In the crisp salt-laden air of La Rochelle's bustling harbor in December 1605, Denis Duquet dit Desrochers drew his first breath amid the clamor of creaking ships and the sharp cries of seagulls wheeling overhead. The scent of tar and fish mingled with the distant roar of Atlantic waves crashing against stone quays, foreshadowing a life bound to vast waters and untamed frontiers. By his early thirties, Denis had crossed the ocean to New France, where the St. Lawrence River's icy grip in winter gave way to summer's lush, mosquito-swarmed banks. Settling in Québec around 1638, he married Catherine Gauthier de la Chesnaye in the modest wooden nave of Notre-Dame church, the air thick with incense and the faint, earthy aroma of fresh-hewn pine from the growing settlement.
Denis plunged into the fur trade's heart at Tadoussac, a rugged outpost where the Saguenay met the St. Lawrence. Here, in the "Traite de Tadoussac" of the 1650s, he bartered with Indigenous Montagnais and Innu trappers under a sky heavy with woodsmoke from birchbark lodges. The metallic tang of European knives and beads exchanged hands for stacks of glossy beaver pelts, soft and oily to the touch, their musky odor blending with the pine resin of the boreal forest. As a merchant-outfitter, Denis financed risky ventures, his callused hands sealing contracts amid the crackle of campfires and the rhythmic chants of Indigenous allies. By 1675, as autumn leaves blazed in crimson and gold along the Lauzon shores, Denis passed, leaving Catherine to tend their hearth in Château-Richer, where the wind carried whispers of the river's endless flow. Their sons—Jean, Antoine, Pierre, Louis, and Joseph—grew amid this legacy, with Pierre's quill scratching fur trade deeds as a royal notary, the ink's bitter scent filling his study, while Antoine paddled westward as a voyageur, the splash of oars and the sting of blackflies marking his 1691 expedition.
Jean's story unfolded in the 1680s like a birchbark canoe slicing through dawn-misted waters. Born in 1651 under Québec's slate-gray skies, he married Catherine-Ursule Amiot in 1683 at Pointe-aux-Trembles, the ceremony alive with the fiddle's lively jig and the taste of maple-sweetened bannock. As a "bourgeois" headman, Jean led fur brigades into the pays d'en haut, the upper Great Lakes' wilderness. Imagine the scene: dawn breaking over the Ottawa River, the air sharp with frost and the earthy musk of damp moss, as Jean's crew of hardy voyageurs—sweat-soaked shirts clinging to their backs—loaded canoes with bundles of woolen blankets and iron pots, their weight pressing into the vessel's fragile frame. Paddling upstream, the men's chansons echoed across rapids, voices hoarse from tobacco smoke, while portages meant heaving loads over rocky trails, thorns snagging flesh and the sun baking their necks. At trading posts, amid the acrid smoke of peace pipes and the savory sizzle of venison over flames, Jean negotiated with Ottawa and Huron partners, exchanging goods for furs that felt like liquid gold—thick, warm piles promising wealth back in Montréal. By 1710, in Lauzon's quiet fields golden with harvest wheat, Jean's life ebbed, but his sons—Jean Baptiste, Gabriel, Charles, Etienne, and Joseph—carried the paddle's call, their childhoods filled with tales of white-water thrills and starlit camps.
Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers, born in 1695 amid the spring thaw's muddy slush in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe, embodied the voyageur's relentless spirit. Marrying Marie Françoise Deneau in 1722 at La Prairie's Notre-Dame-de-la-Madeleine, where bells pealed over fields ripe with the sweet scent of blooming apple orchards, he linked to her father's Ottawa interpreter legacy—stories of sweat-lodge steam and the bitter taste of herbal teas shared in alliance. As a voyageur in the 1750s, Etienne signed on with merchants like Ignace Bourassa and Toussaint Pothier, steering canoes toward Michilimackinac's straits. The journey was a symphony of senses: the rhythmic dip of paddles in tea-brown waters, the blistering pull on oar-worn palms, the relentless hum of insects at dusk. Rapids roared like thunder, spraying icy mist that chilled to the bone, while portages over lichen-covered boulders left boots caked in mud and shoulders aching under 90-pound packs. At the fort, amid the clamor of haggling voices and the oily gleam of otter and mink skins, Etienne traded amid Ojibwe camps, the air redolent with sage smoke and roasting corn. Winters brought bone-deep cold, frost nipping at fingers as he mended nets by firelight, but summers exploded in verdant greens and the tart burst of wild berries. By 1753, in La Prairie's gentle snows, Etienne rested, his brood—Etienne Jr., Joseph, Basile, Pierre, Andre, Francois, Marie Madeleine, Jérémie, and Gabriel—scattered like seeds, many drawn to the trade's siren call.
