Louise Berard

Biography

Louise Bérard married into a household whose future had just been settled around a notary’s table. Earlier in 1694, François Plante had accepted his parents’ property at Château-Richer, on the north bank of the St. Lawrence downstream from Québec city in present-day Québec, Canada. In return, he undertook to house, feed and keep them warm, and to accommodate two younger siblings. When Louise married François on October 26 that year, these obligations were already part of his life.

Louise was the daughter of Gabriel Bérard and Geneviève Hayot, whose surname also appears as Ayotte. Born about 1674, she belonged to a family connected with the fur trade: the Plante family history describes her father’s commercial activity and successive connections with the Berthier and Québec regions.

Three sons were born during her short marriage: Jean-Baptiste in 1695, Joseph in 1697 and François in 1698. Louise died in May 1699, leaving all three very young. Her precise death and burial days differ among the surviving compilations, but the month and year are consistent.

The substantial stone house later associated with the Plante property belonged to a subsequent chapter of its history. Louise’s marriage preceded that rebuilding.