A Tapestry of Fur, Faith, and Frontier: The Le Moyne Legacy Woven into Our La Prairie Lineage

 

In the mist-shrouded ports of 17th-century Normandy, where the Seine River whispered secrets of distant horizons, the threads of our ancestry began to intertwine with the grand saga of New France. Rouen, a bustling hub of merchants and mariners, cradled the early lives of our 9th great-grandparents, Robert LeBer (born around 1601) and Colette Cavelier (1605–1694). Robert, a man of modest means—perhaps a tradesman or laborer in the shadow of Rouen's Gothic cathedral—married Colette around 1620. Their union produced at least three children who would bridge the Old World and the New: Marie (1620–1714), who later became an Ursuline nun in Quebec; Francois (1626–1694), our direct 8th great-grandfather; and Jacques (1633–1706), whose marriage would forge an alliance with one of Canada's most storied families. Though some records cloud Robert's death (likely after 1633, possibly as late as 1676), his legacy endured through his offspring's bold migration across the Atlantic, drawn by tales of untamed wilderness and opportunity in the fledgling colony of Ville-Marie (now Montreal).

Francois and Jacques Leber arrived in New France around 1657–1658, embodying the hardy spirit of the habitants—settler-farmers who tamed the land amid Iroquois raids and harsh winters. Francois, a voyageur and fur trader, settled in La Prairie, a strategic outpost south of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River. This riverside village, founded in 1647 by Jesuits, became a cradle for our ancestors, its fertile plains yielding crops while its waters carried canoes laden with beaver pelts to distant markets. In 1662, Francois married Jeanne Testard (1642–1723), a fille du roi (King's Daughter)—one of the brave women sponsored by Louis XIV to bolster the colony's population. Their life in La Prairie was one of resilience: farming arpents of land, defending against indigenous skirmishes, and raising a family that included our 7th great-grandmother, Marie Le Ber (1666–1756).

Meanwhile, Jacques Leber dit Larose—Francois's brother and our 8th great-granduncle—carved a path of prosperity in Montreal. A merchant and militia member of the Holy Family confraternity, he partnered in trade with the era's elite. On January 7, 1658, in Montreal's nascent Notre-Dame church, Jacques wed Jeanne Le Moyne (1635–1682), daughter of Pierre Le Moyne (1595–1658) and Judith Duchesne from Dieppe. This union was no mere match; it bound the humble Leber line to the aristocratic Le Moyne dynasty, whose exploits would echo through North American history.

Jeanne's brother, Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Châteauguay (1626–1685), was a titan of New France. Born in Dieppe, he arrived in Canada at age 15 in 1641, mastering indigenous languages and rising from interpreter to seigneur. Granted lands in Longueuil and Châteauguay, he fortified Montreal against Iroquois attacks, amassing wealth through fur trade and military prowess. His marriage to Catherine Thierry Primot produced 14 children, many of whom became legends. As in-laws to our Leber ancestors, the Le Moynes infused our lineage with tales of valor: Jacques and Jeanne's home in Montreal hummed with visits from Charles's brood, where strategies for raids and trades were plotted over hearth fires.

Among Charles's sons—our 8th great-granduncle's nephews by marriage—shone Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (1661–1706), the swashbuckling explorer who harried English ships in Hudson Bay, raided Newfoundland, and founded Louisiana in 1699, planting French flags from Biloxi to Mobile. His brother Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville (1680–1767) extended this legacy, establishing New Orleans in 1718 amid swamps teeming with alligators and promise. Charles II Le Moyne de Longueuil (1656–1729), the first native-born Canadian baron, served as governor of Montreal and Trois-Rivières, his childhood as a page in France honing him for command. François Le Moyne de Bienville (1666–1691) fell in battle against the Iroquois at Repentigny, a martyr to the colony's defense. Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Hélène (1659–1690), Paul Le Moyne de Maricourt (1663–1704), Joseph Le Moyne de Sérigny (1668–1734), and Antoine Le Moyne de Châteauguay (1671–1711) all fought in campaigns that secured French footholds, from Acadia to the Gulf of Mexico.

