Judith Riguad

     Judith was born in 1633 in St-Jean-de-Angely, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France. She was the daughter of Elisee Rigaud & Suzanne Dugas. She came to New France in 1651 as a hired servant to Marguerite LeGardeur, wife of Jacques LeNeuf. Her contract was for 5 years and she recieved a cash advance. A contract for the marriage of Judith & Francois Lemaitre was signed on 24 February 1654. The Contract was witnessed by her employer, Marguerite LeGardeur wife of Jacques LeNeuf de LaPoterie..² Judith married Francois Lemaitre on 6 May 1654 in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, at the church of Notre-Dame-du-Cap.³ Soon after the contract was written, Marguerite LeGardeur apparently changed her mind in agreeing to the marriage, as she filed suit against Judith and her new husband, which was heard in Trois-Rivieres. The ruling went against LeGarduer, and she appealed to the Governor Lauzon. Lauzon agreed with the orginal ruling which gave 102 livres to her, but she was to give back personal propterty of Judith that had been confiscated and received nothing for the remaining years of the work contract. The couple became involved in the fur trade and apparently did very well as it had been noted that Judith had a wardrobe that was exceptional for the time and that the couple's home was furnished with "superb furniture". Judith was active in the business and in 1665, she returned to France to conduct business with the Merchants in La Rochelle. Judith's husband, Francois, died circa 14 January 1666 in Trois-Rivieres, leaving her a widow. After returning from her business trip to France in the summer on 1666, Judith found that her husband had died,and due to his death, much of the property and assets in Qubec had been lost, and the business had accumulated substantial debts. A contract for the marriage of Jean Terrien dit Duhaime & Judith Riguad was signed on 25 January 1667. In the contract it was noted that the parents of Jean were Jean Terrien & Suzanne Elie; also that Judith was a widow of Francois Lemaistre and that her parents were Elisee Rigaud & Suzanne Dugast. The contract was written by Severin Ameau.⁴ Judith married Jean Terrien dit Duhaime on 26 January 1667 in Trois-Rivieres at the church of Notre-Dame-du-Cap.⁵ The couple continued in the fur trading business started by Judith and her first husband. 1667, Judith and her husband, Jean, were listed on the Canadian Census at Trois-Rivieres. Enumerated in this household were Jean Terrien [23 years], Judith Rigault [34 years], Pierre Lemaistre [12 years], Francois Lemaistre [10 years], Marie Lemaistre [9 years], Jean Lemaistre [6 years], Marguerite Lemaistre [3 years], Charles Lemaistre [2 years] & two domestics, Pierre Bourgeois [20 years] & Louis [24 years].⁶ On 6 August 1668, she appeared in court regarding the debts from her first marrige. The court ruled that she was to have three years to make payment and that her debtors must desist in harressing her. Judith's husband, Jean, died before 4 November 1670, leaving her a widow. In 1681 Judith was listed on the Quebec Census residing with her daughter in Riviere-du-Loup. Enumerated in the census were: Guillaume Gerbault [38 years], Marguerite Lemaistre [26 years], Francois [4 years] & Judith DeSauneaux [45 years]. At this time, Judith was still running the fur trrading business, now, working with her children. Sometime in the mid-1680's, she travelled back to France to her home town of St-Jean d'Angely, to visit her family and possibly for business reasons as well. It was here that she met her fourth husband. Judith departed this life on Sunday, 13 May 1703 in Montreal.⁷