CHAPTER I.

St. Thomas, handsome, splendid, and populous town;
Famous for its river with its winding shore!
This is where great growers were born,
Illustrious deputies, eloquent speakers:
The Tachés, the Couillards, the Perraults, the Bourdages, 
And then a number of other worthy personages;
The Têtu, pleiad in this noble country.
Have found their cradle near these flowery edges.
-•La Grand''Tronciade by A. Casskgrain.

Arrival of the first Têtun canada. — His certificate of freedom. — fisherman for fourteen years. — soivdat en 1759- — His first will.

Félix Têtu was only nineteen when he left the France to come to Canada. Born in the parish of Vigna, bishopric of Saint-Malo, his father was Grégoire Stubborn and for mother Jeanne Lebranchu. Among his companions on the journey, were Jean Beaulier, scn cou- sin, François Piquet, aged sixteen and nephew of Beau- lier, Thomas Briand and Jean Leroux. The ship that carried was commanded by Captain Durube.

From their arrival, in the spring of 1754, they went fishing at Gaspe. Joseph Nicole also came to settle in Canada the same year. The Casault family arrived only two years later, in 1756. These details are provided to us by authentic life first value documents. These are the minutes of the inquiries made at the bishopric of Quebec by the vicar general Perrault, in 1768, to establish that Félix Têtu and Jean Beau- bind were free and could enter into marriage. We see there that, for fourteen years, Félix Têtu employed has every summer to go fishing in Gaspé, and that established in Saint-Thomas he spent the rest of the year there.

Here is this important document: Certificate of freedom in favor of Félix Têtu

In the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, the thirtieth of March, appeared before Us the person named Félix Testu ac- residing at Pointe à la Caille, who sirant to marry would have required to do before us proof of freedom. Accordingly, having sworn to tell the truth, would have declared us to be a native of Saint- Malo from which he would have left in 1754 to come to Gaspé there fishing for cod, being then 19 years old, of- then this time he did not return to Europe but that he has always remained in this province, going every summer to family fishing in Gaspé and returning every year to winter at the Pointe à la Caille and this for about fourteen years, that he would now be about thirty-three years old — and that he produced as witness of his freedom the named Jean Beaulier currently residing in Berthier, that he said to know well and to be well known.

nd appeared before us the aforesaid Jean Beaulier which after oath to tell the truth, declared us to be native Davignac, bishopric of Saint-Malo, having known the named Félix Testu, to be his cousin, whom he had at most nineteen when he came to Gaspé with him, and that he affirmed and certified that he had not returned to Europe and that he was not married in France nor in this country.

And said Félix Testu unable to produce a third witness, having shown us a letter from Mr. Maison- low priest of Pointe à la Caille on March 23 1765 addressed to the Bishop, who certifies that the said Felix Testu was unable to take a man named Jean Le Roux (i) who would therefore have taken an oath parde- before him as Félix Testu says, whom he has always known well was not married in France, the said letter attached thereto; granted him a certificate of freedom and permission to publish wedding banns.

Perrault Ch. Vie. Gen. (i)

This Jean lycroux married himself in 1768, and Félix Têtu came to Quebec beak to testify in his favour. Jean Beaulier, cousin of Têtu and who testified to the freedom of the latter, settled in Berthier, county of Montmagny, and married, on April 11, 1768, Geneviève Picard Destroismaisons. One of his daughters, Marie-Marguerite, was the grandmother of Father Joseph Hofîman, current parish priest of Charlesbourg.

TETU FAMILY

In the spring of 1759, M. Félix Têtu only descended not in Gaspé, as he used to do, but must have been part of the expedition which went to the fort of Ile-aux-Noix, under the command of Bourlamaque, or more likely perhaps he was accompanying the militias sent to defend the Rapids under M. de the Horn. It was only last year that I learned this interesting episode in the life of my ancestor, looking for- singing something else in the registry of the notary Barolet. Judge of my pleasant surprise, when I put my hand on the will of Félix Têtu, dated March 17, 1759. This document is so important that I cannot fail to reproduce it here.

