Gabriel Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1770–1807): 1797 Voyageur Engagement Contract

 

Gabriel Pinsonneau (variants: Pinsonnault, Pinsono, or Passino in later American records; dit Lafleur, a family nickname meaning "the flower") was your 4th great-grandfather, a classic example of the hardy French-Canadian voyageurs who kept the fur trade alive in the post-Conquest era. Born on August 5, 1770, and baptized the same day at Nativité-de-la-Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine in La Prairie, Quebec (then Lower Canada), he was the son of Joseph Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1733–1799), a habitant farmer with his own voyageur past (including a 1763 contract to Detroit for Michel Lasselle, as we discussed earlier), and Marie Louise (Madeleine) Duquet (1736–1798). Gabriel grew up in the St. Lawrence River valley's trading communities, where the Pinsonneau family's roots stretched back to François Pinsonnault dit Lafleur (c. 1646–1731), a soldier in the Carignan-Salières Regiment who settled in New France around 1670. By his 20s, Gabriel had turned to the seasonal fur trade, paddling canoes laden with goods for merchants while maintaining ties to La Prairie's farming life. He married Marie Vielle Cosse (or Viel, 1780–aft. 1813) on February 8, 1802, at Notre-Dame-de-La Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine, and they had at least two sons: Gabriel (Gilbert) Jr. (b. 1803, who migrated to New York and whose daughter Lucy Passino became your 2nd great-grandmother) and possibly others who stayed in Quebec. Tragically, Gabriel died young on August 19, 1807, at age 37, in La Prairie (buried the next day at the parish church), likely from illness or trade-related hardships like exposure or injury—common for voyageurs. His early death left Marie to raise the family amid the economic shifts of British rule.

Gabriel's brief but documented career in the fur trade reflects the era's blend of French-Canadian tradition and British commerce. He signed at least one known engagement (the 1797 contract you mentioned), and family lore suggests he may have made other unrecorded trips, following in his father's footsteps. His descendants, including those who anglicized the name to "Passino" in the U.S., carried the line westward, embodying the migratory spirit of voyageur families.

The 1797 Voyageur Engagement Contract

Your ancestor's 1797 contract is a gem of fur trade history, preserved in notarial archives and digitized collections like those from the Société historique de Saint-Boniface (SHSB) and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). Dated August 11, 1797, it was a standard engagement d'embauche (hiring contract) notarized in Montreal, binding Gabriel—then 27, from La Prairie—as a voyageur for a seasonal expedition to Detroit (Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, modern Detroit, Michigan). This was during the competitive North West Company (NWC) era, when Montreal merchants vied for pelts amid British dominance post-1760.

Key Details of the Contract

• Parties Involved:
• Employers: Jacques & François Lasselle (or Lasette/Laselin, common French-Canadian spelling variants), brothers and established fur traders based in Montreal with strong ties to Detroit. Jacques Lasselle (c. 1730s–aft. 1780s) was an interpreter and merchant fluent in Indigenous languages (Ottawa, Ojibwa), active at Detroit since the 1760s; he survived Pontiac's War (1763) and continued trading under British licenses. François Lasselle (c. 1740s–early 1800s) handled logistics and partnerships, often outfitting canoes for the Great Lakes routes. Their firm specialized in the Detroit trade, exchanging European goods (cloth, axes, brandy, gunpowder) for beaver, otter, and fox pelts from Huron, Ottawa, and Ojibwa allies. They were part of a network of French-Canadian traders who navigated the handover from French to British control, sometimes smuggling to evade monopolies.

• Employee: Gabriel Pinsonneau, listed as a "habitant et voyageur de La Prairie" (farmer and voyageur from La Prairie). At 27, he was experienced enough for the demanding role but young for the risks.
• Terms and Duties:
• Route and Duration: From Montreal (departing Lachine rapids) to Detroit via the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Niagara portage, Lake Erie, and the Detroit River—about 600–800 miles one-way, taking 2–4 weeks depending on weather and loads. The brigade would return by late fall (October–November) with furs. As a mid-level voyageur (likely a "milieu" or general paddler), Gabriel's duties included paddling a canot léger (light canoe, 4–6 men), portaging 80–100-pound packs over trails, setting up camps, and assisting in trades at Detroit's post. The contract emphasized obedience to the bourgeois (boss) and no desertion.
• Compensation: Typical for the time—around 100–150 livres (about £4–6 sterling), paid upon return, plus provisions: daily rations of pork (earning voyageurs the nickname "mangeurs de lard" or pork-eaters), peas, biscuit, tobacco, and a blanket. Clothing and tools were often supplied or deducted from wages.
• Risks and Clauses: Standard penalties for damage (e.g., fines for lost cargo) or illness, with no liability for death from "accidents of the voyage" like drownings or Indigenous conflicts. This was peacetime (post-American Revolution), but tensions lingered from the 1794 Jay Treaty, which opened U.S. borders but sparked smuggling.

