More on Catherine de Ballion Our Royal Connection

Catherine de Baillon (our 9th Great Grandmother) is one of the noble women sent as Filles du Roi. She was born about 1645 in Montfort 1’Amaury (near Rambouiliet, diocese of Chartres), Île-de-France, the daughter of squire Alphonse de Bailion, Sieur de Valence et de la Mascotterie and Louise de Marie. Some believe that the family comes from Italy and is descended from Pierre de Bailion who was killed in 1356 at the Battle of Poitiers and buried in the Jacobin cemetery in this city. However, the proof is lacking, and Catherine’s first known ancestor is Mathurin Baillon, a bourgeois of Chartres, who died some time after 1490. After her father’s death, Catherine left for Canada in 1669 at about age 24, bringing with her goods worth an estimated 1,000 livres for her dowry.







On 12 November 1669, Catherine married Jacques Miville dit Deschênes in Québec City. Both spouses signed the marriage contract drawn up 19 October 1669 by notary Duquet. Jacques was born 02 May 1639 in Saint-Hilaire d’Hiers-Brouage (near Rochefort, diocese of Saintes), Saintonge, the son of Pierre Miville dit Le Suisse and Charlotte Maugis. Jacques’ father Pierre was from the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. On 16 July 1665, Jacques Miville, his brother François (third husband of Fille du Roi Jeanne Savonnet), their father Pierre and four other “Swiss from the canton of Fribourg” were granted the Canton des Suisses Fribourgeois at La Pocatière.


Jacques was born 02 May 1639 in Saint-Hilaire d'Hiers-Brouage (near Rochefort, diocese of Saintes), Saintonge, the son of Pierre Miville dit Le Suisse and Charlotte Maugis. Jacques' father Pierre was from the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.  He arrived in New France in around 1649 with his parents and siblings.


Catherine and Jacques settled at Rivière Ouelle and had six children. Marie-Catherine was baptized 03 September 1670 at Québec City, followed by Charles (08 September 1671) and Jean (06 September 1672). Fille du Roi Madeleine De Roybon d’Allone served as Jean’s godmother. Daughter Marie was born at Saint-Jean-Port-Joli 30 March 1675, but was not baptized until 23 July of the same year at Québec City. She died before the 1681 census. Son Charles was the first of their children to be born at Rivière Ouelle, though he was baptized at Québec City 01 September 1677. He was followed by Claude-Marie (aka Marie-Claude), who was born at Rivière Ouelle, though baptized at l’Islet 20 November 1681.






On 25 October 1673, Catherine’s mother was settling the estate of her late husband (she had since married and been widowed by Marc d’Amanzay). Among other donations and distributions, Louise de Marle gave Catherine 600 livres for all the rights that she might claim in the inheritance, half to be paid at Louise’s death and the other half six months later. In the act of donation, it was noted that Catherine had already received “considerable sums,” most likely referring to her dowry.






Both Jacques Miville dit Deschênes and Catherine De Baillon died 27 January 1688. Jacques was buried the same day at Rivière Ouelle and Catherine followed her husband to the grave three days later. They may have both been victims of the smallpox epidemic that stuck Québec in 1687.

Both of our great grandparents Delia and Magloire were directly related to Catherine de Baillon and Jacques Miville Deschenes


The relationship:

Maglore Thibault -> Emilie Gendron -> Adelaide Morin -> Madeleine-Perpetue Ouelette -> Genevieve Labourlier-Laplante -> Marie-Josephte Miville-Deschenes -> Pierre-Francois Miville-Deschenes -> Jean Miville-Deschenes -> Jacques Miville-Deschenes & Catherine de Baillon

Delia Victoria Beaulieu(Thibault) -> Georgina Beaupre -> Pierre Martial Beaupre -> Pierre Beaupre -> Therese Berube -> Joseph Berube -> Marie Angelique Miville-Deschenes(Pierre-Francois' sister) -> Jean Miville-Deschenes -> Jacques Miville-Deschenes & Catherine de Baillon