A Canoe Load of French-Canadian Ancestors

My French-Canadian Fur Trade Ancestors in the 17th and 18th Century...
compiled and edited by Jerry England 2016

• Direct ancestors are in red text.

1620s

Jean-Baptiste Godefroy de Linctot, Sieur -- 10th great-uncle (1626, served Samuel Champlain in the capacity of interpreter)

Thomas Godefroy de Normanville -- 10th great-uncle (1626, served Samuel Champlain in the capacity of interpreter)

1630s

Philippe Amiot -- 9th great-grandfather (1636, Coureur de bois near Trois-Rivières)

1640s

Mathurin Gagnon -- 11th great-uncle (1645-63, was a member of Communauté des habitants (Compagnie des habitants), colonial merchants who held the fur trade monopoly in New France.  He and his bothers Jean and Pierre operated a general store and became outfitters in the Lower Quebec)

Jean Mignault dit Chatillon -- 9th great-grandfather (1648, Governor Montmagny sent Jean Mignault to the "Huron's Country")

Jean Amiot -- 9th great-uncle (1640s, Interpreter and indentured employee of the Jesuits among the Hurons.  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.

1650s

Mathieu Amiot -- 8th great-grandfather (1650s, Interpreter, fur trader for the Jesuits in the Huron country)

Denis Duquet -- 8th great-grandfather (1659, member of the Traite de Tadoussac)

1660s

Charles Amiot -- 9th great-uncle (1660s, Interpreter, fur trader for the Jesuits in the Huron country)

Pierre Duquet sieur de La Chesnaye -- 8th great-uncle (1663, Accompanied Guillaume Couture on expedition to the Northern Sea - reached the Rupert River)

Andre Robidou dit Lespagnol -- 9th great-grandfather (1666, working as a voyageur for Eustace Lambert, a prominent fur trader)

Jean Baptiste Desroches -- 8th great-grandfather (1667, formed a trading company with Nicolas Perrot, Toussaint Baudry, and Isaac Nafrechoux.  Together they traveled west to Ottawa Country, and to Green Bay in 1668)

Jacques Leber -- 9th great-uncle (1669, partner with Charles Le Moyne for Lachine's first Fur Trading Post)

1670s

Pierre Poupart -- 8th great-grandfather (1670, Voyageur for Daumont de Saint-Lusson and Nicolas Perrot when they claimed the Great Lakes for France)

Pierre Peras dit La Fontaine -- 9th great-grandfather (1670s, Pierre, his three sons and sons-in-laws involved in the fur trade as Coureurs des bois)

Charles Diel dit Le Petit Breton -- 8th great-grandfather (1677, voyageur with Frontenac at Fort Frontenac)

1680s

Nicolas Desroches -- 8th great-uncle (1682, Apr 17 - François Hazeur, marchand, de Québec, engages Denis Turpin, Ignace, Hébert et Nicolas Desroches, for exploration and trade with 8ta8ats (Ottawa Indians))

Jacques Nepveu (Neveu) -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1684, Sep 27 - Henri de Tonty, governor of Fort St. Louis de la Louisianne under the authority of De La Salle, engaged voyageurs, Jacques Nepveu (Neveu), and Anthoine Duquet Madri to go to Fort St. Louis de la Louisianne where they will trade merchandise for beaver skins)

Denise Lemaistre -- 9th great-grandmother (1684, fur trading with the Catholic Iroquois AND 1691, massacred by the Iroquois)

Charles Deneau dit Destaillis -- 8th great-uncle (1685, Antoine Bazinet hired Charles for a voyage to Sault Ste. Marie)

Joachim Leber -- 8th great-uncle (1685, Voyageur to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians))

Francois Bourassa -- 7th great-grandfather (1686, Voyageur to Hudson's Bay for the Compagnie du Nord)

Laurent Barette -- my 8th great-uncle (1686, voyageur on Henri de Tonti’s search for La Salle on the Mississippi River)

Daniel Joseph Amiot dit Villeneuve -- 8th great-uncle (1686, voyageur on Henri de Tonti’s search for La Salle on the Mississippi River)

Francois Leber -- 8th great-grandfather (1688, to Ottawa Country.  Francois and his three sons were Coureurs des bois known as the fathers of the fur trade)

Joseph Boyer -- 9th great-uncle (1688, Voyageur to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians))

Louis Duquet sieur Duverdier -- 8th great-uncle (1689, 28 Aug - Engagement de Louis Duquet Sr Duverdier et Louis Provencher au Sr Nicolas Perrot, Michililmackinac)

1690s

Jean Cusson -- 7th great-grandfather (1690, Voyageur for Nicolas Perrot to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians)  Jean Cusson and Marie Foubert had six of his sons, Jean, Michel, Charles, Ange, Nicolas and Joseph who were all active as fur-traders from 1690 to 1713. All having all received permission to travel to the west.

