CHAPTER SIX - Voyageur Ancestors in 1700-1800s Fur Trade Timeline
NOTE: Most of the voyageur entries following are from obscure, single line, Archives of Quebec, notary records.
They
were in French, so they have been translated in the best manner
possible. A few additional records were sourced from reading books about
the fur trade in North America (SEE Bibliography).
My voyageur ancestors are inserted into a Fur Trade Timeline for New France, and later Canada, so you may discover what was happening in history during their time as voyageurs.
1700s
1701 - August 4 : Signing of the Great Peace of Montreal between 39 First Nation tribes and the French Colonial government.
1702 - Beginning of Queen Anne’s War between France and Great Britain.
1703 - Philippe de Rigaud Vaudreuil , governor of Montreal, is made governor of New France when de Callière dies in Montreal.
1704 - Claude de Ramezay is made governor of Montreal on May 15.
1704 - February 29 - Deerfield Massacre : French forces from Quebec and Native American forces under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked the village of Deerfield, Massachusetts.
Charles Cusson (1672-1727) (9th great-uncle)
• 1694, Sep 20, Engagement of Charles Cusson to the Sieur de Vincenne to make the trip of the 8ta8ats (Ottawas). Notary Adhémar.
• 1701, voyageur with Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac when he established a settlement at Detroit.
• 1690-1713, five of Charles' brothers - Jean, Michel, Ange, Nicolas and Joseph were all active as fur-traders, all having received permission to travel to the west.
Charles Deneau dit Destaillis (1701-1748) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• 1724, Apr 20, Engagement de Charles Deno (Deneau), à Francois Augé, faisant tant pour lui que pour M' Amariton et Nicolas Sarazin, pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac (Michilimakinac). Notary Adhémar.
Pierre Rivet (1683-1753) (8th great-uncle)
• 1703, hired by Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada as a voyageur to go to Detroit via Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
Jean Rivet (1677-_) (8th great-uncle)
• 1705, May 30, Engaged as a voyageur to go to l'Ouest (West) to Detroit.
Rene Rivet (1678-1735) (8th great-uncle)
• 1703, hired by Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada as a voyageur to go to Detroit via Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
Jacques Godet (Gaudet) (Gaudette) dit Marentette (1673-1729) (1st cousin 9x removed)
• 1707, Voyageur to Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit.
Guillaume Barrette dit Courville (1678-1745) (7th great-grandfather)
• 1708, appointed the first notary Royal de la Seignerie de La Prairie, Quebec, Canada.
Pierre Beauchamp (1676-_) (8th great-uncle)
• 1705, Jun 5, Hired as a voyageur to go to Détroit.
• 1709, Mar 9, Engagement of Pierre and Jacques Beauchamps to Pierre Lestaige, making for M'de La Forest, to make the voyage to the fort The Chartrain bridge, of the Strait of Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
Jacques Beauchamp (1658-_) (8th great-uncle)
• 1705, May 30, Engaged to go to Détroit.
• 1709, Mar 9, Engagement of Pierre and Jacques Beauchamps to Pierre Lestaige, making for M'de La Forest, to make the voyage to the fort The Chartrain bridge, of the Strait of Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
• 1717, May 18, Engagement de Pierre et Jacques Beauchamp et Antoine Bazinet, et Jean Baudriau aux sieurs Dutisnet et Nicolas Roy pour faire le voyage à Michilimakinac. Notary Lepallieur, Michel.
Jacques Godet (1673-1729) (1st cousin 9x removed)
• 1707, Voyageur to Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit.
1710s
1712 - New France extends from Newfoundland to Lake Superior and from the Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
1712 - Michel Bégon becomes intendant of New France
1712 - Wars with the Fox Indians began. The Fox closed the trading route of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. Trade throughout the upper Mississippi region was disrupted.
1713 - French colonists in all of North America number about twelve thousand, while British colonists numbered almost one million.
1713 - British destroy fort St. Louis when left vacant.
1717 - French banker John Law’s Mississippi Company sets up business in Louisiana and the Mississippi River basin.
1719 - Jacques David appointed royal notary of Montreal.
Pierre Gagne (Gagnier) (1645-1726) (8th great-grandfather)
• 1712, Jean Baptiste Forestier hired Pierre Gagné to make a voyage to Détroit. Notary Antoine Adhémar.
Nicolas Gagne (Gagnier) (1689-1732) (8th great-uncle)
• 1712, Sep 17, Engagement of Nicolas Gaigne, François Larche, to Joseph Parent to make the voyage to the fort the Chartrain bridge, of the Strait of Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
Etienne Deneau (Deniau) dit Destaillus (1691-1730) (7th great-uncle)
• 1713, June 3, Engagement of Estienne Deno From coppice to François Rivard Lorange to go to fort The Chartrain Bridge, from the Strait of Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
Charles Diel (1688-1734) (7th great-grandfather)
• 1713, Gilles Lecours and Charles Cusson hired Charles Diel to make a voyage to Détroit. Notary Antoine Adhémar.
• 1718, May 28, Pierre Roy hired Charles Diel to make a voyage to Détroit .
Jean Baptiste Moreau (1657-1727) (8th great-grandfather)
• 1703, hired by Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada as a voyageur to go to Detroit via Lake Erie. Notary Adhémar.
