Hélène's World: Hélène Desportes of Seventeenth-Century Quebec

by Susan McNelley

Hélène Desportes, born in 1620, was the first child of French parents to be born in Quebec and to survive. For nine years, she lived in Samuel de Champlain’s Habitation. In 1629, the little settlement was captured by the English. Hélène, along with the majority of the other French settlers, was put on an English ship and taken to France. She returned to Quebec in 1634 and spent the remainder of her life in the little colony. She was married twice, had fifteen children, and seventy grandchildren. No portrait of Hélène exits. There are no memoirs, no diaries, nor any letters to guide the biographer. Nevertheless, there are public records and other primary sources from which we are able to piece together her life. This, then, is her remarkable story, set against the backdrop of France’s efforts to establish a colony in the New World along the banks of the St. Lawrence River.

Genres: History, Canada, Nonfiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2013

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times this is a little dry, however, it is a good detailed history of the early days of Quebec. It does somewhat focus on Helene Desportes, but the history does give great detail about how people and how Quebec struggled to survive during the early years. There is also information about the First Nations as well.

[Peter Marcaurelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan McNelley

My primary reason for reading this book was due to the fact that Helene Desportes is my 9th Great Grandmother.

The author, along with other researchers of early Quebec are fortunate to have public records and other primary sources that were recorded and preserved. Susan brings life to those records.

The book is well written and gives a good "sense" of the kind of life Helene and the other early settlers faced in Nouvelle France. Surviving the harsh winters of Quebec with what little they had until ships arrived from France in the spring. Along with facing possible attacks by the Iroquois.

I highly recommend any researcher of French-Canadian Ancestry to read this book.

[Susan Darbe-Cieslak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very helpful tool in understanding Quebec history starting in the early 1600’s. My 8th great grandmother was the first child born in the Champlain Settlement. In school I had no interest in history. This book is fascinating and gives a wonderful idea of life in the 1600’s.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the founding of Quebec and the events that Helene would have witnessed. It wasn't quite what I was expecting but I did find it interesting. Helene was one of my 9th Great Grandmothers.

[Steven Kuehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and interesting read; well cited for anyone looking for detailed sources on 17th century New France, or researching genealogy.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a story of Helene per se, but an excellent overview of life in 17th century Quebec.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hélène Desportes (my husband's 10th great-grandmother), born in 1620, was the first child of French parents to be born in Quebec and to survive. Hélène was married at the age of fourteen, had two husbands, fifteen children, and seventy grandchildren. In her later years she was identified as “sage femme”, recognized for her skill as a midwife and acknowledging her high moral character.

But this book is about more than just about Hélène. It describes in detail the daily lives and struggles of all the early settlers of Quebec in the earliest years of French settlement as well as the lives of the Huron natives they interacted with. It also is revealing about the religious, social and political forces that shaped the colony.

The book is well documented, using original sources such as church and legal records and the writings of the earliest settlers, including Champlain. Occasionally, the writing is a bit dry and wanders far afield from its core topic, but it provides important insight into this period of Canadian history.

[Francis X DuFour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent Saga

Helene Desportes, first French child born in New France, was an amazing woman. Twice married she produced 15 children. As a certified midwife she delivered scores of babies during Quebec’s first half century of existence, defying disease, starvation, illness and raids by hostile natives. This remarkable story follows the growth of New France during Helene’s life, a precarious and uncertain beginning to what became the nation of Canada.

[Leigh Beauchamp Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully researched and written
This book is a 'must read' for anyone who has family roots in the Province of Quebec or is planning to visit Quebec City. My interest was that Helene Desportes is my 8th great-grandmother.

Susan McNelley brought Helen and the times she lived to life, without tedious detail.

Helen's story is told in a way that would enlighten the understanding of anyone curious about life in Quebec from 1608 to 1690.

[Colleen Callegari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family history

Quite informative,historically significant, very researched. Depicts the hard life of the New France settlers,in particular the women's hardships.. Amazing the large families these very young girls would bear and raise,the amount of work just to provide one meal yet, alone three, plus all the other chores they had to do to survive,no man it peso here!

[Barbara Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if You’re Interested in the Earliest Days of Quebec/New France

I found this extremely well-researched and definitely interesting — although this is not on any of my relations to my knowledge. Gave a great glimpse into what life in those early years (generally 17th century). My only criticism is that the author tends to repeat herself….

[Christy Oslund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating historical details which was clearly well researched. In setting the context, Helena is often far off scene, more than expected. Still worth reading for a clearer picture of life in early Quebec.

[Ann]

Enjoyable read and a wonderful window into the earliest European lives in New France (Canada).