A drifting cowboy: It must be in my Genes...

It must be in my Genes... maybe it explains my love of canoeing, and the silent places that can only be reached by paddle and portage.

I've always known I had some distant relatives that were French-Canadian, but until 2010, I didn't know anything about them. (See French Connection below)

Yet, somehow deep within my DNA, I've always carried a desire to learn about North America's fur trade, and her magical backcountry forests.

More than that, I've had a love affair with Canoes and Canoeing for more than half a century.

Fur Trade Ancestors from LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada:

2. Gabriel Pinsonneau son of Gabriel Pinsonneau and Marie-Louise Vielle, born on 03 Mar 1803 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 16 Dec 1877 in Wilna, Jefferson Co., NY

4. Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) son of Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) and Marie Madeleine Duquet, born on 05 Aug 1770 in St Philippe, Quebec; died after 1813 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

1797, 11 août - Engagement de Gabriel Pinsonneau, de la Prairie, à Jacques & François Lasette pour aller à Détroit. Étude Louis Chaboillez. Gabriel avait 27 ans en 1797. Il est le fils de Joseph Pinsonneau et de Marie-Madeleine Duquet. Il épousera Marie Vieille-Cosse le 8 février 1802.

8. Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) son of Jacques Pinsonneau dit Lafleur and Marie Elisabeth Bourassa, born on 10 Apr 1733 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died after 1779 in Longueuil, Quebec

1763, 29 avril - Engagement de Joseph Pinsonneau dit Lafleur, en qualité de voyageur, à Michel Laselle marchand voyageur de Montréal. Étude Hadiesne G. Joseph avait 30 ans en 1763, il est le fils de Jacques Pinsonneau dit Lafleur. Il avait épousé Marie Anne c en 1755, puis Marie Madeleine Duquet en 1761.

10. Michel Viel dit Cossé son of Pierre Viel (Vielle) dit Cosse and Renée Dudouet, born about 1724 in Cossé, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire; died on 07 Mar 1805 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

14. Pierre Barette dit Courville son of Louis Courville Barrette (Baret) and Marie Josephe Poupart, born on 02 Feb 1748 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 31 Jan 1794 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

1778, 18 mai—Engagement de Pierre Barette" aux S" William G Jean Kay pour aller ft Mlchilimakinac.-Étude P. Lalanne, flls.

16. Jacques Pinsonneau dit Lafleur son of François Pinsonneau dit Lafleur and Anne LeBer, born on 13 Apr 1682 in Contrecoeur, Quebec; died on 22 Mar 1773 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

28. Louis Courville Barrette (Baret) son of Guillaume Barrette and Jeanne Gagné, born on 24 Feb 1717 in Napierville, Quebec; died on 30 Jan 1753 in St Constant, LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

30. Francois Dupuis son of Moise Dupuis (Depuis) and Marie Anne Christiansen, born on 14 Feb 1709 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine; died on 19 Sep 1764 in St-Philippe, LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

3 June 1695 – Sieur Charles Deniau (8 great uncle) hired René Dupuis to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Claude Maugue]

32. François Pinsonneau dit Lafleur, born in 1646 in Saintogne, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France; died on 26 Jan 1731 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

38. Jacques Deneau dit Destaillis son of Marin Deneau dit Destaillis and Louise Therese LeBreuil, born on 02 Nov 1660 in Montréal, Quebec; died on 29 Jun 1720 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

5 July 1688 ‒ Claude Greysolon, sieur de LaTourette, hired Charles Deniau (8 great uncle) and Jacques Deniau (7 great grandfather) for a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

From: "Minnesota, eh?" - Jacques Deneau, involved but his brother Charles and a total of 19 Deneau family members are listed on 69 voyageur trips. 25 March 1685 – Antoine Bazinet hired Charles Deniau dit Destaillis (8 great uncle) for a voyage to Sault Ste. Marie [Bourgine]

56. Guillaume Barrette son of Guillaume Barette and Louise Charrier, born on 27 May 1678 in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec; died on 07 Jan 1745 in (Notre-Dame) LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

58. Joseph Poupart son of Pierre Poupart and Marguerite Perras dit La Fontaine, born on 08 Jun 1696 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 16 Apr 1726 in Montréal, Quebec

4 juillet 1751.—Permis du gouverneur de la Jonquière au sieur Fonblanche, négociant, de partir de Montréal avec un canot équipé de sept hommes pour se rendre aux Illinois, " en passant par le sud ". Défense de faire aucune traite avec les Sauvages ailleurs qu'au poste des Illinois et ses dépendances. Rôle des engagés du dit canot : Joseph Poupart, de Saint-Lambert ; André Jeannot Lachapelle, de Repentigny ; François Drousson, de Contrecoeur ; Joseph Jobin, de L'Assomption ; Antoine Boyer, de la Longue-Pointe ; Michel Montigny, de Saint-Michel ; Charles Pothier, de Montréal.