Marie Madeleine Duquet, born in 1734 under La Prairie's August sun, where the air hummed with cicadas and the scent of ripening hay, wove her thread into the tapestry through marriage to Joseph Pinsonneau dit Lafleur around 1761. Joseph, a voyageur navigating Detroit's windswept lakes and Green Bay's reed-choked shores, returned from expeditions with tales of howling wolves and the metallic bite of gunpowder during British skirmishes post-1760. Their home buzzed with children's laughter—Pierre, Marie, Joseph, another Pierre, Gabriel, Francoise, Josephte, and François—amid the cozy warmth of a log cabin, stew simmering with the rich aroma of rabbit and onions. Marie Madeleine's hands, rough from spinning wool and tending gardens, managed the hearth while Joseph braved the waves, but her DNA echoes tie you to this resilient line. She passed in 1791 in Longueuil, leaves rustling like whispers of the past.
Finally, Gabriel Pinsonneau, born in 1770 as church bells tolled over La Prairie's stone streets, stepped into the voyageur's boots, marrying Marie Louise Vielle in 1802 amid candlelit vows and the faint perfume of lilacs. His early 1800s voyages with the North West Company pushed westward, canoes laden with the creak of timber and the splash of Great Lakes foam, trading under British flags yet carrying French echoes. The sting of sleet on his face, the camaraderie of pipe tobacco shared around glowing embers, and the triumphant haul of pelts defined his days—until 1807, when he left his sons, Gabriel (Gilbert) and Moise, to forge new paths, perhaps across borders to American frontiers.
The Duquets' saga is one of rivers carving destinies, furs binding fates, and a family's pulse syncing with New France's wild heartbeat— a legacy of endurance, etched in the sensory tapestry of smoke, sweat, and boundless horizons.
Duquet Dynasty Genealogy Details
Five Generations of Fur Traders
Your Duquet line traces back to early settlers in New France, with roots in France and strong connections to the burgeoning fur trade that defined much of the colony's economy. Originating from La Rochelle, the family arrived during a period when the fur trade was expanding from coastal posts to inland networks, involving alliances with Indigenous peoples, risky voyages, and economic ventures that intertwined with notarial work and land grants. Below, I'll outline the generations you provided, focusing on their biographical details, family connections, and specific ties to the fur trade, drawing on historical records and genealogical sources.
Generation 1: Denis Duquet dit Desrochers (1605–1675) and Catherine Gauthier de la Chesnaye (1626–1702)
Denis Duquet, born in La Rochelle, France, emigrated to New France around the mid-17th century, settling in Québec and later Lauzon (now part of Lévis). He was an active participant in the early fur trade, becoming a member of the "Traite de Tadoussac" by 1659. This was one of the earliest European fur-trading operations in North America, established around 1600 at the mouth of the Saguenay River, where French merchants exchanged goods like metal tools and textiles for beaver pelts and other furs sourced from Indigenous trappers. As a trader and outfitter, Denis financed expeditions and handled the logistics of shipping furs back to France, amassing wealth that positioned him as a key figure in Québec's merchant class. His role helped lay the groundwork for the family's ongoing involvement in the trade.
Catherine, born in Paris, arrived in New France as part of the early waves of immigration and married Denis in 1638 at Notre-Dame de Québec. She managed family affairs during his trading activities and outlived him, passing in Château-Richer. Their children included several who continued in trade or related professions:
- Jean Duquet dit Desrochers (1651–1710): Your direct ancestor, detailed in the next generation.
- Antoine Duquet dit Madry (1660–1733): Engaged as a voyageur in 1691, signing a contract with François Viennay-Pachot to travel west for furs, reflecting the family's shift toward active canoe expeditions.
- Pierre Duquet de La Chesnaye (1643–1687): A royal notary who documented fur trade contracts, aiding the legal framework for voyages and partnerships.
- Françoise Duquet (1645–1719): Married into a merchant family, indirectly supporting trade networks.
- Louis Duquet sieur Duverdier (1657–1693): Involved in local trade and land dealings tied to fur profits.
- Joseph Duquet (1664–1741): Pursued similar merchant activities.
This generation's fur trade ties were foundational, blending commerce with settlement in a colony where beaver pelts were the primary export.
Generation 2: Jean Duquet dit Desrochers (1651–1710) and Catherine-Ursule Amiot (1664–1715)
Born in Québec, Jean grew up amid his father's trading operations and became a "bourgeois" (a merchant-outfitter and headman) of fur brigades in the 1680s. As a bourgeois, he organized and led canoe expeditions to the pays d'en haut (the upper Great Lakes region), coordinating voyageurs, negotiating with Indigenous partners like the Ottawa and Huron, and managing the transport of furs back to Montréal or Québec. This role required capital investment in supplies and canoes, often funded through family networks. Jean's activities coincided with the height of French expansion in the fur trade, amid competition with English rivals like the Hudson's Bay Company.
