Jean Guay in Canada

Jean Guay was born in 1626, in Breneuil, today Berneuil, small locality located at 13 kilometers of Holy, capital of the old province of Saintonge. Berneuil is today a commune of some 1000 inhabitants, which belongs to the department of Charente-Lower. It is located in hills at 5 kilometers of Seugne, limpid river of the department of Charente-Lower.

The Department of Charente-Lower is divided into six districts; La Rochelle, Jonzac, Marenne oysters, Rochefort, Holy and Midsummer's Day d' Angely. Berneuil, place native of Jean Guay is included/understood in the district of Holy. This last district is divided into eight cantons. Berneuil belongs to the canton of Gémozac. The church of Berneuil, placed under the patronage of Notre-Dame is very old. And it is there even as was baptized Jean Guay.

Jean was the son of Jean Gué or Guyet or Guiet and of Marie Dumont. We will see later how its patronym was changed Ford or Guyet with Guay.

The history does not inform us about what were these people. Were they peasants? That is completely possible. However, one can affirm that Jean was a carpenter, because it is in this quality that it emigrated in Canada, under the cupola of the Jesuits. But why did it emigrate in News-France?

However we know that at that time, France was with the catches with serious financial difficulties. New taxes were raised, which made the life very difficult for the citizens.

In XVIe century, France had to face several wars, including 8 wars of religion between 1562 and 1593. In fact, this period saw about continual state of war, only stopped by short truces which one decorated with the name of peace. Those were less given by the lassitude of the combatants only by the lack of money. Also, during this period, there was fight between two great rival families for the crown of France, the Own ways and the Bourbon. Thus the Wars of religion became political wars.

These civil fights, joined foreign crowns: Philippe II of Spain supported the Own ways while Élisabeth of England and the German princes supported the huguenots. One saw even English troops in Le Havre, a Spanish garrison in Paris, and even a small pontifical army in Poitou. These wars were atrocious and the campaigns were awfully maltreated. “There is not a ground corner which is not devastated” wrote a contemporary.

In 1593, Philippe II king d' Espagne, hoping to join together France with his kingdom proposed in “guard of the state of religion of the kingdom of France”. Smelling this play well, one convened the States Généraux in January 1593. Philippe II presented the candidature of the Spanish infante for the throne of France. Between the foreign domination and a French prince such as Henri IV, the deputies could not hesitate.

Following the conversion of Henri IV king de France, a precarious peace settled in France. To attract the good graces of the Vatican, he recalled in France the Jesuits who had been expelled by it following an attack and even the College of the Arrow entrusted to them.

After having pacified his kingdom, Henri IV had to note that the economy of the country was in ruin. Finances were in sorry state and the king was without money and credit. There was neither trade nor industry in the cities and the villages were depopulated, the peasants revolted. One had to await ten years to re-examine prosperity in France.

Outside, the French trade was raised. In Canada, one took again colonization. Champlain founded Quebec in 1608 and went up the St. Lawrence to the Large-Lakes.

During this time, Henri IV supported the Protestant princes against the emperor of Germany, Rodolphe II. Henri IV was assassinated on May 14, 1610 before the war against Germany was not declared. Louis XIII, his elder son succeeded to him at the 9 years age.

Under the reigns of Louis XIII (1610-1643) and Louis XIV (1643-1715) one lives to reappear the disorders which degenerated into civil wars. One then saw the usual elements of disorders: large lords enthusiast of independence, Huguenots with separatist tendencies, Parliament and cities hostile with the absolute capacity.

In France, about 1614, the Protestant army was evaluated with 40,000 gentlemen for which it was necessary to add 30,000 troops. The war burst concerning Béarn. Louis XIII required the execution of the Edict of Nantes in this country where Huguenots, which was strongest, had hitherto refused with the catholics the restitution of the goods of Church and the parity of the worship. Facing the order of the king, the Parliament of Reformed, held in LaRochelle, the South raised, that is to say the country of Jean Guay.

In 1622, the king granted to Réformés (Protestant) the Peace of Montpellier, which confirmed the Edict of Nantes. In 1624, the king associated the Richelieu cardinal. In 1627, the war burst between the king and his subjects calvinists at the instigation of England. This one, dissatisfied with the policy of Louis XIII in Italy, seizes on sea of the French vessels and sent with the La Rochelle a fleet ordered by the duke of Buckingham. Richelieu undertook itself the seat of the La Rochelle. At the end of one year of seat, the famine became horrible in La Rochelle, the depopulated city went to king de France, on November 1, 1628. The war against the Protestants was continued in the Cevennes until 1629, on June 28, whereas the king granted to Réformés the Peace of Grace.

Followed intrigues against Richelieu, as well as other conflicts. The king Louis XIII died on May 14, 1643 at the 42 years age. During this time the disorder existed in the finance public. Thus the taxes were increased, which encouraged with several revolts.

Such was the situation in the country at the time where Jean Guay made the decision to emigrate in Canada. One can certainly think that for him, in front of the misery which reigned, the taxes, the danger to be forced to join the row of the combatants of these interminable wars, the decision to try the Canadian adventure was not difficult to take. Were there other reasons which would have pushed a 20 year old guy to leave its country?

Of the old men of his country, without working out, will imply that, perhaps it of these young people was whom one called revolted.

Thus under the auspices of the Jesuits, it embarked with the La Rochelle on “the Cardinal” on July 18, 1646. This nave had as Master Sr. De Repentigny. Mr. De Repentigny accosted his boat in Quebec on September 23, 2 months and 5 days after his departure of France, reasonable duration for this crossing. However certain C. of Rochemontoix is right perhaps to write that the Sr. De Repentigny left La Rochelle on June 13. Indeed, with the registers of N.D. Quebec, on September 27, 1646, took place the baptism of J.B. Trottier “born at sea since 2 months on a sailing ship coming from Gaule”… Its godfather is the young person wire of the admiral of the fleet and the director of the Community of the Inhabitants, J.B. Legardeur and his Marguerite sister. The duration of the crossing would have thus been of 3 months and half, which implies that it would have been very difficult and long.

Indeed, if the duration of the voyage of Champlain in 1610 had been nineteen days, on the other hand, other voyages last more than three months. The road of the return in France is easier and more calms, being given the permanence of the winds of west.

At the end of September 1646, the R.P., Lalemant, in Quebec, wrote in its newspaper, the outstanding facts of the month and the year: “those thus which arrived this year, in addition to the P. Quentin were the P. Daran, the P. Gabr. Lalemant…” for the Huron ones, Desforges, Pierre Tormented, masson, Jean Guiet, carpenter, france Gouaut, Apotq. And Sr says it. De Laubiniere… “

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