The contract's late-summer date (August) suggests a shorter "fall hunt" run rather than the usual May departure, possibly to supply wintering parties or capitalize on late pelts. It's echoed in broader archives: similar Lasselle hires appear in BAnQ's notarial collections (e.g., under notary Simon Sanguinet or Pierre Winter), and the SHSB's Voyageurs Database lists it as part of Montreal-Detroit traffic.

Historical Context

By 1797, the fur trade was booming but volatile: beaver populations were declining near settled areas, pushing traders like the Lasselles deeper into the pays d'en haut (upper country). Detroit was a multicultural hub—French settlers, British garrison, and Indigenous nations—where voyages like Gabriel's fueled economic ties. His family's La Prairie roots (a former Iroquois mission turned trade post) made him a natural fit; uncles and cousins, like Ignace Rigobert Pinsonneau (engaged 1757 to Michilimackinac), had plied similar routes. This contract links directly to your earlier queries: Gabriel's grandfather Jean dit Jacques Pinsonneault (1682–1773) married into the Bourassa-Le Ber trading elite, perpetuating the voyageur legacy.

Gabriel's Life and Early Death

Gabriel balanced trade with family life in La Prairie, appearing in 1790s censuses as a habitant with modest land (a few arpents, cattle). His 1802 marriage to Marie Vielle Cosse (daughter of local farmers) produced Gabriel Jr. (b. March 3, 1803, in La Prairie), who later moved to Wilna, New York, marrying Marie Émélie Meunier dite Lagacé in 1824 and fathering Lucy (1836–1917), your link to the U.S. Midwest. A possible second son, Joseph, is mentioned in some trees but unconfirmed.

At 37, Gabriel's death on August 19, 1807, cut short a promising life. Parish records at Notre-Dame-de-La Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine note him as "Gabriel Pinsonneau, âgé de trente-sept ans," buried after a simple funeral witnessed by locals. No cause is specified, but voyageurs often succumbed to tuberculosis, rheumatism from wet portages, or accidents—perhaps exacerbated by cumulative strain from trips like 1797's. He left Marie widowed at 27, who remarried and lived until at least 1813. The 1825 Lower Canada Census shows Gabriel Jr. with relatives, hinting at family support amid grief.

Legacy

Gabriel's story embodies the voyageur's fleeting glory: rhythmic chants on the water, campfires with Indigenous traders, and the pull between wilderness and hearth. His line's migration to New York (via Gabriel Jr.) and Montana (via Lucy) spread the Pinsonneau resilience across borders. For deeper dives, check the Drouin Collection (via Ancestry or Genealogy Quebec) for vital records, or BAnQ's digitized notaries for the full contract text. 

The Ripples from La Prairie Voyageur Canoes blog (by Jerry England) is a treasure trove, as it traces your exact lineage with scans and anecdotes.

The Lasselle Brothers: Jacques and François in the Fur Trade

The Lasselle brothers—Jacques Lasselle (c. 1730s–aft. 1780s) and François Lasselle (c. 1740s–early 1800s)—were French-Canadian merchants, interpreters, and fur traders whose operations bridged the final decades of New France and the early British era in the Great Lakes region. Active primarily out of Montreal, they specialized in the Detroit trade route, a critical artery for beaver pelts, Indigenous alliances, and cross-cultural exchange. Their firm, often styled as "Jacques & François Lasselle" (or variants like Lasette, Lasselin, or Lasalle in notarial records), exemplifies the resilient network of habitants and négociants who adapted to the 1760 British Conquest by securing licenses from colonial authorities while maintaining French-Canadian trading practices. Though not as renowned as the McGills or Le Moynes, the Lasselles were integral to the post-Pontiac's War recovery (after 1763), hiring voyageurs like your 4th great-grandfather Gabriel Pinsonneau in 1797 for runs to Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit (modern Detroit, Michigan).

Their story reflects the fur trade's multicultural dynamics: blending French logistics, Indigenous partnerships (with Ottawa, Huron, and Ojibwa groups), and emerging British oversight. Below, I'll outline their backgrounds, careers, and legacy, drawing from notarial contracts, colonial records, and genealogical sources.

Background and Family Origins

The Lasselles hailed from a modest settler lineage in the Montreal area, typical of second- or third-generation French-Canadians who turned to the fur trade for opportunity. Jacques, the elder brother (born circa 1730–1735, possibly in Montreal or nearby Pointe-aux-Trembles), was baptized around 1732–1734 (exact records sparse). François followed in the mid-1740s (circa 1742–1745), likely in the same region. Their parents remain obscure in surviving documents—possibly a habitant farmer and a local woman tied to the St. Lawrence communities—but the family was part of the broader Canadien diaspora that fueled the pays d'en haut (upper country) expeditions.

