Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton — Voyageur Grandfather

Frontenac en route to Cataracoui

Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton (1652-1702) 8th great-grandfather

son of Philippe Diel (1618-1676) and Marie Anquetin (Hanquetin) (1630-_)

Birth BEFORE 1652 • Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France

Death 13 APR 1702 • La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

Marriage 1676 to Marie Anne Picard (1663-1697)

• 1665, arrived in New France as a soldier in the La Fouille Company of the Carignan-Salières Regiment.

• 1673, Charles in one of the earliest habitants of La Prairie de la Magdeleine.

• 1677, Charles Diel transports supplies to Fort Frontenac

Frontenac took a census of Fort Frontenac: 7 September 1677 – Frontenac took a census of Fort Frontenac. Many of the men who would accompany La Salle on his future voyages were residents of the Fort. By this time, La Salle had made most of his improvements to the fort. Following are names of the individuals recorded in the census: La Salle (governor), François Daupin, sieur de LaForest (major), Louis Hennepin (a Récollet), Luc Buisset (a Récollet), Sieur Jean Péré. Soldiers: La Fleur (sergeant), Duplessis, La Boise, Jean Baptiste Fafard dit Macons/Macouce, Meunier/Meusnier dit Laliberté, Jean Michel, André Hunault, Deslauriers, Antoine Brossard (ordered to go to meet the Onondaga), Lévéille (gone down to Montréal to bring up the carpenter disembarked lately), Gabriel Barbier dit LeMinime/Mimine (ordered into the brigantine), Jacques Bourdon, sieur d’Autray (ordered into the brigantine), Maheu (ordered into the brigantine), Jean la Rouxelière/ Rouxcel de Larousselière (surgeon absent on duty), Cauchois/Cochois (a servant of sieur de La Salle, ordered into the brigantine), Fontaine (a pilot of the barque called Le Frontenac). Workers: Olivier Quesnel (an armorer), Moïse Hilaret (ship’s carpenter gone down to make a shallop in Lac St. Sacrament), Jean Fontaine (ship’s carpenter gone down to make a shallop in Lac St. Sacrament), Laforge (the blacksmith gone to take them), Pierre Lecellier, Jolycoeur, Louis Méline, Jean Baptiste Brossard, Dubois (tailor gone down to Montréal ten days ago, sick), Joseph (joiner gone down to Montréal ten days ago, sick), Louis Douceregnié, Larose/La Rosée (mason), Jean Baptiste Caron/Colon/Coron dit La Violette de Paris (mason), Thomas Brésil (mason), René Gervais (mason), Pierre Perrault/Perot (carpenter), Pierre Perrault/Perot (his son), Jean Barraud, Antoine Alain. Habitants: Curaillon, Jean Michaud (has his wife and four children), Jacques de LaMétairie, Mathurin Grégoire (wife and three children). In addition to the individuals named in the census, the following men brought supplies to Fort Frontenac: Lavigne, Bourbonnais, Charles Diel, Picard, Pigoret, Larivière de Tours, Charles Ptolomée, Nicolas Bonhomme, Nicolas Gagné/Gaigner, Laforge, and Charlier.44 

Source: French-Canadian Exploration, Missionary Work, and Fur Trading in Hudson Bay, the Great Lakes, and Mississippi Valley During the 17th Century – Part 6 – 1674 to December 1681 Diane Wolford Sheppard© 2010, 2014, FCHSM member (bluecolumbine@comcast.net) 

View of Cataraqui (Kingston)

FROM: CHARLES DIEL, OUR FIRST CANADIAN ANCESTOR…

(www.guiel.com/genealogy/charlesdiel1.htm)

BENIGNE BASSETT NOTARY RECORD, PAGE 262

• 1684, Leger Hebert of Cap de la Trinite has a trade permit and hires Charles to go to the Outaouais country with Pierre Lefebvre and Antoine Caille on 20 September 1684 for the sum of 630 livres. Because they had never been there before, they are guided by Jean Lesieur dit La Calot who promises to lead them to Michillimakinac without receiving part of their share. That same day, they borrow the value of "2616 livres and six sols" of merchandise. (SEE 1684 CONTRACT BELOW)

• 1688, Jean Deniau guarantees them other trips for Hilarie Bourgine. The first voyage is followed by a second in 1688. On 31 July of that year, he promises Antoine Caille to go to the Outaouais to "put forward the good of their association". On the third of August, with Pierre Lefebvre and Andre Danny, he borrows 1063 livres, 2 sols, and six sums of money from Hilarie Bourgine, and, on the same day, in company of Antoine Caille and Pierre Lefebvre, 81 livres, 15 sols and six deniers from the same. On 20 October 1704, he rents to his son-in-law, Francois Bory, for five years, the land of St. Lambert, Laprairie. He sells the moist land to Nicolas Varrin dit Lapistole on 24 July 1707 for the sum of 600 livres.