60. Moise Dupuis (Depuis) son of Francois Dupuis (Dupays) and Georgette Richer, born on 10 Jul 1673 in Québec, Quebec; died on 19 Jan 1750 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

From "Narratives and ldentities in the Saint Lawrence Valley, 1667-1 720": He was linked to large fur trading families, however, "Moïse may have been among the French who attacked Schenectady in 1692." He seems to have remained in Schenectady, either as a trader, a wounded soldier or as a prisoner, long enough to find a spouse.

62. Charles Diel son of Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton and Marie Anne Picard, born on 05 Aug 1688 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 21 Jun 1734 in Chambly, Quebec

1 October 1713, Gilles Lecours and Charles Cusson hired Charles Diel to make a voyage to Détroit [Antoine Adhémar]

28 May 1718, Pierre Roy hired Charles Diel to make a voyage to Détroit [RAPQ1930, p. 223 - also see the entries for François Roy, Étienne Roy, and Louis Roy for this same time period].

70. Francois Leber son of Robert LeBer and Colette Cavelier, born in 1626 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France; died on 19 May 1694 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

Francois and his three sons were "Coureur-de-bois". They were known as the fathers of the fur trade. See: Narratives and ldentities in the Saint Lawrence Valley, 1667-1 720. His brother Jacques is the partner of Charles Le Moyne; together they owned the oldest fur trading post in Montreal.

6 May 1685 ‒ Claude Greysolon, sieur de LaTourette, hired Joachim Leber (8 great uncle) for a trip to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Bourgine]

27 June 1688 ‒ René Legardeur, sieur de Beauvais, hired François Bourassa (8 great uncle) and Joachim Jacques Leber (8 great uncle) for a voyage des 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

11 May 1690 ‒ René Legardeur, sieur de Beauvais, hired Pierre Bourdeau, André Babeu, François Bourassa (8 great uncle), and Joachim Leber (8 great uncle) for a voyage to Michilimackinac [Antoine Adhémar]

31 August 1693 – Sieurs Guillaume Boucher and François Leber (8 great uncle) hired Claude Caron to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Claude Maugue]

76. Marin Deneau dit Destaillis son of Clement Deneau (Denyau) and Julienne Roualt, born in 1621 in DeLuche Pringe, Du Mans, Maine, France; died on 29 Oct 1678 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada.

112. Guillaume Barette son of Guillaume Barette and Thiphaine Anne Carin, born on 03 Apr 1633 in Belizeville En Caux, Eure, Haute-Normandie, France; died on 21 Jul 1717 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

114. Pierre Gagne (Gagnier) son of Pierre Gagne (Gasnier) and Marguerite Roset (Rouzee), born on 24 Feb 1645 in Le Mans, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France; died on 26 Mar 1726 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec

From "Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 33, #4": 6 September 1712 – Jean Baptiste Forestier hired Pierre Gagné to make a voyage to Détroit [Antoine Adhémar]

116. Pierre Poupart son of Jean Poupart and Marguerite Frichet, born about 1653 in Bobigny, Paris, Ile-de-France, France; died on 07 Jun 1699 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada (Pierre was killed by the Iroquois at age 40 in 1699 and Marie married a second time to Joseph Boyer)

3 Sept. 1670, Nicolas Perrot was asked by Intendant Jean Talon to accompany as an interpreter Daumont* de Saint-Lusson, a commissary assigned “to the country of the Ottawas, Amikwas, Illinois, and other Indian natives discovered and to be discovered in North America in the direction of Lake Superior or Freshwater Sea, in order to search out and discover mines of all kinds there, particularly copper mines . . . in addition to taking formal possession in the king’s name of all the inhabited and uninhabited country. . . .” Perrot then formed a new trading company, this time with Jean Dupuis, Denis Masse, Pierre Poupart, Jean Guytard and Jacques Benoît, and set out with Saint-Lusson. The two travellers stayed at Montreal for some time, and in October went to Lake Huron via the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing, and French River. They spent the winter on Manitoulin Island, and the following spring Perrot dispatched Indian emissaries to the northern nations with authority to invite them to Sault Ste Marie “in order to hear the king’s words which the Sieur Saint-Lusson was bringing to them and to all nations”; for his part, he went among the nations in Baie des Puants to invite them to this important gathering.

