Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Pierre Barette dit Courville — Voyageur Grandfather

1794, River view of Detroit


Pierre Barette dit Courville (1748-1794) (5th great-grandfather)
son of Louis Courville Barrette (Baret) (1717-1753) and Marie Josephe Poupart (1725-1799)
Born 2 FEB 1748 at La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, Canada
Died 31 JAN 1794 at La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, Canada
Marriage in 1772 to Marie Anne Dupuis (Dupuy) (1753-1807)




1768, 16 août —Engagement de Pierre Baret au Sr. Medard Gamelin pour aller à poste du Detroit pour 300 Shillings.




1778, 18 mai—Engagement de Pierre Barette au Srs. William & Jean Kay pour aller à Michilimakinac.-Étude P. Lalanne, fils.




Lineage

Pierre Barette (Baret) dit Courville (1748 - 1794) -- 5th great-grandfather

Marie Angelique Baret dit Courville (1779 - 1815) -- Daughter of Pierre Barette dit Courville

Marie Emélie Meunier Lagacé (1808 - 1883) -- Daughter of Marie Angelique Baret dit Courville, emigrant to USA

Lucy Pinsonneau (1836 - 1917) -- Daughter of Marie Emélie Meunier Lagassé Lagacé -- 2nd great-grandmother

I have been collecting documents and/or archive notes for my voyageur grandfathers, and will be posting new pages for each of them -- one grandfather at a time.  SEE: https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2019/01/timeline-of-my-french-canadian-great.html for my list of voyageur grandfathers.


Friday, February 15, 2019

So you think you have a Voyageur in the family tree, eh?


1803, Oct 6, McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (North West Company) 
hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier (4th Great Grandfather) voyageur 
de St-André-d’Argenteuil to go to Lac De La Pluie (Rainy Lake)


Thousands of residents from the Saint Lawrence Valley region of Canada (New France) went west to work in the fur trade. 

Many of the contracts they signed are recorded in Quebec Notarial Records. 

Most, but not all, records have been listed in Repertory of Contracts for the West Preserved in the Montréal Judicial Archives 1670–17[45] (French: Répertoire des engagements pour l'Ouest conservés dans les archives judiciaires de Montréal 1670–17[45]). 

Records of the contracts continued up to 1821 — about the time when the North West Company and the Hudson Bay Company merged. 

Update: October 27, 2019 the following links seem to have a problem. Try downloading the files here: 
http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/resultats

Good luck

They can be found in the following annual volumes of the RAPQ series:




1753-1758 engagements, Pub: 1932-33, Pp243-365

Correction, above should read: 1758-1778 engagements, Pub: 1932-33, Pp245-304
http://collections2.banq.qc.ca/jrn03/rapportarchiviste/src/1932/52334_04_0003.pdf




1802-1804 engagements, Pub: 1944-45, Pp309-401 http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2276314?docsearchtext=engagements%20pour%20l%27Ouest,%201802-1804  Careful with this one. You'll need to wait for it to load, and then download the pdf file.



If, like me,  you are an avid genealogist, and think you might have some French-Canadian ancestors who were involved in the fur trade, then searching these files might yield some fascinating results.

A few words of caution before you start...

Names are often mis-spelled, and are spelled many different ways.  

Jean-Baptiste, for example, is often written Jean Bte, so your computer is likely to miss it.

Dit (also called) names are not always used, or they are used in place of the surname.

Parish listings can also be misleading. I've found ancestors from La Prairie, LaPraire, or Praire de Magdeleine listed as being from Montreal, St. Constant, and St. Philippe.

RESEARCH EXAMPLE (Rev 18 Feb 2019):


RÉPERTOIRE DES ENGAGEMENTS POUR L’OUEST CONSERVÉS DANS LES ARCHIVES JUDICIAIRES DE MONTRÉAL (1670-1778)

195

1685, 25 mars.—Engagement de Charles Destaillis au sr Anthoine Bazinet pour faire le voyage du Sault Ste-Marie—Étude Bourgine.
Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663 - 1708) 8th great-uncle

1685, 6 mai.—Engagement de Joachim Lebert à noble homme Claude Gri- zonneau (Greysolon), sieur de la Tourette, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Bourgine.
Joachim Jacques Leber (1664 - 1695) 8th great-uncle

1686, 15 février.—Engagement de Vital Oriol, Charles Delaunay et Pierre Bisaillon, pour faire le voyage que feront Couture Baret et Jacques Filliatro avec M. de Tonty—Documents judiciaires, pièces S.S.P.
MAYBE: Guillaume Barette (1633 - 1717) 8th great-grandfather

196

1688, 27 juin.—Engagement de Joachim LeBert et Fr3 Bourassa à René Legar- deur de Beauvais pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Adhémar.
Joachim Jacques Leber (1664 - 1695) 8th great-uncle AND Francois Bourassa (1659 - 1708) 7th great-grandfather

1688, 4 juillet.—Engagement de Jacques et Charles de Taillis à Claude Greyso¬ lon, sr de la Tourette, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663 - 1708) 8th great-uncle

