How Jean Godefroy, Sieur de Linctot, survived and thrived in New France after Thomas's death

 

Following the tragic death of Thomas Godefroy in 1652, the continuation and growth of the family line rested upon his elder brother, Jean Godefroy, Sieur de Linctot (c. 1607–1678).

A Powerful Alliance: Marriage to Marie Le Neuf

In December 1636, Jean married Marie Le Neuf in New France. Her family—including her mother Jeanne Le Marchand and brothers Michel Le Neuf du Hérisson and Jacques Le Neuf de La Poterie—arrived in 1636 and were regarded as the first French noble family to settle permanently in the colony.

This marriage allied Jean with one of the most politically influential kinship groups in early Canada. Combining the Le Neufs' aristocratic background with Jean's deep wilderness experience established the Godefroys as prominent leaders in the St. Lawrence River valley.

[THE GODEFROY DE LINCTOT LINE: TROIS-RIVIÈRES] 

Jean Godefroy, Sieur de Linctot (c. 1607–1678) 

m. (1636) Marie Le Neuf (c. 1612–1688) 

│ 

├──> Michel Godefroy de Linctot (1637–1709) [First French child born at Trois-Rivières] 

├──> Louis Godefroy de Normanville (1639–1679) [Procureur du Roi / King's Attorney] 

├──> Jacques Godefroy de Vieuxpont (1641–1661) 

├──> Jeanne Godefroy (1644–1713) [Ursuline Nun] 

├──> Joseph Godefroy de Vieuxpont (1645–1715) 

├──> Amador Godefroy de Saint-Paul (1649–1730) 

├──> Marie-Renée Godefroy (1652–1736) m. Pierre Le Boulanger 

└──> Pierre Godefroy de Roquetaillade (1655–1688)

Building Trois-Rivières & Royal Ennoblement

Jean Godefroy was one of the founding pillars of Trois-Rivières (established in 1634). Over his lifetime, he accumulated major land grants (seigneuries) around Lake Saint-Pierre and the St. Maurice River.

• The 1650 Mission to France: At the height of the Iroquois attacks in 1650, Jean traveled back to France to personally petition the Crown for military aid and relief for the struggling settlements. 
• Confirmation of Nobility: In 1668, King Louis XIV officially granted letters of ennoblement to Jean Godefroy de Linctot and his lineage in recognition of his decades of service to the Crown, his work as an interpreter, and his leadership on the frontier.

How the Line Thrived: The Next Generation

Between 1637 and 1658, Jean and Marie had 11 children—including 8 sons who distinguished themselves across New France:

• Michel Godefroy de Linctot (1637–1709): Born in October 1637, Michel is recorded as the first French child born in the settlement of Trois-Rivières. He became a military officer and defender of the colony, continuing his father's seigneurial legacy. 
• Louis Godefroy de Normanville (1639–1679): Following his uncle Thomas's death, Louis took the title Sieur de Normanville. He served as the King's Attorney (procureur du Roi) at Trois-Rivières.
• Military & Frontier Officers: Sons such as Joseph Godefroy de Vieuxpont, Amador Godefroy de Saint-Paul, and Pierre Godefroy de Roquetaillade served as officers in the Troupes de la Marine, fur trade commanders, and diplomats across the Great Lakes and Mississippi frontier. 

Through a combination of seigneurial land ownership, military service, and wilderness diplomacy, Jean Godefroy de Linctot transformed his family from early frontier interpreters into one of the principal noble dynasties of New France. When Jean passed away in March 1678, he was buried at Trois-Rivières, leaving behind a family line deeply rooted in Canadian history.

Thank you Gemini AI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy