Raphael was to live for 60 years, and being the oldest child, he became a great comfort to his father in later life.
Two years later, on September 1st, 1658, another son was born. He was also delivered by Lord Giffard. The baptism was three weeks later in the front room of Lord Giffard's house. This child also received the name Charles.
Godfather--Charles Cloutier, Godmother--Anne Cote. Charles lived unti1 1706. He never married. Lord Giffard and his wife, Madam Giffard, were very kind to their set tlers. Many times they took in the poor and needy to give them succor. Madam Giffard had 20 years experience in Canada and she always shared judicious advice with the younger women of the village. She advised them on the right food and clothing for the young children. Marie Godard, wife of Toussaint, was very fortunate to have been able to live so close to the dear solicitous lady.The years passed swiftly and it was now 1658. After four years there was very little to show for the hard work that Toussaint had been doing. Many other settlers, with the help of their neighbors, had built their own homes, but Toussaint and Marie, with their two young sons, were still living in the house of the Lord.
Then on Oct. 14th, 1658, Jean Creste, a good friend and neighbor of the Giroux’s, called them to his house one after non. Also present was Paul Vachon the Royal Notary, who drew up a contract:
"Jean Creste acknowledges that he sold and transferred to Toussaint Giroux, a piece of ground 7 poles in 1ength by 6 poles in width for a location for a house, a yard and a garden. This sale has a condition ~ Giroux must c1ear a piece of 1and of the same area as that given to him by Creste, and put it in the same shape as the land he is given, with---in one year; all this on Jean Creste's concession.
Witness: Rene Chevalier
Witness: Michel Baugis
Witness: Jean Langlois, Sr.
Toussaint began the task of building his house. With the help of his neighbors, he soon had a substantial dwelling into which he moved his wife and family. It was a good house, with a room with a fireplace and anteroom, a cellar and a granary. Now the Giroux family had a third share in 200 acres of land plus their own homestead. Things were looking up for the Giroux family. On February 24th, 1660 when the Archbishop of Laval visited Beauport, Toussaint, at the age of 26 years, was confirmed into the Catholic faith This gift of strength was welcome because there was new trouble ':'n the horizon to threaten our ancestor's peace of mind.
When a child was baptized into the church at that time, the church or was to give him, or her, the name of the Godfather or Godmother but Marie Goddard was adamant in her desire to name one of her male children Toussaint, after the father. So it was that on May 2nd 1660, Toussaint Giroux, 8 days old was presented for baptism by his Godfather, Rene Chevalier; Godmother ---Marguerite Colin; to Father Paul Raganeau, who performed the ceremony. The child was to live only two months:
"On July 7th, 1660, Toussaint Giroux, child of two months, and son of Toussaint Giroux, was buried in the cemetery near to the church of St Joseph's on Beauce Street”.
After sorrow, surely there must come joy. On June 12th, 1661 there was born another son to the Giroux- coup1e. He was baptized on the 19th of June and given the name Michel Godfather--Michel Maugis, Godmother --Marguerite Langlois, wife of Paul Vachon, Royal Notary. Now Marie Godard was happy and she sang a little song as she rocked her newborn son in his cradle:
"It is the young hen
Who lays an egg in the church
It will lay a nice small egg
For its little one who is going to sleep.”
On February 5th, 1663, a very severe earthquake shook the whole of Canada. From 5 till 5:30 in the evening, a continuous shockwave rocked the houses and brought terror to the hearts if the inhabitants. Most of them ran here and there, not knowing where to turn. The churches were crowded to the doors with hysterical people wanting to confess their sins.The shaking of the earth had opened 1arge fissures from which belched forth fire, smoke and ashes--whole mountains disappeared; rivers ran dry. The aftershocks continued for many months, keeping the people in a state of fear and anxiety. Many were the converts to the church, both white and Indian. Amazingly, no one was killed, and only a few had minor injuries. Most felt it was God's warning to the people to mend their ways.
Again the still young mother, Marie, was expecting. The baby arrived on October 17th, 1663. It was baptized on October 21st and given the name Toussaint. Godfather -- Jean Creste, Godmother--Nicole Rolland, wife of Francois Blondeau. But again the dear mother was doomed to disappointment. This child, also, was too weak to survive. He died on November 10th, 1663. The following Sunday, Toussaint Giroux took the small coffin under his arm arid made the long, sad walk to the cemetery at Quebec. Here, in the "Slope of the Mountain” cemetery, the tiny body was laid to rest.