Jacques and Jeanne's own children added layers to this tapestry: Their daughter Jeanne Le Ber (1662–1714), a famed recluse and embroiderer, lived in ascetic devotion, her cell in Montreal's church inspiring calls for sainthood. Their son Pierre Le Ber (1669–1707), a painter, captured Marguerite Bourgeoys in portrait, preserving the era's piety.

Back in La Prairie, our direct line through Francois flourished amid this extended family's influence. Marie Le Ber married François Bourassa in 1681, their daughter Marie Elisabeth Bourassa (1695–1766) wedding Jacques Pinsonneau. The Pinsonneaus, rooted in La Prairie's agrarian life, navigated the British conquest after 1763, anglicizing names as they migrated. Joseph Pinsonneau (1733–1799), a DNA-matched ancestor, fathered Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770–1807), whose son Gabriel (Gilbert) Passino (1803–1877) adapted to borderlands life, crossing into New York or Vermont amid economic shifts. Gilbert's daughter, Lucy Passino (1836–1917), our 2nd great-grandmother, carried this resilient spirit forward—her world one of farms, factories, and frontier towns in a changing America.

From Rouen's cobblestones to La Prairie's riverbanks, and onward to my own life as A Drifting Cowboy, this story arcs across centuries. The Le Moynes' daring—forging empires from canoes and courage—echoes in our veins through fraternal bonds and marital ties. Though not direct blood, their legacy of exploration and endurance shaped the world our La Prairie forebears inhabited, a reminder that history's great currents often flow through quiet family streams.

Adventurers of The sons of Charles Le Moyne

The sons of Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Châteauguay formed a remarkable dynasty in New France, with many achieving fame through military exploits, exploration, and colonial administration. Below, our 8th great-granduncle's nephews by marriage—focusing on the key places and events that made them noteworthy. We’ve drawn from historical biographies to ensure accuracy, highlighting their roles in French expansion, conflicts with the English and Indigenous nations, and the founding of settlements. Note that some dates (like Antoine's) vary slightly across sources due to incomplete 17th-century records, but We’ve aligned with the most consistent accounts.

Charles II Le Moyne de Longueuil (1656–1729)

As the eldest son and the first native-born Canadian to receive a barony in New France (granted in 1700), Charles II embodied the transition from frontier settler to colonial nobleman. His career emphasized governance and defense in the heart of New France.

• Key Places: Montreal (his birthplace and long-term base), Trois-Rivières (governor from early 1700s), Quebec City (site of major defenses), Chambly (strategic fort south of Montreal), and France (where he served as a page in his youth).
• Noteworthy Events: Served as a page to a relative of Governor Frontenac in France during his childhood, honing leadership skills.  Appointed major of Montreal in 1683 at age 27, leading defenses against Iroquois raids.  Played a pivotal role in the defense of Quebec against English forces in 1690 during King William's War.  Awarded the Cross of St. Louis for military service. As governor of Montreal (from 1720s) and Trois-Rivières, he oversaw colonial administration amid ongoing conflicts. In 1711, he led a militia march to Chambly to repel an English invasion, which retreated after naval setbacks.  His barony elevated Canadian-born elites in French hierarchy.

Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Hélène (1659–1690)

Jacques was a bold military leader known for his raids during the Beaver Wars and early phases of King William's War, earning a reputation as one of the "Maccabees of New France" for his valor.

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Hudson Bay (expedition routes), Schenectady (New York, then Corlaer), Quebec City (death site), and Iroquois territories in the Great Lakes region.
• Noteworthy Events: Participated in the 1686 Hudson Bay expedition with brothers Pierre and Paul, capturing English forts.  Led the 1687 campaign against the Seneca (part of the Iroquois Confederacy) in New York.  Commanded the infamous Schenectady raid in February 1690, a retaliatory winter attack on the English-Dutch settlement during King William's War, resulting in significant casualties and prisoners.  Died in Quebec later that year from wounds sustained in battle, at age 31, becoming a martyr figure in French colonial lore.

Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (1661–1706)

The most celebrated of the brothers, Pierre was a daring naval commander and explorer whose exploits spanned the Arctic to the Gulf, earning him the moniker "the Canadian Cid" for his strategic brilliance.

