Marie de Saint-Étienne de La Tour was born around 1654. Her parents were Charles de Saint-Étienne de La Tour and Jeanne Motin de Reux, widow of Charles de Menou d'Aulnay. La Tour and d'Aulnay had been in open conflict for over decade, hence, when Marie de Saint-Étienne de La Tour married the seigneur of Port Royal, Alexandre Le Borgne de Bélisle, around 1675, three rival families were united. In fact, Alexandre's father, Emmanuel Le Borgne, was the main creditor of Charles de Menou d'Aulnay's properties in Acadie and Alexander, in charge of his father's business affairs since the latter had returned to France in 1655, was in direct conflict with Marie's mother, Jeanne Motin de Reux. When Alexandre Le Borgne de Bélisle died, around 1692, Marie inherited his title as seigneur of Port-Royal and actively administered the domain until her death in 1739.