"Was present Félix Testu major of twenty five years last April following that he declares him residing in the coste of the south, navigator by profession native to the old France from the department of Guinon on his departure for the service of the king for the country above where he is mended, sane, memory and judgment, as it is appeared to the said notary, having expressly gone to the study de Barolet, one of the undersigned notaries for the purpose of sentes, which in the sight of death, which he fears to be surprised in the course of his travels, without having disposed of his last intentions and wishes ... he did, dictated and appointed to the said notaries his present will as it follows:

First as Christian, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman, commended her soul to God when she I 'i ;, i. you

TETU FAMILY II

separate from his body, imploring his divine goodness from him show mercy, forgive her sins and place her in his holy paradise with the Blessed.

Wants and orders that his debts be paid and wronged repaired if anyone discovers that he has committed and this by the executor hereinafter named.

Give and bequeath the said testator to the poor of the country king of Saint-Thomas on the southern coast the sum of dqux hundred pounds for once paid donated to them and bequests.

Donates to the Church and Parish of Saint-Thomas en la coste du sud the sum of one hundred pounds once paid which donated and bequeathed to him.

Gives and bequeaths to Joseph Gendron, son, godson of him testator, the sum of one hundred pounds once paid, of which he made her a gift and bequest. ^

Declare the testator that all his property in this country con- remain in a sum of fifteen hundred pounds and more if there is find out who are in the hands of Mr. Jean Durand, navigator director, residing in his house, in this town, rue Cham- plain, which he begs to pay and deliver to the executor of the this will, of which he who testifies has no other recognition meeting of the said Mr. Durand that the account established on his book referring on this to the entire probity of the said sieur Durand, for on the said sum to pay the bequests of the above sus, and the surplus with the product of his clothes and linen which are in the hands of Joseph Joncas, inhabitant of Pointe at La Caille, parish of Saint-Thomas, will be sold for the product and the remainder of the first said sum B^ ' 'i •I 'i ' ,ll ■î^ ft i >"'■ ' “b rt N^l 12 Stubborn family be employed by the said executor in low requiem masses for the repose of the soul of the said testator and this in such church as will and can say it executor.

And to execute and fulfill this will the testateui has appointed and chosen the person of Messire Maisonbasse, priest pastor in the said parish, that he begs to take the trouble, letting go of his hands d^ all his property according to custom. Revoke the said testa- tor, etc.

It was thus done and dictated and named in the year 1759 on the 17th March.

And the said Testu testator declared to know neither write or sign."

(Signed) Lamorille Barolet."

According to this document. Têtu didn't know how to sign. But as we find his signature a few years later late in a very large number of acts, it is obvious that he could write or learned to write after 1759. If he was not rich at that time, having only fifteen hundred pounds > in money, he had already started making savings and to lay the foundations of the handsome fortune he managed to acquire in the sequel.

I couldn't find any details about the short military career. silence of my ancestor, who on his return from his expedition returned to his more peaceful pursuits of fishing cod. During the winter months, he was busy placing his money advantageously by buying land and making certain advantageous speculations. This is how  that in 1766, we see him buying the estate of one of his compatriots. Sauveur Harel, who had just died and who had no heirs in Canada.

At that time, Félix Têtu was a bourgeois navigator and boat master^ as stated in the deed of purchase of which I just spoke.

Two years later, on April 7, 1768, we know exactly- ment by an inventory of his goods which were then his position and state of fortune. This inventory was made on the occasion of his forthcoming marriage. He then re- fishing to give all his time to the farmer ture, because there is no mention of a rowboat in the list. ration of his wealth.

CHAPTER II.
Inventory of Félix Têtu's property. — Her marriage to Marie-Madeleine Vallee. — Notes on this family. — State of fortune of Félix Têtu. — The fief of Saint-Luc. — List of children. — Last Testament. — Death of Mr. AND MADAME TÉTTU.

