Marriage Contract of Gabriel Samson and Francoise Durand
| Translated from the original French document:
Appearing before the royal notary in New France, Pierre Duquet, resident of Quebec, and undersigned witnesses, are Gabriel Samson, resident of Lauzon and son of the deceased Toussaint Samson and Catherine Chavallier, his father and mother from the parish of St. Gratian, diocese of Lissieux; and Francoise Durand, daughter of the deceased Martin Durand and Francoise Brunette, her father and mother from Quimper Corentin, diocese of Cornouaille. |
| Also gathered in the presence of family and friends, on the part of Gabriel Samson, are Simon Rocheron, resident of Lauzon, Charles Courtois, resident of the same, and Jean Buquet; and on the part of Francoise Durand, are Theodore Sureau, her step-father, Perette Hutre, his wife, Louis Begin, her brother in law with Jeanne Durand, her sister, and Robert Chartier with Anne Bertrault, his wife. |
| Of their own free will, they understand and have together confessed making treaties and promises of marriage; Gabriel Samson promises to take Francoise Durand as his wife and legitimate spouse, and Francoise Durand likewise promises to take him as her legitimate spouse. This marriage is sanctified by our Holy Roman and Apostolic Catholic Church. |
| Both parties are united in common property, though neither is responsible for debts made by the other before the marriage, following the custom in Paris. The rights of the wife on her husband's property are fixed in advance in the sum of three hundred pounds, to be made in one payment. She retains those rights, which would otherwise expire upon her inheritance. |
| As a dowry, Theodore Sureau, step-father of the bride
promises to provide the sum of one hundred pounds, with fifty pounds on
Christmas day, and another fifty pounds on Christmas of the following year.
All parties have agreed to this contract. Completed in Lauzon, in the house
of Theodore Sureau on November 21, 1669, in the presence of the undersigned.
Neither Theodore Sureau, Begin nor Robert Chartier are able to write or
sign.
Jeanne Durand
|
| Translated by Charles Samson, March 1999.
Source: "Familles Samson, Tricentenaire au Canada", July 23, 1967; Roger and Marcel Samson. |