118. Gabriel Lemieux son of Gabriel Lemieux and Marguerite Leboeuf, born on 04 Sep 1663 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 18 Sep 1739 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

From "Michigan’s Habitant Heritage (MHH), Vol. 35, #1" - 8 May 1690, Jean Baptiste Migeon, sieur de Bransat, hired Gabriel Lemieux for a voyage to the Ootawas (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

120. Francois Dupuis (Dupays) son of Francois Dupuis (Dupays) and Marguerite Resneau, born in 1634 in Gorre, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France; died in 1681 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

124. Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton son of Philippe Diel and Marie Hanquetin, born before 1652 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France; died on 13 Apr 1702 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

1684 - Leger Hebert of Cap de la Trinite has a trade permit and hires Charles to go to the Outaouais country with Pierre Lefebvre and Antoine Caille on 20 September 1684 for the sum of 630 livres. Because they had never been there before, they are guided by Jean Lesieur dit La Calot who promises to lead them to Michillimakinac without receiving part of their share. That same day, they borrow the value of "2616 livres and six sols" of merchandise. Charles Diel is 31 years old at the time of the trip to Michillimakinac and has been married to Marie Anne Picard for 8 years. He traded for furs with the Indians in the middle of the Great Lakes at Ft. Michillimakinac. However, he was at his daughter's burial on or about 9 DEC 1684, so he did not winter over on this trip.

1688 - Jean Deniau guarantees them of other trips for Hilarie Bourgine. The first voyage is followed by a second in 1688. On 31 July of that year, he promises Antoine Caille to go to the Outaouais to "put forward the good of their association". On the third of August, with Pierre Lefebvre and Andre Danny, he borrows 1063 livres, 2 sols, and six sums of money from Hilarie Bourgine, and, on the same day, in company of Antoine Caille and Pierre Lefebvre, 81 livres, 15 sols and six deniers from the same. On 20 October 1704, he rents to his son-in-law, Francois Bory, for five years, the land of St. Lambert, Laprairie. He sells the moist land to Nicolas Varrin dit Lapistole on 24 July 1707 for the sum of 600 livres.

16 SEP 1692, Charles Diel, Antoine Cailler, and Pierre Le febvre appeared at a judicial hearing concerning a payment in fur to Madame Perrot of Laprairie with furs that they apparently transported from Michillimakinac to Montreal for a third party.. ???? pg. 95 Edge of Empire

126. Antoine Jacques Boyer son of Charles Boyer and Marguerite Ténard was born on 10 Apr 1671 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec; died on 27 Mar 1747 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec

From: "Minnesota, eh?" - Pierre [Perras] and his brother-inlaw, Antoine Boyer, bought land conjointly in 1690 for 600 livres from the sale of beaver pelts.

3 July 1688 ‒ René Legardeur, sieur de Beauvais, hired Joseph Boyer (9 great uncle) for a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

17 September 1694 – Charles Legardeur, sieur de L’Isle, hired Antoine Boyer (8 great grandfather) to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

234. Pierre Peras dit La Fontaine son of Peter Perras Fontaine and Jane Asnier, born about 1616 in La Rochelle, Manche, Basse-Normandie, France; died on 30 Apr 1684 in (Notre-Dame) LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Québec, Canada

From: "Minnesota, eh?" - Pierre had three sons and sons-in-laws involved in the fur trade as "Coureur-de-bois." After his death Denise, his wife, had to do some fur trading with the Catholic Iroquois to make ends meet. Also see: "17th Century Fur-Trade and Military-Expedition Families."

