Marie La "Metif" - A case study

Historical account of Marie-Ursule Labauve (aka “Marie La Métif”), great grandchild of Anne Marie Unknown and Rene Rimbault of Port Royal, Nova Scotia.

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Marie-Ursule Labauve (“Marie La Métif”) Burial Record of 1781

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I will provide you with yet another case study involving a historical account of a mixed-blooded woman named Marie Ursule Labauve, whose roots were in mainland Acadia, but died in Kamouraska, Québec.

"I will begin this somewhat complex case study by noting that according to a “Public Archives Canada” record collection of transcriptions of the registers of the parish of Saint-Pierre-du-Nord on île Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) in the first half of the 1700s (the collection is properly entitled, “Registre de St.-Pierre du Nord, 1724-1758, G.G.255 and G256 (M.G. 6, B4, 1)” and is part of the “Public Archives Canada” record collection entitled, “Fonds des Archives départementales d’île-et-Vilaine [Rennes, France],” which can be found on “Public Archives Canada Microfilm C-2970”), “Ursulle La Bove” (Ursule Labauve) was married to “George Le Marchand” (Georges Le Marchand) at the parish of Have Saint-Pierre on île Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) on July 14, 1733. According to this marriage record, Ursule’s parents were “René La Bove” (René Labauve) and “anne Briar” (Anne Lejeune dit Briard), while Georges parents were “Jean Le Marchand” (Jean Le Marchand) and “Mathurine Dumoulain” (Mathurine Dumoulain). The record also tells us that Georges was originally from Bretagne, France and that Ursule was originally from the parish of Saint-Charles-des-Mines in Grand-Pré, Acadia.

"The important information that we can take from the record of the marriage of Georges Le Marchand and Ursule Labauve is that Ursule’s parents were “René La Bove” (René Labauve) and “anne Briar” (Anne Lejeune dit Briard) and that she was originally from the parish of Saint-Charles-des-Mines in Grand-Pré, Acadia.

"Before I continue our journey concerning Usule Labauve’s roots, I will first discuss her burial record, which is a very important record. If we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska in Kamouraska, Québec we find that on April 11, 1781 a woman named “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) was buried there at approximately seventy years of age (born circa 1711). Marie is stated to have been the widow of a man named “antoine le marchand dit George” (Antoine Le Marchand dit George). According to Stephen A. White on page 886 of “Volume II: H-Z” of his 1999 “Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes. Première Partie 1636 à 1714 en Deux Parties,” this “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) was the recently-discussed Ursule Labauve. Marie’s husband, “antoine le marchand dit George” (Antoine Le Marchand dit George) is stated by Mr. White on the same page to have been the previously-discussed Georges Le Marchand.

"So how do we know that “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) was in fact the Ursule Labauve who was the wife of Georges Le Marchand and originally of Acadia? Well, to find the answer to this question we will have to examine a few parish registers concerning some of Ursule and Georges’ children. The first parish record concerning Ursule and Georges’ children is that of the January 19, 1762 marriage of an “antoine Marchand” (Antoine Le Marchand), son of the deceased “George Marchand” (Georges Le Marchand) and of “marie ursule labauve” (Marie-Ursule Labauve) to a “dorothee terrien” (Dorothée Terrien), daughter of “guillaume terrien” (Guillaume Terrien) and of “Marie jahan” (Marie Jahan). Although this record is found in the registers of the parish of Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud in Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Québec, we know that this is indeed the marriage of the previously-discussed Ursule Labauve and Georges Le Marchand from Acadia, as it is stated in the record that Antoine was originally from “lisle St Jean” (Île Saint-Jean/present-day Prince Edward Island). This record is also important because it demonstrates that Ursule’s full name was “Marie-Ursule Labauve” and that the name of “Antoine” was used in this family.

"Another parish record that supports our conclusion that Ursule Labauve was in fact “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) is the August 11, 1743 baptism of a “Marie ursulle lemarchant” (Marie-Ursule Le Marchand), daughter of “George lemarchant” (Georges Le Marchand) and of “Marie ursulle (surname is a blank space in the record)” (Marie-Ursule). This record can be found in the registers of the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska in Kamouraska, Québec and according to it, Marie-Ursule was born on August 11, 1743.