• 1704, Jul 28, Engagement de Anthoine Pinard, de la Baye S'-Anthoine sur le lac S'-Pierre, Pierre Benoist dit La forest, des Trois-Rivières, An th. Salvay, de Saurel, René Beaujean, Pierre Desautels, de S'-Martin en cette île, Pierre Bou-gret Dufort, de Boucherville, Pierre Le Bœuf, de cette ville, Robert Rivard, Charles Le Scieur, Joseph Moreau, Jean Moreau, Franc. Frigon, Joseph Couturier, An th. Thunay Dufresne, Julien Le Scieur, Mathurin et Simon Rouillard, Joseph Rivard, de Batiscan, Louis Baribau, Ignace Guyon, Jean et Charles Ricard, Edmond Roy Chatellereau, Pierre Richer, de S'«-Anne, Anthoine Donnay, Pierre et Denys Bour-gerie, François Robert, Robert Lafontaine, Jacques et François de Noyons, Pierre Puybarreau de Boucherville, Albert Bosne Lafranchise de La Chine, Gaspard Maignan de Mouille Pied, Pierre Edeline, Jean Cadieux, de Longueuil, Jacques Cardinal, de la Coste S'-Pierre en cette lie, Adrien Senécal de Varennes, Pierre Mauriceau, de Repentigny, Jean David, de la Rivière Becancourt, Paul Dumouchel, Toussaint Dardenne, Jean et Jacques Campot, Pierre Garro Xaintonge, Jacques Vaudry, de cette ville, Michel Messier, Allexandre Petit du Cap S'-Michel, Jean Tousignan Lapointe, Ignace Le May, de Losbinières, Pierre Guignard Dollone, de Lanoray, Jacques Lemelin, des Grondines, Louis Fafart, Estienne Bosne, Jean Mandeville, de Berthier, Joseph Sarrasin, de Charlebourg, Pierre Villier, de Québec.
• 1716 Apr 30, Nicolas Perttuis hired Jean Moreau voyageur de Batiscan to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Adhemar.
• 1717, May 18, Engagement de Jean Moreau à Paul Guillet pour faire le voyage à Michilimackinac. Notary Adhemar.
• 1718, May 22, Engagement de François Neveu et Jean Moreau à Paul Guillet pour faire le voyage à Michilimackinac. Notary Adhemar.
1720s
Jacques Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1682-1773) (6th great-grandfather)
• Given the family connection to the fur trade it is likely he was a Coureurs des bois.
Jean Baptiste Boyer (1673-_) (9th great-uncle)
• 1718, May 27, Jean Boyer acknowledges to Pierre de Lestage, merchant, the sum of 189 livres, 2 sols, for a voyage to Detroit. Notary Raimbault.
• 1721, Aug 10, Engagement de Jean Boyer au r Charles Chesne pour faire le voyage au Détroit. Notary David.
• 1723, Apr 27, Engagement de François Lafleur, Jacques Dumay. Jean Boyer et René Périer, au S'Louis Gastineau pour faire le voyage au poste du Détroit. Notary David.
• 1736, Sep 4, Engagement of Jean Boyer, from St-Larnbert Prairie, a voyageur, to Mr. Denoyel, Commandant of the Strait, to make the journey to the said post in a canoe loaded with goods, and, at the said place, be free Person.
Joseph Poupart (1696-1726) (7th great-grandfather)
1715, Mar 5, Engagement de Charles Le Gardeur à Joseph Poupart pour faire le voyage à Michilimackinac. Notary Adhémar.
1715, March, Engagement of Charles Le Gardeur to Joseph Poupart to make the trip to Michilimackinac-Study Adhémar.
• 1723, August 27, Charles Chesne hired Joseph Poupart voyageur de La Prairie, to go to Détroit, Notary Adhémar.
Jean Baptiste Neveu (1676-1754) (1st cousin 9x removed) son of Denise Sevestre.
• 1716, May 2, Engagement de Julien Baritteau à Jean Baptiste Neveu et Jacques Neveu pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du lac Érié. Notary Adhémar.
• 1718, Sep 10, Pierre Joseph D'aillibouat, s of Musseaux, and Antoine Menard acknowledge the duty of Jean Baptiste Neveu and Francois Poisset, merchants, for the equipment of the journey they will make to Michilimackinac, the sum of 3212 livres, 17 sols, 6 deniers. Notary Raimbault.
• 1721, May 16, Engagement de Pierre le Bœuf. Charles Blondin, Michel Vaudry, Jean Baptiste Neveu, François Dumay à Charles Nolan de La marque pour faire le voyage dans les Pays d'en Haut (Upper Country). Notary David.
• 1722, May 26, Engagement de Jean Baptiste Neveu au sr Jacques Cardinal pour faire le voyage au poste du Détroit. Notary David.
• 1724, Apr 21, Engagement de Jean Baptiste Neveu à Francois Augé faisant, tant pour lui que pour M' Amariton et Nicolas Sarazin, pour faire le voyage à Michilimackinac. Notary Adhémar.
• 1726, Jul 19, Vincent Henry dit Laforge reconnaît devoir a Jean Baptiste Neveu la somme de 1119 livres, 2 sols, 2 deniers, pour l'équipement du voyage au poste des Sonnontoins, dans les Pays d'en Haut (Upper Country). Notary Raimbault pire.
• 1727, May 13, Engagement de Jean Baptiste Neveu à Nicolas D'ailleboust, sf Demusseaux, pour le voyage de Michilimackinac. Notary Raimbault fils.
Jean Baptiste Amiot (Amyot) (1693-1763) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• BEF 1724 Jean Baptiste Amiot came to Michilimackinac, where he was employed as a blacksmith by the Jesuit priest.
• 1739, May 4, Engagement de Jean Baptiste Amiot à Louis Gatineau et Compagnie pour aller dans les Pays d'en Haut (Upper Country). Notary Adhémar.