On April 7, 1768, the notary Lévêque took inventory property of Félix Têtu, as follows:
I mention the main items:
The tools: ax, compass, hammer,
her- kitty Haniais
18 pairs of tanned shoes
Bacon and butter
Pair of snowshoes
6 earthenware plates, six a- steel, six pewter spoons, etc.
2 and a half pairs of bayoux
A rifle
A bear muff
Full bed
Cart cover
17 yards of fine canvas
two hats
A pair of pumps
24 francs 
Saint-Luc. — ■ D

Death of Mr. inventory mention them 24 frank
A bougrine of cadis and a waistcoat of ra- tine 
A cadis hood,
a strong devil's jacket
A bougrine and a calico waistcoat
2 quarried waistcoats trimmed with satin 
3 silk scarves 
4 cotton handkerchiefs
I pair of velvet panties
1 full coat of ox cloth
6 fine linen shirts 
pairs of thin stockings 
2 pairs of silver buckles
I frock coat
I helmet
10 pounds of crushed tobacco
4 Train, cart 63
Hay 72
I horse
I cow and four sheep
Flour-Bled
A bear skin
A barrel of 14 iron-rimmed pots with 12 pots of brandy 24 Bonds^ Notes^ (i) 5756 Coined cash hard cash 2198 Total = 10.877 frank (( a a a who a ((. a (( a a u. a i( (( a frank. (i)

Among these active debts are 3000 francs owed by Sieur Chs Couillard Dasprès for an arpent and a half of land and buildings on it built. . I. I ■i there! t1 .M mmm it VAMUXE TKTU .

Buildings: One arpent of land frontage by forty deep at the first range of lands on the south side of the river South, bounded by Charles Couillard Després on one side and the other to Michel Biais, (i) "^

Two acres of wooden frontage standing on the second range of lands on the south side of the river of the South bor- born to Charles Couillard de Beaumont on one side and to mon- Mr. Damour De Plaine on the other.

This legal document gives a fairly accurate idea of ​​the . way of life at that time, of the costume, of the , ably, and the value of objects.

Félix Têtu was married on April 2, 1768 (2) to Marie-Ma- Deleine Vallée, widow of Louis Bélanger of Saint-Thomas, and daughter of Etienne Vallée and Marie Madeleine Mar- Cous de Saint-Vallier.

(i) M. Têtu had bought this land on April 27, 1767, from the surgeon I^ouis- incent Marsaule (Marceau) and paid her 3900 pounds in cash.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE vincent (2) "The year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, the eleventh of April after the publication of three wedding banns made at the prosne of parish masses for two parties and a consecutive Sunday between felix stubborn son of the late Grégoire stubborn and of Jeanne lyebranchu her father and mother of the parish of Vigna bishopric of St. Malo on the one hand, and married Madeleine Vallée, widow of the late Louis Bel- on the other hand; after seeing said stubborn felix's Certificate of Freedom given by the Grand Vicar of Quebec, I, the undersigned pastor of St. Thomas took their mutual consent of marriage and gave them the nuptial blessing according to the form prescribed by our mother the Holy Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church In the presence of Srs Etienne Vallée, François Gosselin, Charles Bellangé and several others, including some <iuuns with the husband and the wife we ​​signed the others we declared not to know sign this requirement.

(Signed) Marie Madeleine Vallée

F TETU ELEVIN VALLEY

Maisonbasse priest "

TETU FAMILY 17

He was then thirty-four years old and Madame Bélanger was thirty-two. The latter was first married at fifteen and had had ten children by her first marriage, but there were only three survivors: Thirteen-year-old Charles, five-year-old Louis and Ma- rie-Madeleine aged three. The contract of my riage passed before the notary Lévêque, on April 8 1768, was signed in the house of the future wife, who became the paternal home of the Têtu family, home thick-walled, steep-roofed stone building, which has just been bequeathed by the young ladies Nathalie and Vitaline Têtu to their nephew Joseph Têtu. Attended the signing of the con- trat: Pierre Bélanger, an de Têtu, Charles Bélanger and Joseph Coté, (i) brothers-in-law of the wife, and his cousins Pierre and Jacques Belanger, Louis Thibault, Charles Couillard Despres and Rene Denaud. This time the notary does not say that Félix Têtu does not know how to sign.

