Ripples on the St. Lawrence: A Tale of La Prairie’s Deneau Family

In the crisp autumn of 1653, the salty tang of the Atlantic still clung to Marin's woolen coat as the ship creaked into the harbor of Ville-Marie. The air was thick with the earthy scent of untamed forests—pine resin and damp soil mingling with the faint, acrid smoke from distant Indigenous campfires. Marin Deneau dit Destaillis, a sturdy man of 32 with callused hands from French fields, stepped onto the rocky shore, his boots sinking into the mud churned by the St. Lawrence's relentless current. The river's roar filled his ears, a constant symphony of rushing water that promised both bounty and peril. Little did he know, this land would forge his family into legends of the wild.

Years blurred in the haze of survival. By 1659, widowed and weary from Iroquois skirmishes—arrows whistling like angry hornets through the palisades—Marin wed Louise-Thérèse in the dim glow of Notre-Dame's candles, their vows echoing off timber walls scented with incense and fresh-hewn wood. Their home in Montréal was a simple log cabin, where the crackle of hearth fires warded off winter's biting frost, and the aroma of simmering rabbit stew blended with the metallic tang of gunpowder from constant vigilance.

But the river called them south. In the 1670s, they claimed land in La Prairie, a verdant strip where the St. Lawrence's waters lapped gently at grassy banks, alive with the croak of frogs and the flutter of waterfowl. Here, amid the long shadows of repurposed Iroquois longhouses—structures of bent saplings and bark that smelled of sweetgrass and smoked hides—the Deneaus built a life. Marin tilled the soil under the sun's harsh glare, his sweat mixing with the fertile loam, while Louise tended gardens bursting with corn and squash, her hands stained purple from wild berries gathered with Oneida neighbors. The air hummed with multilingual chatter: French commands, Algonquian barters, and the distant whoops of hunters returning with beaver pelts, glossy and oil-slick, redolent of musk and wilderness.

Marin's sons grew tall and sinewy, shaped by the land's demands. Jacques, the eldest, felt the pull of the canoes first. In 1685, at 25, he gripped the paddle's worn birch handle, its surface smooth from countless grips, and shoved off from La Prairie's shore. The birchbark vessel, light as a leaf yet sturdy, sliced through the water with a rhythmic splash, propelled by the grunts of fellow voyageurs. The Great Lakes' vastness unfolded: the sting of wind-whipped spray on his face, the acrid burn of pipe tobacco shared around campfires, and the rich, gamey flavor of pemmican—dried meat pounded with berries—sustaining them through portages where shoulders ached under the weight of packs heavy with axes, kettles, and trade beads.

By 1688, Jacques and brother Charles ventured deeper, their canoe laden with brandy casks that sloshed enticingly, bound for Odawa camps. The forests enveloped them: towering pines whispering secrets, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the sharp crack of beaver traps echoing like thunderclaps. Furs piled high—soft, warm pelts that smelled of animal vitality and promised riches in Montréal's markets. But danger lurked: the sudden splash of a rival's ambush, the feverish chill of rapids, or the eerie howl of wolves under starlit skies.

Generations echoed this rhythm. Étienne, Charles's son, in 1713, navigated Detroit's straits, the water's chill seeping through his moccasins as he traded with Huron allies, the air thick with the scent of drying tobacco and roasted venison. Young Charles followed in 1724 to Michilimakinac, where the lake's vast blue expanse met horizons of endless green, and the taste of wild rice mingled with the metallic bite of gunflint sparks.

In La Prairie, the family endured: weddings under blooming apple trees, burials in soil softened by spring rains, and feasts where fiddle tunes danced with the crackle of bonfires. The Deneaus were threads in New France's tapestry—settlers turned traders, their legacy carried on river currents, forever scented with fur, fire, and freedom.

History of La Prairie's Deneau (Deniau) Family in New France

The Deneau family, often spelled Deniau in historical records, represents a quintessential example of early French settler life in New France (modern-day Quebec), particularly in the settlement of La Prairie. Originating from humble roots in rural France, the family arrived during a pivotal era of colonial expansion, marked by conflicts with Indigenous nations, agricultural hardships, and the booming fur trade. While the family's patriarch, Marin Deneau dit Destaillis, was primarily a settler and farmer, his descendants became integral to the voyageur culture—French-Canadian woodsmen and canoeists who drove the fur trade economy. This deep dive draws from genealogical records, historical timelines, and family-specific accounts to trace their story, emphasizing their ties to La Prairie and the fur trade.