Alexis Rivet (1693-1757) (8th great-uncle)
• 1728, hired as a voyageur to go to Détroit du lac Érié.
1730s
1730 - The Fox Wars ended. The Fox had nearly been exterminated by the French and their Indian allies. The trade routes reopened, but changes had occurred. Indian middlemen traders were eliminated. Trade goods were carried west by licensed traders and brought directly to the Indians.
The truce between the Ojibwe and Dakota was broken. The Dakota had previously allowed the Ojibwe to hunt on their lands and in exchange the Dakota had allowed trade goods to travel through to the Ojibwe. Now the Dakota had direct access to the trade goods and no longer needed the Ojibwe. An attempt was made to push the Ojibwe off Dakota lands, but within 50 years the Ojibwe succeeded in driving the Dakota out of their eastern woodlands.
1731 - Beginning of the construction of the Chemin du roy between Quebec City and Montreal.
1734 - Marie-Joseph Angélique , a black slave, is hanged for burning the house of her owner.
Louis Courville Barrette (Baret) (1717-1753) (6th great-grandfather)
• father and brother of voyageurs.
Joseph Godet (1714–1739) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
• Died young on a voyageur trip to Detroit.
Pierre Barette dit Courville (1708-1755) (7th great-uncle)
• 1734, Jun2, Engagement de Pierre Barette, de la prairie de la Madeleine, à Michel Gamelin, faisant tant pour lui que pour Pierre Gamelin, son frère, pour faire le voyage à Michilimakinac, aider à y monter un canot de marchandises et le redescendre en la présente année chargé de pelleteries).
• 1744, Jun 1, Engagement de Pierre Barette à Pierre Leduc pour to go to Michilimakinac. Notary Porlier.
• 1745, Permis du gouverneur de Beauharnois au sieur Rivard de partir de Montréal avec un canot équipé de sept hommes pour se rendre au poste de Michillimakinac. Défense au sieur Rivard de faire la traite ailleurs qu'au poste de Michilimackinac et ses dépendances. Rôle des engagés du dit canot: Joseph Jolier (Joliet?), Bourgeois, associé; Pierre Barette, Joseph Rhéaume, François Cardinal, Augustin Baret (Barrette?), Pierre Desnoyers, de La Prairie; Jacques Belestre, de Maskinongé.
Pierre Perras dit Lafontaine (1674–1699) (9th great-uncle)
• 1730s, fur trader, source: Fur Trade and Military Expedition Families.
Joseph Perras dit Lafontaine (1714-1753) (1st cousin 9x removed) • 1734, May 13, Engagement of Joseph Perras ditto Lafontaine, voyageur from the Prairie de la Madeleine, to Charles Nolan, acting for Sr. Volant Brothers, to make a journey to Fort Pontchartrain (Detroit), to carry a canoe of merchandise, and to return loaded with pelts.
Rene Bourassa dit LaRonde (1688-1778) (6th great great-uncle)
• 1726, Apr 16, Engagement de Jacques Gervais à m' Duplessis et René Bourassa pour faire le voyage dans les Pays d'en Haut (Upper Country). Notary Adhémar.
• 1735, A Coureurs Des Bois, he hired engages to go to Pierre Gaultier de La Verendrye's posts at Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods and Fort Maurepas near the mouth of the Red River.
• 1737, Rene constructed a post and wintered at Vermillion, Minnesota, to trade with the Ojibwa. After that, most of his trade was around Michilimackinac, where he was selling goods to the Indians.
• 1738, May 16, Engagement de Antoine Cusson ft René Bourassas pour aller ft Misilimakinac. Notary Lepallieur.
Jean Baptiste Nicholas Rondeau (1688-1767) (8th great-uncle)
• 1731, May 25, Engagement of Jean Rondeau to Jean Francois Mailbot and company to make the trip to the Isles (England?). Notary Adhémar.
• 1735, April 25, Engagement of Jean Rondeau with Ignace Gamelin to make the trip to France. Notary Lepallieur.
Jean Baptiste Sédilot dit Montreuil (1647–1687) (9th great-uncle)
• may have been a Coureur des bois.
Jean Baptiste Sédilot (1689–1766) (1st cousin 9x removed)
• 1736, Mar 28, Engagement of Jean Bte Sédillotte to Simon Guillory and De la Ronde, associates, to make the journey to the station of Chagouamigon, to help to load a canoe of merchandise, and to descend with it two years later Loaded with pelts.
François Sédilot dit Montreuil (1673-_) (1st cousin 9x removed)
• 1733, May 17, Engagement of Francois Montreuil with Nicolas and Francois Volant brothers, to go up and down only at the station of the Detroit, to help carry canoes of merchandise, and obey in everything that will be ordered to him of licit and honest.
• 1734, Apr 30, Engagement of François Montreuil to Dame Marie de Pecaudy to make the trip to the fort the Chartrain Bridge of the Detroit. Notary Lepallieur.
• 1737, Apr. 26, Engagement Francois Sédilot dit Montreuil, a voyageur, ordinarily residing at the Prairie de la Madeleine, presently at Ville-Marie, Jean Garreau & Cie, to make the journey to the Bay of the Puants post in canoe Of merchandise, and return it the next year loaded with pelts.
• 1741, May 26, Engagement of Francois Sédillot dit Montreuil & Louis Damour, Sr. of Clignancourt, and Company to go to Fort Pontchartrain of the Detroit. Notary Blanzy.
