Soissons

INSEE: 02722
Aisne Department, France
Old Regime Province: PICARDIE

Ancestors who immigrated to Canada:

  • MARIE D'ABANCOURT (ab. 1617 - ab. 1678-1681).
    Marie, daughter of Adrien d'Abancourt dit Lacaille and Simone d'Orgeville, emigrated to Canada with her mother in 1634 or 1635 to join her father who had emigrated in 1632. Marie declared being native of Saint-Waast parish at Soissons at her second marriage in 1651.

    Because of the above declaration it has been assumed by many that her parents were also from Soissons. There is proof that Adrien d'Abancourt was not from Soissons but from Saint-Paul, a village next to Beauvais. It is not known where her mother Simone d'Orgeville was from.

    SAINT-WAAST Parish in Soissons

    Soissons is a town of 30,000 inhabitants in Picardie, with a very rich history. It already existed at the time of Ceasar's invasion of Gaul.

    The parish of Saint-Waast is on the west side of the river Aisne and used to encompass the part of the walled city on that side of the river. The somewhat styleless church dates from about 1600. It was heavily damaged during the First World War by German shelling. It ceased to be a parish church in 1963, but was reopened to the cult in 2006.

    In 1617, the presumed year of birth of Marie d'Abancourt, the town was the site of one of the last battle between the Royal army and the followers of a rebellious faction of the nobility. The royal army was thereafter encamped in the bastion around the church of Saint-Waast. A unit of 300 Normans men-at-arms had taken part in the last battle. Adrien d'Abancourt could have been in this group. It was not uncommon for wives to follow their husband-soldiers in those days, particularly when they were on garrison duty.


    Saint-Waast Church, Soissons, France. Photographed in 2006 by Michel Robert.

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    Saint-Waast Church, 2006 and 1917

    Saint-Waast on the East side of the Aisne River, as seen from the downtown side.

    Water colour (XVIII or XIX Century) titled "Eglise St-Waast dans un bastion de la ville".

    Cadastre (survey) of part of Soissons, showing the location of Saint-Waast

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