The Le Ber brothers and their role in New France’s Fur Trade

 

François Le Ber (c. 1626–1694)

François Le Ber (also spelled Lebert, Leber, or Le Bert) was a French colonist, merchant, interpreter, and militia captain who played a foundational role in the early settlement of New France. Born around 1626 in Notre-Dame-de-Pitres (Pitres), in the diocese of Rouen, Normandy, France (modern-day Eure department), he was the son of Robert Le Ber (c. 1601–aft. 1660), a laborer or small landowner, and Colette Cavelier (c. 1605–c. 1694). 

The Cavelier family may have distant ties to the renowned explorer René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle, though this connection remains speculative. François emigrated to New France in 1657 amid the colony's precarious expansion, arriving in Quebec before settling in the fortified Ville-Marie (modern Montreal), a Jesuit mission outpost vulnerable to Iroquois raids.

Early Life and First Marriage

Little is known of François's life in France beyond his baptismal records and family ties. He married Françoise Lefrançois (or Lesieur, c. 1628–bef. 1662) in Normandy before 1656, likely in Pitres or Rouen. They had at least one daughter, Anne Le Ber (c. 1656–aft. 1681), who accompanied François to New France. Françoise died in France, possibly during or shortly after Anne's birth, leaving François a widower who sailed to the colony with his young daughter.

Arrival and Settlement in New France

François arrived in Quebec in 1657, one of about 100 immigrants that year, and quickly moved to Montreal, where his brother Jacques (see below) had also settled. The timing coincided with intensified Iroquois attacks during the Beaver Wars, making Montreal a frontier hotspot. François initially worked as an interpreter, leveraging his linguistic skills (French, Indigenous languages) to facilitate trade and diplomacy with Algonquin and Huron allies. By 1660, he was confirmed in Montreal alongside prominent settlers like Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the colony's founder.

The 1666 census lists François, aged 40, as a "habitant" (farmer-settler) in Montreal with his second wife, Jeanne Testard (age 23), daughter Anne (10), and infant son Joachim (19 months). He owned modest assets: arms for defense and cleared land. By 1667, the family had grown, and François was engaged in the fur trade, supplying goods to voyageurs.

Second Marriage and Family

On December 2, 1662, François married Jeanne Testard (c. 1643–1723) at Notre-Dame-de-Montréal. The lavish wedding, officiated by Jesuit priest Gabriel Souart, was witnessed by colonial elites including Maisonneuve, Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil (Jacques's brother-in-law), and Jacques Le Ber himself. Jeanne, daughter of Jean Testard (a Norman surgeon) and Anne Godfroy, had arrived as a Fille du Roi (King's Daughter) in 1659 to bolster the colony's population. The couple settled on a farm in Montreal's expanding suburbs.They had at least seven children, many of whom integrated into Quebec's elite through marriage and trade. Known children include:

Child	Birth/Death	Notes
Joachim (dit Saint-Joseph)	b. c. 1665 – d. 1707	Merchant and trader; married Marie-Madeleine Barbier; continued family fur trade.
Marie (m. Bourassa)	b. Dec 6, 1666 – d. Dec 23, 1756	Married François Bourassa; mother of voyageur René Bourassa; lived to 90.
Jeanne (m. Tessier Lavigne)	b. c. 1668 – d. aft. 1723	Married François Tessier; ancestors in Quebec farming communities.
Jacques	b. c. 1670 – d. young?	Limited records; possibly died in infancy.
François (the younger)	b. c. 1672 – d. aft. 1681	Named after father; stayed in La Prairie area.
Claude	b. c. 1675 – d. unknown	Minor records; likely involved in local trade.
Anne (from first marriage)	b. c. 1656 – d. aft. 1681	Married Antoine Barrois, a military surgeon; stepdaughter integrated into family.

The family relocated to La Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine (modern La Prairie, Quebec) by 1681, a strategic fur-trading post south of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River. The census that year shows François, aged 54, as a prosperous habitant with a musket, two pistols, four cattle, and six arpents (about 8 acres) of cleared land—indicating self-sufficiency amid colonial hardships.

