History in New France (Canada)
Parish of St-Francois-Xavier, Batiscan, Quebec
Francois Bibaud was one of the founding colonists of Batiscan. Over a 32 year period, from 1666 to 1698, he lived and/or had land concessions in or near Batiscan. Additionally, four of his children by his second wife, Louis Esnard, were baptized between 1691 and 1698 in the Parish of St-Francois-Xavier in Batiscan.
Following is a summary of the history of
the parish of Batiscan at the time in which Francois lived in Batiscan.
Sources:
- Batiscan S’Erige – Premices Paroissiales 1670-1708, by Jean-Paul Foley, 1981.
- Histoire de la
Paroisse Saint-Francois-Xavier de Batiscan
1684-1984, 2005.
1636: The Compagnie
de la Nouvelle France ceded to Monsieur de La Ferte,
abbot of Saint-Marie-Madeleine de Chateaudun, a vaste “fief seigneurie” ten lieues wide (bordering the Saint Lawrence River) and 20 lieues in depth.
1639: The seigneurie of Monsieur de La Ferte
ceded the Jesuites land located between the River
Batiscan to the River Champlain, which they did not initially take possession. Between 1639 and 1662, the Jesuites
would stop at the Ile St-Eloy
near Batiscan where they met with local Indian tribes (i.e., Iroquoises, Algonquines, etc.) in
their efforts to evangelize them. The Jesuites did
not take possession of their land concession immediately and continued to
operate out of Trois-Rivieres until 1662.
1662: The Jesuites took formal possession of their land concession at
Batiscan.
1666: The Jesuites (represented by Father Fremin)
granted the first land concessions (approximately 30) to new colonists, as
noted in contracts signed at the Notary Jacques de LaTousche. Francois Bibaut, our ancestor, received his land concession on 6
April 1666, as noted in the Histoire de la Paroisse
Saint-Francois-Xavier. As such he is one
of the founding colonists of the city of Batiscan.
As a land holder
Francois had obligations to his land owner, the seigneur. Each year he had to pay rent and tax, and he had
to leave a pathway of 30 feet near the river and provide access to it for the seigneur. He was not
allowed to cut any more wood than was necessary for his own personal
needs. He had to begin clearing the land
and to live there within the first year. He could hunt and fish, and was required
to have his grain milled at the seigneurie’s mill,
and to give part of it (14th minot)
to the mill. He must also work three
days a year for the seigneur and to help the seigneur during May planting time. (Note:
this seigneurial system was mostly abolished in 1854
and completely ended in 1940.)
1668-1677: During this period there were considerable
land disbutes between the colonists and the seigneurie. Many
colonists found out that the land they were living on and working did not coorespond to the land that was conceded to them in 1666,
and that some lands were in fact duplicated.
In 1669, a survey was done and a new contract drawn up between the seigneurie and the colonists. In an effort to define two equal areas, two seigneuries were identified: the Seigneurie of
Batiscan and the Seigneurie of St-Eloy. Francois Bibaux is mentioned as a concessioner
in the contract for the Seigneurie of St-Eloy, his land being situated between two other colonists Francois
Duclos and Jean Trottier. All colonists signed the contract saying they
agreed to the new terms. Unfortunately,
this contract was no more accurate than the first. It wasn’t until 1677 that the first land
concession contracts of 1666 were annulled, a new survey performed, and another
new contract signed between the Jesuites land owners
and the colonists.
Before 1670: Religious services were held in private homes.
1670-1674: The first church (1674-1700)
was constructed; a small simple chapel dedicated to Saint-Francois-Xavier. It was 45 feet long and 22 feed wide, made of
wood, and covered with a thatched roof.
On the interior there were places for benches, a sacristy, and an area
for storing grain given for such things as candles and rent for benches. A
clock was present before 1695. There was
no presbytere (priest house) at this time. This
church was located near the Ile Saint-Eloy, about 325 feet in the direction of the river from the
modern day “Vieux Presbytere”. At this time, there were 51 families,
consisting of a total of 273 people.
Following is a
rendition of the first church, based on descriptions in the church register and
on other similar churches in the area:
Source: Batiscan S’Erige – Premices Paroissiales
1670-1708, by Jean-Paul Foley, 1981, page 17.
1684: The parish of Batiscan was founded.
1691-1698: Francois Bibaud and
his wife, Louis Esnard, had four children, all
baptized in the first church of Batiscan between 1691 and 1698. After 1698 Francois appears to have moved to
Cap-de-la-Madeleine and then, by 1702, to St. Francois-du-Lac.
1696: The first presbytere (1696-1816) (priest’s house) was
built. It would serve as such for 120
years, until 1816. It was about 35 feet
wide and 27 feet in depth, and was made of stone. At this time there were about 350 people in
the parish. This presbytere
was raised in 1816 and the second presbytere (now
known as the “Vieux Presbytere”)
was built on its foundations.
Following is a
rendition of the first presbytere, based on
descriptions in the church register:
Source : Batiscan S’Erige – Premices
Paroissiales 1670-1708, by Jean-Paul Foley, 1981,
page 40.
1697-1702: The second church
(1700-1867) was built in stone about 20-30 metres from the current “Vieux Presbytere”. It was about 20 feet long by 65 feet wide,
ending with a semi-circular abse, and included a sacristry. The
interior was whitewashed near the nef as a form of
protection against the elements. It
would serve as the church for 167 years, at which point the third and current
church and presbytere were built.
Following is a
rendition of the second church, based on descriptions in the church register
and on other similar churches in the area:
Source: Histoire de la Paroisse Saint-Francois-Xavier
de Batiscan 1684-1984, 2005, page 43.
1816: The second presbytere (1816-1866; the current “Vieux
Presbytere”) was built on the foundations
of the previous, and was then enlarged.
This is the “Vieux Presbytere”
that we know today and which is open to visitors as a museum.
Sources :
- Sketch: Histoire de la Paroisse Saint-Francois-Xavier
de Batiscan 1684-1984, 2005, page 63.
For further
information about the “Vieux Presbytere”,
see www.mediat-muse.qc.ca/web_batiscan.html
1864-1866: The third church
and presbytere (1866-present day) were contructed, both on new locations in the city of Batiscan. The prior buildings were too small for the
population and needed repairs, so new buildings were constructed. There was some disagreement on whether to
construct the new buildings in the same location as the old, but the final
decision was to move them closer to the city.
Unfortunately, the location proved not to be the best as many repairs
have been needed throughout its history and up until the current day. Click here for photos
of the third and current church of Saint-Francois-Xavier, Batiscan.
1875: After 1867 the second church, no longer in
use, was sold and used as a matchstick manufacture. In 1875 it burned down.
1962: The second presbytere,
now known as the “Vieux Presbytere”
was purchased by the Government of Quebec, renovated and opened to the public
as a museum.