1 May 1692 – Jacques de Lamarque, acting for Nicolas Laurens dit Lachapelle hired Jean Perras (9 great uncle) to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

7 June 1694 – Charles Legardeur, sieur de L’Isle, hired Pierre Mallet, Pierre Tessier, Jean Brunet dit Létang, and Pierre Perras dit Lafontaine (9 great uncle) to make a voyage to Michilimackinac [Antoine Adhémar]

238. Andre Robidou dit Lespagnol son of Manuel Robidou and Catherine Alve, born in 1643 in Galice, Burgos, Castilla-Leon, Spain; died on 01 Apr 1678 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

From: "Robidoux Chronicles: - 1666 census for the town of Québec lists Andre as a sailor… is it there that he began working as a voyageur for Eustace Lambert, a prominent interpreter, settler and fur trader? Working for Lambert, Andre ferried goods and supplies up and down the St. Lawrence for a cents a day and lodging and board.
252. Charles Boyer son of Pierre Boyer and Denise Refence, born in 1631 in Vançais, Deux-Sevres, Poitou-Charentes, France; died on 16 Feb 1698 in LaPrairie de la Madeleine, Quebec, Canada

From: "Minnesota, eh?" - The involvement of whole families in the fur trade is obvious. Not only was our ancestor, Jacques Deneau, involved but his brother Charles and a total of 19 Deneau family members are listed on 69 voyageur trips. Fourteen members of the Demers family, including Joseph, were recorded on 36 voyageur trips. Ten members of the Boyer family, including Antoine Boyer, the husband of Marie Perras, are listed on 31 voyageur trips. In all 736 contracts of voyageurs are listed for La Prairie de la Magdeleine residents, while these lists do not include the trips these same men made on their own as coureurs des bois.

Fur Trade Ancestors from Quebec and Montreal, Canada:

34. Francois Bourassa son of Francois Bourassa and Marguerite Dugas, born in 1659 in Luçon, Eure-et-Loir, Centre, France; died on 09 May 1708 in Montréal, Quebec

In 1686, François Bourassa made a voyage to Hudson Bay for the Compagnie du Nord [Langlois, Vol. I, p. 254].

27 June 1688, René Legardeur, sieur de Beauvais, hired François Bourassa and Joachim Jacques Leber to make a voyage des 8ta8ats (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar, RAPQ1930, p. 196].

11 May 1690 René Legardeur hired Pierre Bourdeau, André Babeu, François Bourassa, and Joachim Leber for a voyage to Michilimackinac [Antoine Adhémar, MNR, Vol. I, p. 247; RAPQ1930, p. 198]

May 12 1690, Pierre Bourdeau consented to a debt for merchandise from André Babeau, Joachim Leber, and François Bourassa, voyageurs, for their voyage to the Ottawa [Bourgine and Roy, Vol. 11, p. 34].

72. Denis Duquet son of Joseph Duquet and Jeanne Barbie,born about 1622 in Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France; died on 26 Nov 1675 in Québec, Quebec

1659: As a young man Denis Duquet became a wealthy fur trader. He became a member of the "Traite de Tadoussac" (1) the first fur-trading post in European North America (established in 1600, eight years before the founding of Québec City). The Traite de Tadoussac was the embarkation warehouse and trading post from which the furs were sent to France.

158. Jean Cusson son of Jean Cusson and Jacqueline Pepin, born on 11 Nov 1630 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France; died on 08 Apr 1718 in St Sulpice, Quebec, Canada

11 May 1690 ‒ Nicolas Perrot hired Jean Cusson (7 great grandfather), and Michel Cusson, frères, for a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

Engagement de Jacques Cusson voyageur à Charles Feron dit Sanscer (sic) pour faire le voyage dans les pays d’ Haut et y monter un canot de marchandises. (20 mai 1719).

Charles Cusson (1672 - 1727), my 9th great-uncle, was a voyageur with Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac on 24 July 1701 when he established a settlement at Detroit.

198. Jean Mignault dit Chatillon son of Nicolas Mignault and Madeleine DeBrie, born on 20 Apr 1622 in Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, Ile-de-France, France; died in 1680 in Montmorency, Quebec, Canada

11 Jan 1648, Governor Montmagny sent Jean Mignault to the "Huron's Country" (in french, le pays des Hurons) to invite them to the fur trade.

250. Jacques-Hugues Picard son of Gabriel Picard dit LaFortune and Michelle Clavier, born about 1618 in St Columbin, Nantes, Bretagne, France; died on 22 Dec 1707 in Our Lady of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

29 April 1693 – Eustache Prévost, Jean Sauviot, and their unnamed associates hired Jacques Picard (9 great grandfather) to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

Philippe Amiot and his sons

148. PHILIPPE AMIOT (Amyot)(9th great-grandfather), Born 1602, in Chartres, Eveche de Soissons, Picardie, France, arrived in Canada in the summer of 1635. He was accompanied by his wife, Anne Convent, and two sons, Mathieu and Jean. In 1636, another son, Charles was born at Québec.