Career and Civic Roles

François evolved from interpreter to merchant, specializing in the fur trade. He supplied expeditions, including those to the Ottawa River, and partnered with his brother Jacques in ventures like the Compagnie du Nord (1682). As a militia captain in the Holy Family Company (organized by Maisonneuve in 1663), he participated in defensive sorties against Iroquois incursions, risking his life in the colony's most exposed sector. His home served as a trading post and safe house.

By the 1680s, François owned property in both Montreal and La Prairie, amassing wealth through pelts, European goods, and land grants. He witnessed key events, including the arrival of the Carignan-Salières Regiment (1665) that temporarily quelled Iroquois threats.

Death and Legacy

François died on May 19, 1694, around age 68, in La Prairie during a routine illness (possibly related to colonial epidemics). He was buried the next day at Nativité-de-la-Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine parish, with his estate inventory showing moderate prosperity: land, livestock, and trade debts. Jeanne outlived him by nearly three decades, remarrying briefly before dying in 1723.

François's legacy endures through his descendants, who dominated Quebec's fur trade and politics. His son Joachim and daughter Marie's line produced voyageurs like the Bourassas, while ties to the Le Moyne and Testard families wove him into New France's nobility. He exemplifies the resilient settler-merchant class that sustained the colony's growth.

Jacques Le Ber dit Larose (c. 1633–1706)

Jacques Le Ber dit Larose (variants: Lebert, Le Ber de Saint-Paul et Senneville after ennoblement) was one of New France's wealthiest merchants, a seigneur, and a military leader whose fortune fueled colonial expansion. Born around 1633 in Notre-Dame-de-Pitres, Rouen diocese, Normandy, he was François's younger brother and the son of the same parents, Robert and Colette. Like François, Jacques emigrated in 1657 (though some records suggest earlier activity in Quebec by 1653), settling in Montreal amid the Iroquois wars that threatened the tiny outpost of 200 souls.

Early Settlement and Marriage

Jacques arrived with capital from Normandy trade contacts, quickly establishing a store in Montreal's fortified core. He joined the militia of the Holy Family in 1663, serving alongside François and Charles Le Moyne. The 1666 census describes him, aged 33, as a "marchand habitant" (merchant-settler) with wife Jeanne Le Moyne (1635–1706), children Louis (6), Jeanne (4), Jacques (2), servants, 11 cattle, and 22 arpents of land. By 1667, the household included his sister Marie Le Ber (24, later an Ursuline nun) and more domestics.

On January 7, 1658, Jacques married Jeanne Le Moyne, daughter of Pierre Le Moyne and Judith Duchesne, in Montreal's inaugural Notre-Dame church. This union linked him to the powerful Le Moyne dynasty—Jeanne's brother Charles founded Longueuil, and her nephews became colonial governors. Witnesses included colonial leaders like Maisonneuve. The couple had nine children, though only three survived to adulthood; several died young from frontier diseases.

Known children include:

Child	Birth/Death	Notes
Louis (de Saint-Paul)	b. 1660 – d. 1717	Merchant; inherited seigneury; married Élisabeth de Belestre.
Jeanne	b. 1662 – d. 1714	Mystic recluse; lived walled-up in Montreal's church for 40 years; beatified cause advanced.
Jacques (de Senneville)	b. 1665 – d. 1730	Extravagant heir; squandered fortune in France before returning; seigneur.
Léonard	b. 1667 – d. infancy	Died young.
Pierre	b. 1669 – d. 1707	Religious painter; joined Frères Charon (Hospitaller Brothers); founded Montreal's first art school.

Career in Trade and Seigneury

Jacques dominated the fur trade, exporting pelts to France via bills of exchange. By the 1680s, he was among New France's richest men, sending 79,380 livres in remittances in 1693 alone. He co-founded the Compagnie du Nord (1682) with Charles Le Moyne, investing 21,357 livres in Hudson Bay ventures. His Lachine trading post (1669–1687) was a hub for Ottawa River routes, though the 1689 Iroquois massacre there nearly ruined him—he rebuilt it as a stone mill in 1686 for defense.