Toussaint Dardenne (1671-1720) (1st cousin 9x removed)
• His uncle, Jacques Beauchamp dit LaGrand (1635-1692), is a voyageur.
• 1737, May 1, Engagement of Toussaint Dardenne voyageur de Montréal to JEAN GARREAU, to go to Baie des Puants. Notary Lepailleur de LaFerté.
• 1739, Sep 10, Engagement of Toussaint Dardenne voyageur de Montréal to Philippe Douville de la Soussay, to go to Cheyenons. Notary Simonnet.
Louis Dardenne (1718-1834) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
• 1738, Jun 7, Engagement of Loüis Dardenne voyageur de Montréal to Jean Baptiste Blondeau & Compagnie, to go to Country of the Illinois. Notary Lepailleur de LaFerté.
• 1746, Mar 10, Engagement of Louis Dardenne and Jean Saguin to the Sieur Pierre Clermont, to go to the Arkansas (Lower Mississippi Valley). Witness Cantrelle.
Joseph Miville (1669-1736) (9th great-uncle) (dit Deschesnes???)
1723, May 17, Engagement of Joseph Miville to Ignace Lecour to go to Pays d'en Haut.
1737, Jun 22, Engagement of Joseph Miville, Cooper, of Ville-Marie, to Nicolas Volan, merchant, traveler, to make the journey to the post of Fort Pontchartrain in a canoe loaded with goods and to descend in the present year with fur skins.
1747, Jun 8, Engagement of Joseph Miville to Jorian to go to Pays d'en Haut.
1748, Jul 14, Engagement of Joseph Miville to go to Pays d'en Haut.
Michel Miville (1716-_) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
1737, Jun 21, Engagement of Michel Miville, son of Charles Miville, farmer of the Religious, near Ville-Marie, to Blaize Richard, traveler merchant, absent, Julien Rivard to this present and accepting for the said Richard, to make the trip to the post of Mililimakinac in A loaded canoe loaded with merchandise, and down again, the next year loaded with pelts.
Pierre Rivet (1683-1753) (8th great-uncle)
• 1736, Gatineau et Hamelin hired Pierre Rivet to go to Poste de la Riviere St- Joseph. Notary Claude-Cyprien-Jacques Porlier.
• 1740, May 27, Engagement de Pierre Rivet à Louis d'ailleboust, sf de Coulonge, pour to go to Michilimakinac. Notary Porlier.
• 1740, Jun 12, Engagement de Pierre Rivet au s* Nicolas Catin pour aller au fort Ponchartrain. Notary Simonnet.
• 1743, May 24, Engagement de Pierre Rivet à M" Marin et Dequindre pour to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Adhémar.
Nicolas Pierre Rivet (1719-1811) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• 1738, May 16, Marin Hurtebize hired Nicolas Rivet to go to poste des Illinois, Notary François Lepailleur de LaFerté.
1740s
1743 - Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye and his brother, François de La Vérendrye , travelling from Fort La Reine , reach the Rocky Mountains.
1745 - The fortress of Louisbourg falls to the English.
1748 - Signature of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle on October 17.
1748 - Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière becomes interim governor of New France.
1749 - Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel, marquis de Jonquière becomes governor of New France.
Antoine Bourassa (1705-1780) (7th great-uncle)
• 1740, June 8, License of Beauharnois [Governor New France (1726-1747)] to the appointed Claude and François Bizaillon, Pierre Brosseau and Antoine Bourassa to go to Philadelphia, city of New England, to attend to their affairs. They are being urged to return to Montreal in four months. Will pass through the forts of Chambly and Saint-Frédéric both in going and returning, to represent the present passport, their declaration, Minutes of visit, their effects, etc., etc. Minutes of the visit of a canoe by Claude and François Bizaillon, Pierre Brousseau and Antoine Bourassa, by François Malhiot and Me Jean Bte Adhémar notary; the Said the canoe had to go to Philadelphia (June 13, 1740).
• 1745, June 9, Permission of the Governor of Beauharnois to Sieur Ignace Gamelin to send from Montreal a canoe equipped with seven men under the leadership of Nicolas Volant and Antoine Dubois, a bourgeois, to go to the Michillimakinac post. Defense not to make any trade or commerce with Indians elsewhere than in said post of Michillimakinac and its dependencies. Role of the engaged of the said canoe: Nicolas Volant, bourgeois, of La Prairie; Antoine Dubois, a bourgeois, of St. Francis; Pierre Gaspard, Antoine Bourassa, Joseph Bourassa, Pierre Gagnier and Jacques Saint-Pierre, of La Prairie de la Madeleine.
Charles Diel (1722-1756) (7th great-uncle)
• 1747, voyageur to Wabash, Indiana.
• 1751, voyageur to Michilimackinac.
• 1755, voyageur to Michilimackinac.
Augustin Barrette (1719-1771) (7th great-uncle)
• 1742, May 23, Engagement de René et Augustin Baret au s» Blondeau pour aller A Michilimakinac. Notary Blanzy.
• 1745, Permis du gouverneur de Beauharnois au sieur Rivard de partir de Montréal avec un canot équipé de sept hommes pour se rendre au poste de Michillimakinac. Défense au sieur Rivard de faire la traite ailleurs qu'au poste de Michillimakinac et ses dépendances.
• 1751, Engagement de Augustin Barette aux s" Lemoine Despins frères pour to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Adhémar.
Rôle des engagés du dit canot: Joseph Jolier (Joliet?), Bourgeois, associé; Pierre Barette, Joseph Rhéaume, François Cardinal, Augustin Baret (Barrette?), Pierre Desnoyers, de La Prairie; Jacques Belestre, de Maskinongé.)