197

1688,1er août.—Engagement de Jacques Lemoyne à Claude Greysolon, sr de la Tourette, pour faire le voyage des Attaouanon—Étude Adhémar.
Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Helene (1659 - 1690) nephew of wife of 9th great-uncle

1688, 1er août.—Engagement de Jean Cottu à Margueritte Mauriceau, veuve de Jean Pelletier Antaya, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: Jean (Côté) (Caouette) (Cahouet) (Cotte) (1640 - 1707) 8th great-grandfather

198

1689, 28 août.—Engagement de Louis Duquet, sr Duverdier, et Louis Provan- cher au sr Nicolas Perrot pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Ensuite: L’engagement d’Estienne Benoist dit Nivernois—Étude Adhémar.
Louis Duquet sieur Duverdier (1657 - 1691) 8th great-uncle

1689, 29 août.—Engagement de Anthoine Desrosiers et Claude Tétreau à M. de la Forest pour faire le voyage au fort St-Louis—Étude Adhémar.
Antoine Duquet dit Madry (dit Desrochers?) (1660 - 1733) 8th great-uncle

1690, 8 mai.—Engagement de Jacques Le Moyne aux sieurs Jean Pacquet dit Poitevin, Jean Sappin dit Bourguignon et François Couturier pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Maugue.
Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Helene (1659 - 1690) nephew of wife of 9th great-uncle

1690, 8 mai.—Engagement de Louis Fafart et Joseph Fafart frères à Mr Bois¬ rondel faisant pour Mr de la Forest pour faire le voyage des Islinois—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Farfard (Fafart) (1645-1666) (1st cousin 9x removed) AND Louis Fafart (1st cousin 9x removed)

1690, 8 mai.—Engagement de Daniel Joseph Amiot, sr de Villeneuve, à Mons. de Boisrondel, pour Mrde la Forest, pour faire le voyage des Islinois—Étude Adhémar.
Daniel Joseph Amiot (Amyot) Dit Villeneuve (1665 - 1725) 8th great-uncle

1690, 8 mai.-—Engagement de Gabriel Lemieux à Migeon de Branssat pour faire le voyage au pays des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Gabriel Lemieux (1663 - 1739) 8th great-grandfather

1690, 10 mai.—Engagement de Pierre Le Boeuf à Alphonse de Tonty pour faire le voyage des Islinois—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: son of Guillaume Leboeuf (1610 - 1727) 10th great-grandfather

1690, 11 mai.—Engagement de Jean et Michel Cusson frères au sr Nicolas Perrot pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Jean Cusson (1630 - 1718) 9th great-grandfather AND Michel Cusson (1634 - ) 10th great-uncle

199

1691,26 août.—Engagement de Jean Gabriel Picard à Claude Greysolon, sr de la Tourette, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Jean Gabriel Picard (1669 - 1735) 9th great-uncle

1691, 16 au 31 août.—Engagement de plusieurs particuliers à Mr François de la Forest, Ecr Capitaine, pour faire le voyage des Islinois: 16 août.—Engagement de Anthoine Duquet, Sr Madry; 16 août.—engagement de François Roy; 16 août.— Engagement de Mathurin Raby dit Villain; 17 août.—Engagement de Laurent Glory dit Labrière; 18 août.—Engagement de Louis Pichard; 18 août.—Engage¬ ment de François Vaudry; 22 août.—Engagement de Pierre Huynan dit Laforge; 23 août.—Engagement de Claude Pinard fils, chirurgien; 31 août.—Engagement de Mathurin Rivard Loranger; 31 août.—Engagement de Nicolas Rivard Loranger— Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: Gabriel Testard De La Forest (1661–1697) 1st cousin 9x removed AND Antoine Duquet dit Madry (dit Desrochers?) (1660 - 1733) 8th great-uncle AND MAYBE: son of François Roy (LeRoy) (1615 - 1677) 10th great-grandfather

200

1692, 29 avril.—Marché et engagement entre Nicolas Dupuy Antayeban et Michel Campot pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: son of Francois Dupuis (Dupays) (1610 - 1712) 9th great-grandfather

1692, 1er mai.—Engagement de Jean Perrat par Jacques de Lamarque, faisant pour Nicolas Laurens de la Chapelle pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois.—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: Jacques Lemarie Dit Marier (1624 - 1708) 8th great-grandfather

1692, 6 août.—Engagement de Pierre Roy, Charles Primot, Mathieu Sauton et Jean Boyer, aux RR. PP. Jésuites pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: son of François Roy (LeRoy) (1615 - 1677) 10th great-grandfather AND Jean Baptiste Boyer (1673 - 1733) 9th great-uncle

1692, 19 août.—Engagement de Gabriel Lemieux à Joachim Germano pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—-Étude Adhémar.
Gabriel Lemieux (1663 - 1739) 8th great-grandfather

1693, 29 avril.—Engagement de Jacques Picard à Eustache Prévost, Jean Sauviot et autres associés, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Jacques-Hugues Picard (1618 - 1707) 9th great-grandfather

