Anne-Antoinette de Liercourt was born about 1632 in the parish of Sainte-Marguerite at Beauvais in Picardy, the daughter of Philippe de Liercourt and Jeanne Patin.¹ She came to New France in 1650 and is recorded at Montréal as godmother to a child on 29 August 1651 under the name “Anna Juillet.”¹

In February 1651 she married Blaise Juillet dit Avignon, probably at Trois-Rivières. Notary Gatinau drew up the marriage contract there on 2 February 1651, and a copy was deposited with notary Ameau on 10 February.¹ Blaise, a peat worker from Avignon, had come to Canada under contract in 1644 for three years at seventy-five livres per year for the Compagnie de Notre-Dame de Montréal.¹

The couple settled at Montréal, where their children were baptized: Mathurine (1651), Marie (1653), Charles (1656), and Louis (1658).²

Blaise Juillet drowned on 19 April 1660 near Île Saint-Paul while fleeing the Iroquois with Dollard des Ormeaux. He was buried the following day at Montréal.¹

Two months later, on 11 June 1660, notary Basset drew up a marriage contract between Anne-Antoinette and Hugues Picard dit Lafortune. Neither could sign the document, although Governor Maisonneuve did. Hugues was appointed guardian of the children from her first marriage, and Lambert Closse was named trustee. The couple married at Montréal on 30 June 1660, and Hugues was confirmed by Bishop Laval on 24 August.¹

Hugues Picard, born about 1627 in Brittany, had enlisted for Canada in 1653 and arrived at Montréal on 16 November of that year with the Grande Recrue — the large recruitment organized by Maisonneuve to save the settlement. Before departure he acknowledged receiving 137 livres in advance wages. After completing his contract he returned to France and came back to Canada in 1659 as a woodworker for the Sulpicians of Montréal.¹

Anne-Antoinette and Hugues established their household at Montréal, most likely on the property that had belonged to Blaise Juillet. Hugues served as a soldier in the 12th squad of the Sainte-Famille militia in 1663. Together they had five children: Michelle (1661), Marie-Anne (1663–1697), Marguerite (1666–1727), Jean-Gabriel (1669), and Jacques (1672). The two sons later became engagés ouest, contracted workers in the western trade.¹

On 19 May 1702 Anne-Antoinette had her will drawn before notary Adhémar.¹

She died 29 September 1707 and was buried the following day at Montréal.² Hugues Picard dit Lafortune died later the same year and was buried at Montréal on 22 December 1707.¹

Her life is documented in the notarial marriage contracts of both her marriages, the early parish registers of Montréal, the militia record of the settlement, and her will.

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Sources

1. Peter J. Gagné, Before the King’s Daughters: The Filles à marier, 1634–1662 (Pawtucket, R.I.: Quintin Publications, 2002), 102–3, Anne-Antoinette de Liercourt.
2. Québec (Canada), Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621–1968, baptisms of the Juillet and Picard children; burial of Anne-Antoinette de Liercourt, 30 Sept. 1707, Montréal; Cyprien Tanguay, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes, s.v. “Juillet” and “Picard.”
3. Québec, Canada, Notarial Records, 1637–1935, marriage contracts of 1651 and 1660; will of Anne-Antoinette de Liercourt, 19 May 1702, notary Adhémar.
4. Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s–1900s.
5. Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s–Current.
6. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s–1900s.