"The primary importance of this record lies in the fact that Ursule Labauve is recorded as “Marie-Ursule,” which provides further evidence to demonstrate that her full name was Marie-Ursule Labauve.

"The second importance of this baptismal record is that it demonstrates that as early as August of 1743, the family of Georges Le Marchand and Ursule Labauve had settled in the region of Kamouraska, Québec and were parishioners of the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska.

"The next parish record of relevance can also be found in the registers of the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska. This record is the November 29, 1745 baptism of a “Marie Angelique lemarchand” (Marie-Angélique Le Marchand), daughter of “george lemarchand” (Georges Le Marchand) and of “Marie usrulle la Bove” (Marie-Ursule Labauve). The record also states that Marie-Angélique was born the previous day (November 28, 1745).

"This record is important because it demonstrates that it was in fact “Marie-Ursule Labauve” who had settled in Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska, as her surname was omitted in the recently-discussed record of the August 11, 1743 baptism of her daughter, Marie-Ursule Labauve.

"Although I could easily discuss a multitude of other records concerning the family of Ursule Labauve and Georges Le Marchand, I have chosen to discuss only one more record. This record can also be found in the registers of the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Kamouraska and is that of the September 05, 1747 baptism of a “Jean Bte lemarchant” (Jean-Baptiste Le Marchand), son of “george lemarchant” (Georges Le Marchand) and of “ursulle la bove” (Ursule Labauve).

"The importance of this record is simply that it provides further evidence to support the conclusion that “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) was in fact Ursule Labauve, wife of Georges Le Marchand.

"Now that we have established that “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”) and Marie-Ursule Labauve were “one-in-the-same,” I will now delve into her First Nations ancestry. 
I will begin this section by stating that both of Marie-Ursule Labauve’s parents were of mixed-blood however, I will begin by tracing her maternal ancestry. As we know from the record of her July 14, 1733 marriage to her husband, Georges Le Marchand, Ursule’s parents were “René La Bove” (René Labauve) and “anne Briar” (Anne Lejeune dit Briard) and that she was originally from the parish of Saint-Charles-des-Mines in Grand-Pré, Acadia. Therefore, we know that René and Anne were also likely natives of Acadia.

"According to Stephen A. White on page 886 of “Volume II: H-Z” of his 1999 “Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes. Première Partie 1636 à 1714 en Deux Parties,” Ursule Labauve’s mother, “Anne Lejeune dit Briard” was the daughter of “Martin Lejeune dit Briard” and of his first wife, who was a First Nations woman named “Jeanne Kagigconiac” (Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac). Mr. White further states that Anne was born circa 1687 and that she married “René dit Renochon Labauve,” son of “Louis-Noël Labauve” and of “Marie Rimbault” circa 1702.

"With this in mind, if we turn to the “1708 census of Acadia,” we find residing in the “Francois” (“French”) settlement at La Hève the family of the thirty year old (born circa 1678) “René La bauve” (René Labauve) and his twenty one year old (born circa 1687) wife, “anne briart” (Anne Lejeune dit Briard). 

"Although there does not appear to be any surviving primary source documentation to support Stephen A. White’s conclusion that this Anne Lejeune dit Briard was the daughter of Martin Lejeune dit Briard and of his first wife, who was a First Nations woman named Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac, we have the fact that Anne and her husband, René Labauve were enumerated two households from that of the forty five year old (born circa 1663) “Martin Briart” (Martin Lejeune dit Briard) and his much younger second wife, “Marie Godet” (Marie Gaudet), who was by that point only twenty eight years of age (born circa 1680). Given that Anne was approximately twenty one years old in 1708 and that Marie was approximately twenty eight years of age then, it is only logical to conclude that Anne was the daughter of Martin’s first wife and was therefore, of maternal First Nations descent.

