NEW FRANCE FUR TRADE TIMELINE 1600-1830 (update 2025)

 

1755 Map of the Great Lakes drawn by Jacques Nicholas Bellin

1608 - Sponsored by King Henry IV, Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec City on July 3.

1609 - Champlain joins a military expedition against the Iroquois. The Hurons and their French allies are victorious.

1610s

1610 - Étienne Brûlé is sent by Champlain to live among the Hurons to learn their language.

1612 - October 15, Champlain is made lieutenant of the vice-roi in New France.

1613 - Acadia is taken by the troops of Samuel Argall.

1615 - Arrival of the Récollets from Rouen on June 9.

1620s

1625 - Arrival of the Jesuits.

1627 - Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu founds the Compagnie de la Nouvelle France on April 29. King Louis XIII of France will grant them the monopoly on fur trade in return for their help in colonizing the St. Lawrence valley.

1627 - King Louis XIII of France introduces the seigneurial system and forbids settlement in New France by anyone other than Roman Catholics.

1629 - On July 16, three brothers, David, Louis, and Thomas Kirke take Quebec.

• Jean Godefroy de Linctot, Sieur (1607-1678) (10th great grand uncle): 1626, arrived with Champlain as interpreter; post-1629, stayed in colony, lived with Indians.
• Thomas Godefroy de Normanville (10th great grand uncle): 1626, arrived with Champlain as interpreter; post-1629, stayed in colony, lived with Indians.

1630s Furs were regularly leaving New France for Europe. These furs were mainly supplied by Indian traders, especially the Huron and Ottawa tribes. In Wisconsin the Winnebago tribes blocked the fur trade routes. They were attacked and defeated by the Ottawa and Huron. New tribes such as the Sauk, Fox, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe began moving into the area that is now Wisconsin.

1632 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye on March 29. Acadia and Quebec are given back to France.

1632 - The Couillard-Hébert family receives the colony’s first slave. He is a black boy from the West Indies. See Slavery in Canada.

1632 - Gabriel Sagard publishes Le Grand Voyage au pays des Hurons (The Great Voyage in Huron country) and a dictionary of the Huron language.

1634 - Sieur de La Violette founds a fur trading post and a fort, which later becomes the town of Trois-Rivières.

1634 - Hurons begin to drive out the Jesuits as disease decimates the Hurons.

1634 - Jean Nicolet traveled through the Great Lakes to Green Bay on what is now Lake Michigan, and claims all the land in this area for France.

1635 - The Jesuits found the Collège de Québec.

1635 - Samuel de Champlain dies on December 25.

1636 - Arrival of the new governor Charles Huault de Montmagny on June 12.

1639 - Foundation of the Société de Notre-Dame de Montréal.

1639 - Arrival of the Ursulines and the Hospitalières in the colony.

• Zacharie Cloutier (1590-1677) (10th great-grandfather): 1634, hired by Champlain for inhabiting/clearing New France.
• Philippe Amiot (Amyot) dit Villeneuve (1602-1639) (9th great-grandfather): 1636, coureur de bois near Trois-Rivières.
• Robert Caron (1612-1656) (9th great-grandfather): Arrived June 11, 1636; little else known.
• Louis Sédillot dit Montreuil (1601-1672) (9th great-grandfather): 1637, arrived Québec; worked for Company of One Hundred Associates clearing/planting.
• Denise Sevestre (1632-1700) (9th great-aunt): Arrived 1636; mother of voyageurs. Married (1) 1646 Antoine Martin (children: Charles, Antoine, Jean-François); (2) 1659 Philipe Neveu (children: Jacques, Charles, Jean Baptiste).

1640s

1641 - Beginning of the French and Iroquois Wars on June 13.

1641 - Arrival of Jeanne Mance on August 8.

1642 - Joe Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance found Ville-Marie , today Montréal on May 17.

1643 - Arrival of Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge et d'Argentenay , officer and military engineer.

1647 - Creation of the Conseil de Québec on March 27.

