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BANNE, Marie Gillette

BANNE, Marie Gillette

Female 1632 - 1672  (40 years)

 Set As Default Person    

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  • Name BANNE, Marie Gillette  [1] 
    Birth 1632  Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Differentiator Before the King's Daughters; Fille a Marier, Michelle's side, hanged for murder 
    Fille a Marier In 1649 Gillette married Marin Chauvin dit Lafortune in Trois-Rivieres. They had one daughter before Marin died. Gillette remarried Jacques Bertault in 1653. 
    Immigration 1649  Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Religion Catholic 
    Death 9 Jun 1672  Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • hanged for murder of her son-in-law
    Person ID I18064  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

    Father Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F13352  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 BERTAULT, Jacques,   b. 9 Jun 1626, Essars, Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Jun 1672, Cap Diamant, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 46 years) 
    Marriage 27 Jul 1653  Trois-Rivieres, Les Chenaux, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. BERTAULT, Suzanne,   b. 18 Dec 1657, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 May 1739, Varennes, Lajemmerais, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. BERTAULT, Élisabeth-Isabelle,   b. 22 Jan 1659, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Mar 1736, Repentigny, L'Assomption, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. BERTAULT, Jeanne,   b. 26 Mar 1660, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Dec 1698, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 38 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. BERTAULT, Jacques,   b. 25 Nov 1654, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1666, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 11 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. BERTAULT, Nicolas,   b. 26 Feb 1662, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1672, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 9 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    +6. BERTAULT, Marguerite,   b. 21 Dec 1655, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Nov 1687, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 31 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F13084  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

    Family 2 DIT LAFORTUNE, Marin Chauvin   d. 7 Jun 1651 
    Marriage 1649 
    Children 
     1. DIT LAFORTUNE, Marie Chauvin,   b. 8 Sep 1650, Trois-Rivieres, Les Chenaux, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F13353  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1632 - Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1649 - Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 27 Jul 1653 - Trois-Rivieres, Les Chenaux, Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Jun 1672 - Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Used to indicate a murder
    Murder

    Documents
    Bonne-Gillette-Murderer-Trial-Execution-1672    		Bonne-Gillette-Murderer-Trial-Execution-1672

    Albums
    Before the King’s Daughters: Filles a Marier (1634-1662)    		Before the King’s Daughters: Filles a Marier (1634-1662) (5)
    The Filles à Marier were courageous and pioneering women who shaped the early days of New France. Between 1634 and 1663, these "marriageable girls" embarked on a journey from France to the untamed wilderness of what is now Canada, driven by a desire for autonomy and a better life.

    Unlike their successors, the Filles du Roi, the Filles à Marier were not sponsored by the state and did not receive a dowry from the King. Their decision to migrate was a bold one, motivated by the prospect of greater freedom and the unprecedented opportunity to choose their own husbands – a stark contrast to the rigid norms of arranged marriages back in France.

    Their impact on the colonization of New France was profound. Of all the single women who arrived in New France through 1673, a quarter were Filles à Marier. These 262 women, often recruited and chaperoned by religious groups, played a pivotal role in the early population growth of the colony.

    Life in New France was far from easy. These resilient women faced the perilous ocean crossing, the constant threat of conflict with the Iroquois, the rigors of subsistence farming, brutal winters, and the ever-present danger of disease. Yet, they persevered. Most were married and began families within a year of their arrival, laying the foundations of a new society in a harsh but promising land.

    To be recognized as a Fille à Marier, a woman had to arrive in New France before September 1663, be of marriageable age (12 through 45), and either marry or sign a marriage contract in the colony, without being accompanied by both parents or a husband.

    In our family history, the legacy of the Filles à Marier is deeply ingrained. My husband and I are descended from at least 49 of these remarkable women, and our research continues to uncover more connections. Each of them not only survived but thrived in the face of adversity, contributing to our rich ancestral tapestry.

    This section is dedicated to their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. As we explore the lives of these extraordinary women, we pay homage to their spirit and the indelible mark they left on our family and the history of New France.
    Murderous & Murdered Ancestors    		Murderous & Murdered Ancestors (5)
    Uncovering the stories of our ancestors sometimes reveals a tapestry of diverse and sometimes startling narratives. Among these, we occasionally encounter tales that are both shocking and disturbing, shedding light on the darker aspects of our family's past. These stories, which include instances of ancestors who were victims of murder or, conversely, those who perpetrated such acts, offer a stark reminder of the complex and often challenging lives led by those who came before us.

  • Notes 
    • The Tragic Tale of the Bertault Family:

      In 1672, in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, a family was ensnared in a desperate situation that led to a harrowing series of events. At the heart of this story were Gillette Bonne, her husband Jacques Bertault, and their young daughter Elizabeth.

      Elizabeth, at the tender age of 12, was married to Julien LaTouche, a man 18 years her senior. This union, marked by a significant age gap, soon turned into a nightmare for Elizabeth. LaTouche, known for his heavy drinking, subjected Elizabeth to physical abuse and failed to provide for her basic needs. Elizabeth often found solace and sustenance at her parents' home, escaping the torment of her marital life.

      Witnessing their daughter's suffering, Gillette Bonne and Jacques Bertault were driven to a state of desperation. In an attempt to rescue Elizabeth from her abusive husband, they resorted to a drastic and fatal measure. With what appeared to be Elizabeth's tacit approval, they poisoned Julien LaTouche. However, when the poison did not yield the intended result, they resorted to killing him by beating him with a garden hoe

      The murder of Julien LaTouche led to the arrest and trial of Gillette Bonne, Jacques Bertault, and Elizabeth. The trial revealed the extent of the family's turmoil and the desperate measures they took.

      Gillette Bonne and Jacques Bertault were sentenced to death by hanging, but their punishment was to be preceded by a public act of penance. They were required to beg for forgiveness on the church steps, a symbolic gesture of atonement for their crime. As further punishment, Jacques Bertault was subjected to having his arms and legs broken. This brutal punishment was not only inflicted upon Jacques but was also a psychological torment for his wife and daughter, who were forced to witness it.

      After this spectacle, Jacques was hanged, followed by the hanging of Gillette Bonne. Elizabeth, spared from execution due to her young age, was subjected to the traumatic experience of witnessing the execution of both her parents.

      This story is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of life in New France and the extreme measures to which individuals were sometimes driven in the face of desperation and despair. It paints a vivid picture of life and justice in 17th-century Canada, and the murder and subsequent trial marked a significant moment in the region's history.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1896] Peter J. Gagne, Before the King's Daughters: The Filles a Marier, 1634-1662, (Name: Quintin Publications; Location: Pawtucket, RI; Date: 2002;), Banne, Gillette, pages 55-56.


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