This department is divided in 6 parts; LaRochelle, Jonzac, Marennes, Rochefort, Saintes and Saint-Jean d'Angely. Berneuil the birthplace of Jean Guay is part of the Saintes division. That same division is divided in eight districts. Berneuil is part of the Gemozac district. The church of Berneuil has been placed under the patronage of Our Lady (Notre-Dame) and is very old. It is in this church that Jean Guay was baptised.

Jean was the son of Jean Gué or Guyet or Guiet, and of Marie Dumont. Later on we shall see how this surname was changed to Guay.

Jean came to New France in 1646 in the quality of a Volunteer Servant. (In French "Donné", meaning that he had dedicated his life to the Jesuits). He joined others that had already landed in this faraway and unknown land.

History does not tell us what these people were. Were they peasants? It is possible. However we know that Jean was a carpenter, because but that was his occupation when he immigrated to Canada under the tutelage of the Jesuits. But why did he immigrate to New France?

We know that at that time, France had serious financial problems. New taxes were levied which made life very difficult for its citizens.

In the XVI century, France had to wage many wars, eight of them religious wars between 1562 and 1593. In fact, during this period war was nearly uninterrupted, except for short periods decorated with the name "peace", truces that were determined more by the weariness of the foes than for the lack of money. Also during this period there was a feud between two great rival families for the crown of France: The Guise and the Bourbon. So wars between religious factions became political wars.

Neighboring crowns joined into these conflicts: Philip II of Spain supported the Guise faction while Britain's Elizabeth and the German princes were supporting the Bourbon. (Huguenots) British troops were even seen in le "Havre", Spanish garrisons in Paris, and even a small papal army in the Poitou. These wars were cruel and the countryside bore the brunt of these brutalities. "There is not a piece of land that has not been laid to waste," wrote a contemporary

In 1593, Philip II King of Spain was hoping to add France to his kingdom, as "the protector of the Religious Kingdom of France". The King, grasping the meaning of that proposal, convened the "États Généraux" in January 1593. Philip II presented the candidacy of his daughter, the Spanish Infant. Having to choose between foreign domination and a French Prince the delegates did not hesitate.

Following the conversion of Henry IV, King of France, a precarious peace took place In order to obtain the approval of the Vatican, the King recalled the Jesuits to France, and entrusted them with the management of the College Laflèche. They had been expelled from France following a coup

After having pacified his kingdom, Henry IV must have realized that the country's economy was in shambles. The treasury was empty and the King had no money or credit. There was neither trade, nor industry in the cities, and villages were depopulated. Peasants were revolting. It took a good ten years for prosperity to come back to France.

Trade with the exterior showed progress. In Canada, colonization was revived. Champlain founded Quebec in 1608 and explored the St-Lawrence River up to the Great Lakes.

Meanwhile, Henry IV shouldered the Protestant princes against the German emperor Rudolph II. Henry IV was assassinated on May 14, 1610 before the war against Germany could be declared. Louis XIII, his oldest son succeeded him at the age of 9.

Under Louis XIII (1610-1643) and Louis XIV (1643-1715) disorders reappeared that turned into civil wars. The same troublesome elements as before were back: Landlords dreaming of independence, Huguenots (Protestants) with separatist inclinations, Parliament and cities hostile to absolute power.

In France, around year 1614, the Protestant army was estimated as having 40,000 gentlemen who were joined by 30,000 foot soldiers. War exploded on account of the Bearn. Louix XIII wanted the execution of the Nantes Edict in this country where the Huguenot, who were the strongest, had always refused the Catholics, restitution of the Church properties and parity of cult. Defying the King's orders, the "Assembly of the Reformed", was held in LaRochelle, and created the rebellion of the South, country of Jean Guay.

In 1622, the King awarded the "Reformed" (Protestants) the "Peace of Montpellier", which affirmed the Edict of Nantes, and In 1624, he called on Cardinal Richelieu to assist him. In 1627, war started between the King and his Calvinist subjects at the instigation of England. England displeased with Louis XIII's dealings with Italy, captured French ships at sea and sent a fleet under the command of the Duke of Buckingham to LaRochelle. Richelieu himself undertook the siege of LaRochelle. After a whole year of siege, there was great famine in LaRochelle and the city depleted of its citizens surrendered to the King of France on November 1^st 1628. War against the Protestants raged in the Cévennes until June 28, 1629 when the King awarded the "Reformed" the "Paix de Grâce"

Intrigues against Richelieu and other conflicts followed. King Louis XIII died on May 14^th, 1648 at age 42. During that time, public finances were in disorder. New taxes were added and others increased, which led to many revolts.

Such was the situation in France when Jean Guay decided to immigrate to Canada. We can easily imagine the situation he was confronted with. The suffering of his people, the heavy taxes, added to the possibility of having to join the ranks of those fighting in these everlasting wars, rendered the decision to try the Canadian adventure easy.

Were there other reasons that could impel a 20-year-old man to leave his country? Elders from his native country, without explaining, will pretend that he was one of these young men that were called "rebels"

So, under the patronage of the Jesuits, Jean Guay boarded the "Cardinal" in LaRochelle on July 18, 1646. This ship was under the command of the "sieur De Repentigny". Mr De Repentigny set anchor in Quebec on the 23^rd of September, 2 months and 5 days after its departure from France, a reasonable length of time for an Atlantic crossing in those days. However, a Mr. C. de Rochemontoix may be right in writing that the ship left LaRochelle on June 13. According to the registry of the church of N.D. of Quebec, a child named J.B. Trottier was baptized with the mention that he "was born on the sea two months before on a ship coming from the "Gaule"(a name given to France). His godfather was the young son of the admiral of the fleet and director of the community of the "habitants", J.B. Legardeur and his sister Marguerite. The duration of the crossing would then have been 3 and 1/2 months, which meant that the trip had been rough and long.

Records indicate that such a trip by Champlain in 1610 had taken 19 days, while other crossings lasted more than three months. The trip back to France was easier and calmer, because of the prevailing west winds.

At the end of September 1646, the Reverend Father Lalemant in Quebec wrote in his diary those who arrived this year, in addition to Father Quentin were Father Daran, Father Gabr. Lalemant…" for the Hurons, Desforges, Pierre Tourmenta, mason, Jean Guiet, carpenter, Brother Gouant, apotq. And the said Mr. De Laubiniere…"

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