Document 1 of 15

Marriage Contract, November 26, 1649. Marie Chapelier signed her name in clear script while Robert Drouin made his mark with an X. This literacy advantage would prove crucial 47 years later when Marie defended her rights through the highest courts of New France.

Document 2 of 15

PRDH Individual Record. Every genealogical investigation begins with the basics. The PRDH database provided Marie's vital statistics: born c. 1626, married 1649, died March 18, 1697. But it couldn't answer our central question: What was the lawsuit about?

Document 3 of 15

The 500 Livres Transaction, September 12, 1655. Marie and Robert sold their Notre-Dame-des-Anges property for the equivalent of 2-5 years of typical income. This wasn't subsistence farming; this was wealth building.

Document 4 of 15

Land Survey, September 11, 1675. Generational wealth planning in action. Robert and Marie hired surveyor Jean Guyon to establish formal boundaries for their son Nicolas's property.

Document 5 of 15

1666 Census. Family dynamics revealed: Geneviève (age 23) and Jeanne (age 20)—Robert's daughters from his first marriage—living with Robert, Marie, and their six children. Context for later conflicts.

Document 6 of 15

May 2, 1695 - Document Disclosure Order. The legal battle escalates to the highest court. The Sovereign Council orders Romain Trépagny to share his documentary evidence with Marie Chapelier and church officials.

Document 7 of 15

July 11, 1695 - Crushing Defeat for Trépagny. The Sovereign Council declares the appeal "MIS À NÉANT" (void) and fines him and Geneviève 60 sols for frivolous litigation.

Document 8 of 15

August 22, 1695 - Default. Trépagny fails to provide required appeal grievances. The court issues a default notice. Marie wins on procedure as well as substance.

Document 9 of 15

August 29, 1695 - Extension Granted. Despite defaulting, the court grants Trépagny one more month to provide grounds for appeal.

Document 10 of 15

February 13, 1696 - THE BREAKTHROUGH. Hidden in the metadata was the phrase that solved the mystery: "THE DONATION." They had GIVEN a gift. Now they wanted it BACK.

Document 11 of 15

November 12, 1696 - Eight Days. After three years, Trépagny gets one final postponement. The Sovereign Council would render its last decision on December 4, 1696.

Document 12 of 15

December 4, 1696 - Complete Victory. Marie's son Étienne joined as co-plaintiff—choosing his mother over his half-sister. Marie won all 9 judgments. She died victorious three months later.

Document 13 of 15

Robert's First Marriage, July 27, 1636. This contract between Robert Drouin and Anne Cloutier is believed to be THE OLDEST MARRIAGE CONTRACT IN CANADA.

Document 14 of 15

The Players in the Dispute, Visualized. Robert married twice: to Anne Cloutier (1636), producing Geneviève; then to Marie Chapelier (1649), producing Étienne and seven other children.

Document 15 of 15

The Four-Year Legal Battle. FIVE judicial levels. NINE judgments. ZERO losses. Marie Chapelier: 9, Trépagny: 0.

The Primary Sources