1648 - Beginning of the genocide of the Huron peoples by the Iroquois confederacy.

1648 - Louis d'Ailleboust becomes governor of New France after the refusal of Maisonneuve to take the position.

1648 - The Huron country is destroyed and fleeing Hurons are relocated to Ile d'Orleans with the help of governor d'Ailleboust. Wyandot people|

• Jean Mignault dit Chatillon (1622-1680) (9th great-grandfather): 1648, sent by Montmagny to Huron country for fur trade invitation.
• Jean Amiot (Amyot) (1630-1648) (9th great-uncle): 1640s, Jesuit interpreter/employee in Huron country.
• Mathieu Amiot (Amyot) Sieur de Villeneuve (1628-1688) (8th great-grandfather): 1640s, Jesuit interpreter/fur trader in Huron country.
• Mathurin Gagnon (1606-1690) (11th great-uncle): 1645-63, Communauté des habitants member (fur monopoly); store/outfitter in Lower Quebec. Arrived 1635.
• Philippe Foubert (1616-1661) (10th great-grandfather): 1649 Sep 12, engagement to Charles Sevestre (fur storehouse clerk/manager/outfitter).

1650s

1651 - Jean de Lauzon becomes governor of New France.

1653 - The population of Quebec now stands at 2,000.

1657 - Arrival of the Roman Catholic Sulpician Order in Montreal.

1657 - Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson replaces Jean de Lauzon as governor of New France.

1659 - François de Laval becomes the first bishop of New France.

1659 - Radisson and Grosseiliers made an unlicensed trip into the interior. They built a trading post at Chequamagon Bay on Lake Superior and claimed to have found a portage into the west. Was this Grand Portage?

• Denis Duquet (1605-1675) (8th great-grandfather): 1659, "Traite de Tadoussac" member (first European fur post, est. 1600).
• Charles Amiot (Amyot) (1636-1669) (9th great-uncle): 1650, fur-trader/merchant; Jesuit-educated, served Father Bressani in Huron country.

1660s

1660 - Dollard des Ormeaux dies at Long Sault on the Ottawa River.

1661 - Louis XIV puts his minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert in charge of reorganizing the administration of New France on March 16.

1661 - Pierre DuBois, baron Davaugour becomes governor of New France.

1663 - New France becomes a royal province under Louis XIV. The Sovereign Council is created to administer the colonies under the absolute authority of the King.

1663 - François de Laval founds the Séminaire de Québec, now known as the Université Laval.

1663 - Arrival of Augustin de Saffray de Mézy , first governor named by the King, Monseigneur Laval, royal commissioner Louis Gaudais-Dupont and 150 colonists and craftmen on September 15.

1663 - Election of Jean-Baptiste Legardeur de Repentigny , the first mayor of Quebec City on October 17.

1665 - Jean-Baptiste Colbert appoints Jean Talon as intendant of New France.

1665 - The new governor de Mézy dies of sickness in Quebec City.

1665 - Daniel de Rémy de Courcelle becomes governor of New France.

1665 - Arrival of the Carignan-Salières Regiment of 1,300 soldiers on June 19.

1665 - The Carignan-Salières Regiment destroys five Mohawk nation villages, weakening Iroquois resolve to keep fighting.

1666 - A census conducted by Jean Talon in the winter of 1665-1666 showed a population of 3,215 French inhabitants residing in New France.

1666 - During the autumn, the soldier of Carignan-Salières, led by Alexandre de Prouville , the “Marquis de Tracy” and the governor, invade the Iroquois territory to the south, burn their villages and destroy their crops. See French and Iroquois Wars.

1667 - Signing of a peace treaty with the defeated Iroquois

1667 - The first Filles du roi (“King’s Daughters”) arrive in New France during the summer.

• Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton (1652-1702) (8th great-grandfather): 1665, soldier La Fouille Co., Carignan-Salières. 1677, voyageur Fort Frontenac. 1684, hired for Outaouais with Lefebvre/Caille (630 livres).
• Jeanne Testard (1642-1723) (8th great grandmother): Fille à Marier; arrived by 1662.
• Charles Boyer (1631-1698) (9th great-grandfather): 1660s, 10 Boyers (incl. son Antoine) on 31 voyageur trips; excl. coureurs des bois.
• Andre Robidou dit Lespagnol (1643-1678) (9th great-grandfather): 1666, voyageur for Eustache Lambert.
• Jeanne Denote (1647-1701) (9th great-grandmother): Filles du roi; arrived 1666; married Robidou 1667; moved La Prairie 1671 for fur trade.
• Pierre Duquet de La Chesnaye (1643-1687) (8th great-uncle): 1663, expedition with Couture to Northern Sea/Rupert River.
• François Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1646-1731) (7th great-grandfather): Soldier Saint-Ours Co., Carignan-Salières; arrived La Justice Sep 14, 1665.
• Jean Baptiste Desroches (1621-1684) (8th great-grandfather): 1667, trading co. with Perrot/Baudry/Nafrechoux; to Ottawa/Green Bay 1668.
• André Mignier (Migner) (Meignier) dit Lagacé (1641-1727) (8th great-grandfather): Sharpshooter Berthier Co., Carignan-Salières; arrived Le Brézé Jun 30, 1665.
• Marguerite Leboeuf (1636-1671) (9th great-grandmother): 1665, Quebec cabaret; accused adultery/maison close. Married 1658 Gabriel Lemieux.
• Gabriel Lemieux (1626-1700) (9th great-grandfather): 1690, voyageur/coureur de bois to Michilimackinac/Sault Ste. Marie.
• Jacques Leber (Lebert) dit Larose (1633-1706) (9th great-uncle): 1669-1687, Lachine Fur Post partner. Married 1658 Jeanne Le Moyne.
• Charles Le Moyne Sieur de Longueuil (1626-1685) (brother-in-law): 1669-1687, Lachine Fur Post partner.

1670s - The Hudson Bay Company was chartered. They claimed all the lands that drained into Hudson Bay as their trading area. Their post were located on Hudson Bay and the Indians brought their furs there. About this time the Dakota Sioux attacked and drove the Huron and Ottawa out of the western Great Lakes. After this time many Frenchmen moved into the region and began trading directly with the Indians.

1670 - Jean-Baptiste Legardeur de Repentigny establishes Repentigny, Quebec.

1672 - Louis Buade de Frontenac becomes Governor of New France on April 7.

1673 - Marquette and Joliet used the Fox and Wisconsin rivers to reach the Mississippi. After this the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers became a major transportation route to the western trading regions.

1674 - Creation of the Roman Catholic diocese of Quebec. François de Laval is made Bishop.

1675 - The expression coureur des bois is coined to name those who bypass Royal officials and deal directly with the First Nations in the fur trade.

1675 - Arrival of the new intendant Jacques Duchesneau de la Doussinière et d'Ambault.

1679 - Daniel Greysolon, Sieur Du Luth used the Savannah Portage to reach the interior of Minnesota and Mille Lac. He claimed all the lands for France. He returned to Lake Superior and traveled up the northwest shore and built a post on the Kaministikquai River.

The Ojibwe were moving from eastern Lake Superior to the area around Chequamagon. They took the place of the departed Huron and Ottawa. They even allied themselves with the Dakota with whom they traded goods.

• Pierre Peras dit La Fontaine (1616-1684) (9th great-grandfather) and Denise Lemaitre: 1670s, Pierre/3 sons/sons-in-law as coureurs des bois.
• Pierre Poupart (8th great-grandfather) and Marguerite Perras (8th great-grandmother): 1670, voyageur for Saint-Lusson/Perrot claiming Great Lakes.

1680s

1682 - Arrival of governor Joseph-Antoine Le Febvre de La Barre and intendant Jacques de Meulles

1682 - René Robert Cavalier de La Salle takes possession of the basin of the Mississippi river for the king of France.