As a seigneur, Jacques received grants: two-thirds of Île Saint-Paul (valued at 18,400 livres in 1694) and Senneville (200 arpents on Lake of Two Mountains, bought 1679 with Le Moyne). In 1696, he purchased ennoblement from Louis XIV for 6,000 livres, becoming Jacques Le Ber de Saint-Paul et Senneville—the only colonial elite with sufficient wealth, per Intendant Champigny. This title, based on his Norman hometown, was upheld for descendants despite a 1715 revocation decree.

Military and Civic Contributions

Jacques risked his life in Iroquois campaigns, joining 300 Canadians, 100 soldiers, and 230 Indigenous allies in a 1693 Mohawk raid. Elected church warden in 1663, he donated to the Congrégation de Notre-Dame and Hôpital Général. His 1694 asset inventory (60 pages) details vast holdings: stores, mills, enslaved laborers, and trade networks.

Death and Legacy

Jacques died on November 25, 1706, aged about 73, in Montreal, shortly after Jeanne (d. Nov 8, 1706). Buried at Notre-Dame, his will divided the estate among Jeanne (who became a revered anchoress), Pierre (religious artist), and Jacques (prodigal son who later stabilized the fortune). Per Jacques Raudot's 1706 report, he left immense wealth.

Jacques's legacy is one of colonial capitalism: his trade partnerships (e.g., with the Bourassas via niece Marie) expanded French claims westward, while his philanthropy supported education and missions. Descendants like Pierre influenced Quebec art, and the family's seigneuries shaped regional development. His story highlights the perils and profits of New France's merchant class. 

The Le Ber-Le Moyne House—Lachine Trading Post

The Le Ber-Le Moyne House, located in Lachine, Quebec, is one of the oldest surviving structures in Montreal and a significant historical site tied to the fur trade and colonial life in New France. 

Built in 1669–1671 by Jacques Le Ber (c. 1633–1706), a prominent merchant and brother of François Le Ber, and his brother-in-law Charles Le Moyne (1626–1685), it served as a fortified trading post, residence, and hub for their fur trade empire. Its connection to the Le Ber and Le Moyne families, including François Le Ber (father of Marie Le Ber, who married François Bourassa), underscores its role in the economic and social fabric of 17th-century Quebec.

Historical Context and Purpose

In the 1660s, Lachine, situated on the St. Lawrence River west of Montreal’s Ville-Marie, was a strategic gateway for the fur trade. Canoes departing from Lachine’s rapids carried goods to the pays d'en haut (Great Lakes region) and returned with beaver pelts, the economic backbone of New France. 

Jacques Le Ber and Charles Le Moyne, both wealthy and influential, partnered to establish a fortified post to secure their trade operations amid ongoing Iroquois raids during the Beaver Wars (1630s–1700s). The house was designed to withstand attacks, store trade goods (e.g., cloth, tools, alcohol), and manage pelts, while also serving as a residence and administrative center.

Construction and Features

• Construction (1669–1671): Built on land granted to Charles Le Moyne in 1669 within the fief of La Citière in Lachine, the house was a joint venture with Jacques Le Ber, who supplied capital and materials. Constructed by local craftsmen, it used fieldstone and mortar, typical of early colonial architecture, with thick walls for defense.
• Design: The original structure was a rectangular, two-story building with a gabled roof and small windows, resembling Norman farmhouses but fortified with a stone exterior to resist arrows and musket fire. It included:
• A main hall for trade negotiations and storage.
• Living quarters for the Le Ber and Le Moyne families or their agents.
• A cellar for furs and provisions.
• Defensive features like loopholes for muskets and a palisade (added later).
• Size and Layout: The house measured approximately 20 meters long by 10 meters wide, with a footprint suited for both commerce and habitation. Outbuildings, such as a barn and stable, were added over time for livestock and voyageurs’ equipment.
• Location: Positioned near Lachine’s waterfront (modern-day 25th Avenue, near the St. Lawrence), it offered direct access to canoe routes and proximity to Indigenous trading partners like the Algonquin and Huron.

