To watch the full episode of “Finding Your Roots” on PBS click here
More than a year ago I wrote a story about the Filles du Roi, Our French Canadian Matriarchs. Recently one of the Filles du Roi in the Gregoire/Granpre family tree, Marguerite Lamain, was featured in an episode of “Finding Your Roots” on PBS.
During the show, actress, fashionista, and model, Chloë Sevigny, discovered that her French Canadian roots run deep in Quebec. Chloë’s 8th great grandmother, Marguerite Lamain, was one of the many young girls who left France with a dowry from King Louis XIV to find a husband in New France (Canada).
Gregoire/Grandpre Family Connection
Lillian (Grandpre) Gregoire was the 6th great-granddaughter of Marguerite, but because she shares two additional generations of with Chloë Sevigny it makes them 5th cousins twice removed, with Antoine Sevigny Lafleur being their most recent common ancestor.
Marguerite Lamain (1656-1714)
Marguerite Lamain left her home in Normandy, France in 1670, at only 14 years of age, to select a husband in New France. Surprisingly the man she selected, Michel Rognon dit Laroche, was 31 years old.
When Marguerite was only 28 years old, her husband, Michel died leaving her with six young children to raise on her own. In order to keep her young family from poverty, she quickly remarried Pierre Mercier and the couple went on to have an additional eight children. Pierre passed away in 1712, followed by Marguerite two years later.
This episode (season 5 episode 8) of “Finding Your Roots” with Henry Louis Gates Jr. can currently be viewed on PBS or check your TV providers on demand listings.