1684 - Pierre-Esprit Radisson , a coureur de bois , is employed by Britain to explore the north for furs.

1685 - Jacques-René de Brisay, marquis de Denonville becomes governor of New France.

1685 - Louis XIV of France decrees the Code noir (Black Code) that ordered all Jews out of the French colonial empire , defined the rules for slavery ,

restricted the activities of free Negroes , and forbade the exercise of any religion other than Roman Catholicism.

1689 - Frontenac is reappointed governor of New France.

1689 - August 5. Fifteen hundred Iroquois warriors attack the settlement of Lachine, killing or torturing most if its inhabitants. This incident would become known as the Lachine massacre.

1689 - War broke out between France and England. It interrupted trade as far west as Minnesota.

• Denise Lemaitre (1635-1691) (9th great-grandmother): Post-1684, fur trade with Catholic Iroquois; killed by Iroquois Oct 29, 1691, Côte St-Lambert.
• Francois Leber (Lebert) (1626-1694) (8th great-grandfather): 1688, voyageur Ottawa Country; with 3 sons as coureurs des bois, "fathers of fur trade."
• Francois Bourassa (1659-1708) (7th great-grandfather): 1686, Hudson Bay for Compagnie du Nord; 1688, hired for 8ta8ats with Leber; 1690, hired for Michilimackinac with Bourdeau/Babeu/Leber; 1690, debt for Ottawa merchandise.
• Marie Le Ber (1666-1756) (7th great-grandmother): Father Leber in fur trade; married 1688 Bourassa.
• Louis Duquet sieur Duverdier (1657-1691) (8th great-uncle): 1689, engagement to Perrot for Michilimackinac.
• Jean Duquet dit Desrochers (1651-1710) (7th great-grandfather): 1680s, bourgeois headman fur brigade pays d’en haut.
• Anne Leber (1656-1694) (8th great-aunt): Wife Albany fur traders; married (1) 1672 Barrois; (2) 1689 Lootman.
• Jean Baptiste Barrois (Lotman) dit Albrin (1650-1689): Albany fur trader; married 1689 Leber.
• Joachim Jacques Leber (1664-1695) (8th great-uncle): 1685, engagement for 8ta8ats; 1686, Hudson Bay; 1688, hired for 8ta8ats with Bourassa; 1690, hired for Michilimackinac/Bourdeau/Babeu/Bourassa; 1690, debt Ottawa; 1692, captured Albany.
• Daniel Joseph Amiot (Amyot) Dit Villeneuve (1665-1725) (8th great-uncle): 1686, Tonti La Salle search, Mississippi to Gulf; 1690, hired for Illinois with Bénard/Fafards/Lat; trips to 1710; married 1719 Ottawa chief's daughter; died 1725 Michilimackinac.
• Laurent Barette (1666-1725) (8th great-uncle): 1686, voyageur Louisiana/Gulf with Tonty; 1687, engagement for Illinois Fort St. Louis.
• Jacques Barette (1668-1691) (8th great-uncle): 1680s, voyageur/fur trader Illinois.
• Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663-1708) (8th great-uncle): 1685, hired for Sault Ste. Marie.
• Jacques Deneau (Deniau) dit Destaillis (1660-1720) (7th great-grandfather): 1685, hired for Sault Ste. Marie; 1688 Jul 5, hired with Charles for 8ta8ois; 19 Deneaus on 69 trips (Minnesota, eh?).
• Jacques Nepveu (Neveu) (1667-1722) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1684 Sep 27, engagement Tonty for Fort St. Louis; 1716 May 2, engagement for Détroit; 1730 May 29, engagement for Michilimackinac.
• Nicolas Desroches (1652-1737) (8th great-uncle): 1682, engaged for 8ta8ats exploration/trade.
• Joseph Boyer (1669-_) (9th great-uncle): 1688 Jul 3, hired for 8ta8ois.

1690s

1690 - Sir William Phips appears with several ships near L'Isle d'Orleans and demands the surrender of the Fort of Quebec. Frontenac refuses and Phips

withdraws.

