Helene Desportes

Lifespan: 1620-07-07 — 1675-06-24

Summary

Historically significant — the earliest ancestor born in the New World. Widely cited in Canadian genealogical tradition as the first child of European parents born in New France. Born in Québec City in 1620, just 12 years after Samuel de Champlain founded the settlement in 1608. When she was born, the colony had perhaps 50–60 European inhabitants — a fur trading post, not a town.

Parents Pierre Desportes (1588, Lisieux, Normandy) and Francoise Langlois (~1602, Dieppe, Normandy) were among the earliest colonists — Pierre was a principal in the Company of 100 Associates, served as the colony’s baker, and managed a fur trade warehouse. He arrived c. 1614 with Abraham Martin (of Plains of Abraham fame), whose wife Marguerite Langlois was sister to Francoise — making the two families connected by marriage.

Her godmother was Helene Boulle, wife of Samuel de Champlain — she was likely named for her. Champlain left the godmother 300 livres in his will.

After the English Kirke brothers captured Quebec in 1629, Helene and her parents were transported to London, then back to France. Both parents died there — Pierre in 1629 in Lisieux, Francoise in 1632 in Dieppe. Helene returned to New France.

The Hébert Connection

First husband Guillaume Hébert (1604, Paris — d. September 23, 1639, Quebec City) was the only son of Louis Hébert (c. 1575–1627), the first European to farm in New France — an apothecary from Paris who arrived in 1617 and became the “premier colon,” the founding settler of Canadian agriculture. Guillaume arrived in Quebec as a child with his father’s family. By marrying Guillaume on October 1, 1634 at age 14, Helene joined the most prominent family in the colony. They had children Joseph (1636) and Francoise (1638). Guillaume died September 23, 1639, leaving her widowed at 19.

Second Marriage — Our Line

Married Noel Morin (1616, Brittany, France — a master wheelwright) on January 9, 1640 in Québec City. Together they had 12 children, making her one of the most prolific mothers in early New France. Our line goes through Alphonse Morin (1650–1711) from this second marriage.

Historical Significance

Helene Desportes represents a living bridge between the founding of Quebec and the establishment of a permanent French population. Born to immigrants who returned to France, she chose the New World. She married into the colony’s most important family, was widowed young, remarried, and raised a large family that became foundational to Quebec’s population. Millions of French-Canadian descendants trace their lineage through her.

She became Quebec’s earliest documented midwife (first baptismal record listing her as midwife: 1659). She taught the practice to her daughters, creating a multi-generational midwifery tradition — two daughters, a daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters also served as midwives.

Among her children with Noel Morin: Germain Morin (first Canadian-born priest, ordained 1665), Marie Morin (first Canadian-born nun), and Jean-Baptiste Morin (member of the Conseil Souverain, Quebec’s governing body).

She is the oldest ancestor in this family tree who was actually born in North America. From her birth in 1620 to the present: 406 years of New World lineage.

Relationships

• Parents: Pierre Desportes (1588, Lisieux — d. 1629, Lisieux) & Francoise Langlois (~1602, Dieppe — d. 1632, Dieppe)
• Spouse 1: Guillaume Hébert (1604, Paris — d. 1639) — son of Louis Hébert, first farmer of New France
• Spouse 2: Noel Morin (1616, Brittany — d. 1679)
• Children from marriage 1: ~3 children (Hébert surname)
• Children from marriage 2: Alphonse Morin (1650–1711) — among ~9-12 others (Morin surname)

Research Notes

• The claim “first European child born in New France” is traditional rather than definitively proven. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography notes “considerable disagreement” about whether she was born in Quebec or just before arriving. Her exact birth date is unknown — reconstructed from later age declarations (age 14 in 1634, 38 in 1659, 46 in 1666). Scholarly consensus: she is the first child born alive to European parents in the St. Lawrence region who survived to adulthood. Earlier births may have occurred in Acadia.
• Louis Hébert is commemorated with a monument in Quebec City. Guillaume was his only son. This marriage connects our family to the single most prominent founding family of New France.
• Colony was returned to France by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1632) — the same year her mother Francoise died in Dieppe.
• Francoise Langlois was sister to Marguerite Langlois, wife of Abraham Martin (of Plains of Abraham fame) — these founding families were intermarried.
• Death location sometimes listed as Saint-Thomas (Montmagny parish), Quebec.

Sources

• Little Chute Genealogy (Person ID I54902).
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Desportes, Helene
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Hebert, Louis
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Morin, Germain