201

1693, 31 août.—Engagement de Claude Caron aux sieurs Guillaume Boucher et François Le Ber pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Maugue.
MAYBE: son of Robert Caron (1613 - 1656) 9th great-grandfather AND Francois Leber (1673 - 1746) 8th great-uncle

1693, 1er septembre.—Engagement en forme de société entre le sieur Pierre le Sueur d’une part, et les sieurs Cicot, Grenier, de Noyon, Charbonneau, le Moyne Beygny, Gelinats, la Bierre, Tessier, le Clos et Martin, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Basset.
MAYBE: Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Helene (1659 - 1690) nephew of wife of 9th great-uncle

1693, 1er septembre.—Engagement de François Picard à Mra de la Forest et de Tonty pour faire le voyage des Islinois—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: son of Jacques-Hugues Picard (1618 - 1707) 9th great-grandfather

1693, 11 septembre.—Engagement de Joseph Moreau, voyageur, à Augustin Legardeur, sr de Courtemanche, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Moreau (1672 - 1708) 9th great-uncle

1694, 24 mai.—Engagement de Jean et Pierre Deniaux et Pierre Robert, à Louis D’Ailleboust, sieur de Coulonges, pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Maugue.
MAYBE: sons of Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1621 - 1678) 8th great-grandfather

1694, 31 mai.—Engagement de François Roy à Raymond Boisneau dit La Chaume pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois, de Missillimakinac ou du Sault—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: son of François Roy (LeRoy) (1615 - 1677) 10th great-grandfather

202

1694, 9 juin.—Engagement de Jean Le Roy, Michel Gamelin, Jacques Jobin, Jean Baptiste Gastineau Duplessis, Simon Baillargé, Charles Cusson, à Daniel de Grozelon, sieur Dulhut, pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Cusson (1672 - 1727) 9th great-uncle

1694, 14 juin.—Engagement de Louis Dupuy dit le Parisien et Jean Seguin à Monsieur de Louvigny pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
MAYBE: a brother or son of Francois Dupuis (Dupays) (Dupuys) (1634 - 1681) 8th great-grandfather

203

1694, 14 septembre.—Engagement de Mathurin Roy à Joseph Moreau et Jean- Baptiste Maret pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Moreau (1672 - 1708) 9th great-uncle

1694, 17 septembre.—Engagement de Anthoine Boyer au sr Le Gardeur de L’Isle pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Antoine Jacques Boyer (1671 - 1747) 8th great-grandfather

1694, 20 septembre.—Engagement de Charles Cusson au sieur de Vincenne pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ois—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Cusson (1672 - 1727) 9th great-uncle

204

1695, 3 juin.—Engagement de René Dupuy au sr Charles Desnos pour faire le voyage des 8ta8ats—Étude Maugue.
Rene Dupuis (Dupays)(Dupuy) (1671 - 1738) 8th great-uncle

205

1701, 27 mai.—Engagement de Louis Babie, de Champlain, Laurent Renauld, de Montréal, Charles Dazé, de la Rivière des Prairies, Jacques Lemoine, de Bâtiscan, Claude Crevier, des Trois-Rivières, René Besnard Bourioly, des Trois-Rivières, François Benoit dit Livernois, de Longueuil, Pierre Moriceau, de Montréal, Charles Cusson, de Montréal, Jean Lemire dit Marsolet, de Montréal, Jean-Baptiste Guay, de Montréal, Jacques Brisset, de L’Isle Dupas, François Frigon, de Batiscan, Pierre Lagrave, de Montréal, Pierre St-Michel, Michel Roy, de Ste-Anne, Edmon Roy dit Chatelereau, de Ste-Anne, Simon Balliarge, du cap de la Magdeleine, Claude Rivard Lorangé, de Batiscan, Mathurin Feuilleverte, Jean Turcot, de Charlebourg, Jean Baptiste Montmelian St-Germain, de Québec, Pierre Désautels dit Lapointe, Henry Belle Isle, chirurgien, Louis Fafart Lonnal, des Trois-Rivières, François Pancho, de Batiscan, Jean-Baptiste Vanier, de Charlebourg, Pierre Toupin, de Beauport, René Lintot, des Trois-Rivières, Joseph Cartyé, Jacques Duran, Pierre Colet, de Québec, Alexis Lemoine, de Batiscan, Louis Chauvin, de Montréal, Gabriel Obuchon, de Montréal, Latour, de Montréal, Lambert Cuillerié.de Mont¬ réal, Pierre Roy, de Ste-Anne, Louis Vaudry, de Montréal, Pierre Richard, de Montréal, Louis Badaillac, de Montréal, Guill’e Vinet dit La Rente, Jean Baptiste Gatineau et Louis Gatineau dit Lameslée, tous voyageurs, se sont engagés à Messire Jean Bochart pour faire le voyage du Détroit—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Cusson (1672 - 1727) 9th great-uncle

206

1702,12 avril.—Engagement de Charles Deno Detaillis à Mr Charles Juchereau de Sfc-Denys pour faire le voyage du Mississippi—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663 - 1708) 8th great-uncle

