Zacharie Cloutier II and Madeline Esmard

The eldest son of Zacharie and Xainte Dupont was born on August 16th, 1617 in Mortagne au Perche France. He was variously described as a level headed charitable and friendly young man. As the eldest sibling he was given more responsibility and was a great help to his father during Zacharie I 's servitude to Robert Giffard. Young Zach learned not only farming but the building trade while assisting his father to build the Giffard manor and the parish church.

Photos courtresy of pat and Fran Huckell
The church in the old city of Feings where Xainte Dupont wife of Zacharie Cloutier I was born A street in the village of ST. Mard de Reno, birthplace of Zacharie Cloutier II

Zacharie became god friends with Oliver leTardif, who had become the assistant general to the Company of 100 Associates. When Le Tardif returned to France he took young Zach with him. It had been 13 years since the young man had seen his native land. The crossing took place in the ship Notre Dame captained by Le Tardif himself. Also on the voyage were the Juchereau brothers formerly of Tourouvre. It was at the port of La Rochelle that Zacharie met the beautiful Magdalene Esmard, (Aymard) whose original home was St. Andre de Miorts in the Bishopric of Poitiers. She was 26 years old when she married Zacharie who was then 30.

Coincidently Le Tardiff married Magdalene's older sister Barbe hence the two friends became brothers - in -law. The marriage contract between Zacharie and Magdalene gives some idea as to the importance attached to the young Cloutier where he is described as being.....

" Master of La Clouterie and assistant of the company of ' Messieurs les Habitants' of New France "

Also on the marriage contract between Zacharie and Magdalene were the names and designation of the

' honourable man ' Oliver Tardiff captain of the ship 'Notre Dame' belonging to the company, Jean Juchereau , master of the maison Ferte and Captain of the ship 'Saint Sauveur another chartered vessel of the company and Noel Juchereau master of the vessel 'Chastelets' and assistant general of the said company

Prior to his return to France in 1647, Le Tardif acquired for the sum of 1500 pounds, one eigth of a share of the Seigneurie of Beaupre. As a co member of the company Le Tardif gave himself a plot of land "five acres by a league and a half in depth" ( Source: "La Clouterie- Ancestors and Origins" Volume III No.2) in the place where the village of Chateau Richer now stands. Le Tardif pursuaded Zacharie and two of his brothers Jean and Charles to join him in the development of the land. Thus Le Tardif is recognized as the founder of Chateau Richer and the Cloutier brothers were instrumental in the development of it.

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The 1681 census shows the possessions of Zacharie II in Chateau Richer to be: " a house, buildings, 756 acres of land of which 80 acres was of good cutivable soil, 13 horned beasts and a rifle. He had a wife and the first three children of an ultimate total of eight.

Zacharie died February 3rd the same year as his wife, who died May 28th 1708.

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