Leclerc dit Jolicoeur
We are late in publishing the biography of this ancestor, as we had not yet recruited a member descending from this line. We have the pleasure to announce that Pierre-Alfred Leclerc, a White Father, and a missionary for 35 years in Africa, has joined the Association as member # 470. We welcome this noble descendant of François Leclerc dit Jolicoeur and Marie-Françoise Trudel.
The history and genealogical books do not provide much information on this ancestor. According to family oral history, he arrived as a soldier. His surname of Jolicoeur (good heart) seems to indicate his nature, and also that he became a tailor on the disbanding of the army, like many other soldiers. After the defeat of the French, he established his own farm and fell in love with the daughter of René Trudel, and got her pregnant. Her married her and was firmly attached to the this country.
The marriage of François Leclert, son of Sébastien Leclert and Barbe Chartré, was performed on October 5, 1760 at the church in Neuville (Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec), after having signed their marriage contract at the home of Notary Jean-Baptiste Guard. He was from the parish of Saint-étienne, diocese of Metz, Lorraine, department of Moselle, in the ancient province Germany. According to his death certificate, we presume that he was about 49 years of age. He married Marie-Françoise Trudel, born on August 28, 1732, and baptised the following day. She was the daughter of René Trudel, a farmer from Neuville, and of Marie-Anne Léonard-Durbois. She was 28 years of age at her wedding. As witnesses of the marriage, Pierre Loriot, priest, and Joseph Grenier, junior, a farmer in the region, stood for François; her brothers, René and Joseph stood for the bride.
Their daughter, Marie-Françoise Leclert, was born on November 4, 1760 and baptized the same day at the church in Neuville. She married a farmer, Joseph Fontaine, son of François and Marie-Louise Plante from Beloeil, on February 16, 1789, at the parish of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu. Marie-Françoise died on June 17, 1814, at the age of 54 and was buried the next day. She added one descendant to the Fontaine patromony.
François Leclert was born to François and Marie-Françoise Trudelle on September 5, 1762. He was baptized the same day at the church in Neuville. At the age of 30, he wed Marie-Charlotte Vient, daughter of Charles and Marie-Thérèse Maillot, at the church in Pointe-Olivier (Saint-Mathias). They settled at Pointe-Olivier and in the regions of Chambly and Marieville. Four of their sons gave them a Leclerc descendancy. Charlotte Vient passed away on September 4, 1824, and he on May 5, 1848, and both are interred at Marieville.
Nicolas Leclerc, son of François Leclerc-Jolicoeur and Marie-Françoise Trudelle was born on October 23, 1764 at Neuville. He was baptized on the same day at the same parish. At the age of 26, on October 4, 1790, he wed Hélène Bourc, daughter of Claude and Marie Guillebaut. The settled in the parish of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, with three of their sons perpetuating the Leclerc name. Nicolas died on March 22, 1842 at Saint-Denis-Sur-Richelieu at 77 years of age.
In the afternoon of November 9, 1766, Marie-Angéique Leclair was born. She was baptized the same day at Saint-Antoine de Richelieu. On February 11, 1792, at the age of 26 years, she wed at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Antoine Royer, a labourer and the son of Joseph and Geneviève Therrien from Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu. They settled at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu and then in Saint-Hyacinthe. They began the line of descendants carrying the Royer name.
Marie-Françoise Trudelle, aged 67 years, the wife of François Lecleire, farmer, died on February 26, 1800 at their home at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu. Their son, Nicolas, was a witness at her burial the next day at the local cemetery. François Leclair, labourer from Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, and husband of Marie-Françoise Trudelle, died on December 8, 1809, at the age of 85 years, and was buried two days later in the parish cemetery.
You can contact Pierre-Alfred at 514-331-3520, or by e-mail at Pierre-Alfred Leclerc or this author for more information.
Writer Gilles P. Leclaire