Many times I have heard from some of my parents, that among the children of the young widow Bé- langer married to Félix Têtu, there were two deaf-mutes and three deaf-mutes. It is a mistake. These deaf- mute and deaf-mute were the children of his son Louis Bélanger, five years old at the time of the marriage of his mother.

(i) Joseph Coté, son of Paul, was married to Elizabeth Belang^er. Rock BSlan^er, wife's uncle, was married to Marthe Couillard Despres, and his son Pierre to Elizabeth Deneau. René Deneau was married to Elizabeth Bélan- Ger, daughter of Pierre.

Madame Félix Têtu had inherited from her first husband and she owned much of Charles's land Bélanger, his father-in-law, who had shared:| goods between his children, (i)\

Charles, his brother, died in 1772. Têtu was named guardian of his wife's minor children, and thanks to his business intelligence, he was not long in increasing greatly lie to the common fortune. He bought the share of land of Joseph Bélanger, the brother-in-law of his wife, and spent I don't know how many sales and purchase contracts with the Couillard families, Bélanger, Destroismaisons, Morin, Gamache, Boulet, etc., etc He became one of the lords of the Saint-Luc fief who 21 arpents in front by 84 in depth. He did it rer in 1794 by the surveyor JB Duberger, the father of Madame Félix Têtu, of whom we will have to speak later and who was the grand-nephew of the first Felix. I have in my possession the plan of this St-Luc fief, which indicates where found the then church at the mouth of the small Rivière à la Caille and about fifteen arpents to the east of the land of the Têtu. It included the lands located im- mediately west of the land of the factory, know:

(i) It was on January 12, 1150, that Charles Bélanger and his wife Ehza- beth Foumier donated their property to their sons Joseph and Louis, that is that is to say, of a land of three ari>ents and three and a half perches of frontage read at 10,050 lbs. They had four daughters who received 5,025 pounds, each. Charles Bélanger died on November 4, 1761. His son Joseph went to live in the pays d'en haut and he was back in 1774. He never not marry. He made a land exchange with Félix Têtu in 1774. He then had forty years. As for Louis, we have seen that he married Marie-Madeleine Vallée, and Charles married Thérèse Asselin. '

"'m FAMIU.K TftTU 19 those of Dr. Oliva, of the ladies of the hospital, of MM. Michel Biais, René Deno, François Thivierj^e, F. Têtu, Jacques Belanger and Chs Taché.

This fief was first granted, on November 15, 1663, by M. de Lauzon, to Noël Morin, who from then on wore the title of Sieur de Saint-Luc, as seen by a judge- ment returned by the West India Company, the II November 1671. The children of Noël Morin, between others Father Germain Morin, the first Canadian priest, then ceded their rights to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Rageot (who was Abbé Morin's sister). Pisces was clerk and notary in the provostship of Quebec.

I have in my hands an act of faith and homage, dated September 9, 1737, by René Ls D'amour, Sieur de Courberon, in the name and for having married Dame Angélique Couillard Despré, his wife, owner of the said fief, following the bequest made to her by the will (1735) of Jean-Baptiste Couillard Ecr, Sieur de Lespinay, owner- silence of the Saint-Luc fief. The said René D'amour introduces himself to pay faith and homage to Mr. Louis Couillard, sei- Lord of the South River. The seigniorial mansion was located where the Pattons later resided and oxi is today now owned by MA Bender.

Marie-Madeleine Vallée had ten children by her first marriage to Louis Bélanger; she gave seven to her second husband Félix Têtu. We give the list of these with the di te of baptism and everyone's burial.
1. Felix, b. January 26, 1769, s. Oct. 14, 1853.
2. John the Baptist, b. July 10, 1770, c. June 10, 1843.
3. Francis, b. October 19, 1772, c. 26 Feb. 1857.
4. Eliz.-Euphorsine, b. January 12, 1774, c. June 28, 1775.
5. Joseph, b. April 22, 1775, s. November 3, 1854.
6. Marie-Angélique, b. April 5, 1777, s. August 18, 1824.
7. Stephen, b. January 9, 1779, c. July 1, 1797.