Charles De Langlade (1729-1801) husband of Charlotte Ambroise Bourassa (my 1st cousin 7x removed), son of Augustin Mouet De Langlade (1703-1777) and Domithilde Oukabe Nepveuouikabe LaFourche (1690-1782)
• 1745, Established a fur trading post at Green Bay, Wisconsin.
• He is called the "Father of Wisconsin."
• He was also a War Chief during the American Revolution.
1750s
1751 - Beginning of the Quebec City siege on July 12.
1752 - Ange Duquesne, marquis de Menneville becomes governor of New France.
1754 - A census shows the population of New France to be 55,009 while in Britain’s Thirteen Colonies it has reached 1,170,800.
1754 - Beginning of the French and Indian War between Great Britain and France for control of the North American colonies. It is part of the Seven Years’ War. Trade was interrupted. Most of the licensed traders and their voyageurs were called east to fight the British.
1755 - Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal becomes governor of New France.
1755 - Beginning of the Acadian Expulsion on July 28.
1756 - New commander of the French troops Louis-Joseph de Montcalm arrives in Quebec City and is made subordinate of governor Vaudreuil.
1756 - August 29, beginning of the Seven Years’ War in Europe.
1757 - The French army takes Fort William Henry on August 9.
1758 - Battle of Fort Carillon in the night of July 7 to 8. General Montcalm 's soldiers resist the attack of General James Abercrombie. See the Battle of Ticonderoga.
1759 - On September 13, the British troops of James Wolfe defeat the French troops of Montcalm in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City.
1759 - On September 18, Quebec City surrenders. The government of New France moves to Montreal.
Francois Moise Dupuis (1709-1764) (6th great-grandfather)
• 1752, Jun 2, Nicolas Volant hired Francois Dupuis voyageur de La Prairie to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Adhemar.
Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers (1694-1762) (6th great-grandfather) 2/19/17
• 1751, Jun 4, Igance Bourassa hired Étienne Duquet voyageur de La Prairie to go to Michilimackinac, notary Adhemar.
• 1752, Jun 9, Francois Daguilhe hired Étienne Duquet voyageur de La Prairie to go to Michilimackinac, notary Danré Blanzy.
• 1753, Apr 13, Toussaints Pothier hired Étienne Duquet voyageur de La Prairie, gouvernail, to go to Michilimackinac, notary Danré Blanzy.
Joseph Poupart (1727-1792) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• 1751, Jacques Quesnel hired Joseph Poupart voyageur de La Prairie, gouvernail, to go to Illinois. Notary Adhemar.
Jacques Poupart (1720-1810) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• 1753, Apr 8, Toussaints Pothier hired Jacques Poupart voyageur de La Prairie, gouvernail, go to Michilimackinac. Notary Danré Blanzy.
Joseph Gagne (Gagnier) (1695-1777) (8th great-uncle)
• 1754, Dominique Godet hired Joseph Gagne voyageur de La Prairie to go to Detriot, Devant or Gouvernail. Notary Louis Claude Danré de Blanzy.
Jacques Godet (1699–1760) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
• A voyageur in the records of Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit.
Dominique Godet (1701–1756) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
• Fur Trader, 1736, May 8, Engagement of Augustin Langlois, son, of Ville-Marie, to Dominique Godet & Co., to make the trip to the post of Ouiatanons, (two years).
• Fur Trader, 1754, Dominique Godet hired Joseph Gagne voyageur de LaPrairie to go to Detriot, Devant or Gouvernail, Notary Louis Claude Danré de Blanzy.
François-Xavier Godet (1720–1785) (2nd cousin 8x removed)
• Fur Trader, 1754, May 6, Engagement of Michel Baudin to s Francois Godet to go Detroit. Notary Blanzy.
• François was a bourgois commercant (merchant) and officié des milices bourgoise (militia officer) who lived on rue St Joseph, Detroit.
1760s
1760 New France was conquered by the British. All trading rights and privileges became British. Furs were now sent to London instead of Paris and most trade goods were supplied through London Agents.
1762 - France ceded all of its lands west of the Mississippi to Spain.
1763 - Britain tried several different arrangements to control the fur trade - imperial control, limiting trade to only five posts, and exclusive licensing. In spite of this, unlicensed traders continued to operate.
1765 - Alexander Henry received exclusive rights to trade on Lake Superior. He and his partner, Jean Baptiste Cadotte, built a post at Chequamagon and sent outfits into the Fon du Lac region.
1766 - Johnathon Carver traveled west in search of the North West passage.
1767 - Trade regulations were returned to the colonies, exclusive licenses were abolished. The start of unregulated trade increased the use of liquor in the fur trade. British traders were allowed to establish wintering posts amongst the Indians. Construction began on permanent structures at Grand Portage.
Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1733-1779) (5th great-grandfather)
• 1763, April 29, Engagement of Joseph Pinsonneault dit Lafleur, as a voyageur, to Michel Laselle, a Montreal merchant. Notary Hadiesne.
1770s
1774 - The Quebec Act became law. The western Great Lakes and all land north of the Ohio River became part of Quebec and subject to its laws and regulations. Green Bay and Prairie du Chein became interior trading centers. Traders started to exploit the region northwest of Grand Portage, but cut-throat competition reduced the profits. Small partnerships were formed to avoid or oppose the competition. The American Revolution caused some traders to avoid areas south and west of the Great Lakes and encouraged them to go north and west. Hudson Bay Company built a post on the Saskatchewan River.