207

1702,13 mai.—Engagement de Paul Teyssier, François Le Gardeur deMutrecy, Charles Deno Detaillis, Nicolas Lemoyne, sieur de Leau, Allexis Le Gay, Gabriel Philippe, sieur de SCLambert, François Philippe, sr de Manteville, Pierre Cardinal, Paul Groust, Nicolas Laberge, au sieur Charles Juchereau pour faire le voyage du Mississipy—Étude Adhémar.
Charles Marin Deneau dit Destaillis (1663 - 1708) 8th great-uncle

1702, 28 mai.—Engagement de Jean Gabriel Picart, Pierre Lelac et Toussaint Dardonne, Jean Baptiste Jarry, à Joseph de Fleury, sr de la Gorgendière, pour faire le voyage au fort Frontenac—Étude Raimbault père.
Jean Gabriel Picard (1669 - 1735) 9th great-uncle

208

1703, 13 mai.—Engagement de Jean Baptiste Jarry dit Lahaye, Jean Gabriel Piccart, Louis Roy et Jean Legros, à François du Montier pour faire le voyage au fort Frontenac—Étude Raimbault.
Jean Gabriel Picard (1669 - 1735) 9th great-uncle

1703, 10 juillet.—Engagement de Pierre Desautels Lapointe, Charles Voland St-Herneau, Jean Brunet dit Lestang, Julien Aubert dit La Touche, Jacques Campot, François Blot, Nicolas Baron, Maximillien Demers, Louis Badaillac Laplante, Estienne Campot, Jacques Philippe, Jean Latour, Pierre Rivet, Albert Lafranchise, Charles Ricard de Ste-Anne, Pierre Roy Chatellereau, François Gariepy, Louis Baribau, de Ste-Anne, Jean et Michel Tousignan frères, François Girard, Pierre Lemay, de Lotbinières, Louis Dugast, Jacques Vermuy, Pierre Vallié, de la Coste de Maure, Jean Ricard, de Ste-Anne, Adrien Senecal, de Varennes, François Chi- couanne, de Verchère, Denys Bourgery, Joseph Robert, de Boucherville, Touss* Trutteau, François Benoist, Charles Mardi, Mathurin Rivard, Jean Couture, de Batiscan, Henry et Robert Jasmin frères, du Cap-Santé, Michel Messier, sr de S4- Michel, Noël Lavallée, de Saurel, Mathurin Mandin, de Charlebourg, Pierre Joutra de La Pérotière, des Trois-Rivières, Estienne Amyault Lincour, de Québec, et sieur François Du Montier et Estienne Volant, Sr de Radisson, lesquels se sont engagés à Mrs de la Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada, pour faire le voyage du lac Érié— Étude Adhémar.
Pierre Rivet (1683 - 1753) 8th great-uncle

209

1704, 4 juillet.—Engagement de Jean Cusson à Jean Baptiste Bissot de Vin¬ cennes pour aller au pays des Outaouais—Étude Lepallieur, Michel.
Jean Baptiste Cusson Dit Desormiers (1673 - 1740) 9th great-uncle OR Jean Cusson (1630 - 1718) 9th great-grandfather

1704, 28 juillet.—Engagement de Anthoine Pinard, de la Baye S*-Anthoine sur le lac St-Pierre, Pierre Benoist dit La forest, des Trois-Rivières, Anth. Salvay, de Saurel, René Beaujean, Pierre Desautels, de St-Martin en cette ile, Pierre Bou- gret Dufort, de Boucherville, Pierre Le Boeuf, de cette ville, Robert Rivard, Charles Le Scieur, Joseph Moreau, Jean Moreau, Franc. Frigon, Joseph Couturier, Anth. Thunay Dufresne, Julien Le Scieur, Mathurin et Simon Rouillard, Joseph Rivard, de Batiscan, Louis Baribau, Ignace Guyon, Jean et Charles Ricard, Edmond Roy Chatellereau, Pierre Richer, de Ste-Anne, Anthoine Donnay, Pierre et Denys Bourgerie, François Robert, Robert Lafontaine, Jacques et François de Noyons, Pierre Puybarreau de Boucherville, Albert Bosne Lafranchise de La Chine, Gaspard Maignan de Mouille Pied, Pierre Edeline, Jean Cadieux, de Longueuil, Jacques Cardinal, de la Coste St-Pierre en cette île, Adrien Senécal de Varennes, Pierre Mauriceau, de Repentigny, Jean David, de la Rivière Becancourt, Paul Dumouchel, Toussaint Dardenne, Jean et Jacques Campot, Pierre Garro Xaintonge, Jacques Vaudry, de cette ville, Michel Messier, Allexandre Petit du Cap St-Michel, Jean Tousignan Lapointe, Ignace Le May, de Losbinières, Pierre Guignard Dollone, de Lanoray, Jacques Lemelin, des Grondines, Louis Fafart, Estienne Bosne, Jean Mandeville, de Berthier, Joseph Sarrasin, de Charlebourg, Pierre Villier, de Québec,Vincent Rodrigue, de Québec, Jean Boyer, de La Prairie St-Lambert, Jean Houvé de Champlain, Jean Gariepy de St-François en cette île et Jacques Pellissier dit Bourdaucour, Claude Lamy, de Saurel, et Landreville et François Dumonthier; Lesquels se sont engagés à Messieurs de la Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada, pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain du lac Êrié—Étude Adhémar.
Jean Moreau (1635 - 1710) 9th great-grandfather AND Joseph Moreau (1672 - 1708) 9th great-uncle AND Jean Baptiste Boyer (1673 - 1733) 9th great-uncle

