We drove north to Trois Rivieres located on the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is halfway between Montreal and Quebec. After a visit to the local tourist office, we found hotel and restaurant recommendations in the old part of town.
After settling into our hotel, we took a walk down to the river.There in a park near the Saint Lawrence River was what I was looking for - a monument to the pioneers of the city. On one side of the monument are listed the original builders of this community. Carved in stone is the name Pierre Guillet, one of our eighth great grandfathers (1626-1695). Pierre Guillet dit Lajeunesse was
originally from the Charentes-Maritime region of France. He arrived in the New France in 1640s accompanied by his brother Mathurin. They married sisters. Pierre married Jeanne Saint-Pere and Mathurin married Catherine Saint-Pere. Mathurin died in an Iroquois ambush a short time later.
Find more about Pierre Guillet at http://www.apointinhistory.net/guillet.php
We also toured the home of Pierre Boucher, a distant uncle and founder of the town of Boucherville in Quebec, about 85 miles south of Trois Rivieres. He was also an early founder here with his father Gaspard Boucher (our 10th great grandfather).
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| Old Boucher House |
We enjoyed this charming town although it rained most of our visit. Next stop Quebec.
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| Typical Home in Trois Rivieres |
Manoir Boucher-de Niverville - was built in 1668 by Jacques LeNeuf de la Potherie, a merchant from Normandy who was four times Governor of Trois-Rivières. In 1729 it was acquired by François Chastelainan officer of the French Marines who left it to his daughter and son-in-law, Joseph-Claude Boucher de Niverville. Later it passed through the hands of a number of owners. It was miraculously saved during the Great Fire but subsequently was abandoned and fell into decay until, in 1940, it was acquired by the municipality of Trois- Rivières.
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