Born at Varennes

Collection Sanctuaire

Christophe Dufrost de la Jemmerais, a French soldier who was born in Médréac in Brittany, came to New France in 1687, as a member of the Marine Guards. He distinguished himself in the assignments given him and rose quickly through the military hierarchy.

Having achieved the rank of lieutenant, he married Marie-Renée, the daughter of René Gaultier, Seigneur of Varennes and Governor of Trois Rivières, on 18 January 1701 in Varennes. According to the marriage contract, the bride brought as her dowry a small plot of land adjoining the little chapel of Varennes. There, that same year, was born their first child, Marie- Marguerite, as is recorded in the baptismal register of the parish of Saint Anne of Varennes :

"On the sixteenth day of the month of October of the year one thousand seven hundred and one, Father Guillaume Bulteau, delegated to this task, baptized Marie-Marguerite, born the previous day, the daughter of Christophe Dufros, Esquire, Sieur de la Jemmerais, Lieutenant in the Guards, and of Lady Renée Gaultier de Varennes, his wife. The godfather was Jacques René Gaultier de Varennes and the godmother Marie Marguerite Gaultier de Varennes, whose signatures are appended."