210

1705, 30 mai.—Engagement de Pierre Lamargue dit Sanssoussy, Jean Chevalier, Jean Rivet, René Rivet, Pierre Morant, Jacques Lavoie dit SCAmour, Jean Moreau Desrosiers, Gabriel Trotte dit SKJean, Pierre Sarrazin, René Monteil dit Sansremission, Alexis Picard, Moyse Morin dit Chesnevert, Gilbert Desautels dit Lapointe, Jacques Urbain Rocbert, sr de Lamorandière, principal Cômis de Mes¬ sieurs de la Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada, faisant pour Mesd. Srs de lad. Compagnie: Lesquels engagés promettent d’aller au fort le pont Chartrain du lac Érié—Étude Adhémar.
Jean Rivet (1677 - ) 8th great-uncle AND Rene Rivet (1678 - 1735) 8th great-uncle AND Jean Moreau (1635 - 1710) 9th great-grandfather

1705, 30 mai.—Engagement de Charles de Couagne fils, Jacques Hubert La Croix fils, Jaques Cardinal fils, Fran. Picard, Jaques Vaudry, Fran. Brunet dit La Bourbonnois, Joseph Sarrazin, Pierre Garro St-Onge, Maximilien Demers, Ange Cusson, Nicolas Le Gros, Louis Roy, René Buet, Jaques Tabaux, Pierre Coitou St-Jean, Jaques Beaucham, Pierre Mauriceau, Louis Lefebvre, Jean Campot, Pierre Leboeuf, Pierre Cadieu, Jean Lemire de Marsolet, Jacques Filiatreau, Pierre Beaucham, Jean Baptiste Le Scieur dit Callot, Gabriel Gyart, Jean Mersan dit Lapierre, de Montréal, Fran. Casset, Joseph Moreau, Robert Rivard, Pierre Lescuyer, Fran. Frigon, Jean Primo dit Lavanture, Fran. de Broyeux, de Batiscan, Jean Boyer, Julien Bariteau dit Lamarche, de la prairie, Denys Bourgery, de la prairie, Jean Pépin, Jacques Dutau, de Champlain, Fran. Marie S^-Marie, Gaspard Maignan dit Champagne, Adrien Senécal, de Contrecoeur, Edmond Roy dit Chastelereau, de Ste-Anne, Anthoine Gyart, de cette île, et Jacques Urbain Rocbert sr de Lamo¬ randière. Lesquels se sont engagés à Mrs de la Compagnie de la Colonie du Canada pour aller au fort Le pont Chartrain du lac Érié—Étude Adhémar.
Ange Cusson (1679 - 1748) 9th great-uncle AND Joseph Moreau (1672 - 1708) 9th great-uncle AND Jean Baptiste Boyer (1673 - 1733) 9th great-uncle

211

1706, 7 octobre.—Engagement de François Ardouin, Adrien Senécal, Louis Lefebvre, Nicolas et Joseph Cussons, à Messire Anthoine de La Mothe Cadillac, pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Cusson (1684 - 1760) 9th great-uncle

212

1709,9 mars.—Engagement de Pierre et Jacques Beauchamps à Pierre Lestaige, faisant pourMr de La forest, pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du Lac Érié—Étude Adhémar.
Pierre Beauchamp (1679 - 1748) 1st cousin 9x removed AND Jacques Beauchamp (1678 - 1719) 8th great-uncle

213

214

1713, 3 juin.—Engagement de Estienne Deno Detaillis à François Rivard Lorangé pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du lac Érié— Étude Adhémar.
Etienne Deneau (Deniau) dit Destaillus (1691 - 1730) 7th great-uncle

1713, 3 juin.—Engagement de Joseph Cusson à Pierre Garreau St-Onge, pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du lac Érié—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Cusson (1684 - 1760) 9th great-uncle

215

1713, 1er octobre.—Engagement de Charles Diel à Gilles Le Court et Charles Cusson pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du lac Érié— Étude Adhémar.
Charles Diel (1688 - 1734) 7th great-grandfather AND Charles Cusson (1672 - 1727) 9th great-uncle

216

1715, 5 mars.—Engagement de Charles Le Gardeur à Joseph Poupart pour faire le voyage à Missilimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Poupart (1696 - 1726) 7th great-grandfather

1715, 3 avril.—Engagement de Joseph Lecuier à Joseph Poupart pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Joseph Poupart (1696 - 1726) 7th great-grandfather

