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 Michel Dupuis & Marie Gautrot

Michel and Marie are the ancestors of most Acadian Dupuis families. They lived in Acadia in an incredibly turbulent time, caught in the middle of never-ending wars between the French and British. These conflicts led to the 1755 deportation of Acadians by the British, which affected most of Michel Dupuis and Marie Gautrot descendants.

Michel Dupuis was born around 1637 in France. His exact origins are unknown. His surname has been spelled Dupuy, Dupout and Dupeux. He was the first Dupuis to settle in Acadia. 

Marie Gautrot, daughter of François Gautrot and Marie (maiden name unknown), was born around 1636 in France. Her exact origins are also unknown. Marie’s father was a ploughman. The Gautrot family arrived in Acadia sometime before 1650. Her surname was sometimes spelled Gautreau, Gauthreau, Gotro and Gottreau. Marie first married a man named Potet (given name unknown) around 1656.

Michel and Marie were married around 1664 in Acadia (a British colony). They had at least five children: Martin, Jeanne, Pierre, Jean and Marie.

The Dupuis were living in a tumultuous time, with England and France constantly fighting over the possession of Acadia. In 1667, Acadia was once again a French colony, a part of New France governed by Paris. The population of Acadia totalled 400 residents, most living in Port-Royal. Click here to learn more about the complicated history of Acadia.

In 1671, Michel “Dupout” and Marie were enumerated in the census living in Port-Royal, Acadia (a French colony), with their four children. Michel was a ploughman; he owned 6 arpents of cleared land, 5 horned animals and 1 sheep. 

In 1678, the Dupuis family was still living in Port-Royal, Acadia (a French colony). Michel “du Peux” owned 2 arpents of land and 6 horned animals. Michel and Marie lived with their four children.

The Dupuis home was likely situated on the north bank of the Dauphin (Annapolis River) in the Belleisle Marsh.

Michel “Dupeux,” 57, and Marie “Gotro,” 49, were recorded in the 1686 census living in Port-Royal, Acadia (a French colony), with their four children. Michel owned 5½ arpents of cleared land, 6 horned animals and 2 sheep.

In 1693, the Dupuis family was still living in Port-Royal, Acadia (now a British colony). 56-year-old Michel “Dupeux” owned 10 arpents of land, 1 firearm, 14 horned animals, 18 sheep and 8 pigs. Michel and Marie lived with their two children, Jean and Marie.

Oath of Allegiance

On August 16, 1695, a group of 58 Acadian men at Port-Royal gave an oath of allegiance to the king of England. They declared, “Wee do Swear and Sincerely Promise That wee will be Faithful and bear True Allegiance to his Majesty King William King of England Scotland France and Ireland So Help us God.” Michel Dupuis is believed to have been part of this group, and that he left his mark (“marque de Dupeu[?]”) since he wasn’t able to sign his name.

In 1698, Michel and Marie were still living with their children Jean and Marie in Port-Royal, Acadia (now French colony). Michel owned 8 arpents of land, 1 firearm, 12 horned animals, 20 sheep and 8 pigs.

Michel and Marie appear in a census for the last time in 1700. They were still living with their children Jean and Marie in Port-Royal, Acadia (a French colony). Michel owned 12 horned animals, 20 sheep and 10 pigs, as well as 1 firearm.

Both Michel Dupuis and Marie Gautrot died sometime after 1700. Their burial records have not been located.

Michel Dupuis and Marie Gautrot’s descendants would be greatly affected by the 1755 Acadian Deportation. They were sent to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Louisiana, South Carolina, Martinique and France. Many eventually found their way to French-speaking Québec, first settling in L’Acadie and Laprairie. 

Origins of the Name Dupuis

The name Dupuis stems from an agglutination of du Puits, derived from Le Puits, the name of several communes in France. The name could also refer to one who owns a well or lives near a well. Dupuis is a very common name in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.

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Article published September 13, 2022.

Sources:

• Stephen A. White, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes (Moncton, New Brunswick: Centre d'études acadiennes – Université de Moncton, 1999), page 596, entry for Michel Dupuis.

• Ibid., page 691, entry for Marie Gautrot.

• "Dépôt des papiers publics des colonies; état civil et recensements : Série G 1 : Recensements et documents divers : C-2572" (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c2572/5), 1671 census for Port-Royal, Acadia, household of Michel Dupuis; citing original data : Library and Archives Canada, "Archives des colonies : Série G 1 – 2572," 113152, lac_reel_c2572, MG 1 G 1.

• Ibid. (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c2572/17), 1686 census for Port-Royal, Acadia, household of Michel Dupeux. 

• Ibid. (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c2572/74), 1693 census for Port-Royal, Acadia, household of Michel Dupeux.

• Ibid. (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c2572/116), 1698 census for Port-Royal, Acadia, household of Michel Dupuis.

• Ibid. (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c2572/155), 1700 census for Port-Royal, Acadia, household of Michel Dupeux.

• "CENSUS OF PORT ROYAL-1678," Acadian-Cajun Genealogy & History (http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~acadiancajun/genealogy/1678cens.htm : accessed 29 Aug 2022), 1678 census for Port Royal, household of Michel Dupuis ; citing original data : correlations done by Rev. Clarence J. d'Entremont, Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

• Marc Picard, Dictionnaire des noms de famille du Canada français (Québec, Québec, Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 2010), 140.  

• “Nom de famille : DUPUIS,” Geneanet (https://www.geneanet.org/genealogie/dupuis/DUPUIS : accessed 29 Aug 2022).

• Nicolas Landry and Père Anselme Chiasson, "History of Acadia," In The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/history-of-acadia), article published August 19, 2013; last edited November 23, 2020.