Michel Cusson -- 9th great-uncle (1690, May 11 ‒ Nicolas Perrot hired Jean Cusson, and Michel Cusson, frères, for a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

Jean Gabriel Picard -- 9th great-uncle (26 August 1691 ‒ Claude Greysolon, sieur de LaTourette, hired Jean Gabriel Picard to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar])

Antoine Jacques Boyer -- 8th great-grandfather (1690, Coureur de bois who bought land with 600 livres from the sale of beaver pelts.  1694, Charles Legardeur, sieur de L’Isle, hired Antoine to make a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians)

Gabriel Lemieux -- 9th great-grandfather (1690, Voyageur and courier de bois to Michilimackinac and Sault Ste. Marie)

François Bourassa2 -- 8th great-uncle (1690, Voyager to Michilimackinac)

Joseph Farfard (Fafart) -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1690, 5 May, 7 May, and 8 May ‒ François Garconnes de Boisrondel/t, acting for François Daupin, sieur de LaForest, hired Daniel Joseph Amiot, Joseph Bénard, Joseph Fafard, Louis Fafard, frères, and Jean Lat for a voyage to the Illinois [Antoine Adhémar – four contracts]

Joseph Bénard -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1690, 5 May, 7 May, and 8 May ‒ François Garconnes de Boisrondel/t, acting for François Daupin, sieur de LaForest, hired Daniel Joseph Amiot, Joseph Bénard, Joseph Fafard, Louis Fafard, frères, and Jean Lat for a voyage to the Illinois [Antoine Adhémar – four contracts]

Antoine Duquet dit Madry -- 8th great-uncle (1691, 16 Aug - Engagement de Antoine Duquet dit Madry à François de Laforest, Michililmackinac)

Antoine Martin dit Montpellier -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1694, May 21 - Louis Rouer de Villeray, acting for the ancient company of Jean Oudiette and Pierre Benac, in the name of Charles Catignon, reached an agreement with Antoine Martin dit Montpellier, of St Bernard, Charles Cadieux, of Beauport; Charles Neveu/Nepveu 1st cousin 9x removed and François Dumesny, of Québec; to go to Michilimackinac to hunt for the furs that Nicolas Perrot had sent sieur Amiot (probably Daniel Joseph) to bring to the Jesuit warehouse in the name of Jacques Charles Patu/Pattu, manager of the ancient company of Oudiette [Chambalon and Roy, Vol. 18, p. 72])

Jean Perras -- 9th great-uncle (1692, Voyageur to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians))

Moise Dupuis -- 7th great-grandfather (1692, courier de bois to Schenectady, NY)

Jacques Hugues Picard -- 9th great-grandfather (1693, Voyageur to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians)

Francois Leber2 -- 8th great-uncle (1693, Voyageur to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians))

Maurice Benard -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1694, 16 September – Amador Godefroy, sieur de St. Paul, and Antoine Lepellé hired Maurice Bénard dit Bourjoly for a voyage to the 8ta8ois (Ottawa Indians) [Antoine Adhémar]

Joseph Moreau -- 9th great-uncle (1696, April 11 - Montreal, voyageurs Joseph Moreau and Louis Durand signed a contract with Marie-Therese Guyon, the wife of Antoine de Lamothe-Cadillac to go to  Michilimackinac with merchandise to be delivered to Commander Cadillac at Michilimackinac)

1700s

Jean-Baptiste Neveu -- 1st cousin 9x removed (also written Nepveu; he is sometimes called Sieur de La Bretonnière), Montreal merchant and fur trader, seigneur; baptized Jean on 20 Dec. 1676 in Quebec, son of Philippe Neveu, a tailor, and Marie-Denise Sevestre; d. 24 June 1754 in Montreal.

