Petitclerc dit Leclerc
The first record of ancestor Pierre Petitclerc in New France is when he rented a property on March 16, 1672 at Côte-Saint-Ignace in Sillery, owned by Jean Talon, the renowned New France steward.
On September 11, 1673 at Notre-Dame Church in Québec, Pierre Petitclerc, then 35 years of age and born in Pleumartin in Poitiers, Poitou, France wed Françoise Paris, about 27 years of age and originally from Sens, Champagne. Françoise was a "Filles de Roi", also called "Filles de Marier". One must remember that starting in 1663, the French Royalty authorities became involved in increasing the population of the colony, and organized the recruitment of qualified women, not "loose" women as some have proclaimed. Jean Talon wanted physically strong, intelligent and pretty women. They came, for the most part, from orphanages and the needy. The cost of the voyage across the ocean, their clothing and domestic articles, plus a dowry of fifty livres was assumed by the King. Upon their arrival, they had 30 days to choose a partner among the available colonials. Françoise chose Pierre, for better or for worse.
Pierre renewed his lease a few times, and then purchased his first piece of land in 1688. In 1697, the Jesuits conceded him a property of four arpents frontage on Côte-Saint-Ignace in Sillery.
Eleven children would fill the homestead. François, one of the sons, adopted the name Leclerc, as noted on his marriage contract of August 12, 1720 at Longueuil. Some descendants of Jean and of Charles, his two other sons, would later assume the surname Leclair. Charles became a Captain in the Militia in Saint-Augustin-des-Desmaures. Hilaire and Jean-Baptiste, Pierre's other sons, entered the service of "Compagnie-du-Nord". They died while working out of Fort Bourdon in the Hudson Bay area, still bachelors. Jeanne, one of Pierre and Françoise's daughters married Gabriel Houde, and some of their descendants adopted the surname Clair, which later became Leclerc/air/aire. The Houde dit Leclerc branch remains another story to be told.
We must emphasize that the baptism records of five of the children of Pierre and Françoise have not been found. Some say that they were born on a trip to Acadia, yet others say it was a trip to the West. Who knows?
To the Petitclerc dit Leclerc/air/aire, greetings! Jack Leclair (#200) a descendant of this family and an amateur genealogist can be reached at 514-630-0392 or by e-mail at Jack Leclair.
Writer Gilles P. Leclaire