1690 - July 2 : One-hundred Iroquois are attacked in the Battle of Coulée Grou resulting in Canadian pioneer Jean Grou and others being burned alive.

1690 - New France falls after losing 600 men in war.

1692 - Marie-Madeleine Jarret de Verchères becomes a hero in New France for defending a fort against the Iroquois while waiting for French Army reinforcements.

1696 - During King William’s War French troops seized the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and burned the city of St. John’s.

1696 - By Royal Edict, New France closed all its western fur posts. Trade was officially abandoned for 20 years. However, illegal traders kept up their operations.

1696 - René Lepage de Ste-Claire founded what will become the city of Rimouski later. He installed all his family in the Lower St. Lawrence. He obtained this Seigneurie from Augustin Rouer de la Cardonnière in exchange of a ground which he had on the Île d'Orléans.

1698 - Louis-Hector de Callière is made governor of New France after the death of Frontenac in November.

1699 - Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville establishes France 's first permanent settlement in Louisiana in what is now the southernmost portion of Alabama.

• Antoine Jacques Boyer (1671-1747) (8th great-grandfather): 1690, coureur de bois, land buy with 600 livres beaver; 1694, hired for 8ta8ois.
• Jean Cusson (1630-1718) (9th great-grandfather): 6 sons fur-traders 1690-1713; 1690, voyageur for Perrot 8ta8ois; 1704 Jul 4, engagement for Outaouais.
• Michel Cusson (1667-1690) (9th great-uncle): 1690, hired with Jean for 8ta8ois.
• Antoine Duquet dit Madry (1660-1733) (8th great-uncle): 1691, engagement for Michilimackinac.
• Moïse Dupuis (Depuis) (1673-1750) (7th great-grandfather): 1692, coureur de bois/trader Schenectady, NY; possibly 1692 attack; stayed, found spouse.
• Jacques Hugues Picard (1618-1707) (9th great-grandfather): 1693, hired for 8ta8ois.
• Gabriel Lemieux (1663-1739) (8th great-grandfather): 1690, voyageur to Michilimackinac/Sault Ste. Marie; 1692 Aug 9/19, engagements for 8ta8ois/Michilimackinac/Sault; 1734 May 28, for poste associes; 1737 May 6, for Détroit.
• Jean Perras dit Lafontaine (1668-1736) (9th great-uncle): 1692, hired for 8ta8ois; 1694, hired for Michilimackinac.
• Antoine Martin dit Montpellier (1654-1715) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1694 May 21, agreement for Michilimackinac furs.
• Charles Neveu/Nepveu (1671-1705) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1694 May 21, agreement for Michilimackinac furs.
• René Dupuis (Dupays) (1671-1738) (8th great uncle): 1695 Jun 3, hired for 8ta8ois.
• Joseph Moreau (1672-1708) (9th great-uncle): 1693 Sep 11, engagement for 8ta8ats; 1694 Sep 14, for 8ta8ats; 1696, for Michilimackinac; 1697, lawsuit win vs Cadillac; 1704 Jul 28, large group engagement.
• Jean Gabriel Picard (1669-1735) (9th great-uncle): 1691, hired for 8ta8ois; 1718 Sep 26, for 8ta8ois.
• Joseph Farfard (Fafart) (1645-1666) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1690 May 5-8, hired for Illinois.
• Joseph Bénard dit Carignan (1662-1735) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1690 May 5-8, hired for Illinois.
• Francois Leber (1673-1746) (8th great-uncle): 1693, voyageur 8ta8ois.
• Maurice Bénard dit Bourjoli (1666-1751) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1694, hired for 8ta8ois.

