The Le Ber & Le Moyne 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) our 8th great grandfather: 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, our 7th great grandparents: 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.

Post courtesy of Drifting Cowboy and Grok xAI.