Marie-Anne Barbel

Marie-Anne Barbel (26 August 1704 – 16 November 1793) was a French-Canadian Businesswomen who lived in New France. She is notable for leading several successful business enterprises after the death of her husband, Louis Fornel

Marie-Anne Barbel was born to Jacques Barbell and Marie-Anne Le Picard on August 26, 1704 at the French settlement of Quebec. Her father, Jacques, began as a garrison seargent and eventually was able to work his way into political office. By 1723, Jacques Barbel is the judge sénéchal of Lauson, a royal notary in Quebec, the judge bailiff of the Beaupre seigneurie, and greffier de l'Officialité Therefore, the Barbel family was well known amongst the political elite in New France.

Marie-Anne Barbel married Jean-Louis Fornel, son of a wealthy merchant family, in December 1723. Both came from very important families in New France and this was reflected in the list of guests invited at the marriage. Guests such as the governor le marquis de Vaudreuil and intendant Michel Bégon attended the wedding.

They had 14 children, seven of whom survived beyond infancy. Ultimately, though, only five children, four girls and one boy, will reach the age of 18. Louis Fornel and his father were both designated bourgeoisie of Quebec. Marie's brother-in-law, Joachim Fornel, was a parish priest as well as Canon of the Quebec Cathedral Chapter (both prestigious positions). During the life of her husband, the care of her children would have likely consumed most of her time while Fornel was busy taking care of the different business ventures One of the principal business's of the family is a retail store located in Place Royal in Quebec. In fact, most of Fornel's business ventures between 1723 and 1737 is centered around retail.However, beginning in 1737, Louis Fornel begins exploring the possibility of expanding into the fur industry with Louis Bazil and Francois Havy. In 1743, Fornel's involvement in the fur industry gives him less time to take care of his retail business in Quebec. Therefore, on May 14, 1743, Louis Fornel granted Barbel full power of attorney. This allowed Marie to manage the business affairs of Fornel while he was on business away at Labrador. This meant that Barbel had all the legal and financial rights that Fornel would have had to conduct business. At this point, Fornel focuses almost exclusively on exploring different posts in Labrador.

In May 1745, Louis Fornel fell ill. He died soon after on May 30, 1745

Marie was granted control of roughly half of Louis' property as well as control of his business ventures. This division of property was dictated under the Custom of Paris which served as the legal framework for most of France's overseas colonies beginning in 1454. As the Custom dictated, Marie-Anne was entitled to one half of the couple's Communaute des biens (community of property), the rest going to child heirs.

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