The story of Nicolas Geoffroy's voyage
across the Atlantic, an excerpt from a paper written by Father J. Hector
Geoffroy in Montreal in 1972. A descendent of Nicolas.
Read Father Geoffroy's
full 17-page history
of Nicolas and his descendents. Adobe PDF software required.
The
parents of Nicolas Geoffroy were living in Dampierre in the province of
Champagne in France when their son sailed for Canada or New France.
He embarked on the Rubis at the port of LaRochelle on the Atlantic coast
on June 10th 1740.
The trip was a deadly trip for many as the occupants became sick.
And many died. Nicolas arrived at Quebec City August 7th 1740.
He was immediately hospitalized at Hotel-Dieu, but left on August 11 to
reach the Forges St-Maurice where he was expected to start work.
A letter of the Rev. Father Canot, Jesuit passenger on the vessel
dated August 30, 1740 gives us an idea of the Ruby....
"Imagine a place as big as our hovels (attics under roofs) where
light hardly ever penetrates and where one can hardly walk right, all
full of mulch, above which are canvases...corners attached by
nails...which serve as beds...we were close to four hundred in one such
small space. It is not surprising that in such proximity there was
rarely a crossing exempt of travelers contaminating each other with
illnesses which in turn became real epidemics...."
