Nicolas' settlement

Vachon signed a last contract concerning Nicolas. On march 19, 1682, is written, while Nicolas Bellanger is still living, a document in which he and his wife promise to give, in marriage, their eldest daughter, Marthe, to Étienne Souhé, son of the deceased Jacques Souhé and Marie Brisson of the parish of Arvert, located near Rochefort, in Saintonge. Souhé is a boat master domiciled at the blind alley in Québec's lower town. The contract is signed at Beauport in the house of the young girl's parents in Beauport. It will be this 1682, Nicolas' last.

During his life, Nicolas acquired various lands. He seems to have been thriving. In fact, he died the following october 19, 1682, and was burried in the local cemetery on october 20, 1682" dans la foy et dans la piété chrétienne". The witnesses mentioned at his funeral in the official act written by the parish priest Charles Amador Martin are: René Rémy, Jean de Rainville and Notary Vachon who signed the document in the presence of the parish priest Amador Martin.

Marie took resolutely the reins in hand and, during 28 years, managed alone the properties left by Nicolas. She died on november 6, 1711, See the details in another page.

Nicolas died on october 19, 1682 at the age of 50. The eldest son, Pierre-Bertrand, was 19 years old and the youngest daughter was one. A son had died very young while another had died before 1681. Marthe was married. Hence, 9 children still lived under the family roof.

"Le vintième jour du mois d'octobre mil six cent quatrevingtdeux a esté inhumé dans le cimetière de Beauport Nicolas Bellanger aagé de cinquante ans, habitant du mesme lieu, décédé le jour précédent dans la foy et la piété chrétienne. Et ont assisté à son enterrement rené Rémy, paul Vachon, notaire Royal aud Beauport et jean de Rainville beau frère du deffunct, qui ont signé excepté ledit jean de Rainville, de ce interpellés suivant l'Ordonnance". Ainsy signé René Rémy, Paul Vachon et Ch. A. Martin, ptre avec parafe/

The birth certificate of Nicola' spouse, Marie de Rainville, has not been found. She was born in Touques around 1645 because at her death on november 6, 1711, she was 66 years old. Hence she was about 14 or 15 at her wedding. She became a widow at 37 with 9 children still with her. She was godmother at the first baptismal celebration in the church of Beauport on march 12, 1673 for Pierre, son of Pierre Rondeau and Jeanne Pérusseau.

Marie did not let herself be dictated by her neighbors. She did not hesitate in using large means to solve a litigation; the following document illustrates this well. In a quest, dated july 9, 1695, to the Lieutenant General of Québec, Pierre Morel, a neighbor, complained that Marie de Rainville kills and keeps for herself the hens belonging to him which cross onto her land. The petition was presented and a royal process server served the widower Bellenger a request for her to appear in front of the Lieutenant General. It is not known how this affair ended. Was she blaimed or not ? At the beginning of the colony, the courts heard many such complaints resulting in damages caused by wandering domestic animals. Her case was probably one amongst many others.