Conrad Gugy - Personality and Death

Personality and Death

Conrad Gugy was described as a man of "large heart and hospitable to a fault". In those early days in Canada, transport and taverns were rare, but Gugy enthusiastically received travellers, without distinction, into his home and hospitably entertained them. He loved horses, and was known to have made a gift of them to mark the pleasure which he had taken in the society of an occasional guest.

Towards the end of his life, the owner of a neighbouring fief claimed that Gugy had been responsible for wilful damage to his property during the construction of buildings for the American refugees. In 1787, Gugy’s seigneuries were put up for auction to pay the damages for which the jury had held him liable. Shortly after, however, the judgement was reversed, and his seigneuries were saved, but it was too late for him. In Sketches of Celebrated Canadians, it was reported that following the verdict,

He gently made his way through the crowd, and, going to his lodgings, without speaking one word, entered his room and locked the door. On its being burst next morning, his cravat was founded neatly folded upon an arm of the sofa, upon which he lay in a reclining position, stone dead. He had not committed suicide; but, proud and sensative, he was absolutely killed by the humiliation of such a verdict.

Though Conrad Gugy was not married, his seigneuries were left to Elizabeth Wilkinson, who lived with him at his manor house. After her death, by his will, they were to pass to his brother, but as he had predeceased her, they were passed on to Conrad's nephew, Louis Gugy.

In 1980, a street - Rue Conrad Gugy - was named for him in Yamachiche, Quebec.