At the heart of a legacy

Descriptive transcript:

The camera frames the historian Vicky Laprade sitting in the miller’s staircase in the attic of Maison LePailleur. Illustrations and photos of documents punctuate her explanations.

Black screen with gold border with title; At the heart of a legacy

In his solemn will dated December 14, 1829, François-Georges LePailleur named his wife Josephte Daigneault as his universal legatee.

Insert a copy of the will of François-Georges LePailleur

Therefore, when he died in 1834, Josephte inherited all his possessions, including his land.

Insert the sepia photograph of Josephte Daigneault in later life.

So, what we need to know is that at the time, widows and single women were the ones who enjoyed the greatest legal and administrative autonomy, because wives were subject to the authority of their husbands.

Back to Vicky.

In Quebec, the rights of married women evolved very slowly. For example, it was only in 1931 that they gained the right to acquire wages independently of their spouses. It was only in 1964 that they were allowed to manage their own assets like single women could. By comparison, in Ontario, these rights were acquired in 1872 and 1884 respectively. However, Quebec’s married women enjoyed a rather desirable legal and heritage situation, because they inherited legal tools from the old regime, such as the community of goods and the customary dower. The customary dower ensured a certain subsistence for the widows. So, for example, if the husband owned a private hotel before the wedding, the wife did not become the owner, but she was still able to collect the money. We understand that married women had a certain autonomy that was quite desirable in society but this autonomy varied according to the provisions made in the marriage contract and in the will. So, if there was a remarriage or no children, certain provisions had to change. Josephte Daigneault, as a widow and in her capacity of universal legatee had a great autonomy. She could dispose of her assets, she could sell them, she could bequeath them and so on.

Insert a copy of a contract between Josephte Daigneault and her daughter Catherine LePailleur

She took advantage of these rights in 1842 when she sold a piece of land to her eldest daughter, Luce Catherine LePailleur, for 50 pounds. Catherine being single at the time of the transaction, she also enjoyed a certain freedom, which allowed the two women to make this contract together.

Back to Vicky

When we read the contract, we understand that Catherine received a dowry. So, in February of the same year, Catherine married Richard Houle and from then on, she stopped signing papers and the administration of her property fell into the hands of her husband.

Insert a black and white photograph of Maison Gravel in the 50s, with the Chateauguay River in front.

What is interesting though, is that Catherine had a house built on her piece of land, Maison Gravel, of which the consolidated ruins can be visited nowadays.