Charles Cusson -- 9th great-uncle (1701, voyageur with Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac when he established a settlement at Detroit)

Pierre Rivet -- 8th great-uncle (1703 - hired as a voyageur to go to Detroit)

Jean Rivet -- 8th great-uncle (1705 - hired as a voyageur to go to l'Ouest)

Rene Rivet -- 8th great-uncle (1705, May 30 - hired as a voyageur to go to l'Ouest)

Pierre Beauchamp -- 8th great-uncle (1705, Jun 5, Voyageur to Détroit and again 9 March 1709)

Jacques Beauchamp -- 8th great-uncle (1705, May 30, Engaged to go to Détroit and again 9 March 1709)

Jacques Godé (Godet) -- 1st cousin 9x removed (1707, Voyageur to Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit)

1710s

Pierre Gagne -- 8th great-grandfather (1712, Voyageur to Détroit)

Jean Baptiste Moreau -- 8th great-grandfather (1716, Apr 30 - Nicolas Perttuis embauché Jean Moreau voyageur de Batiscan aller à Michilimackinac, notary Adhemar)

Charles Diel2 -- 7th great-grandfather (1718, Pierre  Roy hired  Charles  Diel  to make  a  voyage  to  Détroit)

1720s

Joseph Poupart -- 7th great-grandfather (1723, August 27, Charles Chesne embauché Joseph Poupart voyageur de LaPrairie, aller à Détroit, Notary Adhémar)

Jean Baptiste Amiot -- 1st cousin, 8x removed ( 1724, was employed as a blacksmith at Michilimackinac)

Alexis Rivet -- 8th great-uncle (1728 - hired as a voyageur to go to Détroit du lac Érié)

1730s

Pierre Barette dit Courville -- 7th great-uncle (1734, Voyageur to Michilimachinac)

Gabriel Lemieux -- 8th great-grandfather (1734, May 28 - Ustache Gamelin embauché Gabriel Lemieux  voyageur aller à poste des associes [Kamanistigouia???], notary Lepailleur de LaFerté)

Rene Bourassa -- 6th great-uncle (1735, voyageur for Pierre Gaultier de La Verendrye to Michilimachinac and beyond)

Pierre Rivet -- 8th great-uncle 30 years later (1736, May 28 - Gatineau et Hamelin embauché Pierre Rivet aller à Poste de la Riviere St- Joseph Notary Claude-Cyprien-Jacques Porlier)

Nicolas-Pierre Rivet -- 1st cousin 8x removed (1738, May 16 - Marin Hurtebize embauché Nicolas Rivet aller à poste des Illinois Notary François Lepailleur de LaFerté)

1740s

Charles de Langlade -- husband of Charlotte Ambroise Bourassa my 1st cousin 7x removed (1745, Established a fur trading post at Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is called the "Father of Wisconsin." He was also a War Chief during the Revolution.)

Charles Diel3 -- 7th great-uncle (1747, voyageur to Wabash, Indiana)

1750s

Joseph Poupart -- 1st cousin 8x removed (1751, Jul 2, Jacques Quesnel embauché Joseph Poupart voyageur de LaPrairie, gouvernail, aller à Illinois, notary Adhemar)

Augustin Barrette -- 7th great-uncle (1751, Voyageur to Michilimachinac)

Francois Moise Dupuis -- 6th great-grandfather (1752, Jun 2 - Nicolas Volant embauché Francois Dupuis voyageur de LaPrairie aller à Michilimackinac, notary Adhemar)

Etienne Duquet dit Desrochers -- 6th great-grandfather (1753, Apr 13, Toussaints Pothier embauché Étienne Duquet voyageur de LaPrairie, gouvernail, aller à Michilimackinac, notary Danré Blanzy)

Jacques Poupart -- 1st cousin 8x removed (1753, Apr 8, Toussaints pothier embauché Jacques Poupart voyageur de LaPrairie, gouvernail, aller à Michilimackinac, notary Danré Blanzy)

Joseph Gagne -- 8th great-uncle (1754, May 17 - Dominique Godet hired Joseph Gagne voyageur de LaPrairie to go to Detriot, Devant or Gouvernail, Notary Louis Claude Danré de Blanzy)

1760s

Joseph Pinsonneau -- 5th great-grandfather (1763, Voyageur to Michilimachinac)

1770s

Pierre Barette dit Courville -- 5th great-grandfather (1778, Voyageur to Michilimachinac)

Jean-Baptiste Meunier -- 5th great-grandfather (1778, Feb 20 - Ezechiel Solomon hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier, voyageur de Laprairie de La magdeleine to go to Mississippi, and spend the winter, Notary Antoine Foucher)

1780s

Charles Boyer -- 1st cousin 8x removed (1788, Built a Post near the junction of the Boyer and Peace rivers for the North West Company.)

