Cabaretier.

André and Catherine.

Their first child, baptized in March 1630, was Jeanne. Her godmother was Jeanne Vincedeau, the wife of Pierre Robert, a possible relative of André. Our ancestor LOUIS was their fourth and he was baptized 12 September 1638 in the chapelle de Sainte-Marguerite. Louis Basset stood for him.

Catherine was to bear one other child before her death at age 35. Buried 8 December 1646, she left three surviving children: Jeanne, 15, Sébastienne, 9 and our ancestor Louis, 8.

André, (not called La Fontaine in her burial record), is said to be a portefaix, or porter. With three children at home it is not surprising that two years later a marriage is found for André, again as portefaix, to Gillette Guillet on 22 June 1648 in the chapelle de Sainte-Marguerite. She was the widow of Jean Beaumont. Mathieu Lallemant was among the witnesses. Unfortunately there is no other mention of this couple - no children born, nor is there a death record for Gillette.

Portefaix.

La Rochelle's port saw many vessels from around the known world. After the siege it was necessary to clear out the barriers which had been sunk to block its entrance so that it could resume its place in commerce.

Porters were engaged to load and unload the ships that anchored in its harbor. The job was vital to the economy, though not particularily lucrative for the laborer. For the entrepeneurial, it would be an opportunity to meet tradesmen and their suppliers.

Another Marriage.

Though the record has not been found our ancestor married Marthe Bouillaud sometime before 1653. This union produced another five children though Denis is the only one who survived.

His daughter Sébastienne's husband Mathieu Lallemand was witness to the burial of the youngest boy, Louis on 30 May 1668.

The records associated with these children reveal more about the family.

Cabaretier.

In 1655 the family was living at the Lion d'argent cabaret in La Rochelle and in 1661 rue Rambault is mentioned as their residence. Later he is referred to as a cabaretier living in the canton des Forges, all marked on the adjacent map.

Cabarets began appearing in Paris in the 16th century. Wine and ale were sold, as were meals for the patrons. Living on the coast meant plenty of fish and eels to serve. Cheeses, breads and wines were certain to be on the table. He may have bought his meats from his father-in-law, Pierre Bonin.

Taxes on wine were increased frequently and could take quite a bite from profits. In 1652 the levy was "six livres fifteen sols per each barrel of wine which is sold." To subvert the legion of tax collectors merchants were not above refilling casks from hidden stores. André appears on a list of the 37 highest paying taxpayers for wine and beer in 1656.

In the End.

It seems André survived all but four of his ten children. Jeanne, 33, and Sébastienne, 30, were both married, Louis, 25, had likely joined the military and his youngest, Denis was just 2 when André died on 5 September 1663 at age 56. This record refers to him as André Robert dit Lafontaine, cabaretier living in canton des Forges. He was buried in the cemetery of Notre-Dame de Cougnes.

His widow Marthe remarried Pierre Herpin in the chapel of Sainte-Marguerite on 3 June 1664.