Francois Leber — Voyageur Grandfather

Francois Leber (Lebert) (1626-1694) 8th great-grandfather

son of Robert LeBer (1601-1625) and Colette Cavelier (1605-1694)

Birth 1626 • Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France

Death 19 MAY 1694 • La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

Marriage (1) to BEF 1656 to Marguerite Leseur (1628-1662) (2) 1662 to Jeanne Testard

(1642-1723) (8th great-grandmother)

• 1681, Settled in the seigniory of La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine before September 1674, when his son Claude was born. When the 1681 census was conducted, my ancestor families living in La Prairie included: Pierre Gagne (7), Francois Leber (5), Charles Boyer (5), Pierre Peras (8), Charles Diel (4) and Jeanne Denote (6); a total of 35 inhabitants. All of them were involved in the fur trade.

• 1688, Coureur des Bois, trip to the 8ta8ats (Ottawa Country). Probably on behalf of his brother Jacques LeBer and his partner Charles Le Moyne.

• 1693, Aug 31—Engagement of François Le Ber to de Claude Caron aux sieurs Guillaume Boucher for a trip to the 8ta8ats (Ottawa Country)—Notary Maugue, Archives of Quebec, page 200.

Notes: By 1684, Francois’ brother Jacques LeBer and his partner Charles Le Moyne had a store in Montréal where they bought furs for France. In 1686, Jacques was given permission by the governor of the colony to trade for furs with the Outaouais (Ottawas) and LeBer gave the privilege for this trade in beaver pelts to Jean Paschal Prevost and Jacques Testard that July. The two came back with their canoe loaded with beaver pelts. However, Jean Paschal did not get rich from this trade as he and Jacques already had big debts owed to the merchants for this privilege and Jean Paschal would be quite constantly in debt and frequently in conflict over debts with his siblings.

From: "Narratives and ldentities in the Saint Lawrence Valley, 1667-1720”

[page 170]

Jacques Leber was one of the wealthiest men in Montreal. His independence emerged early in his life and seems to be characteristic of the man. In 1662 he was arrested for sedition because he advocated a fur trading plan that the (New France) Governor would not allow. 

It is clear that the Leber family worked together in business affairs. The exact nature of the arrangements is not immediately apparent. 

It appears that François Leber père (father of Anne and Joachim, and Jacques' brother) lived in Montréal for a number of years, boarding in various houses, including the house of la veuve l'Espérance, rue Place d'Armes. 

His son, François, apparently transported goods and money across the river from LaPrairie to his father. While the younger François was away, which was often, a neighbor, Claude Caron, transported goods and money to François. 

François Leber was a prisoner of the Iroquois in October, 1693, there is yet another Leber out of the colony, just a year after his brother was interrogated.

François Leber. along with Guillame Boucher, was engaged by Claude Caron August 31. 1693, RAPQ, volume 10,201. It is a possibility that residents of La Prairie sold liquor to the Indians in order to obtain hard currency, which was then transported to Montreal to settle debts or to loan to others, including the government.

From: “Minnesota, eh?,” published by French-American Heritage Foundation

LaPrairie grew between 1694 and 1697 as Iroquois hostilities diminished. A number of new residents sought refuge there, including merchants, craftsmen and skilled workers. By 1697, the fortification enclosed 120 persons, among them Charles and Jacques Deneau, Francois Leber, Denis Brosseau, Francois Bourassa and Claude Guerin.

LINEAGE:

Francois Leber (Lebert) (1626 - 1694) -- 8th great-grandfather

Marie Le Ber (1666 - 1756) -- Daughter of Francois Leber (Lebert)

Marie Elisabeth Bourassa (1695 - 1766) -- Daughter of Marie Le Ber

Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1733 - 1784) -- Son of Marie Elisabeth Bourassa

Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1770 - 1807) -- Son of Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono)

Gabriel Passinault) (aka Gilbert Passino) (1803 - 1877) -- Son of Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono)

Lucy Passino (Pinsonneau) (1836 - 1917) -- Daughter of Gabriel Passinault) (aka Gilbert Passino) -- 2nd great-grandmother