ANTOINE ADHEMAR NOTARY RECORD, PAGE 96

ANTOINE ADHEMAR NOTARY RECORD, PAGE 97

FROM: CHARLES DIEL AND THE FUR TRADE…

(www.guiel.com/genealogy/charlesdiel1.htm)

In 1684 the country known as Canada or New France, that is to say the shores of the St. Lawrence River, counted about 10,700 settlers. Very few compared to the 160,000 inhabitants of the English colonies to the south.

In the middle of June 1684, the then Governor of New France, 62 year old Joseph Antoine Lefebvre de la Barre, who replaced Frontenac in 1682, writes to Thomas Dongan, the Governor of the colony of New York, to ask him not to give arms to the Iroquois and to let the French attack them. The Iroquois, specifically the Tsonnontouan, one of the five nations, are damaging the fur trade.

On 31 July 1684 King Louis XIV writes to la Barre saying that he wishes to diminish as much as possible the number of Iroquois and asks that the Iroquois be made prisoners on French convict ships "as they are strong and robust". On 1 September la Barre answered his King by writing that "he is preparing everything to exterminate this nation". After having sent Ambassadors to the different Iroquois nations to advise them that the French will only make war on the Tsonnontouans (1) the army of la Barre leaves Montréal 30 July 1684. His army is made up of 130 regular soldiers, of a militia of 700 Canadiens, and of 378 Indians. Already 80 soldiers have left ahead of the rest to prepare the terrain by cutting branches, etc. Also, a further movement of 200 Frenchmen and 500 Indians leave the Michillimakinac fur trading post to go to Niagara and await further orders there.

Fort Michilimackinac by William Dashwood

In the meantime the leaders of the Onneiouts or Oneida (2) don't understand why the French want to make war on the Tsonnontouans since they say they are ready to pay for any damages they have done to the Coureurs des Bois and the fur business and to apologize.

On 9 August, la Barre and his army reached the fort of Cataracoui. On this date, the Governor apparently after the pressures of Father Jean de Lamberville not to make war, decides to negotiate instead of attacking. But the main reason is probably that his army is already low on supplies and his soldiers are sick and in bad shape. He cannot attack. The Iroquois know it, and la Barre ends up having to accept all the conditions demanded by the Iroquois. A peace treaty is signed in the middle of August 1684. Very soon after, the King who is not pleased fires Mister la Barre.

It is a little bit more than a month after these events that Charles Diel prepares to leave on a fur trip and a contract is created for that effect. It is possible that Charles Diel was part of the Canadian militia and got permission to go on the fur trip because of his services.

In order to have merchandise to exchange with the Indians for furs, Charles Diel and his partners buy at credit a substantial amount of merchandise from a Montréal merchant. The contract refers to that transaction. The amount borrowed, 2616 livres, represents almost 10 years of salary for a qualified worker of the time.

Charles Diel is 31 years old at the time of the trip to Michillimakinac and has been married to Marie Anne Picard for 8 years. He traded for furs with the Indians in the middle of the Great Lakes at Ft. Michillimakinac. However, he was at his daughter's burial on or about 9 DEC 1684, so he did not winter over on this trip.

On 16 SEP 1692, Charles Diel, Antoine Cailler, and Pierre Le febvre appeared at a judicial hearing concerning a payment in fur to Madame Perrot of Laprairie with furs that they apparently transported from Michillimakinac to Montreal for a third party.. ???? pg. 95 Edge of Empire

(1) Les Sénécas ou Tsonnontouans sont un peuple amérindien d'Amérique du Nord qui faisait partie de la Confédération iroquoise. {English} Senecas or Tsonnontouans are a Native American people from North America who were part of the Iroquois Confederacy (2) Onneiouts or Oneida are a Native American people from North America who were part of the Iroquois Confederacy.

1684 CHARLES DIEL CONTRACT (TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH)…

page 1 — Contract dated 23 September 1684

23 September 1684

Obligation by Pierre Lefebvre, Anthoine Cailler, Charles Diel to Sr Hyllaire Bourgine

In front of Beninge Basset, Royal Notary in the land and lordship of L'Isle de Montreal in New France, appeared the undersigned witnesses, the Sirs Pierre Lefebvre, Antoine Cailler, and Charles Diel, inhabitants residing ordinarily in La Prairie St. Lambert, of present on the River de Montreal, which have recognized and confessed to owe much for himself, alone, and (for) each of the others, and for all, without discussion (litigation?) nor division, renounced (waived) the said division and surety to Sir Hillaire Bourgine, bourgeois merchant of the said Montreal, there residing at the present, and accepting the sum of two thousand six hundred and sixteen Livres six sols because of the merchandise that the said debtors have renounced and confessed have been given and delivered to them by him, Sieur Créancier, (the creditor, Sieur Bourgine) for the voyage and that they leave presently to the wilds of Ottawa? following the permit which was given to Sr Leger Hebert by Monsignor the Général, Governor and Lieutenant for the King in this