Origins and Arrival in New France

The family's story begins with Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (c. 1621–1678), born in Luché-Pringé, a small village in the Sarthe department of France's Maine region, to parents Clément Deneau (c. 1590–1624) and Julienne Roualt (c. 1596–1656).  Marin, a laborer by trade, was part of "La Grande Recrue de Montréal" in 1653—a recruitment drive led by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve to reinforce the fledgling colony of Ville-Marie (Montréal) against Iroquois raids. Signed on May 11, 1653, in La Flèche, France, Marin's contract promised land and wages in exchange for defending the settlement. He arrived on November 16, 1653, aboard one of the ships that brought around 100 recruits, many of whom were artisans, farmers, and soldiers essential to New France's survival. 

Marin first married Marie Hogue in France (she died before 1659), but no children from this union are recorded in New France. On November 24, 1659, he wed Louise-Thérèse Lebreuil (1636–1726), daughter of Jean Lebreuil and Marie Lecomte, in Montréal's Notre-Dame church. Their marriage contract was notarized on November 11, 1659, by Bénigne Basset.  The couple had six known children, though infant mortality was high: Jacques (1660–1720), Charles Marin (1663–1708), Joseph (1666–?), Gabriel (1669, died in infancy), Marie (1670, died in infancy), and Thérèse (1674–?).  Census records from 1666 show Marin as a 45- or 48-year-old farmer in Montréal, owning cattle and 20 arpents (about 17 acres) of cleared land, living with his young family amid the colony's sparse population. 

Settlement in La Prairie

By the early 1670s, the family relocated to La Prairie (formally Notre-Dame-de-LaPrairie-de-la-Madeleine), a Jesuit mission established in 1667 on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Montréal. This area, originally Iroquois and Abenaki hunting grounds, was chosen for its strategic portage route between the St. Lawrence and Richelieu rivers, facilitating trade and travel.  Early settlers like the Deneaus lived in makeshift shelters, including repurposed Iroquois longhouses shared with Indigenous converts at the St. François-Xavier mission. The community was multicultural, with French, Oneida, and other Indigenous groups exchanging goods—furs, tools, and food—amid over 20 languages spoken.  La Prairie's population grew from about 99 in 1673 to 321 by 1697, fortified with a wooden palisade in the 1680s against ongoing Beaver Wars conflicts. 

Marin died in La Prairie before October 29, 1678, when Louise remarried François Primo (Primeau). No burial record survives, typical of the era's incomplete documentation.  Louise, a resilient figure, outlived Marin by nearly 50 years, dying in Montréal in 1726.  The family's landholdings in La Prairie supported subsistence farming, but the region's proximity to Montréal made it a launchpad for fur trade expeditions.

Connections to the Fur Trade

The fur trade, New France's economic backbone, involved harvesting beaver pelts for European hats and involved networks of coureurs des bois (independent traders) and licensed voyageurs (canoe-based transporters). La Prairie became a voyageur stronghold, with families like the Deneaus, Bourassas, and Pinsonneaus producing generations of traders.  While Marin focused on settlement, his sons and grandsons embodied the voyageur lifestyle, undertaking arduous canoe journeys to outposts like Detroit, Michilimakinac (Mackinac), and Sault Ste. Marie.

Key family members in the fur trade include:

• Jacques Deneau dit Destaillis (1660–1720): Marin's eldest son, born in Montréal and died in La Prairie. Married Marie Rivet (1673–1705) in 1690, then Françoise Dania in 1705.  As a voyageur, he signed engagements:
• 1685: Hired by Antoine Bazinet for Sault Ste. Marie (Notary Bourgine). 
• 1688: Joint contract with brother Charles for the Ottawa (Odawa) territories (Notary Antoine Adhémar). 
• Genealogical research notes Jacques as one of 19 Deneau family members in 69 documented voyageur trips, often to Minnesota and Great Lakes regions. 
• Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663–1708): Born in Montréal, married Madeleine Clément Lapointe in 1685 in La Prairie.  Participated in the 1688 Ottawa voyage with Jacques.  His descendants continued the tradition:
• Étienne Deneau (1691–1730): 1713 engagement to Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit (Notary Adhémar). 
• Charles Deneau (1701–1748): 1724 trip to Michilimakinac with François Augé (Notary Adhémar). 
• Other Descendants: Joseph Deneau (1666–?) married Jeanne Adhémar in 1690.  Grandsons like Claude (1691–1771, son of Charles), Jacques (1695–1726), and Paul (1706–1772) remained in La Prairie, intermarrying with local families and likely supporting trade networks, though direct voyageur contracts are less documented.  Thérèse Deneau (1674–?) married François Primo in 1687. 

