My Eighth Great Grandmother
Catherine Paulo was born about 1646, in La Rochelle, France, the daughter of Pierre Paulo and Renee Cordelette. She came to Quebec City in 1663 on the first ship carrying Fille du Roi.
Catherine’s cousin, Marie Paulo, married to Daniel Panier, was living in Montreal, and it was at her home that Etienne signed the marriage contract with Catherine. They married at Notre dame de Montreal on November 13, 1663.
Catherine proved to be a strong, courageous and resourceful woman. She gave birth to and raised fifteen children, thirteen of whom were to grow to adulthood.
Catherine became a widow at forty-six years of age, when Etienne died. A note dated September 24, 1692, lists his assets, an land at Ville Marie with her children for twenty-nine more years, living long enough to see her grandchildren. At the age of seventy-five, Catherine Paulo died on April 16, 1721, and was buried in Montreal.
On March 21, 1701, she had appointed her oldest son, Etienne Campeau, Jr., as her general administrator. She instructed him to handle the delicate situation surrounding his minor, unmarried sister, Elizabeth, who had given birth to a daughter sired by a wealthy, local landowner,
Nicolas Lemoine. An event of this sort was considered catastrophic and a serious moral lapse. In this instance, both the Catholic Church and the government were involved in the matter. There was a bitter battle between the Campeau family, seeking redress, and the Lemoine family. Judge
Fleury Descharnbault ordered Nicholas Lemoine to marry Elizabeth. During Elizabeth’s interrogation, she denounced Nicolas and abandoned her child. She left the child on the church steps. The baby died later; the date and cause of death is unknown.
The Lemoine Family, because of its wealth and power, was able to have this judgment against Nicolas removed. Nicolas loved Elizabeth and wanted to marry her, but class differences did not permit this, and his family adamantly objected. Nicolas entered the military and never married.
Elizabeth subsequently married Peter Valiquet.
Another Campeau woman worth mentioning is Elizabeth’s older Sister, Catherine Campeau. She married Pierre Hay, a noted sculptor and stonemason. Catherine was known for her generosity, donating much money to the church. She adopted a girl named Angelique who was fifteen years old. The following year, Catherine adopted a boy named Nicolas. One of Catherine’s own daughters entered religious life and was given a dowry of 1000 livres.
Etienne, Jr., the oldest son of Etienne Campeau and Catherine Paulo, visited Detroit in 1703, but did not settle there. Detroit was to be the destination for two of his brothers, Michael and Jacques. Both brothers are listed as “with Cadillac”, the founder of Detroit. It is unclear exactly when the came to Detroit as they are not listed on the various plaques in the Detroit area. Land grants were not formalized until 1708 when it is shown that Michael, came to Detroit with his wife, Jeanne Masse, and family, in 1708. They settled on St. Joachim Street in Fort Pontchartrain. They returned to Montreal in 1710. However, he maintained economic ties and still owned property in Detroit until he died on September 9,
1737. After his death, his wife and family returned to Detroit where Michael’s son, Michael Campeau, Jr., became a lieutenant in the militia on the Canadian side of the Detroit River.
The brother Jacques was a significant participant in the area. His second great grandson Louis Campau Jr. is credited with founding Saginaw and Grand Rapids, Michigan. His great grandson, Joseph Campau, was said to be the richest man in Michigan at the time. He, also, had a colorful life with battles against the Roman Catholic Church and the prominent Detroit priest, Gabrielle Richard.