1778-79 - First agreements were made between partners that would become the North West Company, the first joint stock company in Canada and possibly North America. Peter Pond traveled to the Athabaska where he gathered so many furs he was forced to leave some behind. Generally throughout the 1770’s fur trade was centered around the large posts.
The Dakota and Ojibwe were fighting for control of the St. Croix Valley so traders avoided those areas.
Pierre Barette dit Courville (1748-1794) (5th great-grandfather)
• 1778, engagement de Pierre Barette" aux S" William G Jean Kay pour aller Fort Michilimackinac. Notary P. Lalanne, flls.
Charles Boyer (1744-_) (1st cousin 8x removed)
• He was part of an extended family who had been Voyageurs or Coureurs des bois for many generations. He was a trader with the North West Company (La Compagnie du Nord-Ouest) from its beginnings in 1779 maybe through its merger with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821.
• 1788, Charles Boyer built NWC Fort Vermilion near the junction of the Boyer and Peace rivers.
Jean-Baptiste Mignier (Meunier) Lagasse (Lagace) (1749-1828) (5th great-grandfather)
• 1778, Ezechiel Solomon hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier, voyageur de La Prairie de la Magdeleine to go to Mississippi, and spend the winter, Notary Antoine Foucher.
• 1794, Jean-Baptiste Meunier and his partner, Jacques Rolland, established trading house near a village of the Ponca Indians on the Missouri River.
• 1800, James & Andrew McGill hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier voyageur de Chambly to go to Mississippi, and spend the winter, notary Louis Chaboillez.
1780s
1782 - The Dakota no longer had any villages north of St. Anthony Falls. A small pox epidemic killed thousands throughout the Northwest.
1784 - In January the North West Company was formed. There were 16 shares in the company. Simon McTavish and the Frobisher brothers hold six shares. The first meeting of the Montreal partners and their winterers was held that summer at Grand Portage. Grand Portage was to be the company’s rendezvous point for the next 20 years.
The Treaty of Paris had ended the American Revolution the year before but caused severe problems for the new North West Company. Some of the partners left the company forming the General Company of Lake Superior and the South.
1786 - The North West Company increased its shares to 20.
1787 - The Beaver Club was formed. It was a very selective social organization of men who had wintered in Indian country. There were 19 original members. The Hudson Bay Company built more posts in the interior because furs were being taken at the Indian camps by the North West Company.
1789 - Alexander Mackenzie searched for the North West Passage and instead reached the Arctic Ocean. Simon McTavish tried to lease transportation rights through Hudson Bay but was refused. The North West Trading Company began construction of trading boats on the Great Lakes. Jean Baptiste Perrault entered the Fon du Lac with six other traders in a two-year partnership. They built posts on the St. Louis River, Leech Lake, Pine Lake and Otter Tail Lake. John Sayer joined a one-year partnership and built a post on the St. Louis River.
1790s
1791 - Alexander Henry sent a group of traders into the northern war zone between the Ojibwe and Dakota. The first year they traded at Leech Lake and the following year at Red River. They went north and then back to Grand Portage.
1793 - Alexander Mackenzie successfully crossed the continent to the Pacific Ocean. The route that he had discovered was so bad that it was little used in the future.
1794 - Discontent among the winterers of the North West Company due to small shares and poor trade goods caused the company to increase shares to its winterers and made clerks eligible for partnership. Jay’s Treaty gave reciprocal trading rights to British and American traders, each were allowed to cross the border to trade on the other’s territory. The treaty also opened New York for direct shipment of furs from Detroit and Michilimackinac. John Jacob Astor became involved in the fur trade.
1795 - During this time Alexander Mackenzie broke from the North West Company over bad feelings with McTavish. Mackenize did not agree with some of the policies of McTavish. Subsequently the XY Company formed from several existing companies. McTavish ordered all his departments to undersell the XY traders. This in turn increased the use of rum, tobacco, blue or red laced and braided coats which the chiefs desired and the practice of trading with the Indians during drinking bouts.
1799 - Alexander Mackenzie joined the XY Company.
François Rivet (1754-1852) (2nd cousin 7x removed)
• 1791, Jacques Giasson hired François Rivet voyageur de L’Assomption to go to Chaque fois que nécessaire (Wherever required) Nord excluded, 3 years, Notary Louis Chaboillez.
• 1803-04, Winter - St. Louis entrepreneur Auguste Chouteau obliged Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark by engaging eight voyageurs to paddle a cargo pirogue. Three others were hired to assist the soldiers in working a keelboat. Pierre Cruzatte le borgne (one-eye) would be the bowman while François Labiche set the stroke as the first oar. The third, François Rivet, joined the expedition at St. Charles, but agreed to go only as far as the Mandans. The Corps of Discovery wintered at the Mandan/Hidatsa villages that year.
Louis Pierre Barette dit Courville (1775-1831) (5th great-uncle)
• 1795, Aug 21, Jacques & François Laselle hired Louis Barette dit Courville to go to Detroit.
Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770-1807) (4th great-grandfather)
• 1797, August 11, Engagement of Gabriel Pinsonneau, of La Prairie, to Jacques & François Lasette to go to Detroit. Notary Louis Chaboillez.
Joseph Vielle dit Cossé (1767-_) (5th great-uncle)
• 1797, voyageur in the employ of Alexander Mackenzie when they travelled to Grand Portage. Joseph's contract was for a 3 year period, so he obviously went further West. Perhaps Joseph was with explorer David Thompson, who in 1797, was sent south by the North West Company (NWC) to survey part of the Canada-US boundary along the water routes from Lake Superior to Lake of the Woods to satisfy unresolved questions of territory arising from the Jay Treaty between Great Britain and the United States.
