’Ange Gardien, and Ambroise Trudel, planted a cross on the site of the house demolished four years earlier. This cross was later replaced by another, planted there by Abbé R.E. Casgrain.
The 1909 Committee
The years go by. On November 24, 1909, Trudel’s first meeting was held at Quebec City Hall. It was at this time that the erection of the monument was decided. To carry out this project, an executive committee was formed among the people present at this meeting.
A voluntary subscription was also launched among Trudel descendants to finance the monument’s construction. On December 10, 1909, an advertisement appeared in the newspapers. The subscription campaign raised one (1) thousand dollars, which will be used to build our family monument.
In the meantime, two notarized deeds, one on December 03, 1909 and the other on January 29, 1910, ensured that the monument committee would obtain possession of the parcel of land on which it was to be erected. At that time, Mr. François Doyon owned the family land.
In the first notarized deed, Mr. Doyon donates, free of charge, to Mr. Joseph Trudel, president of the committee, a parcel of land measuring 10 square feet, French measure, on condition that he erect a monument to the memory of “Jean Trudelle” and hand it over to either the Parish or the municipality of L’Ange Gardien. In the second act, Mr. Doyon undertakes not to tolerate any obstruction in front of the monument.
Erection of the monument
Work to erect the monument takes place from Tuesday, August 23, 1910 to Thursday, September 01. The cornerstone was laid on Wednesday, August 24, 1910. The monument is 30 feet high and weighs 32 tons. The ashlar came from the Deschambault quarries, and the granite from Rivière-à-Pierre, Québec.
The architects of the monument were: T. Alfred Trudel as architect, H. Laforce et Frères as contractors, Georges Trudel sculptor, who donated the helmet made by himself and adorning the head, Arthur Trudel plumber, who made a small wooden box covered with lead placed under the base and which contains period documents. The blessing of this work took place on September 3, 1910 and the inauguration on September 10 and 11. This was the occasion of the first Trudel rally. On November 23, 1913, the monument was transferred to the Parish of Ange Gardien, which then became the legal owner and responsible for its maintenance.
On May 15, 1929, the members of the committee formed in 1909 to erect the monument sent a letter to Trudels everywhere to the effect that a sub-committee (two Trudels, two parishioners, two churchwardens) should be formed to ensure “the maintenance and stability of this precious memorial”. It seems that nothing has been done in this regard since 1910 by the Fabrique de l’Ange Gardien.
Purchase and sale of land
On May 31, 1951, Mr. François Doyon, owner of the land on which the monument stands, signed a promise of sale to the Comité de Québec de la Famille Trudel-le Inc. for a piece of his land, 150 feet wide by 200 feet deep, on which the Monument Trudelle stands, at a price of $1,500. In 1952, the Fabrique de l’Ange Gardien deeded the monument to the Association. The final release, capital and interest, for a final sum of $525 on the sale price of $1,500, was the subject of a receipt dated July 01, 1953.
The Trudels regained full ownership of their heritage stele and the land on which it stood. In the summer of 1976, at the request of the town of Boischatel, which wanted to widen the street, the monument was moved 50 feet further north. This work uncovered a sealed lead box in the center of the monument. Inside were a few 1910 coins, religious medals and an extract from the newspaper L’Événement de Québec. Everything was put back in place, with the addition of coins from 1976 and a page from the newspaper “Le Soleil” with a note from the Association’s president at the time, Abbé Jean-Marie Trudel.
Names inscribed on the pioneer plaque
Here are the forty-one (41) names inscribed on the pioneer plaque on the east side of the monument. The information about the land number comes from the 1680 burrow. Consult Raymond Gariépy’s book “The lands of L’Ange-Gardien (Côte-de-Beaupré)” from the Quebec Genealogy Society to find out more. know more.
AYOT, A
Adrien Ayot, baptized October 30, 1638, from Quebec City. Son of Thomas and Jeanne Boucher. On November 24, 1661, he married Marie-Madeleine Guyon, daughter of Jean and Élisabeth Couillard. He married Marie Péchina on February 18, 1686. He owns land number 36
BRISSON, R
René Brisson, born circa 1635 in Saint-Xandré, Aunis, France. Son of Marie Navarre, the father’s name was not found in the acts. He married Anne Vézina on September 06, 1664, daughter of Jacques and Marie Boisdon. Land number 08. There is a Brisson family association with a Facebook page.
CARREAU, L
Louis Carreau dit Lafraicheur, born in 1630 of Bordeaux, France. Son of André and Jacquette Caussade. Married Jeanne Lerouge dit Saint-Denis on April 30, 1654, daughter of Pierre and Marguerite Joly. He is found at l’Ange-Gardien in the 1681 census. Land number 01.
CLÉMENT, J
Jean Clément dit Lapointe, bapt. July 15, 1629, Nancy, Lorraine, France. Son of Jean and Anne Martin. Married Madeleine Surget on September 28, 1659, daughter of François and Marguerite Gravel. Madeleine Surget married Jacques Marrette. Land number 17.