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Hudson Bay (multiple campaigns), Fort Nelson (York Factory, Manitoba), Pemaquid (Maine), Newfoundland coast, Mississippi River delta, Biloxi (Mississippi), Mobile (Alabama), Nevis (Caribbean), and Havana (Cuba, death site).
• Noteworthy Events: Served in the 1686 Hudson Bay expedition, capturing Fort Rupert with brother Jacques.  Led the 1694 capture of Fort Nelson (renamed Fort Bourbon).  Took Fort Pemaquid in Maine (1696) and razed English settlements in Newfoundland.  Commanded the epic 1697 Battle of Hudson Bay, where his ship Pelican single-handedly defeated three English vessels despite being outnumbered.  Founded the Louisiana colony in 1699, establishing Fort Maurepas (near Ocean Springs, Mississippi) and exploring the Mississippi to Natchez.  Directed the founding of Fort Louis de la Mobile in 1702.  Captured Nevis from the English in 1706 during Queen Anne's War.  Died of yellow fever in Havana while planning attacks on the Carolinas.

Paul Le Moyne de Maricourt (1663–1704)

Paul excelled in diplomacy and military operations, often bridging French and Indigenous alliances during colonial wars.

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Iroquois territories (Great Lakes), Hudson Bay, Schenectady (New York), and Acadia (Maritimes).
• Noteworthy Events: Acted as a key diplomat with the Iroquois, adopting the name Akouessan to facilitate peace talks.  Joined the 1686 Hudson Bay expedition.  Participated in the 1690 Schenectady raid alongside brothers Jacques and François.  Served in various North American campaigns, including defenses in Acadia.  Died in 1704 from battle-related causes, having supported French-Indigenous coalitions.

François Le Moyne de Bienville (1666–1691)

The fifth son, François (known as Bienville I to distinguish from his younger brother) was a young officer whose brief career focused on frontier skirmishes.

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Iroquois lands (New York and Quebec), Schenectady (New York), and Repentigny (Quebec, death site).
• Noteworthy Events: Joined the 1687 campaign against the Iroquois as part of Denonville's expedition.  Participated in the February 1690 raid on Schenectady with brothers Jacques and Paul.  Killed in action on June 6, 1691, during a skirmish with Oneida warriors near Repentigny while pursuing raiders.  His death exemplified the high cost of colonial warfare for the Le Moyne family.

Joseph Le Moyne de Sérigny (1668–1734)

Joseph was a naval officer who supported his brothers' ventures, blending military service with colonial entrepreneurship.

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Hudson Bay, Louisiana (Biloxi and Mobile), France (Ardillières and Loire seigneuries), and the Gulf of Mexico.
• Noteworthy Events: Served under Pierre in Hudson Bay campaigns (1690s).  Accompanied expeditions to Louisiana in 1698–1702, aiding in settlements like Biloxi.  Purchased seigneuries in France (Loire) in 1702, reflecting family wealth from colonial exploits.  Commanded ships in Gulf operations, including supply runs during Queen Anne's War. Died in France in 1734 after a career in the French navy. 

Antoine Le Moyne de Châteauguay (1671–1711, per our notes; sources often cite 1683/1687–1747)

Antoine (the youngest notable son in some accounts) assisted in Louisiana's early development, serving as a naval midshipman and colonial officer. (Note: Some records confuse him with brother Louis de Châteauguay [1676–1694], who died young in battle; W’eve focused on Antoine as listed.)

• Key Places: Montreal (birthplace), Louisiana (Mobile and lower Mississippi), France (naval service), and the Gulf Coast.
• Noteworthy Events: Served as a midshipman in the French navy from youth.  Joined brothers Pierre and Jean-Baptiste in Louisiana expeditions (1700s), helping establish settlements like Mobile.  Participated in early colonial administration and defenses against English and Spanish rivals.  Inherited the Châteauguay seigneury; sources note his death around 1747 in France, but if aligning with our 1711 date, it may tie to early Gulf skirmishes.

These brothers' collective achievements—spanning from Arctic raids to Southern colonies—helped secure French influence in North America, directly impacting the world our La Prairie ancestors navigated.

Thank you to Grok xAI for the extraordinary information and enhancements to my existing research. — A Drifting Cowboy