• contract: 1797, Feb 14, Engaged as a voyageur to go to Nord Ouest [North West], Nipigon and Lac Superieur for traders McTavish, Frobisher and Company aka North West Company, Company Representative: Alexander Mackenzie).
• His contract states he is a Bowmen (Avant) the man located in the front (or bow) of the canoe who acted as the guide.
Note: his sister Marie-Louise Vielle (1780-1813) (4th great-grandmother) married Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1770-1807) (4th great-grandfather). Gabriel Pinsonneau was also a voyageur who travelled to Michigan in 1797, for a trading company owned by brothers Jacques and Francois Laselle.
Michel Vielle dit Cossé (1771-1810) (5th great-uncle)
• 1793, Engaged as a voyageur to go to dans le Nord-Ouest du Canada (far north west) for traders McTavish, Frobisher and Company aka North West Company.
• His contract states he is a Bowmen (Avant) the man located in the front (or bow) of the canoe who acted as the guide.
Note: his sister Marie-Louise Vielle (1780-1813) (4th great-grandmother) who married Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1770-1807) (4th great-grandfather). Gabriel Pinsonneau was also a voyageur who travelled to Michigan in 1797, for a trading company owned by brothers Jacques and Francois Laselle.
Charles Mignier dit Lagace (Lagasse) (1744-1819) (6th great-uncle)
• 1792, Mar 28, McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (NWC) hired Charles Lagace to go to the North through Grand Portage, function Gouvernail or rudder man, notary Louis Chaboillez.
• 1800, Charles Lagace (Lagasse) was with David Thompson on the Upper Saskatchewan River.
François Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1777-1824) (5th great-uncle)
• 1797, August 28, Engagement of Françoisl Pinsonneau, of La Prairie, to Louis Buisson to go to Rivière des Illinois. Notary Louis Chaboillez.
Jean Baptiste Poupart (1762-1832) (2nd cousin 7x removed)
• 1799, July 19, James Robertson & Co. hired Jean Baptiste Poupart voyageur de La Prairie, devant, to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1806, Mar 19, James & Andrew McGill & Co. hired Jean Baptiste Poupart voyageur de La Prairie, gouvernail, to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
NOTE: I believe he is the same Jean-Baptiste Poupart (Poupard) who is sharing property with Gabriel Pinsonault -- my 3th great-grandfather -- in Chateauguay on the 1825 Lower Canada Census, Page 1098, Publication Number MG 31 C1, FHL Film Number 2443958.
http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/08/pierre-poupart-and-one-hundred-years-of.html
Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1763-1820) (5th great-uncle)
• 1799, Mar 3, McTavish, Frobisher and Co (NWC) hired Joseph Pinsonneau voyaguer de La Prairie to go to à Detroit, Notary Chaboillez.
Jean Baptiste Poupart (1762-1832) (2nd cousin 7x removed)
• 1797, Mar 17, Engagement of Jean-Baptiste to SIMON CAVILHE & CO. to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1797, Sep 6, Engagement of Jean-Baptiste to FRANÇOIS BOUTHILLIER to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1799, Mar 1, Engagement of Jean-Baptiste to ISIDORE LACROIX to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1799, Jul 19, Engagement of Jean-Baptiste to JAMES ROBERTSON & CO. to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1803 engagement of J Bte Poupart to McTavish, Frobisher & Co to go to pays d'En haut. Notary Ignace-Gamelin Bourassa
• 1805, Feb 26, Engagement of Jean-Baptiste (Gouvernail) to Rocheclave & Porlier to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1806, Mar 19, Engagment of Jean-Baptsite Poupart voyageur de St-Constant (Gouvernail) to JAMES & ANDREW MCGILL & CO. to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
1800s
1800 - The North West Company operated 117 trading posts.
1803 - The Americans purchased the Louisiana territory from the French. The Lewis and Clark expedition left in search of a passage to the Pacific Coast.
1804 - Simon McTavish died. Consolidation talks between North West Company and XY Company begin.
1808 - The American Fur Company was formed by J.J. Astor.
Jean-Baptiste Meunier (Mignier, Minier) Lagasse (Lagace) (1776-1835) (4th great-grandfather)
• 1800, Feb 14, James & Andrew McGill hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier voyageur de Chambly to go to Mississippi, and spend the winter, notary Louis Chaboillez.
1803, Oct 6, McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (North West Company) hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier voyageur de St-André-d’Argenteuil to go to Lac De La Pluie (Rainy Lake), notary Louis Chaboillez). From the Archives of Quebec. Notes: Go through Michilimakinac if required, make two trips from Kamanatiguià Fort to Portage de la Montagne, and give six days of drudgery, and help carry the three canoes in the land.
Pierre Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1765-_) (5th great-uncle)
• 1802, Dec 6, McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (NWC) hired Pierre Pinsonneau to Make two voyages to Fort Kaministiquia and Portage de la Montagne, free of Nepigon, as a GOUVERNAIL. Notary Louis Chaboillez.
Andre Mignier dit Lagasse (Lagace) (1775-_) (1st cousin 6x removed)
• In 1803, Andre Lagasse signed a 4 year contract to act as a guide and interpreter for the North West Company, and to go to the Red River, Swan River and Lake Winnipeg. Andre Lagasse was an Interpreter for David Thompson.