The Deneaus interwove with other fur trade dynasties, such as the Bourassas, who dominated western trade posts.  La Prairie's role in the trade is evident in timelines: By the 1700s, amid French-British rivalries, voyageurs like the Deneaus navigated beaver-depleted regions, forging alliances with Indigenous groups like the Odawa and Huron.  Overall, the family exemplifies how settler lineages transitioned from defense and farming to economic opportunism in the fur trade, contributing to New France's expansion until the British conquest in 1760.

This history is preserved in genealogical sources like WikiTree, FamilySearch, and blogs by descendants tracing voyageur ancestry, e.g.: https://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/

The above tale and information are courtesy of Grok xAI with a little help from Drifting Cowboy.

The enduring Dupuis fur trade family of La Prairie, New France

The Dupuis family of La Prairie, New France, was a notable pioneer family with significant involvement in the region's fur trade. The family's history is well-documented in various genealogical sources, including your provided notes and linked blogs, which highlight their activities as voyageurs and settlers. 

Generation 1: François Dupuis (1634–aft. 1681) 

• Pioneer Settler: François Dupuis immigrated from Gorre, France, and was one of the early inhabitants of the La Prairie area. He was an habitant (settler/farmer) of the Petite-Rivière area in New France.
• Family Life: He married Georgette Richer in 1670 in Quebec. They established a farm and had several children, including René and Moise, who would continue the family legacy in the region.
• Estate Planning: François's will, dated 1707 (this date seems to be an error in the source, given his death is listed as aft. 1681, but highlights his concerns), is notable for its specific clauses regarding his son René's fur trade misfortunes. To prevent the dissipation of the family's assets, he only allowed René the use of a well-situated farm, ensuring the property remained within the family for the benefit of René's children. 

Generation 2: Moise Dupuis (1673–1750) 

• Voyageur and Trader: Born in Quebec and raised in La Prairie, Moise was directly involved in the fur trade as a young man. Historical accounts suggest he may have been a coureur des bois (an independent fur trader) and a trader at Schenectady, New York, in the 1690s.
• International Marriage: During his time in the trading country ("pays des Flamands"), possibly as a soldier, trader, or prisoner, he met and married Marie Anne (Annetje) Christiansen, who was likely Dutch and Protestant. When they moved back to La Prairie around 1699, she was baptized in Montreal. This exogamous marriage (outside the French Catholic community) was unusual for the time.
• Community Figure: Moise settled in La Prairie, where he raised his family and lived until his death. 

Generation 3: Francois Moise Dupuis (1709–1764) 

• Continuing the Trade: Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle René, Francois Moise also pursued a career as a voyageur.
• Contractual Engagements: Notarial records show that in June 1752, Francois Dupuis, a voyageur from La Prairie, was hired by Nicolas Volant to travel to the critical fur trade hub of Michilimackinac. This demonstrates his continued active participation in the trade routes connecting New France's settlements with the western interior.
• Family Life: He married Marie Anne Roy and later Marie Anne Diel, continuing the Dupuis lineage in the St-Philippe area near La Prairie. 

The La Prairie Connection

The Dupuis family was central to the community of La Prairie, which was a significant location in the New France fur trade. La Prairie served as a major jumping-off point for expeditions to the "Ottawa country" and the western Great Lakes, where beaver pelts were acquired. The family's involvement spanned multiple generations, illustrating the critical role that local families played in the economic engine of New France. Their stories, like the provisions in the elder François's will or Moise's cross-cultural marriage, offer unique insights into the lives of these early North American pioneers and traders. 

Courtesy of Grok xAL and Drifting Cowboy.

 

Duquet: A Fur Trade Family Dynasty From Tadoussac To La Prairie

 

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