1790s

Gabriel Pinsonneau -- 4th great-grandfather (1797, Voyageur  to Michigan for a trading company owned by brothers Jacques and Francois Laselle)

François Rivet -- 2nd cousin 7x removed (1791, Nov 8 - Jacques Giasson embauché François Rivet voyageur de L’Assomption aller à Chaque fois que nécessaire (Wherever required) Nord excluded, 3 years, Notary Louis Chaboillez)

Charles Lagace -- 6th great-uncle (1792, Mar 28 - McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (NWC) hired Charles Lagace to go to the North through Grand Portage, function Gouvernail or rudder man, Notary Louis Chaboillez)

Michel Vielle dit Cossé -- 5th great-uncle (1793, Mar 19 - Engaged as a voyageur to go to dans le Nord-Ouest du Canada (far north west) for traders McTavish, Frobisher and Company aka North West Company)

Louis Barette dit Courville -- 5th great-uncle (1795, Aug 21 - Jacques & François Laselle hired Louis Barette dit Courville to go to Detroit)

Joseph Vielle dit Cossé -- 5th great-uncle (1797, Feb 14 - Engaged as a voyageur to go to Nord Ouest [North West], Nipigon and Lac Superieur for traders McTavish, Frobisher and Company aka North West Company, Company Representative: Alexander Mackenzie)

Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) -- 5th great-uncle -- b/o Gabriel Pinsonneau -- 4th great-grandfather (1799, Mar 3 - McTavish, Frobisher and Co (NWC) embauché Joseph Pinsonneau voyaguer de LaPrairie aller à Detroit, Notary Chaboillez)

1800s

Jean Baptiste Meunier -- 4th great-grandfather (1800, Feb 14 - James & Andrew McGill hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier voyageur de Chambly to go to Mississippi, and spend the winter, notary Louis Chaboillez)

Daniel Bourassa -- 2nd cousin 6x removed (Born 1780, Den Haut, Mackinac, Michigan, may also be known as Topinabee, the Potawatomi chief)

Pierre Pinsonneau (Pinsono) -- 5th great-uncle -- b/o Gabriel Pinsonneau -- 4th great-grandfather (1802, Dec 6 - McTavish, Frobisher and Co (NWC) embauché Joseph Pinsonneau voyaguer de LaPrairie aller à Fort Kamanistiguia, gouvernail, Notary Chaboillez)

Andre Lagasse -- 1st cousin 6x removed -- (1803, Apr 19 signs 4 year contract to act as a guide and interpreter for the North West Company, and to go to the Red River, Swan River and Lake Winnipeg.)

Jean Baptiste Meunier dit Lagacé (1776–1835), my 4th great-grandfather -- (1803, Oct 6 - McTavish, Frobisher & Co. (North West Company) hired Jean-Baptiste Meunier voyageur de St-André-d’Argenteuil to go to Lac De La Pluie (Rainy Lake), notary Louis Chaboillez). From the Archives of Quebec.  Notes: Go through Michilimakinac if required, make two trips from Kamanatiguià Fort to Portage de la Montagne, and give six days of drudgery - and help carry the three canoes in the land.

In 1972, my aunt Muriel shared her genealogy work with me.   I learned my 2nd great-grandmother Lucy was born to French-Canadian parents.  Because her maiden name had been Americanized to Passino it took more than 35 years to discover my true French-Canadian roots.

Finally, in 2010, I discovered the family name was really Pinsonneau.  During the past six years I have pieced together a family history that goes back to the very beginning of New France.

What is most fascinating to me is the fact that we are descended from so many voyageurs.

Without any knowledge that I had ancestors involved in the fur trade I spent years studying and reenacting the fur trade era.

This page is a work in progress…

For vignettes about some of these ancestors see:

Fur Trade Timeline and My French-Canadian Ancestors
http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-canoe-load-of-french-canadian.html