217

218

219

1716, 28 avril.—Engagement de Pierre Rivé à Nicolas Sarazin pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Pierre Rivet (1683 - 1753) 8th great-uncle

1716, 30 avril.—Engagement de Jean Moreau à Nicolas Perthuis fils, pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Jean Baptiste Moreau (1657 - 1727) 8th great-grandfather

1716, 2 mai.—Engagement de Julien Baritteau à Jean Baptiste Neveu et Jac¬ ques Neveu pour faire le voyage au fort Le pont Chartrain, du Détroit du lac Érié— Étude Adhémar.
Jean Baptiste Neveu (Nepveu) (1676 - 1754) 1st cousin 9x removed

1716, 2 mai.—Engagement de Joseph L’arrivée à Toussaint Dardenne pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Toussaint Dardenne (1671 - 1720) 1st cousin 9x removed

1716, 9 mai.—Engagement de Claude et Joachim Deno à Estienne et Jacques Deno pour faire le voyage à Missillimakinac—Étude Adhémar.
Etienne Deneau (Deniau) dit Destaillus (1691 - 1730) 7th great-uncle AND Jacques Deniau dit Destaillis (1693 - ) 7th great-uncle

220



Good luck, and happy hunting









Thursday, February 7, 2019

THE LEGAL COMPLAINT OF GABRIEL DE LA FOREST



“THE LEGAL COMPLAINT OF GABRIEL DE LA FOREST” is a late 17th century legal brief, or factum, submitted on behalf of a French Canadian prisoner of war against an English military commander.

GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST (1661-1697) [1ST COUSIN 9X REMOVED] was a French Canadian military officer. He was born in the city of Montreal, Quebec, which was part of the French colony of New France at the time. His parents were Jacques Testard de La Forest and Marie Pournin.

In the 17th and 18th centuries England and France competed for control of the eastern parts of North America, and GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST’S legal complaint (called a factum or legal brief) emerged from one of these conflicts.

In the early 17th century, both England and France began to colonize North America. The English settled the eastern seaboard of the United States. Their 1st successful colony was located at Jamestown, Virginia. A later English colony was set up at Plymouth, Massachusetts, by the Calvinist Puritan Pilgrim Fathers.

While the English were colonizing the US, the French were establishing settlements in what are now Maritime Canada and Quebec’s St. Lawrence Valley. The earliest French colonies in Canada were founded by Samuel de Champlain in the 1st decade of the 17th century.

The most important industry in the northern part of North America was the fur trade. French Canadian fur traders, known as coureurs de bois (runners of the woods), pushed deep into the interior of Canada and the US Midwest from bases in Montreal and elsewhere.

In the late 17th century, the English set up the competing Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), which was based on Hudson’s Bay in northern Canada. The headquarters of the HBC was York Factory, in Manitoba at the mouth of Hayes River on the southwestern coast of the bay.

In 1694 a French force led by PIERRE LE MOYNE D’IBERVILLE (1661-1706) [NEPHEW OF THE WIFE OF OUR 9TH GREAT-UNCLE] captured York Factory from the English. Le Moyne was born in Ville-Marie, Montreal, and is remembered in history as the founder of the French colony of Louisiana, which occupied the entire Mississippi River Basin of what is now the central United States.

Le Moyne’s 1694 attack on York Factory was part of King William’s War, the North American theatre of the Nine Years War (1688-97). GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST took part in Le Moyne’s attack on York Factory. After capturing the English base, the French renamed it “Fort Bourbon”. Le Moyne left Fort Bourbon in 1695, leaving a garrison behind under the command of GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST

In 1696, GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST’S garrison was attacked by an English fleet led by Captain William Allen. French reinforcements did not arrive in time, and GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST was forced to surrender to the English. In the surrender agreement, Captain Allen promised that GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST would be allowed to keep his furs, and would be transported to the French base at Placentia (Plaisance) on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. But Captain Allen broke the agreement by confiscating all of the French furs, and transporting GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST and his garrison to England as prisoners. 

Once he arrived in England, GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST lodged this legal complaint against Captain Allen for violating the agreed-upon terms of surrender. GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST died in London in 1697, soon after arriving in England, so he never lived to see his case resolved.

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WE ARE RELATED TO BOTH OF THE FRENCH OFFICERS MENTIONED ABOVE.


