Madeleine D'Allonne

Who was Madeleine D'Allonne?

Madeleine de Roybon d'Allonne was an early settler of New France.

She was the daughter of a minor French nobleman. She had a relationship with Robert La Salle, a French explorer. In 1681 she donated 2141 livres to him for his voyage and lived in his fort for 2 years. La Salle was later charged with seducing D'Allone and reports claimed that they were to marry. Madeleine protested against the claim until it was clear that it was false.

About this time Robert La Salle granted her a seigneury extending westward from Toneguignon. On this land she built a house, outbuildings and a trading post, grew crops and raised cattle. Marauding Iroquois, angry at the French for their campaign against the Senecas in 1686 destroyed the Roybon's establishment in August 1687, and took her prisoner. Released the following year, she lived in Montreal until her death.

She was the first European woman to own land in Ontario. There is a memorial in Ontario named after her.