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 for 8ta8ats; 1701, with Cadillac Detroit; 1690-1713, 5 brothers fur-traders west.
• Charles Deneau dit Destaillis (1701-1748) (1st cousin 8x removed): 1724 Apr 20, engagement for Missillimakinac.
• Pierre Rivet (1683-1753) (8th great-uncle): 1703, hired for Detroit via Lake Erie.
• Jean Rivet (1677-_) (8th great-uncle): 1705 May 30, engaged for l'Ouest/Detroit.
• Rene Rivet (1678-1735) (8th great-uncle): 1703, hired for Detroit via Lake Erie.
• Jacques Godet (Gaudet) (Gaudette) dit Marentette (1673-1729) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1707, voyageur Fort Pontchartrain Detroit.
• Guillaume Barrette dit Courville (1678-1745) (7th great-grandfather): 1708, notary Royal La Prairie.
• Pierre Beauchamp (1676-_) (8th great-uncle): 1705 Jun 5, hired Détroit; 1709 Mar 9, engagement with Jacques for fort Chartrain.
• Jacques Beauchamp (1658-_) (8th great-uncle): 1705 May 30, engaged Détroit; 1709 Mar 9, engagement with Pierre for fort Chartrain; 1717 May 18, engagement with Pierre/Bazinet/Baudriau for Michilimakinac.
• Jacques Godet (1673-1729) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1707, voyageur Fort Pontchartrain 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, hired for Détroit.
• Nicolas Gagne (Gagnier) (1689-1732) (8th great-uncle): 1712 Sep 17, engagement for fort Chartrain.
• Etienne Deneau (Deniau) dit Destaillus (1691-1730) (7th great-uncle): 1713 Jun 3, engagement for fort Chartrain.
• Charles Diel (1688-1734) (7th great-grandfather): 1713, hired for Détroit; 1718 May 28, hired for Détroit.
• Jean Baptiste Moreau (1657-1727) (8th great-grandfather): 1703, hired for Detroit; 1704 Jul 28, large group; 1716 Apr 30, for Michilimackinac; 1717 May 18, for Michilimackinac; 1718 May 22, for Michilimackinac.

1720s

• Jacques Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1682-1773) (6th great-grandfather): Likely coureur de bois via family ties.
• Jean Baptiste Boyer (1673-_) (9th great-uncle): 1718 May 27, debt for Detroit; 1721 Aug 10, engagement Détroit; 1723 Apr 27, engagement Détroit; 1736 Sep 4, engagement to Denoyel for Strait post.
• Joseph Poupart (1696-1726) (7th great-grandfather): 1715 Mar 5, engagement for Michilimackinac; 1723 Aug 27, hired for Détroit.
• Jean Baptiste Neveu (1676-1754) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1716 May 2, engagement for Détroit; 1718 Sep 10, duty for Michilimackinac; 1721 May 16, for Pays d'en Haut; 1722 May 26, for Détroit; 1724 Apr 21, for Michilimackinac; 1726 Jul 19, debt for Sonnontoins; 1727 May 13, for Michilimackinac.
• Jean Baptiste Amiot (Amyot) (1693-1763) (1st cousin 8x removed): Pre-1724, Michilimackinac blacksmith for Jesuits; 1739 May 4, for Pays d'en Haut.
• Alexis Rivet (1693-1757) (8th great-uncle): 1728, hired for Détroit.

