On her former land holding, Highway 33, east of the floating bridge at Parrott Bay - on the west edge of the picnic area just west of Amherstview

Commemoration

Of noble French birth, de Roybon was the first European woman to own land in what is now Ontario.  She came to Fort Frontenac (Kingston), probably in 1679, when she acquired property from René-Robert Cavalier de la Salle, governor and seigneur of the fort.  In 1681 she loaned him money to finance his explorations, and about this time he granted her a seigneury extending westward from Toneguignon (Collins Bay).  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 de Roybon’s establishment in August 1687 and took her prisoner.  Released the following year, she lived in Montreal until her death.

Background

Madeleine de Roybon (c.1646-1718) likely came to New France in search of a husband, as many French women settlers did.  However, Madeleine never married.  Rumours linking her romantically with La Salle are most likely false.