ENAUD, M
Michel Enaud dit Botté, born in 1631 of La Ferrière near Vanne, France. Son of Michel and Jeanne Galliot. Married Geneviève Macré on August 08, 1662, daughter of Jean and Barbe Landry. Land number 24.
FISET, F-A
François-Abraham Fiset, carpenter, bapt. August 31, 1635, Dieppe, France. Son of Abraham and Catherine de La Brecque. Married Denise Savard on February 05, 1664, daughter of Simon and Marie Ourdouil. Land number 39.
GABOURY, A
Antoine Gaboury, bapt. in 1642 from La Rochelle, France. Son of Jacques and Jeanne Beaudouin. Married January 16, 1678 Jeanne Mignot, daughter of Jean and Louise Cloutier. Land number 22.
GARNEAU, L
Louis Garneault, bapt. in 1641, from La Grimaudière (Mirbeaux), France. Son of Pierre and Jeanne Barault. Married Marie Mazoué on July 23, 1663, daughter of Étienne and Marie Mérand. The couple had six children, the youngest of whom married Angélique Trudel, daughter of Pierre and Françoise Letarte, on October 06, 1701. Land number 03.
GENDRON, P
Pierre Gendros dit Lapoussière, from Saint-Denis d’Oléron, France. Son of Jeanne Coulon, his father’s first name is unknown. He married Jeanne Garnier on January 24, 1663, daughter of Sébastien and Marie Roux. Land number 26.
GODIN, C
Charles Godin, born circa 1630, of Aubermesnil, France. Son of Jacques and Marguerite Nicolle. Married Marie Boucher on November 06, 1656, daughter of Marin and Perrine Mallet. Land number 30.
GOULET, J
Jacques Goulet, miller, born November 21, 1645 in Mortagne, France. Son of Thomas and Antoinette Feillard. Marries Marguerite Mullier, daughter of Jehan and Marguerite Chauvin. Elected first churchwarden of the Ange-Gardien church on October 18, 1664. Land number 27.
GARNIER, C
Charles Garnier, born c. 1636, of Bayeux, Normandy, France. Son of Guillaume and Françoise De Challou. He married Louise Vézina, daughter of Jacques and Marie Boisdon, on December 21, 1664. Charles will be churchwarden of Ange-Gardien parish. Land number 04.
GIRARD, L
Here it’s more like GINART, L
Laurent Ginart (Gignard), born around 1633, of Larochelle, France. Son of François and Marie-Victoire Loyer. He married Élisabeth Sorin on August 10, 1653, in Larochelle, France. Land number 15.
GUYON, M
A transcription error on the monument indicates M when the first name is Jean.
Jean Guion, sieur Du Buisson, surveyor, bapt. August 01, 1619, Tourouvre, France. Son of Jean and Mathurine Robin. Married Élisabeth Couillard on November 27, 1945. Daughter of Guillaume and Guillemette Hébert. Land number 20.
HÉBERT, F
François Hébert dit Le Comte de Roussy, born around 1622 in Bourdun, bishopric of Rouen, France. He signed a marriage contract with Anne Fauconnier on September 08, 1643 in Rouen, France. Land number 21.
HUOT, M
Mathurin Huau, born around 1646 in Segré, Anjou, France. Son of René and Renée Poirier. Married Marie Letarte on November 25, 1671, daughter of René and Louise Goulet. Land number 22.
JACOB, E
Étienne Jacob, born around 1648 in Paris. Son of Edme and Jeanne Bellejambe. Bailiff and seigneurial notary. Married Jeanne Fressel on October 14, 1670, daughter of André and Marie Avisse. Land number 40.
JACQUEREAU, J
Jean Jacquereau, born around 1634, of Tonnay-Charente near Rochefort in Saintonge, France. Son of Jérémie and Marin Brin. Married October 25, 1663, Catherine Guillot, daughter of Mathurin and Marie Lebrun. Land number 16.
LABERGE, R
Robert Laberge, domestic servant, born September 24, 1638. Son of Jacques and Marie Poitevin of Caen, France. Married Françoise Gausse on May 28, 1663, widow of Nicolas Durant. Daughter of Maurice and Marguerite Cler. Land number 28.
LE CHENAY, B
The monument bears the inscription B Le Chenay, probably a mistake. This certainly refers to Charles Aubert De La Chesnay. A wealthy landowner, his holdings included the seigneury of Beaupré.
LEFORT, A
Antoine Lefort, bapt. February 15, 1641, of St-Aubin-de-Tourouvre, France. Son of Jean and Perrine Gravel. Married February 09, 1666 Marie Doyon, daughter of Jean and Marthe Gagnon. Land number 14.