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/brother of voyageurs.
• Joseph Godet (1714–1739) (2nd cousin 8x removed): Died on Detroit trip.
• Pierre Barette dit Courville (1708-1755) (7th great-uncle): 1734 Jun 2, engagement for Michilimakinac; 1744 Jun 1, for Michilimakinac; 1745, in Rivard Michillimakinac permit.
• Pierre Perras dit Lafontaine (1674–1699) (9th great-uncle): 1730s, fur trader.
• Joseph Perras dit Lafontaine (1714-1753) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1734 May 13, engagement for Detroit.
• Rene Bourassa dit LaRonde (1688-1778) (6th great-uncle): 1726 Apr 16, engagement Pays d'en Haut; 1735, hired for La Vérendrye posts; 1737, post/winter Vermillion MN with Ojibwa; later Michilimackinac trade; 1738 May 16, for Misilimakinac.
• Jean Baptiste Nicholas Rondeau (1688-1767) (8th great-uncle): 1731 May 25, engagement for Isles; 1735 Apr 25, for France.
• Jean Baptiste Sédilot dit Montreuil (1647–1687) (9th great-uncle): Possible coureur de bois.
• Jean Baptiste Sédilot (1689–1766) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1736 Mar 28, engagement for Chagouamigon.
• François Sédilot dit Montreuil (1673-_) (1st cousin 9x removed): 1733 May 17, engagement Detroit; 1734 Apr 30, for Detroit; 1737 Apr 26, for Baie des Puants; 1741 May 26, for Detroit.
• Toussaint Dardenne (1671-1720) (1st cousin 9x removed): Uncle voyageur; 1737 May 1, for Baie des Puants; 1739 Sep 10, for Cheyenons.
• Louis Dardenne (1718-1834) (2nd cousin 8x removed): 1738 Jun 7, for Illinois; 1746 Mar 10, for Arkansas.
• Joseph Miville (1669-1736) (9th great-uncle): 1723 May 17, for Pays d'en Haut; 1737 Jun 22, for Pontchartrain; 1747 Jun 8, for Pays d'en Haut; 1748 Jul 14, for Pays d'en Haut.
• Michel Miville (1716-_) (2nd cousin 8x removed): 1737 Jun 21, engagement for Mililimakinac.
• Pierre Rivet (1683-1753) (8th great-uncle): 1736, for St-Joseph; 1740 May 27/Jun 12, for Michilimakinac/Ponchartrain; 1743 May 24, for Michilimackinac.
• Nicolas Pierre Rivet (1719-1811) (1st cousin 8x removed): 1738 May 16, for Illinois.

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 Jun 8, license for Philadelphia; 1745 Jun 9, in Gamelin Michillimakinac permit.
• Charles Diel (1722-1756) (7th great-uncle): 1747, Wabash IN; 1751/1755, Michilimackinac.
• Augustin Barrette (1719-1771) (7th great-uncle): 1742 May 23, engagement Michilimakinac; 1745, Rivard Michillimakinac; 1751, for Michilimackinac.
• Charles De Langlade (1729-1801) (husband 1st cousin 7x removed): 1745, Green Bay post; "Father of Wisconsin"; Revolution war chief.

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, hired for Michilimackinac.
• Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers (1694-1762) (6th great-grandfather): 1751 Jun 4, hired for Michilimackinac; 1752 Jun 9, for Michilimackinac; 1753 Apr 13, for Michilimackinac (gouvernail).
• Joseph Poupart (1727-1792) (1st cousin 8x removed): 1751, hired for Illinois (gouvernail).
• Jacques Poupart (1720-1810) (1st cousin 8x removed): 1753 Apr 8, hired for Michilimackinac (gouvernail).
• Joseph Gagne (Gagnier) (1695-1777) (8th great-uncle): 1754, hired for Detroit (Devant/Gouvernail).
• Jacques Godet (1699–1760) (2nd cousin 8x removed): Voyageur Fort Pontchartrain Detroit.
• Dominique Godet (1701–1756) (2nd cousin 8x removed): Fur trader; 1736 May 8, engagement for Ouiatanons; 1754, hired for Detroit (Devant/Gouvernail).
• François-Xavier Godet (1720–1785) (2nd cousin 8x removed): Fur trader; 1754 May 6, engagement for Detroit; bourgeois merchant/militia, 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 Apr 29, engagement to Laselle.

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 for Michilimackinac.
• Charles Boyer (1744-_) (1st cousin 8x removed): NWC trader from 1779; 1788, built Fort Vermilion.
• Jean-Baptiste Mignier (Meunier) Lagasse (Lagace) (1749-1828) (5th great-grandfather): 1778, hired for Mississippi overwinter; 1794, trading house Missouri with Rolland; 1800, hired for Mississippi overwinter.

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.