He married Catherine-Ursule Amiot in 1683 at Pointe-aux-Trembles. Her parents, Mathieu Amiot sieur de Villeneuve and Marie Catherine Miville, were from a family with their own fur trade connections—Mathieu was a seigneur and trader who equipped voyages, linking the Duquets to broader networks including interpreters and explorers in Huron country and beyond.
Their children included:
- Jean Baptiste Duquet (1685–1731): Pursued land and trade interests.
- Gabriel Duquet dit Desrochers (1687–1759): Engaged in local commerce.
- Charles Duquet (1692–1747): Involved in notarial and trade documentation.
- Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers (1695–1753): Your direct ancestor, detailed next.
- Joseph Duquet dit Desrochers (1705–1767): Continued family merchant traditions.
Jean's leadership in brigades exemplified the Duquets' evolution from coastal traders to inland operators, contributing to the economic vitality of New France.
Generation 3: Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers (1695–1753) and Marie Françoise Deneau (1698–1751)
Etienne, born in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe (Lévis), was a dedicated voyageur who signed multiple contracts for fur trade expeditions. In 1751, he was hired by Ignace Bourassa (from a prominent La Prairie trading family) as a voyageur for a trip to the western posts. Then, in 1753, Toussaint Pothier engaged him as a gouvernail (steersman) for a voyage to Michilimackinac, a key fur trade hub at the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan, where French traders exchanged goods with Ojibwe and other nations. As a voyageur, Etienne paddled birchbark canoes laden with trade goods upstream and returned with pelts, enduring harsh conditions like portages and rapids. His work supported the Montréal-based trade system, which by the mid-18th century was under pressure from British encroachment leading up to the Seven Years' War.
He married Marie Françoise Deneau in 1722 at Notre-Dame-de-la-Madeleine in La Prairie. Her father, Jacques Deneau dit Destaillis, was himself a voyageur and interpreter among the Ottawa Indians in the 1680s, tying the families through shared trade routes and alliances.
Their children were numerous and often involved in trade or settlement:
- Etienne Duquet (1723–1810): Settled in La Prairie.
- Joseph Duquet dit Desrochers (1725–1770): Merchant activities.
- Basile Duquet Desrochers (1726–1774): Local trader.
- Pierre Duquet (1728–1803): Fur-related ventures.
- Andre Duquet (1730–1801): Voyageur ties.
- Francois Albert Duquet (1731–1803): Community leader.
- Marie Madeleine Duquet (1734–1791): Your direct ancestor, detailed next.
- Jérémie Duquet (1736–1820): Trade involvement.
- Raphael Duquet (1738–1738): Died in infancy.
- Gabriel Duquet (1743–1799): Later merchant.
Etienne's voyages highlight the Duquets' role in the mid-18th-century fur trade, a period of intense competition and military tensions.
Generation 4: Marie Madeleine Duquet (1734–1791) and Joseph Pinsonneau (1733–1799)
Born in La Prairie, Marie Madeleine bridged the Duquet and Pinsonneau lines through her marriage around 1761 to Joseph Pinsonneau dit Lafleur, a voyageur from La Prairie. While Marie Madeleine herself was not directly a trader (women often managed home fronts), her union connected two fur trade families. Joseph signed contracts in the 1750s–1760s for expeditions to Detroit and Green Bay, navigating the Great Lakes and dealing in pelts amid the transition from French to British control after 1760.
Their children included:
- Pierre Pinsonneault (1761–1762): Died young.
- Marie Pinsonneault (1762–1787): Settled locally.
- Joseph Pinsonneau dit Lafleur (1763–1827): Trader.
- Pierre Pinsonneau (1765–1826): Voyageur.
- Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770–1807): Your direct ancestor, detailed next.
- Joseph Pinsonneau Lafleur (1772–1772): Died in infancy.
- Francoise Pinsonneault (1776–?): Family settler.
- Josephte Pinsonneault (1777–?): Similar.
- François Pinsonneau (1777–1846): Continued trade legacy.
This generation reflects the persistence of fur trade ties even as New France became British territory.
Generation 5: Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770–1807) and Marie Louise Vielle (1780–1813)
Gabriel, born in La Prairie, followed his father's path as a voyageur, signing engagements in the early 1800s for trips with the North West Company or independent merchants, trading in the Great Lakes and possibly westward. His short life ended in La Prairie, but his work contributed to the post-conquest fur trade under British firms.
Married in 1802, their children included your 3rd great-grandfather Gabriel (Gilbert) Passino (1803–1877), who emigrated to the U.S., and Moise Pinsonneault (1806–1826).
Overall, the Duquet line's fur trade involvement spanned from early coastal outposts like Tadoussac to inland brigades and voyages, intertwining with families like the Amiots, Deneaus, and Pinsonneaus. This legacy helped expand French influence across North America, from Québec to Michilimackinac, and reflects the adventurous spirit of New France's economy.
Courtesy of Grok xAI and Drifting Cowboy
%20Creston,%20Montana,%20Ca.%201910.jpg)