"Although not definitive proof of the parentage of Anne Lejeune dit Briard, wife of René Labauve, I will point out that if we turn to the 1686 census of Acadia for the region of “Port la haive” (“Port La Hève”) and “Mirliguaiche” (Mirliguesche/present-day Lunenburg, Nova Scotia) we find enumerated among the inhabitants of this region the family of the twenty five year old (born circa 1661) “Martin le Jeune” (Martin Lejeune dit Briard) and his wife (no age provided), “Jeanne” (Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac) who is enumerated as a “Sauvagesse de nation.” One of the two children enumerated as Martin and Marie-Jeanne’s children on this census is an unnamed daughter. Unfortunately, no age is provided for either of these children therefore, we cannot know for certain if this daughter was in fact Anne however, as we have already seen, Anne was born circa 1687. The fact that Anne was born circa 1687 and that this daughter of Marie-Jeanne and Martin was still unnamed as of the 1686 enumeration, suggests that this unnamed daughter could very likely be Anne and had recently been born when the 1686 census was enumerated.

​"I will also point out that a brief note can be found next to the enumeration of this unnamed daughter of Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac and Martin Lejeune dit Briard on Acadian Genealogist and Historian, Placide Gaudet’s transcription of the 1686 census of Acadia that he made for the “Public Archives Canada” (see “Public Archives Canada Microfilm C-2572”). According to this note, which was signed by “P.G.” (Placide Gaudet), this unnamed daughter was “Anne, née en 1686; elle devint la femme de René La Bauve” (“Anne, born in 1686; she became the wife of René La Bauve”). Therefore, I believe it is appropriate to conclude that this unnamed daughter was likely Anne Lejeune dit Briard, mother of Marie-Ursule Labauve/“marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”).

"I will not delve any further into Anne Lejeune dit Briard’s First Nations ancestry, as it is already discussed elsewhere in this report and the possible First Nations ancestry of the “Lejeune dit Briard” family through Anne’s father, Martin Lejeune dit Briard has become a topic of great dispute in recent years.

"Now that we have examined Marie-Ursule Labauve’s maternal First Nations ancestry, we will now discuss her paternal First Nations ancestry. As previously-stated, Stephen A. White concludes on page 886 of “Volume II: H-Z” of his 1999 “Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes. Première Partie 1636 à 1714 en Deux Parties” that Marie-Ursule’s father, “René dit Renochon Labauve” was the son of “Louis-Noël Labauve” and of “Marie Rimbault.” If we turn to the 1686 census of Acadia for the region of the “Baye de Mines,” we find enumerated as inhabitants of this region the family of the twenty seven year old (born circa 1659) “Noel de la Bove” (Noël Labauve) and the twenty two year old (born circa 1664) “Marie Rimbault.” Enumerated as one of the four children residing in this household is the seven year old (born circa 1679) “René."

"If we turn to the 1693 census of Acadia we find residing in the region of “des Mines,” the family of the thirty two year old (born circa 1661) “Louis La Bauve” (Louis Labauve) and the thirty year old (born circa 1663) “Marie Rimbauld” (Marie Rimbault). Enumerated among their children is their twelve year old (born circa 1681) son, “René."

"If we combine the information found in both of these census entries, we can conclude that this René Labauve’s parents were Louis-Noël Labauve and Marie Rimbault and that he was born approximately between 1679 and 1681. If we take this approximate birth year of 1679 to 1681 and compare it with that of the “René La bauve” (René Labauve) and his wife, “anne briart” (Anne Lejeune dit Briard) enumerated as inhabitants of the “Francois” (“French”) settlement at La Hève in 1708, who we know to have been Marie-Ursule Labauve’s father, we find that they are in perfect agreement, as Marie-Ursule’s father, René was born circa 1678 according to the “1708 census of Acadia."

"Therefore, we can conclude that Marie-Ursule Labauve’s father, René Labauve’s parents were in fact Louis-Noël Labauve and Marie Rimbault and that he was born between 1678 and 1681.

"Now that we have established the parentage of “René dit Renochon Labauve,” we can continue to trace his First Nations ancestry. There is no First Nations ancestry through René’s father, Louis-Noël Labauve, so by process of elimination it has to come from his maternal ancestry, which is in this case through his mother, Marie Rimbault.

