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Abraham Martin dit l’Écossais & Marguerite Langlois

Abraham Martin was born circa 1589, likely in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France. At the age of about 26, he married Marguerite Langlois in France. Unfortunately, we don't know either of their parents' names or their origins. Abraham and Marguerite’s first son Jean was baptized in the parish of St-Jacques in Dieppe on 23 Sep 1616.

Abraham's dit name (nickname) "l'Écossais" (the Scot) has led to several theories about his origins. According to Fichier Origine, he lived on rue d'Écosse (Scotland Street) in Dieppe. Others believe he may have had Scottish roots or may have gone to Scotland several times during his childhood. Another theory is that Abraham may have been in the army and deserted, taking on a false name.

Early Pioneers

Abraham and Marguerite were some of the first French settlers to arrive in New France, sailing to Québec circa 1620 with Marguerite’s sister Françoise and her husband Pierre Desportes. Over the next six years, Marguerite gave birth to three more children, all of whom were baptized in the parish of Notre-Dame in Québec: Eustache, Marguerite and Hélène. Eustache is said to be the first Canadian child of European descent born in Québec. His baptism is the first to appear in the parish register of Notre-Dame. His sister Marguerite's is the second. On Hélène’s 1627 baptism, Samuel de Champlain, the “Father of New France”, is listed as her godfather.  

Abrupt Return to France

After the Kirke Brothers seized Québec in 1629, Abraham and his family returned to France. Marguerite gave birth to a fifth child in Dieppe. Pierre Martin was baptized in the parish of St-Jacques on 1 Aug 1630. 

In 1633, Abraham and his family returned to Québec. Champlain also returned in 1633, but health problems soon began to plague him. He suffered a severe stroke in October of 1635. On November 17th, he penned his last will and testament. Champlain gave 600 livres to Abraham and his wife Marguerite "in order for them to clear the land in this country of New France" [author’s translation]. Champlain also gave their daughter Marguerite 600 livres, "to help her marry in this country of New France; to a man who would be a resident of the said country and not otherwise" [author’s translation]. He gave a further 300 francs to his goddaughter Hélène.

The Plains of Abraham

On 4 Dec 1635, a report was drawn up on the measurement and demarcation of the 12 arpents of land given to Abraham by the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France. The land was located on the northern slope of Cap-aux-Diamants. In 1647, Abraham received another 20 arpents of land from Adrien Duchesne, a surgeon and interpreter also from Dieppe. An often-told story is that Abraham used to walk on the Côte d'Abraham (Abraham's hill) to take his cows to drink at the Saint-Charles River. How the “Plains” got their name isn’t certain, but chances are Québec’s residents simply called the area after the man who lived there, or nearby.

In 1667, the land was sold by the Martin family to the Ursuline nuns. At that time, it stretched from Côte-Sainte-Geneviève (present-day Grande-Allée) downwards to Côte-d’Abraham, and westward to Clairefontaine street. The land did not encompass today's “Plains of Abraham”, but the actual 1759 battle took place on the Plains of Abraham, as well as on the old property belonging to Abraham Martin. Today, the Plains of Abraham refer specifically to Battlefields Park, although most locals and visitors still call the park the Plains of Abraham. Click here to learn more about the park and its important military history.

The toponym Abraham appears in writing for the first time only in the 18th century. Some notaries refer to the "côte d’Abraham" to designate the northern escarpment of the Québec promontory. Others mention a road named after Abraham. In 1734, rue d'Abraham appeared on a map. However, it was during the military events of 1759-1760 that the name Abraham entered popular usage. In 1759, the Chevalier de Lévis mentioned "the heights of Abraham" and a hill called the "côte d’Abraham" in his journal. On the British side, Captain John Knox writes about the "Plains of Abraham".

Master River Pilot

Abraham claimed to be a maître pilote des rivières (a master river pilot). In fact, he may have been the colony's very first pilot. Many sources claim he had a "royal pilot" designation, although no official proof of this exists. The confusion apparently stems from an index for the registry of notary Le Coustre, which shows that Abraham received the title of royal pilot for the Saint-Lawrence. The actual notarial registry (and not the index), however, has nothing to do with such a title. The entry is for a marriage contract on 27 Dec 1647 between Abraham's daughter Marie and Jean Cloutier, in which Abraham refers to himself as a royal pilot. Notaries were not responsible for registering royal appointments. This doesn't mean that Abraham wasn't a skilled boat pilot; it simply means he probably never received a designation as a "royal" pilot.  

Trials and Tribulations

On 19 Jan 1649, the first public execution took place in New France. An unnamed young girl of about 15 was executed in Québec for theft. Less than a month later on 15 Feb 1649, Abraham Martin was accused of raping the girl and was sent to prison. His trial was postponed until the next fleet of boats could arrive. However, a trial never happened, and legal documents are missing for the most part. Was he guilty? Unless additional legal documents are discovered, we may never know. To learn more, read this excellent blog by Robert Bérubé.