Role in the Fur Trade

The Le Ber-Le Moyne House was a nerve center for the fur trade, particularly for the Compagnie du Nord (founded 1682), in which Jacques Le Ber was a major investor alongside Charles Le Moyne. It facilitated:

• Storage and Exchange: Goods from France (textiles, metalware, brandy) were stored and traded with Indigenous groups for pelts, which were then shipped to Europe via Quebec City.
• Voyageur Operations: The house served as a departure point for canoe brigades, including those led by later family members like René Bourassa, grandson of François Le Ber. Voyageurs like François Bourassa (Marie Le Ber’s husband) likely interacted with the post during their expeditions.
• Indigenous Diplomacy: Jacques Le Ber and Charles Le Moyne hosted Algonquin, Ottawa, and Huron traders, offering gifts to secure alliances against Iroquois rivals. The house was a site for negotiations and cultural exchange.

Key Historical Events

• 1689 Lachine Massacre: On August 5, 1689, during the Nine Years’ War, approximately 1,500 Mohawk warriors attacked Lachine in retaliation for French campaigns. The Le Ber-Le Moyne House, though fortified, was overwhelmed. Jacques Le Ber’s trading post was looted, and many settlers were killed or captured. The attack devastated his operations, with losses estimated at 20,000 livres (a fortune). The house itself survived but required repairs.
• Reconstruction (1690s): Jacques Le Ber rebuilt the post, adding a stone mill in 1686–1690 for grinding grain and further fortifying the site. By 1694, his wealth (60,000+ livres in assets) enabled him to restore operations, though he shifted some activities to Montreal’s safer core.
• British Transition (1760s): After the British conquest of New France in 1760, the house passed through various owners but remained a trade hub under British merchants. Its fur trade role diminished as the industry shifted to Hudson’s Bay Company posts.

Later History and Preservation

• 18th–19th Century: The house changed hands, serving as a private residence, farmstead, and later a warehouse. Its sturdy construction preserved it while other colonial buildings decayed.
• 20th Century Recognition: By the 1930s, historians identified the house as a rare surviving example of 17th-century New France architecture. It was designated a historic site by Quebec in 1960.
• Restoration and Museum: In 1984, the City of Lachine acquired the property, and it was restored to reflect its 1671 appearance. Since 1985, it has operated as the Lachine Museum (Musée de Lachine), housing exhibits on the fur trade, colonial life, and the Le Ber-Le Moyne legacy. The adjacent Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site, managed by Parks Canada, includes a reconstructed warehouse to showcase voyageur life.
• Archaeological Finds: Excavations in the 1980s and 1990s uncovered artifacts like trade beads, musket balls, and Indigenous pottery, confirming the site’s role in cross-cultural exchange. These are displayed in the museum.

Connection to François Le Ber and Marie Le Ber

• François Le Ber (1626–1694): As Jacques’s older brother, François was a merchant and militia captain who likely supplied goods to the Lachine post and collaborated on trade ventures. His daughter Marie Le Ber (1666–1756), who married François Bourassa, grew up in this milieu, with her family’s wealth tied to Jacques’s operations. The house was a backdrop to Marie’s early life, as the Le Ber family’s Montreal and La Prairie homes were linked to Lachine’s trade network.
• Jacques Le Ber (1633–1706): The primary builder and operator, Jacques used the house to amass a fortune (79,380 livres in remittances by 1693) and secure ennoblement in 1696. His partnership with Charles Le Moyne tied the house to the Le Moyne dynasty, including Charles’s sons (e.g., Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville), who expanded French exploration.
• Marie Le Ber and Bourassa Family: Marie’s husband, François Bourassa, and their son René Bourassa dit LaRonde, used Lachine as a staging ground for their own fur trade expeditions. René’s voyages to Michilimackinac and Lake of the Woods (1730s) were extensions of the trade networks centered at places like the Le Ber-Le Moyne House.

Cultural and Architectural Significance

The house is a rare artifact of New France’s frontier economy, blending French and Indigenous influences. Its stone construction contrasts with the wood-heavy buildings of early Montreal, reflecting the need for defense. The site symbolizes the fur trade’s dual nature: economic opportunity and violent conflict, as seen in the 1689 massacre. Today, it offers insights into the lives of merchants like Jacques and François Le Ber, voyageurs like the Bourassas, and Indigenous traders.

Above courtesy of Grok xAI and Drifting Cowboy.