Jans Sauvage, a master carpenter and cooper, stands as the pioneering figure in the Sauvage family's journey to America. His roots can be traced back to the province of Bretagne, France, although the precise location remains elusive. Speculatively, his ancestral ties may have been in or around the parish of Plouër-sur-Rance, situated just 30 kilometers from the renowned port city of St-Malo.

Jans, born to Jean Sauvage and Anne Eon, set forth on a new chapter in Canada around 1780. His tale intertwines with the narratives of Les Cédres, Quebec, where he experienced both the joy of union and the sorrow of loss.

On April 8, 1782, Jans married Marie-Louise Benoit in this tranquil parish, only to face the abrupt loss of his newlywed status with her untimely passing.

Undeterred by the challenges, Jans' journey continued, and in the fall of 1782, he found new companionship. On October 7 of that year, he married Marguerite Martin dit St-Jean, daughter of François Amable Martin and Elizabeth Leroux, in Les Cédres.

Together, they forged a life, initially settling in the Beauharnois region before moving to the Seigniory of Nouvelle Longueuil. Eleven children, eight marriages, and countless memories later, tragedy struck with the passing of Marguerite on May 10, 1804, leaving Jans to navigate the journey of fatherhood alone.

Jans survived his beloved Marguerite by just under nine years, breathing his last on March 6, 1813, in the parish of Les Cèdres. His legacy continues through the generations, and his role as a pioneer has shaped the destiny of our family in Canada and the United States.

Our Ancestors