On 3 Apr 1664, Abraham was again before the courts, this time for the actions of his domestic servant, a certain Saint-Martin. Abraham was ordered to pay the equivalent of 20 livres tournois in foodstuffs and medication to Pierre Hudon, the domestic servant of the sieur Marsolet, for the "excesses committed on him" by Saint-Martin.

Leaving a Legacy

Abraham and Marguerite had at least 11 children:

1. Jean Martin (1616-?)

2. Eustache Martin (1621-?)

3. Marguerite Martin (1624-1679)

4. Hélène Martin (1627-?)

5. Pierre Martin (1630-?)

6. Marie Martin (1635-1699)

7. Adrien Martin (1638-?)

8. Madeleine Martin (1640-1688)

9. Barbe Martin (1643-1660)

10. Anne Martin (1645-1717)

11. Charles Amador Martin (1648-1711)

Note: there is no evidence that the Anne Martin born circa 1608 in France who married Jean Côté on 17 Nov 1635, is Abraham Martin and Marguerite Langlois' daughter.

As of the year 1800, the Abraham Martin and Marguerite Langlois couple ranked 6th in Québec for the number of married descendants: 7,765.

Abraham Martin dit l'Écossais died at the age of about 75 in Québec. He was buried on 8 Sep 1664 in the parish cemetery of Notre-Dame.

After her husband's death, Marguerite Langlois married René Branche on 17 Feb 1665 at Notre-Dame in Québec. Ten months later, Marguerite passed away. She died on 17 Dec 1665 and was buried two days later in the cimetière des pauvres (cemetery for the poor) of the hospital she died in.

In 1926, a monument was erected in Québec City in honour of Martin. It was made by sculptor Henri Hébert and donated by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

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Sources and Further Reading:

• Robert Bérubé, "1649: Abraham Martin: Coupable ou Innocent? Abraham Martin: Guilty or not Guilty?", personal blog, ROBERT BÉRUBÉ GÉNÉALOGIE ET AUTRES HISTOIRES (https://robertberubeblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/04/1649-abraham-martin-coupable-ou-innocent-abraham-martin-guilty-or-not-guilty/), 4 May 2017.

• Henry B. M. Best, “MARTIN, ABRAHAM (dit « l’Écossais » ou « Maître Abraham »)“, in the Dictionnaire biographique du Canada, vol. 1, Université Laval/University of Toronto, 2003, http://www.biographi.ca/fr/bio/martin_abraham_1F.html.

• Antonio Drolet, “DU CHESNE, ADRIEN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography (http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/du_chesne_adrien_1E.html.), vol. 1, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003.

• Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie, Fichier Origine online database (https://www.fichierorigine.com/recherche?numero=290146), entry for Abraham MARTIN / L'ÉCOSSAIS (person #290146).

• "Sir David Kirke". In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-david-kirke). Article published September 18, 2008; Last Edited January 17, 2020.

• "Procès-verbal de mesurage et de bornage de 12 arpents de terre données à Abraham Martin", digital image, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/), report on the measurement and demarcation of the 12 arpents of land given to Abraham Martin, 4 Dec 1635, Québec, reference P1000,S3,D1399, Id 367808.  

• "Jugement condamnant Abraham Martin à payer l'équivalent de 20 livres tournois en aliments et médicaments à Pierre Hudon, serviteur domestique du sieur Marsolet, pour les excès commis sur lui par le nommé Saint-Martin, serviteur domestique du sieur Martin et que ce serviteur soit contraint par toutes voies et rigueurs de justice, même par corps", digital images, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (https://advitam.banq.qc.ca/notice/401718), 3 Apr 1664, judgement against Abraham Martin in favour of Pierre Hudon, Fonds Conseil souverain - BAnQ Québec, reference TP1,S28,P1629, ID 401718; citing original data: Pièce provenant du Registre plumitif no 1 Bis des arrêts, jugements et délibérations du Conseil souverain de la Nouvelle-France (26 septembre 1663 au 23 août 1664), f. 33v.

• Plaines d'Abraham", Points d'intérêt, Ville de Québec (https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/citoyens/patrimoine/quartiers/saint_jean_baptiste/interet/plaines_abraham_creer_parc_public.aspx).

• "The Plains of Abraham: The Tale of a Toponym", The National Battlefields Commission (http://www.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca/en/history-heritage/site-history/illustrious-park/#toponyme).

• "Les Pionniers", Programme de recherche en démographie historique (PRDH), Université de Montréal (https://www.prdh-igd.com/fr/LesPionniers).

• "Abraham (Martin) Martin dit l'Écossais (abt. 1589 - 1664)", WikiTree.com (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Martin-2179).