Mr. and Mrs. Félix Têtu, by the excellent administration of their property, could not only elevate, but also settle their children properly. The eldest, Felix, studied at the Séminaire de Québec, and received for his share of inheritance 12,360 pounds; John the Baptist had land three arpents on the Rivière-du-Sud; Joseph a land west of his brother's. Marie-Angélique received, when she married Joseph Sedilot dit Montreuil, the sum of 10,000 pounds, not counting articles of household and animals.

As for François, my grandfather, he had the fatherland nal by donation dated July 25, 1797, (i) and all other property, land and money, on condition of giving housing and maintenance to the donors. It is said in this act was important that all these goods belong to the so-called donors, partly by inheritance and partly by exchange with Joseph Belanger. All these different donations were confirmed by the wills of Mr. and Mrs. Félix Têtu, passed on March 11 and 13, 1802 in front of Bois- bucket.

(i) Boisseau's graft.

I could not get any information about the person and the instruction of Madame Têtu, (2) but it is obvious that she knew how to keep a house and raise a family or rather two, and that she had to contribute to the acquisition of this relatively considerable fortune which enabled him to her and her husband for making such a large share of each of the children.

As for M. Félix Têtu himself, although tradition be quite silent about him, we see what a man he was and by the labors to which he devoted himself and by the success which crowned all his undertakings. As we judge the tree by its fruits, one can say with certainty that Mr. Tê- you were a strong character, an excellent Christian, a robust, industrious man of great practical mind. His children of whom we know enough history, were the living proofs of the truth of the judgment we pass on him.

In the Family Memoirs^ by Madame CE Cas- grain, the name of Félix Têtu is mentioned only once times and with praise.

Madame Pierre Casgrain, born Marie Bonenfant, writer owes the following to his son Charles, who was the father of Ab- bé Raymond Casgrain. It was about the future marriage from Charles:

"Only you can decide this as you please, because you must not not believe, as some say, that a half- ••3 (2) I saw 8a sigfnature which leaves something to be desired from the point of view of callig^ra- phy. rr I! I' i;-. ■> i^- 22

saddle that can claim something on the side of its family, be not for that fit to make a woman household.

I don't agree with that at all; I you I will relate on this subject what Father Têtu often said: that a small ember alone was first consumed, but that when two could be put together, that was unmissable. You know that the old French are deceived- rarely, we see the proof of it quite often."

It is obvious that Father Têtu was a great traveler. geur, since he had left France at the age of nineteen years to come and settle in Canada. He did not return to Europe, but we see by various acts signed by him in different places that, like all Canadians from then on, he had retained a taste for travel, and we know if their descendants continued to cultivate it! He was in great friendship with the Bonenfant and Casgrain families and often went to Rivière-Ouelle to visit them. He attended the wedding of his son, François, to Charlot- te Bonenfant, July 7, 1793, and we see him there again, the following October, to sign a deed of donation. tion of Father Bonenfant in favor of my grandfather François Têtu and his wife.

Madame Féilx Têtu died suddenly on July 10 181 1, and was buried in the cemetery of Saint-Thomas. She had lived seventy-five years. Her husband followed her from close; he died on May 11, 181 3, and was buried on the 13 at the same place. We publish the burial certificate which makes him eighty four years old. It is an error, because M. Félix Têtu was only seventy and eighteen years old, .j that he was nineteen when he arrived in Canada in spring of 1754.

Here is the burial record of the first Têtu to come to Canada: "The thirteenth of May eighteen hundred and thirteen by us priest undersigned was buried in the cemetery of this parish- getting the body of eighty-four-year-old Tetu sir felix years died on the eleventh of the current with the help of the sacred lie. Were present at the said burial, the sirs Felix and françois têtu children of the deceased as well as Joseph têtu and Jean baptiste stubborn, guillaume Boulet, alexis Boulet, Pierre Fournier, Alexis Fournier and many others very parishioners who did not know how to sign.

(Signed) F. Têtu, F. Têtu, Jean Baptiste Têtu. JM VERREAU, priest."