1788, Charles Boyer (1744-1811) (1st cousin 8x removed) established Fort Vermilion for the North West Company. It was the first post in the Peace River Alberta area to trade with the Beaver Indians. Until its amalgamation with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821, the North West Company, through a succession of posts called Fort Vermilion, dominated the fur trade in the region. The Beaver and other Dene peoples, and the Cree, supplied furs, provisions, and leather for trade and company use west of the Rockies.

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.

• François Rivet (1754-1852) (2nd cousin 7x removed): 1791, hired for wherever required (Nord excl., 3 yrs); 1803-04, Lewis/Clark expedition to Mandans.
• Louis Pierre Barette dit Courville (1775-1831) (5th great-uncle): 1795 Aug 21, hired for Detroit.
• Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770-1807) (4th great-grandfather): 1797 Aug 11, engagement La Prairie to Detroit.

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.

• Joseph Vielle dit Cossé (1767-_) (5th great-uncle): 1797, Mackenzie voyageur to Grand Portage (3 yrs); possibly Thompson boundary survey. Contract: 1797 Feb 14, NWC Nord Ouest/Nipigon/Lac Superieur; bowman.
• Michel Vielle dit Cossé (1771-1810) (5th great-uncle): 1793, engaged NWC Nord-Ouest; bowman.
• Charles Mignier dit Lagace (Lagasse) (1744-1819) (6th great-uncle): 1792 Mar 28, hired NWC North/Grand Portage (gouvernail); 1800, with Thompson Upper Saskatchewan.
• François Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1777-1824) (5th great-uncle): 1797 Aug 28, engagement La Prairie to Rivière des Illinois.
• Jean Baptiste Poupart (1762-1832) (2nd cousin 7x removed): 1797 Mar 17/Sep 6, engagements Michilimackinac; 1799 Mar 1/Jul 19, for Michilimackinac; 1803, pays d'En haut; 1805 Feb 26, Michilimackinac (gouvernail); 1806 Mar 19, Michilimackinac (gouvernail).
• Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1763-1820) (5th great-uncle): 1799 Mar 3, hired NWC Detroit.

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, hired Mississippi overwinter; 1803 Oct 6, hired NWC Lac De La Pluie (via Michilimakinac if req.; 2 trips Kamanatiguià to Montagne; 6 days drudgery; carry 3 canoes).
• Pierre Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1765-_) (5th great-uncle): 1802 Dec 6, hired NWC 2 voyages Kaministiquia/Montagne (gouvernail).
• Andre Mignier dit Lagasse (Lagace) (1775-_) (1st cousin 6x removed): 1803, 4-yr NWC guide/interpreter Red/Swan/Winnipeg; interpreter Thompson.
• Louis Dupuis (1744-1857) (6th great-uncle): 1799 Jan 9, engagement Nord Ouest (2 yrs); 1801 Mar 5/Aug 21/May 14, engagements Michilimackinac/Fort Coulonge/Michilimackinac; 1804 Jul 24, Michilimackinac; 1807 Feb 10/19, Michilimackinac/St-Joseph/Mississippi/Missouri; 1809 May 17, Détroit; 1810 Jan 23/Mar 28, Nord Ouest/Nipigon/Lac la Pluie/Montagne (overwinter 2+1 yrs; military free/canoe front; via Michilimakinac; 6 days; 2 journeys; carry 3 canoes; post wages/equip; 1% Voyageurs Fund); 1821 Mar 8, HBC Nord Ouest (overwinter 3 yrs; U.S./Wild/Upper Canada; 500 livres/yr; equip).
• Michel Dupuis (1788-1836) (1st cousin 6x removed): 1792 Jul 20, engagement Détroit; 1797 May 5, Michilimackinac; 1798 Jul 28, Michilimackinac; 1802 Jun 15, Michilimackinac; 1806 Aug 20, Détroit.

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): Married 1824 Marie Emélie Meunier Lagassé; to Vermont pre-1830 (possible fur trade/farming); possible New Orleans 1840; Wilna NY pre-1850.

Courtesy of Drifting Cowboy with updates by Grok xAI. AI can make mistakes.