The next child was born on October 19th 1665, He was; delivered by Monseigneur de Charney, and was baptized by him on the same day. The child was given the name Jean, probably after his grandfather. Godfather --Zacharie Maheult, Godmother --Robine Poete, wife of Paul Rainville. Jean lived a long and healthy life, outliving three wives!
On October 5th, 1665, Toussaint Giroux and his friend, Michel Maugis, along with Paul Vachon, Royal Notary, traveled to Quebec in order to draw up a contract With Charles de Lauzon, priest and Lord of Charny. It seems that Toussaint felt a need to expand his holdings. A deed was drawn up in which the two friends agreed to purchase land from the Lord of Charny , to wit:
"Four acres in front of the St. Lawrence River by 40 acres deep, in the location called 'Mount Saint Michel in the Lauzon domain with a right to fish, to hunt and to let the cattle graze. For this they must pay every year, on Saint Remy’ s Day, October 1st, the sum of Sols for each acre fronting on the St. Lawrence River. They also have to give 2 Deniers and 1/11 of the fish that they catch --- these will be salted by them. The boats for fishing and salt shall be supplied to them.”
This seemed like a very good deal for the two friends, but they had extended themselves too far. The clearing of the new ground and the amount of fish that had to be caught was far to big a load for them. At the end of 4 years, they were again before a notary, this time getting rid of this burdensome piece of property. They had found a buyer.On December 3rd, 1660, Paul Vachon, Royal Notary, was called to Toussaint and Marie's house to draw up another contract, The wives of the two friends, Toussaint and Michel , were also present at this meeting as they had goods in common with their husbands. It was conceded that there was one acre of cut down trees on the concession which the buyer, Jean Drouard, agreed to pay for. The contract states further:
"The buyer promises to deliver 3000 eels; to the sellers, which will be well pickled, and in good condition. The payments will stretch over three years--1670, 1671 and 1672."
Apparently the fishing was not good along this stretch of the St. Lawrence River because Giroux and Maugis had not been able to meet their obligation to Lord Charny, and the new owner, Drouard, had to get an extension. It took him ten years; to fill his contract. On March 9th 1680, the interested parties again met at Paul Vachon's house in Beauport. At this meeting it was acknowledged that Drouard had delivered the 3000 pickled eels to the partners, Giroux and Maugis. The contract was closed.
An old French proverb says:
"Money is a dead treasure, but children are a living treasure."So it was that the Giroux family of Fargy in the Barony of Beauport, continued to become wealthy.On January 1st, 1667 there was great happiness in our ancestor’s home. On this date Marie Anne Giroux was baptized. At last, a girl! After seven boys, Marie Godard had a namesake of her own. Godfather--Claude Besmen de la Martiniere, Godmother--Marie Juchereau, daughter of Lord St Denis.Eighteen months later, another son was born. He was baptized on December 16th, 1668, and given the name' Jean Baptiste. But again a tragic end, he died while still a very young baby.
The first Lord of Beauport Robert Gifford, was a very generous and forgiving landlord. He did not charge his tenants as much as' most 1andlords did for their concessions; and if the tenants were late in their payments he was exceedingly 1enient. Some of his 1easeholders were far in arrears with their payments. Toussaint was one of these, and the good and tolerant times were about to come to an end. Robert Giffard died in the latter part of 1667 and his son, Joseph, became the new Lord of Beauport.
It is evident that the second Lord of Beauport was of a different temperament than his father, because on June 18,1668, eighteen inhabitants of his Barony, among them Toussaint had their concessions revoked. They had failed to carry out the conditions of their contracts. The deposed tenants protested to the Lord's Council, but the eviction was up help. The Council further ruled:
---The inhabitants will be reduced to one acre each.
---The fences will be taken off and rebuilt according to the map drawn by Monseur Bouteroue, Intendent
---The buildings near the past will be pulled down or transferred from the locations by the owners at the owners expense.
---The new owners will refund the former owners for any clearing that has been done on the land of the former owners.
This was a time of hardship for many of these displaced families. With only one acre for sustenance, they were hard pressed to keep food on the table. They were still angry with Lord Gifford for shoving them off their land, and somehow they seemed to blame each other for their woes. Dissension became rampant among the villagers.