There is some evidence to suggest Philippe was a Coureur-de-Bois.   Three years after his arrival in New France, Philippe Amiot died 26 Sep 1639, in Québec. However, through his sons, Mathieu and Charles, he established a long line of descendants which today number in the thousands.

74. MATHIEU AMIOT (Amyot), dit Villeneuve (1628-1688) (8th great-grandfather), was for some years an interpreter for the Jesuits; he worked in their house at Trois-Rivières and perhaps also in the Huron country.

JEAN AMIOT (Amyot) (1630-1648) (9th great-uncle), interpreter and indentured employee of the Jesuits among the Hurons. Jean Amiot spent several years in the Huron country, and seems to have lived at Trois-Rivières from 1645 on.

The Indians called him “Antaïok.” In 1647 he outran and captured an Iroquois who had taken part in the martyrdom of Father Isaac Jogues. He was a remarkable athlete; in a tournament at Quebec he beat all the young Indians who tried to race against him, either on foot or on snowshoes.

On 23 May 1648, when he was about to get married, Jean Amiot was drowned off Trois-Rivières with a companion, François Marguerie. His body was carried down by the current and recovered on 10 June opposite the Saint-Joseph de Sillery mission, where the burial took place.

CHARLES AMIOT (Amyot) (9th great-uncle) (1636-1669), fur-trader and merchant; was educated at the Jesuit college and when he was barely 14 years old he accompanied Father Bressani as a servant on a trip to the Huron country.

He was also a merchant interested in eel fishing and in the fur trade. It was his travels among the Papinachois Indians that gave him something of a reputation during his lifetime. On those occasions he accompanied Father Henri Nouvel a Jesuit who landed at Quebec in the summer of 1662.

They left Quebec in November 1663, and presumably went to the Île Verte and the Île aux Basques, then to the Île Saint-Barnabé, finally spending the winter with a band of Algonquins Indians in the neighborhood of Lake Matapédia or Lake Mitis.

Amiot returned to the Île aux Basques in March 1664 and went down to Quebec, where he arrived on 5 April, whilst Father Nouvel remained on the island with his flock.

On 21 April 1664 Father Nouvel crossed to the north shore. He waited near Tadoussac for Father Druillettes, who arrived only on 3 May. The latter decided to go and serve the Indians of the Saguenay. For their part, Father Nouvel and Charles Amiot, the sole Frenchmen to accompany Druillettes, left Tadoussac the same day (3 May) and penetrated overland, with a band of Papinachois Indians, as far as the river Peritibistokou (des Outardes), which they reached on 14 May.

The travelers camped there until 2 June, went upstream for a whole day, and made a portage that brought them to the river Manikouaganistikou (Manicouagan). They got to Lake Saint-Barnabé (Manicouagan) on 9 June. A band of Papinachois Indians who had never met a white man was waiting for them there. The missionary preached the gospel and the traders bartered furs. Father Nouvel named the spot the Saint-Barnabé mission. The expedition returned to Quebec on 30 June 1664.

In November Father Nouvel again left Quebec for Tadoussac. This time Amiot apparently stayed at Quebec. Father Nouvel spent the winter of 1664–65 in the Lake St. John region, and returned in the spring. At the end of May 1665 he went back to the Saint-Barnabé mission together with two Frenchmen whom a Relation identifies as Amiot and Couture. Father Godbout specifies that “for this last voyage among the nations of the north, he [Amiot] had taken Guillaume Couture, Noël Jérémie, and Sébastien Prouvereau, on 28 May 1665.” They had arranged to meet the Papinachois Indians at the mouth of the Manicouagan. But they had to go up the river without a guide, for the Indians did not appear at the rendezvous. They returned to Quebec on 26 July.

Father Nouvel returned to the north shore regularly until 1670, but the Relations make no further mention of Amiot’s being with him. Perhaps the latter preferred to stay at Quebec with his family and attend to his general store. Amiot died on 10 Dec. 1669.

Father Nouvel had a much longer career. In the succeeding years he exercised his ministry between Michilimackinac and Sault Ste. Marie.