end of page

page 2 — Contract dated 23 September 1684

country of New France and dated of twenty-four May last, and for transportation that was done by the debtors for the said Mister Hébert by an act made and passed in front of said notary the twentieth of the said month of September to him this year. if agreed with said payment of which sum of two thousand six hundred and sixteen pounds six sols  the said debtors have pledged, promised, binding themselves jointly and severally, agreed, to pay to the said Sieur Bourgine in good fur in the courtyard in this country, and at the base of the general storehouse in this land, and this not later than the end of the month of September of next year which will count (number?) one thousand six hundred eighty-five. And for the execution hereof, the said debtors have elected their irrevocable home in this said city in the home of Mr. Jean Aubuchon dit Lespaerance (unreadable). by thus promising and obliging, (? each in right himself ?), the said declare severally as void.

end of page

page 3 — Contract dated 23 September 1684

Renouncement drawn up and passed at the Montreal office of the said notary one thousand six hundred eighty-four the third day of September after noon in the presence of Mister Jean Gamache, in the presence of Cailler, witnesses, and living in with said Cailler, the said Lefebvre and Diel having declared not knowing how to write or sign when asked following the ordinance.

Cailler
BASSET (paraphe)

end of contract — page 3

Ref#1568

PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THE CHARLES DIEL NARRATIVE…

JEAN AUBUCHON: He was murdered in his bed while on a business trip to Montreal. He was Elizabeth Aubuchon's great-grandfather. Elizabeth married Antoine Diel, Charles Diel and Marie Anne Picard's grandson, in Kaskaskia.

BENIGNE BASSET: Bénigne Basset was the first notary of Ville-Marie (Montréal). He was also a Land-Surveyor and registrar. He was born in 1639 making him 45 years old at the time of the writing of this contract. His "dit" name was des Lauriers. He arrived in Montréal around 1657 and died in 1699.

ANTOINE CAILLÉ (CAILLER): Antoine Caillé was a Blacksmith. Born around 1647 he is therefore 37 years old at the time of the fur trip. His dit names were "Brulefer and Biscornet ". Origin unknown. He married Anne Aubry in Laprairie around 1674. He was a servant at the Québec seminary in the years 1667/1668. He was recruited to go to war against the Tsonontouans, and as reward for his services against the Iroquois he is given a "congé" or leave to go on a fur trip in 1688. (This "congé" he will sell to André Danny or Dauny who will go with Charles Diel on his 1688 fur trip)

JEAN DENIAU: Jean Deniau was born in 1629, making him 55 at the time he acted as guarantor for Charles Diel and his partners. His parents were from Brittanie. He married Helene Dodin (Daudin) 25 NOV 1663. He came to New France with the "Grande Recrue" of 1653, arriving in Quebec on 22 SEP 1653 aboard the same ship with Hugues Picard, father of Marie Anne Picard. He was Marie Anne's god father. Jean Deniau and Helene Dodin were killed by the Iroquois on 12 AUG 1695.

PIERRE LEFEBVRE: Pierre Lefebvre was a neighbor of Charles Diel owning land in the Mouillepieds (wet feet). Born in 1648, dead in 1694. He is therefore 36 years old at the time of the trip. He is the son of Robert Lefebvre and Jeanne Autin of Sainte-Trinité de Bois-Guillaume, near Rouen. (In present day France, in Bois-Guillaume there are people with the family name of Dyel). He therefore was also from Normandie like Charles Diel. He married Marie Gagné. The day after adhering to the contract he sells his barge and all his riggings to Antoine Brunet for the amount of 240 livres. And on 15 October 1684 he pays back an amount of 27 livres to Jacques Beauvais. Therefore, the partners must have left for their fur expedition after that date, it must already have been quite cold when they left for good. Pierre Lefebvre will also go on a fur trading expedition with Charles Diel in 1688.

JEAN LESIEUR dit La Calot (the guide): Jean Lesieur was born in 1651. He is therefore 33 years old in 1684. Origin unknown. He married Marie Charebert around 1672. He lives in Champlain and is involved in the fur trade. In 1678, owing money to Jean Lemoyne, his grain is seized. Around 1684 he must have moved into the Seigneurie of Sainte-Trinitée. He signs another fur trading contract 17 May 1685 with other people.

LINEAGE:

Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton (1652 - 1702) -- 8th great-grandfather

Charles Diel (1688 - 1734) -- Son of Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton

Marie Anne Diel (1727 - 1760) -- Daughter of Charles Diel

Marie Anne Dupuis (1753 - 1807) -- Daughter of Marie Anne Diel

Marie Angelique Barette dit Courville (1779 - 1815) -- Daughter of Marie Anne Dupuis

Marie Emélie Meunier Lagacé (1808 - 1883) -- Daughter of Marie Angelique Barette dit Courville

Lucy Pinsonneau (aka PASSINO) (1836 - 1917) -- Daughter of Marie Emélie Meunier Lagacé -- 2nd great-grandmother