MAISONNEUVE, Paul Chomedey, Memorial at Place d’Armes in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Several months ago, I shared in a previous blog post titled Finding Ancestral Proof on Paper and in Stone how in 2007, I visited Montreal, Canada and found the city charming. In one particular area, called the Place d’Armes (parade ground), which dates back to the 17th century, stands a monument dedicated to five of the early settlers of Montreal who arrived in 1642. See more here.
Jean Baptiste Lemoyne Bienville
Founder of New Orleans 1718
The monuments in both Montreal and one New Orleans depict several French and French Canadians who were credited with settling New France, which covered a larger part of northeastern Canada and would be later include an area known as French Louisiana. This might appear to be an unlikely ancestral connection for me, a native New Orleanian; however, this is where, the research of my ancestral lineage gets interesting.
Using a number of colonial documents such as baptism, marriage and death records found in the Archives in Ottawa Canada, Illinois and in Louisiana and also a few published biographies, I have identified my 9th generation great-grandmother, Anne Lemoyne. Her marriage to Michel Messier dit St Michel in 1658 connects me to Canada’s early founders pictured above.
The Filles du roi Arriving in Québec
Between 1634 and 1662, 262 filles à marier or “marriageable girls” emigrated to New
France, representing one quarter of all the single girls arriving in New France through 1673. They were recruited and chaperoned by religious groups or individuals who had to assure and account for their good conduct. In general, they were poor, although there were some members of the petty nobility among their ranks, according to Peter Gagné author of “Before the Kings Daughters, Filles a Marier, 1634 – 1662.
Anne Lemoyne played a significant role in the settlement of French Canada and secured her position in history as a matriarch in my French ancestral line in North America. Anne Lemoyne was baptized on July 26, 1638 at St Jacques, Petitbourg, Rouen, Normandy, France. Though she arrived with her family, she may have been eligible for the Filles á Marier program, since she had been born in France and was contracted to marry Michel Messier. The wedding took place on February 25, 1658 in Montreal. (Gagné, 2002, pg 201-202)
Anne Lemoyne and Michel Messier dit St Michel Marriage Record February 25, 1658
Michel Messier was born on July 11, 1640 at St. Denis, Rouen, Normandy, France, the son of David Messier and Marguerite Bar. He and Anne had twelve children before her death on July 15, 1725 at Vercheres, Varennes, Quebec. Michel died on November 3, 1725. To view property granted to Michel Messier dit St Michel see here.
Anne LeMoyne: 15 Juy 1725 Death – Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes, QC, Canada
Children of Anne LeMoyne and Michel Messier dit St Michel were:
Catherine Messier was born on July 11, 1659 in Montreal and died on March 15, 1703 in Vercheres. She married Etienne Gentes on November 28, 1678 in Montreal. She had at least three daughters.
Jeanne Messier was born on June 18, 1661 in Montreal She married Ignace Hebert on January 31, 1679 and had a daughter Marguerite. She died on August 6, 1699 in Varennes.
Marie-Anne Messier was born on August 2, 1665 in Montreal. She married Jean Brodeur on January 31 1679 in Boucherville. The couple had six children. Following the death of her husband, she married Alexandre Petit on January 8, 1721 in Varennes. She died in December 13, 1751 in Varennes.
Anne was born on November 12, 1667 in Montreal. She died on January 1, 1668 in Montreal.
Anne was born on December 21, 1668 in Montreal. She died on January 29, 1669 in Montreal.
Anne Messier and Gabriel Deselle Duclos Marriage Record Aug 26 1687
Anne Messier was born on February 5, 1670 in Montreal. She married Gabriel Lambert Duclos Deselle on August 26, 1687 in Boucherville. The couple had thirteen children. She died on March 15, 1720 in Sainte-Anne-de-Varennes, Vercheres Quebec Canada, (Cap Saint-Michel) (ile Sainte Therese).
Gabrielle Messier was born on May 2, 1672 in Montreal. She died on Jun 5, 1682 in Boucherville then ten years old.
Jean-Michel was born on 31 May 1674 in Boucherville. He died en-route to Fort Louis de la Mobile in the Month of April 1705.
Marguerite Messier was born on May 24, 1676 in Montreal. She married Pierre-Charles LESUEUR on March 29, 1690 in Bourcherville. She had five children. She died on March 5, 1741 at Fort Louis de la Mobile, Louisiana.
An unnamed child was born on August 20, 1678 in Montreal. His burial took place on August 22, 1678 in Montreal.
Francois-Michel Messier was born on 1679 probably in Varennes. He first married Marie-Anne Amyot on February 10, 1706 in Varennes. From this marriage, six children were born including four boys. He married his second wife Marie-Jeanne Duval on October 8, 1725 in Contrecoeur. Again he became a widower. He married his third wife Madeleine Lefabvre on Jul 25, 1729 in St. Francois-du-lac. And finally, he married Angélique Poirier on Jun 8, 1744 in St. Anne-du-Bout-de-Ile. He died on Jun 11 1751 in Varennes.
Rene Messier was born on April 20, 1681 in Varennes. His birth is recorded in Boucherville. On January 18, 1706 in Varennes, he married on August 25, 1718 in Batiscan, Madeleline Guillet with whom he had eight children. It is in Varennes on May 22, 1758 that Rene died.
Couple of Key Figures found in my ancestral tree:
Pierre Lemoyne I’berville and Jean Baptist Lemoyne Bienville The Founders of Louisiana 1699
Charles Lemoyne is the Father of Pierre and Jean Baptist Lemoyne, the Two Founders of Louisiana
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Family Tree traced back to several Founders and Early Settlers of Quebec Canada (New France -1642) and Louisiana 1699.
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Charter Member of the Order of the Founders of North America 1492 -1692
Pierre Frederick d’Arensbourg Sr. Louisiana Patriot of the American Revolution
See more here:
Michael Nolden Henderson, Lieutenant Commander, USN Ret. Past President of the Button Gwinnett Chapter Georgia Society Sons of the America Revolution and a descendant of Anne Lemoyne
Return to Family’s Female French Progenitor Discovered, Documented and Claimed
