To Live Amoung Us

The First  Attempt to Settle Quebec

Except for one small trip back to Canada to settle a dispute at Tadoussac, Champlain spent most of 1617-18, trying to settle his affairs in France.

By now his enemies were mounting; mainly merchants who had no interest in settling the country or converting the native people; only what profits they could make.  A series of pamphlets were issued in France, all against his involvement in Quebec, and many expressed their desire to have him replaced by Pontgrave. When he personally went to La Rochelle to take action against some of his enemies, the mayor of the city told him quite bluntly; “I am showing you no little favor and courtesy in warning you to keep quiet and get the hell out.  If the people knew you were here to execute the order of the Royal council, you would probably be drowned in the inner harbor, and I could do nothing about it.” Fortunately for him, there was about to be a change in control when Prince De Conde sold his viceroyship in New France to his brother-in-law, Henri De Montmorency II, for a reported 30,000 livres. The young duke was wealthy and well connected, and just the shot in the arm the enterprise needed.  Unlike his predessesor, he would not be a passive director but faced things head on. After Champlain met with him to discuss his plans for “exploring, inhabiting, clearing, cultivating and planting” New France, the Duke gave his support, and though the Rouen merchants tried to prevent him from leaving Honfleur, the St. Etienne was underway, reaching Tadoussac on July 7, 1619. The passenger list of 80 colonists, included three Recollect Fathers, clerks, officers, craftsmen and field laborers with sickles, scythes and spades, ready to begin the planting. The colony also now had bulls, heifers and sheep, and all kinds of grain for sowing.

The prospective settlers were given some household items to make the new settlement more comfortable, but when you read the list, it's clear that Montmorency knew little of what was really required to be comfortable in Canada at that time.

"Statement of persons to be brought and maintained at the Quebec settlement for the year 1619,"

“For the service of the leader’s table, 36 platters, as many bowls and plates, 6 salt-cellars, 6 ewers, 2 basins, 6 jugs holding 2 pints each, 6 pint-pots, 6 half-pints, 6 quarter-pints, all of tin, two dozen table-cloths, 24 dozen napkins”.  As on board ship, the dishes and cooking pots at the settlement were provided by the trading company, but since archaeologists have found no trace of them, they may have either been recycled or taken by the English after their brief occupation a few years later.

Henri De Montmorency  II Quebec's New Benefactor

1619 List of New Settlers

Pasquere Nonet  Claude Bouchard D’Orval Jean Ouimet Raymond Pagets  Robert Pagets   Etienne Pajot Charles Petiot   Jean Plante   Charles Pouliot Nicolas Roussin  Pierre St. Denis  Olivier Le Tardiff Toussaint Toupin du Sault Pierre Tremblay  Romain Trepegny  Jean Trudelle Abel Turcotte    Jacques Vacelin  Vincent Verdun Jacques Vezina   Pierre Voyer

Robert Anet Claude Aubert   Felix Aubert   Charles Belanger  Francois Belanger Jean Guyon Bisson Rene Brisson      Jean Boucher Marin Boucher   Pierre Boucher Bertrand Chesnaye  Charles Chesnaye Jean Clement    Zacharie Cloutier Jean Couchon Michel Desorsis   Michel Esnault   Abraham Fisel Francois Fortin   Francois Gariepy   Jean Garnier

Charles Gaudin   Francois Gausse   Laurent Gignard Jacques Goulet   Thomas Granderic  Mace Gravel Bindeliere Jacques Greslon   Jean Guyon    Simon Guyon Adrien Hayot    Louis-Francois Hebert Nicolas Huot Michel L’Homme   Jean Juchereau   Louis Jobidon Les Heriters Jolliet Charles La Francois   Pierre Maheust  Zacharie Maheust  Jean Matheu

Some of the above did extremely well, some went off to live with the Canadian people, and others just went back home, most after the surrender of Champlain to the Kirke Brothers. However, since many of those surnames do factor into the early history of Quebec, some did return when it was safe to do so,  or other family members to continue what they started.  Any of the names that are underlined, can be clicked on for a follow-up story.

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