"According to page 884 of “Volume II: H-Z” of Stephen A. White’s 1999 “Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes. Première Partie 1636 à 1714 en Deux Parties,” René’s mother, “Marie Rimbault” was the daughter of “René Rimbault” and of “Anne-Marie (unknown surname).

"Stephen A. White also states on page 884 that Marie Rimbault and Louis-Noël Labauve married circa 1678 and that Marie was born circa 1661.

"If we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint-Charles de la Grand-Prée in Grand-Pré, Acadia, we find that on April 25, 1745 the approximately eighty three year old (born circa 1662) year old “Marie Rimbaut” (Marie Rimbault), widow of “Noël Labauve” (Louis-Noël Labauve) died.

"Based on the recently-discussed records concerning Marie Rimbault, the wife of Louis-Noël Labauve, was born approximately between 1662 and 1664. If we turn to the 1671 census of Acadia for the region of Port Royal, we find included among the children of the fifty five year old (born circa 1616) “René Rimbault” and the forty year old (born circa 1631) “Anne Marie” (Anne-Marie (unknown surname)), their ten year old (born circa 1661) daughter, “Marie.”

"Given that the approximate year of birth (1662 to 1664) for the previously-discussed “Marie Rimbault,” wife of Louis-Noël Labauve matches the approximate year of birth of circa 1661 given for “Marie,” the daughter of René Rimbault and Anne-Marie (unknown surname), I believe it appropriate to conclude that Marie was in fact the daughter of René and of Anne-Marie.

"So where did the First Nations ancestry of Marie Rimbault originate? Without discussing this answer in further detail, as I have already discussed her parents, René Rimbault and Anne-Marie (unknown surname) multiple times throughout this report, the answer to this question is simply that Marie’s First Nations ancestry comes from her mother, Anne-Marie. As you hopefully recall, mtDNA testing for Anne-Marie’s direct female descendants has consistently produced an mtDNA haplogroup of “A2f1a” for her, which is “Native American” in origin.

​"Now that we have fully examined Marie-Ursule Labove’s First Nations ancestry, I will now emphasize that nowhere in any of the records that I have discussed in relation to her and her family is she recorded as being of any degree of First Nations ancestry aside from in her April 11, 1781 burial record in which as you hopefully remember, she was referred to as “marie la métif” (“Marie the Métis woman”).

"Therefore, the historical account of Marie-Ursule Labove demonstrates how a person was recorded in the historical record of Acadia and New France/Québec depended on who did the recording. Simple as that.

"TREES:

"Some Mixed-Blooded Children of Marie-Ursule Labauve (“Marie La Métif”) and Georges (dit Antoine) Le Marchand to Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac (“Sauvagesse”):

1. A. Marie-Ursule Le Marchand
B. Jean-Baptiste Le Marchand
C. Antoine Le Marchand and Dorothée Terrien
D. Marie-Angélique Le Marchand
Children of 
2. Georges (dit Antoine) Le Marchand and Marie-Ursule Labauve (“Marie La Métif”)
Daughter of
3. René (dit Renochon) Labauve and Anne Lejeune dit Briard
Daughter of
4. Martin Lejeune dit Briard and Marie-Jeanne Kagigoniac (“Sauvagesse”)

"Some Mixed-Blooded Children of Marie-Ursule Labauve (“Marie La Métif”) and Georges (dit Antoine) Le Marchand to Anne-Marie (Unknown Surname) (mtDNA Haplogroup “A2f1a” (“Native American”)):

1. A. Marie-Ursule Le Marchand
B. Jean-Baptiste Le Marchand
C. Antoine Le Marchand and Dorothée Terrien
D. Marie-Angélique Le Marchand
Children of 
2. Georges (dit Antoine) Le Marchand and Marie-Ursule Labauve (“Marie La Métif”)
Daughter of
3. René (dit Renochon) Labauve and Anne Lejeune dit Briard
Son of
4. Louis-Noël Labauve and Marie Rimbault
Daughter of
5. René Rimbault and Anne-Marie (Unknown Surname) (mtDNA Haplogroup “A2f1a” (“Native American”))"