LEFRANCOIS, C
Charles Lefrançois, bapt. March 09, 1626 of Rouen, France. Son of Charles and Suzanne Montigny. Married September 10, 1658 Marie-Madeleine Triot, daughter of Jacques and Catherine Guichart. Land number 38
LEROY, N
Nicolas Leroy, bapt. May 25, 1639, Ste-Thérèse-de-Dieppe, bishopric of Rouen. Son of Louis and Anne Lemaistre. In 1658, he married Jeanne Lelièvre, daughter of Jacques and Antoinette Bougard. Land number 07. See the website of the Roy Family Association of America for more informations.
LETARTE, R
René Letarte, born circa 1626 in St-Pierre de La Poterie, bishopric of Chartres, France. His parents’ names are unknown. He married in France around 1654, Louise Goulet, daughter of Thomas and Marie Chalumet. Land number 23.
MAHEUX, P
Pierre Maheux des Hazards, weaver, native of Perche, France. Baptized December 23, 1630, son of Pierre and Michelle Chauvin. Married Jeanne Drouin on November 10, 1659. Daughter of Robert and Anne Cloutier. Land number 11.
MARETTE, J
Jacques Marette dit Lépine, born around 1631 in Normandy, France. Son of Richard and Jeanne Coty. Married Marie Paget on October 12, 1660. Daughter of Raymond and Magdeleine Bergeron. Land number 06.
MAROIST, G
Guillaume Maroist, born around 1660, originally from Paris, France. Son of Charles and Catherine Livrade. Although Guillaume Maroist’s name is inscribed on the monument, he could not have been present in New France in 1664. He married Catherine Laberge, daughter of Robert and Françoise Gausse. He buys his land from his brother-in-law Nicolas Laberge. Land number 28.
MATHIEU, J
Jean Mathieu, butcher, born around 1640, originally from Angoulême, France. Son of Jean and Isabelle Monnachau. Married November 19, 1669, Louise-Anne Letarte, daughter of Pierre and Louise-Anne Goulet. Land number 34.
PAGEZ, R
Raymond Paget (Pagé, Pagez) dit Quercy, born around 1604. Married around 1641 to Madeleine Bergeronne. He was elected 2nd churchwarden in 1664. A Pagé family association exists under the name Les Familles Pagé d’Amérique. Land number 05.
PERRON, D
Daniel Perron, merchant, bapt. December 26, 1638. Son of François and Jeanne Suire. Married Louise Gargotin on February 26, 1664. Daughter of Jacques and Françoise Bernard. Land number 25.
PETIT, P
Pierre Petit dit Milhomme, passementier, born around 1633 in Picardie, France. Son of Pierre and Antoinette La Froye. He married Marie Godeau on August 06, 1658, daughter of René and Jeanne Hardouin. Land number 37.
QUENTIN, N
Nicolas Quentin dit Lafontaine, born around 1630 in Gonneville near Honfleur, France. Son of Louis and Marie de Moncraux. Married Madeleine Roulois, August 03, 1660, daughter of Michel and Jeanne Maline. Land number 19.
RICHARD, R
This name is listed on the monument as the first settler but this is an error. There are many Richards on the Beaupré coast but they are not among the first settlers of Ange-Gardien. There are several Richard family associations. See the website of the Richard families association of Quebec.
ROUSSIN, N
Nicolas Roussin born circa 1635 in Tourouvre, France. Son of Jean and Magdeleine Giguère. He signed a marriage contract with Magdeleine Paradis on November 28, 1667, daughter of Pierre and Barbe Guion. Land number 31.
TESTU, P
Pierre Testu dit du Tilly, merchant, born around 1634. Son of Antoine and Jeanne Maurice de Panzoult, bishopric of Tours, France. Married Geneviève Rigault on October 11, 1667. Daughter of Jean and Anne Caron. Land number 10.
TOUCHET, T
Thomas Touchet, carpenter, born around 1626, originally from Colomby-sur-Thaon, near Caen, France. Son of Jacques and Marie Poitevin. He married Suzanne Ferrier in France at an unknown date. Land number 14.
TREMBLAY, P
Pierre Tremblay, laborer, born circa 1616 from Randonnai au Perche, France. Son of Philippe and Jeanne Coignet. He married Ozanne Achon on October 02, 1667. Daughter of Jean and Hélène Regnaud. Land number 35. See the website of the Association of the Tremblay of america for more informations.
TRUDELLE, J
Jean Trudel, cloth weaver, born around 1629 in Parfondeval, France. Son of Jean Trudel and Marguerite Noyer. Married Marguerite Thomas, son of Jean and Marguerite Frédry, on November 14, 1655. Land number 12.
VÉZINA, F
François Vésinat, bapt. January 20, 1642 from LaRochelle, France. Son of Jacques Vésinat and Marie Boisdon, he married Jeanne Marié, daughter of Denis and Madeleine Bienvenu, on October 29, 1970. Land number 02.
VÉZINA, J.
Jacques Vésinat, bapt. circa 1610 from La Rochelle, France. He signed a marriage contract on June 10, 1640 with Marie Boisdon. Daughter of Jean and Marie Bardin. Land number 09.