GABRIEL TESTARD DE LA FOREST (1661 - 1697) WAS OUR 1ST COUSIN 9X REMOVED
BIRTH 4 AUG 1661 • Montreal, Canada
DEATH 27 AUG 1697 • London, England

PARENTS:

Jacques Testard De La Forest 1631–1663

Marie Pournin 1642–1666

RELATIONSHIP TO ME:

Gabriel Testard De La Forest (1661 - 1697) -- 1st cousin 9x removed

Jacques Testard De La Forest (1631 - 1663) -- Father of Gabriel Testard De La Forest

Jean Testard dit Lafontaine (1612 - 1705) -- Father of Jacques Testard De La Forest

Jeanne Testard (1642 - 1723) -- Daughter of Jean Testard dit Lafontaine

Marie Le Ber (1666 - 1756) -- Daughter of Jeanne Testard

Marie Elisabeth Bourassa (1695 - 1766) -- Daughter of Marie Le Ber

Joseph Pinsonneau (1733 - 1784) -- Son of Marie Elisabeth Bourassa

Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770 - 1807) -- Son of Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono)

Gabriel Pinsonneau (aka Gilbert Passino) (1803 - 1877) -- Son of Gabriel Pinsonneau

Lucy Passino (Pinsonneau) (1836 - 1917) -- Daughter of Gabriel Gabriel Pinsonneau (aka Gilbert Passino)


PIERRE LE MOYNE DE LONGUEUIL ET DE CHATEAUGUAY (1661 - 1706) WAS THE NEPHEW OF THE WIFE OF OUR 9TH GREAT-UNCLE
BIRTH 20 JUL 1661 • Montréal, Quebec, Canada
DEATH ABT 1706 • Habana, Ciego de Avila, Cuba

PARENTS:

Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Chateauguay 1626–1685

Catherine Thierry 1640–1690

RELATIONSHIP TO ME:

Pierre Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Chateauguay (1661 - 1706) -- nephew of wife of 9th great-uncle

Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Chateauguay (1626 - 1685) -- Father of Pierre Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Chateauguay

Pierre Le Moyne (1595 - 1658) -- Father of Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil et de Chateauguay

Jeanne Le Moyne (1635 - 1682) -- Daughter of Pierre Le Moyne

Jacques Leber (Lebert) dit Larose (1633 - 1706) -- Husband of Jeanne Le Moyne

Robert LeBer (1601 - 1625) -- Father of Jacques Leber (Lebert) dit Larose

Francois Leber (Lebert) (1626 - 1694) -- Son of Robert LeBer

Marie Le Ber (1666 - 1756) -- Daughter of Francois Leber (Lebert)

Marie Elisabeth Bourassa (1695 - 1766) -- Daughter of Marie Le Ber

Joseph Pinsonneau (1733 - 1784) -- Son of Marie Elisabeth Bourassa

Gabriel Pinsonneau (1770 - 1807) -- Son of Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono)

Gabriel Pinsonneau (aka Gilbert Passino) (1803 - 1877) -- Son of Gabriel Pinsonneau

Lucy Passino (Pinsonneau) (1836 - 1917) -- Daughter of Gabriel Gabriel Pinsonneau (aka Gilbert Passino)


Friday, October 5, 2018

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part IV



Day Four

On the morning of final day of Voyageur’s National Park trip I checked out of my hotel, and headed out before daylight.  I had most of a day to do some last minute sight-seeing in the park and International Falls. I decided to drive to Rainy Lake to watch the sunrise and maybe see some wildlife.



The whitetail deer in the area tend to hangout in populated areas around visitor centers and lodges.  I think I saw about 30 deer during the first hour of sunlight.  One local resident told me he believes the deer stay near people to avoid wolves in the area.

Driving slowly in the park gave me plenty of time to reflect on my Genealogy Roadtrip.  

For nearly two years I had given serious thought to this trip before making a commitment.  The online pictures of the area suggested that the park was more committed to family vacations and house boating than to preserving wilderness and voyageur history.


I seriously considered driving my motorhome and towing my 14’ Old Town Hunter Canoe, but the 4500 mile roundtrip would have taken at least six days if I could average 750 miles/day.  That’s a tall order for an old guy.  


As it turned out I really regret not having driven.  I never actually got to paddle a canoe anywhere in Voyageur’s National Park because of the discourteous and lackadaisical attitude of outfitters and lodge employees.  

In the end I had a lot of disappointments during the trip, and the sad truth is that America, its parks, and its people have become progressively worse during the past couple of decades.



Sadly, there is also a lack of respect and recognition for the knowledge and experience of older citizens.  America has become an increasingly toxic place for ‘Old Gringos.’


The cold, rainy, and dark last morning of my visit to Rainy Lake pretty much summed up my experience of the place.


On the positive side the boreal forest is always beautiful, and little glimpses of its treasures made the trip somewhat worthwhile for me.


I had one more place to visit in International Falls, so I bid ado to Voyageur’s National Park, and set a course for the Koochiching County Historical Museum where I hoped to learn more about the history of the area.


The Koochiching County Historical Museum was definitely not a disappointment.  There I met Edgar Oerichbauer the longtime curator and director of the museum, and found a kindred spirit who shares my reverence for fur trade and voyageur history.  


When I told Edgar about my gift of a copy of my 4th great-grandfather’s voyageur contract to the park ranger, and the ranger’s distinct lack of enthusiasm about my gift, he said, "I wish you’d given it to us instead."  When I got home I emailed him copies of several voyageur engagement contracts for my ancestors.


Finally,  I drove down to Rainy River for one last look before heading out to the airport.  I stood on the bank trying to imagine what this area was like 200 years ago when my voyageur ancestors passed through.