Louis Dupuis (1744-1857) (6th great-uncle)
• 1799, Jan 9, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to PARKER, GERRARD & OGILVY (2 years), to go to Nord Ouest [North West]. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1801, Mar 5, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to JAMES & ANDREW MCGILL & CO., to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1801, Aug 21, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to MCTAVISH, FROBISHER & CO., to go to FORT COULONGE. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1802, May 14, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to MCTAVISH, FROBISHER & CO., to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1804, Jul 24, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to MCTAVISH, FROBISHER & CO., to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1807, Feb 10, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to Mess. de la Compagnie de Michilimakinac, to go to Michilimackinac and L'isle St-Joseph. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1807, Feb 19, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to Mess. de la Compagnie de Michilimakinac, to go to Michilimackinac (et dépendences), L'isle St-Joseph, MISSISSIPPI and Missouri (1 year). Notary Chaboillez.
• 1809, May 17, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to Mess. Forsyth Richardson & Co., to go to Détroit (et dépendences)(1 year). Notary Gray.
• 1810, Jan 23 and Mar 28, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to McTavish, McGillivrays & co. (Angus Shaw), to go to Nord Ouest [North West], Nipigon, Lac la Pluie and Portage de la Montagne (Overwinter 2 years). Function Notes - as a Military free to carry the canoe while climbing the Great River in one of their canoes to make the journey and to sail to any post of dependencies of the North West or Nipigon which Mr Duncan Cameron will judge clean for him like Canoe Front to For two years, pass by Michilimakinac, if required, give six days 'journey, make two journeys from the Fort of Kaministiguia to the Portage of the Mountains, or instead give them six days' time to others Works to the option of the said Sieurs, to help carry the three canoes in the land. Contract notes - For and for the sum of the Wages and Equipment of the Post where he will winter livres or chelins, former course of this Province, which they promise and oblige to yawn and pay to the engaged one month after its return to Montreal; And to have as equipment a covering of three points, one covered with two and a half points, six cotton balls, a pair of oxen shoes, and a necklace; Acknowledges having received in advance one hundred and fifty pounds on the twenty-third of January, and to-day, 28th March, one hundred pounds more, is obliged to contribute one per cent on his wages for the Funds des Voyageurs. This 28th of March, 1810 Engages for another year. Notary Beek.
• 1821 Mar 8, Engagement of Louis Dupuis to William Wallace Matthews, HBC Representative, to go to Nord Ouest [North West] (Overwinter 3 years). Contract Notes - in the limits or dependencies of the United States, and the Wild Countries, in Upper Canada, not considered Northwest - five hundred pounds, or chelins of twenty pounds, former course, per annum. "And to have, moreover, an equipage of a three-point cover, a cover of two and a half points, two cotton shirts, a pair of ox-shoes, and a necklace.
Michel Dupuis (1788-1836) (1st cousin 6x removed)
• 1792, Jul 20, Engagement of Michel Dupuis to JACQUES LASELLE, to go to Détroit. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1797, May 5, Engagement of Michel Dupuis to PARKER, GERRARD & OGILVY, to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1798, Jul 28, Engagement of Michel Dupuis to CHARLES MAILLET, to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Chaboillez.
• 1802, Jun 15, Engagement of Michel Dupuis to Laframboise and Nicoll, to go to Michilimackinac. Notary Gray.
• 1806, Aug 20, Engagement of Michel Dupuis to Antoine Lasselle, to go to Détroit (et dépendences). Notary Chaboillez.
1810s
1811 - The South West Company was formed by J.J. Astor and the head of the North West Company William McGillivray.
1812 - The war between England and the United States disrupted trade all across the continent. The North West Company began operations on the Columbia River of the Pacific Northwest.
1815 - The War of 1812 ended. The United States took back lands that had been occupied by the British, but tensions still continued. After this the United States forbid any foreign traders to operate in American territory. The North West Company withdrew.
The American Era (1816-1850)
1816 - By Congressional Act, the United States forbid foreigners to trade on US soil. The American Fur Co. hired ex-North West traders to work for them. A border war began between the North West Co. and the American Fur Co.. The old Fon du Lac District was renamed the Northern Outfit.
1818 - John Sayer’s old clerk, Joseph La Prairie began working for the American Fur Co. He continued working for them until 1821.
1820s
1821 - The North West Co. and the Hudson Bay Co. merged under the name Hudson Bay Co. A major factor in the decision to merge was the high transportation costs shipping through the Great Lakes. In addition, the Hudson Bay Co. charter had stronger legal backing to right of land by discovery than the partnership claims of the North West Co. After this time, most trade goods were shipped through Hudson Bay for the interior posts. The border war still continued between the Hudson Bay Co. and the American Fur Co. It did not end until 1833 when the American Fur Co. abandoned its posts along the border in exchange for an annual cash payment from Hudson Bay.
1824 - Trade in the Snake River area was described as very poor, but trade licenses continued to be issued until the late 1830’s.
Gabriel Pinsonneau (1803-1877) (3rd great-grandfather) (aka: Gilbert Passino)
Marriage 1824 to Marie Emélie (Mary) Meunier Lagassé (1808-1883)
• emigrated to Vinetard, Grand Isle, Vermont before 1830, and may have traded furs to supplement farming income.
• may have been in New Orleans in 1840, but he settled in Wilna, New York before 1850.
NEXT: Ripples, Chapter Seven, French Canadian Heritage of Lucy Pinsonneau http://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2017/03/ripples-chapter-seven-french-canadian.html
Return to beginning of book… http://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2017/03/ripples-introduction-contents-and.html
Index - Ripples from La Prairie Voyageur Canoes
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