HEBERT, Louis Gaston
1575 - 1627 (51 years)
Set As Default Person 
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Name HEBERT, Louis Gaston Birth 14 Oct 1575 Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, Paris, Île-de-France, France 
Gender Male Differentiator First settler of Quebec; first farmers there Web Address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_H%C3%A9bert Occupation Apothecary and farmer Death 23 Jan 1627 Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Person ID I13195 My Genealogy Last Modified 4 Feb 2024
Family ROLLET, Marie, b. 1580, Paris, Île-de-France, France d. 16 May 1649, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada (Age 69 years) Marriage Abt Jun 1602 Paris, Île-de-France, France Children + 1. HÉBERT, Guillaume, b. 31 Oct 1604, Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France d. 23 Sep 1639, Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Montmagny, Quebec, Canada (Age 34 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]Family ID F9451 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 4 Feb 2024
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Event Map 
Birth - 14 Oct 1575 - Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, Paris, Île-de-France, France 
Marriage - Abt Jun 1602 - Paris, Île-de-France, France 
Death - 23 Jan 1627 - Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada = Link to Google Earth
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Albums Founding Families of New France (0)
New France, or Nouvelle-France in French, was an extensive area in North America colonized by France. It began with Jacques Cartier's exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1534 and ended in 1763 when it was ceded to Great Britain and Spain under the Treaty of Paris. The territory stretched from Newfoundland to the Rocky Mountains and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, including the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley.
The most developed part of New France was Canada, divided into Québec, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal districts. The French colonization was driven by trade (notably fur), religious missions, and the ambition to expand France's influence. The French Crown significantly shaped New France's development, particularly in 1663 when King Louis XIV integrated it into the royal domain and established the French West India Company.
New France operated under the seigneurial system, where settlers farmed land granted by a seigneur and paid dues. Despite its vast territory, New France's population was sparse compared to English colonies, partly due to limited economic reasons for French peasants to emigrate and the French Crown's focus on other colonies.
Culturally, New France was predominantly French-speaking and Catholic, maintaining its civil code and religious practices even after British conquest. This heritage strongly influenced the culture of Quebec, blending European traditions with North American elements and emphasizing the preservation of the French language and identity.
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Notes - Louis Hébert, born around 1575 in Paris, France, is recognized as the first European apothecary and farmer in what later became Canada. He was the son of Nicolas Hébert and Jacqueline Pajot. In 1601, he married Marie Rollet, following his father's wishes, despite his love for another woman.
Hébert's journey to the New World began in 1606 when he joined an expedition to Acadia, led by his cousin-in-law Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt and Samuel de Champlain. He lived in Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia) from 1606 to 1607 and again from 1611 to 1613. During his time there, he engaged in horticulture and was noted for his skill in cultivating the land. He returned to France in 1607 after the expedition's trade concession expired.
In 1617, Hébert, along with his wife and their three children, Guillaume, Guillaumette, and Anne, left Paris to settle in Quebec City. He was offered a contract by the Compagnie du Canada, which included practicing medicine, establishing farming, and a grant of land. However, upon arrival, he was forced to accept a revised contract with reduced benefits.
Despite these challenges, Hébert became a significant figure in early Canadian history. He was the first private individual to receive a land grant in the New World from the French government. In Quebec, he selected a ten-acre site for his farm, where he faced opposition from the fur trading company due to his deforestation for farming. Nonetheless, he successfully cultivated various crops and raised livestock, contributing significantly to the colony's food supply.
Hébert's contributions extended beyond agriculture. He was appointed Procurator to the King, allowing him to intervene in matters on behalf of the King. In 1623, he became the first "Seigneur" of New France with the grant of "Sault-au-Matelot", and in 1626, he received another grant for "le fief de la rivière St-Charles".
Tragically, Hébert's life ended on January 25, 1627, due to injuries from a fall on ice. He was respected by both Native Americans and French settlers and was the first to be laid to rest in the new vault of the Recollets. His legacy continued through his descendants, who became prominent in various fields in Canada.
Louis Hébert and Marie Rollet's family played a significant role in the early history of Quebec and Canada. Their descendants, numbering in the thousands, are spread across Canada and the United States, contributing to the rich tapestry of North American history.
- Louis Hébert, born around 1575 in Paris, France, is recognized as the first European apothecary and farmer in what later became Canada. He was the son of Nicolas Hébert and Jacqueline Pajot. In 1601, he married Marie Rollet, following his father's wishes, despite his love for another woman.