Chippewa Indian encampment on Rainy River c. 1915


My Voyageur’s National Park YouTube video... https://youtu.be/B2NPANdZaGU



You can learn more about my voyageur ancestors here:






Pierre Pinsonneau (5th great-uncle) https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/08/uncle-pierre-norwester-goes-to-portage.html

Signed by company rep. Alex MacKinzie



Jean-Baptiste Meunier dit Lagace (4th great-grandfather) https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2017/01/great-grandfather-canoes-to-lac-le-pluie.html

THE TRIP:
Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Goals

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part II

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part III

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part IV


3 1/2 min. YouTube Video... 'Visiting Voyageur Ancestor Spirits'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2NPANdZaGU

OUR ANCESTORS:




Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part III



Day Three

The weather forecast was 60+ percent rain with possible snow flurries, so a two hundred mile roundtrip drive to Lake of the Woods seemed like a good way to spend a day, and see some new country.

The highway between International Falls (or Fort Frances) and Lake of the Woods basically parallels the 85 mile long Rainy River. The river flows west northwest from Rainy Lake (French: lac à la Pluie) to Lake of the Woods (Ojibwe: Couchiching), and is the international boundary between the United States and Canada along the Minnesota/Ontario border.


Rainy River has a lengthy fur trade history, and in over more than a hundred year span it was home to trading posts for the French, the North West Company, the American Fur Company, and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Several of my French-Canadian voyageur ancestors paddled its course.


The drive from International Falls to Warroad on the American side of the river is just about 100 miles. The scenery is a delightful mix of boreal forest and well maintained small farms as you can see in this vintage postcard of Baudette, Minnesota. Everything in late September is green with a hint of the yellow-orange fall colors.


There are two border crossings (international bridges) on the river, one at International Falls, and a second at Baudette, Minnesota.



A hundred years ago steamboats regularly ran between Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods. I wonder if anyone ever fished from one because Rainy River offers one of the best walleye and sturgeon fisheries in all of North America. A prehistoric monster sturgeon, can sometimes exceed 100 lbs!




They claim, when spring fishing begins at first ice out, it is not uncommon for a fishermen to catch multiple trophy walleyes in a single day. Baudette even brags about their walleye population with this amazing sculpture.

When I arrived at Warroad, Minnesota, I took the well marked road to Lake of the Woods. As expected the lake is enormous and the stormy weather caused everything to blend in shades of gray.



About Warroad from https://visitwarroad.com/history/:

Warroad was once one of the largest Chippewa villages on Lake of the Woods.  The Chippewa fought a long and fierce war against the Sioux for the lake’s rice fields.  Occupying the prairies of the Red River Valley, the Sioux would frequently invade the territory by way of the Red and Roseau Rivers, a route which ended at the mouth of the Warroad River.  This was the old “war road” from which the river and village derived their name.



Near the Warroad Fishing Pier on the Lake of the Woods I was both surprised and delighted to find a marker about Fort St. Charles established in 1732, by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Verendrye, explorer and leader of a fur brigade which Rene Bourassa (my 7th Grand-Uncle) was part of.

After debating with myself, long and hard, I decided to cross into Canada at Baudette. I really wasn’t looking forward to more harassment by the CBP, but as an American I refuse to be intimidated by a few misguided young thugs. Hopefully what happened at the border two days before was a fluke and today would bring a better outcome.

At the international bridge between Fort Frances and International Falls I once again came to the CBP checkpoint. This time I encountered another young officer, but this one had a thick foreign accent. Perhaps I thought to myself this will go better. It didn’t — he grilled me with a suspicious countenance, and I’m sure he was about to detain and search me when another young officer from two days earlier walked in. I asked him if he remembered me, and after a quick confab, I was waived through. The bitter taste of my CBP treatment will take a longtime to heal.

At Last Storm Clouds Part, and My Luck Returns



After a quick lunch in International Falls I decided to drive out to Rainy Lake, and inquire at a few Lodges if they had a small canoe I could rent for a few hours.

After a couple rejections I encountered an absolutely delightful young woman who is the owner of Island View Lodge on Rainy Lake. She didn’t have any rentals, but after explaining to her my mission of canoeing with the voyageur spirits of my ancestors, she offered to let me borrow a kayak for the afternoon.



I admit I was a little overawed by the kayak. I have canoed all over North America for more than 60 years, but this was my first time in a kayak. It went better than I expected, aside from being harder to get out of, and the constant drip of water on my pants from the double bladed paddle, it was a pleasant ride. I had read the water in Rainy Lake is dark, but to me it was almost black.



At last I was paddling with Grandfather Spirits with breathtaking views of the islands on magnificent Rainy Lake — part of the Vouyageur’s Highway between Montreal and the Athabasca Country — where the best beaver pelts in North America were to be found.



I even made a new friend (below left) who decided to be my guide and act as a pathfinder on my afternoon adventure in Voyageur’s National Park.



au revoir jusqu'à notre prochaine rencontre


Adios, from my pathfinder friend. He's headed south soon.

THE TRIP:

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Goals

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part II

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part III

Genealogy Roadtrip to Voyageurs National Park - Part IV