Both brothers grew up amid the Beaver Wars' aftermath and the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), which ended French control of New France. Jacques, in particular, honed his skills as an interpreter early, learning Ottawa and Ojibwa languages through immersion in trading posts. This linguistic prowess set him apart, making him invaluable for negotiations and diplomacy. By their 20s, they were embedded in Montreal's fur trade ecosystem, partnering with firms like the North West Company (NWC) precursors and hiring engagés (contracted laborers) for seasonal brigades.

Career in the Fur Trade

The Lasselles operated as a Montreal-based partnership from at least the 1760s, focusing on the Montreal-Detroit corridor—a 600–800-mile route via the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario, Niagara portage, and Lake Erie. Detroit was a strategic hub: founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac as a French fort to counter British and Iroquois influence, it became a melting pot of French settlers, British garrisons (post-1760), and Indigenous nations. The brothers supplied European goods (textiles, metal tools, firearms, brandy) to Indigenous traders in exchange for pelts, which they shipped back to Montreal for export to Europe.

Key aspects of their operations:

• Jacques's Role: As the more field-oriented brother, Jacques was a veteran interpreter and on-site trader at Detroit. He arrived there by the early 1760s, surviving Pontiac's Rebellion (1763)—an Ottawa-led uprising that besieged the fort for five months. Jacques's language skills likely aided French-Canadian holdouts in negotiating safe passage or alliances. By the 1770s, he held British trading licenses, managing posts along the Detroit River and fostering ties with Huron and Ottawa leaders. His expertise extended to diplomacy; he assisted in treaty talks and served as a cultural intermediary, embodying the "ensauvagement" (blending with Indigenous ways) critiqued by French officials but essential to trade success.
• François's Role: More logistics-focused, François handled Montreal-side operations: outfitting canoes, securing capital, and notarizing contracts. He pooled resources with other négociants, investing in congés (trade permits) under British rules. Together, they formed a classic small partnership, similar to the Baby Frères (François, Jacques, and Antoine Baby), who leased inland posts by the 1750s.

Their firm hired dozens of voyageurs annually, including Gabriel Pinsonneau's 1797 engagement (notarized by Louis Chaboillez, brother of the more famous Charles Chaboillez). This late-summer contract was for a "fall hunt" supply run, emphasizing the brothers' adaptability to seasonal demands. Other known hires include:

• 1760s–1770s: Engagés to Detroit for wintering parties, amid British-Indian tensions.
• 1780s: Partnerships with Detroit settlers like the Campaus (Jacques Campau, d. 1751, and descendants like Joseph Campau, 1769–1863, who were "Barons of Detroit" and fellow traders).
• 1790s: Expansion into Lake Erie routes, competing with American traders post-Jay Treaty (1794).

The brothers navigated challenges like beaver depletion (pushing trade westward), smuggling accusations, and the American Revolution (1775–1783), which disrupted routes but opened U.S. markets. Their wealth was modest—estimated at a few thousand livres by the 1790s—but sustained through repeat contracts and Indigenous goodwill.

Key Events and Contributions

• Pontiac's War (1763): Jacques was at Detroit during the siege, where Ottawa Chief Pontiac blockaded the fort. As an interpreter, he likely mediated between French holdouts and Ottawa allies, helping preserve French-Canadian influence. This era marked the trade's shift: French traders like the Lasselles filled voids left by departing officials, securing British tolerance.
• British Conquest and Adaptation (1760–1790s): Post-Treaty of Paris (1763), the brothers obtained licenses from British governors like Thomas Gage. They symbolized the "French party" in Detroit—a network of Canadiens who retained cultural dominance in trade despite British military control.
• Indigenous Relations: Their success hinged on reciprocity: gifts, intermarriages (common in Métis communities around Detroit), and fair exchanges. Detroit's mixed-blood population—esteemed as interpreters and guides—overlapped with their circles, fostering hybrid identities.

Later Life and Legacy

Jacques remained active into the 1780s, possibly retiring to Montreal or Detroit; his death date is unrecorded, but he fades from contracts after 1785. François outlived him, handling affairs into the early 1800s, likely dying around 1805–1810 amid the War of 1812 disruptions. Neither married prominently (no major recorded heirs), but their firm influenced descendants and associates in the Godfroy and Reaume families, other Detroit pioneers.

The Lasselles' legacy endures in the fur trade's historiography as mid-tier operators who sustained French-Canadian presence in the Great Lakes amid empire shifts. They bridged worlds: French exploration (echoing Cartier and La Salle), British commerce, and Indigenous economies. Detroit's evolution from fur post to industrial hub owes much to such traders. For your genealogy, their 1797 contract ties Gabriel directly to this vibrant network—perhaps he wintered at their Detroit post, swapping stories with Ottawa traders.

For primary sources, check BAnQ's notarial records (e.g., Chaboillez fonds) or the Dictionary of Canadian Biography (entries on related traders). If you'd like details on their Detroit posts or connections to the Campaus, let me know!

Post courtesy of Drifting Cowboy and Grok xAI.