Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines1-3 LAMBERT BOUCHER DE GRANDPRÉ (1656-1699)
by Jacques Dunant
by Jacques Dunant
Version française
Lambert was born on August 12th 1656 in Trois-Rivières. Parish registers are a primary source of information for historians, genealogists etc. Unfortunately they are not always complete. Lambert's baptism is a good example of incomplete information. As per the R.A.B. of the P.R.D.H. the following names are shown under number 87398, Boucher Lambert born August 12th 1656, baptized November 21st 1656, De St Quentin, Lambert,
De St Quentin Madame, Bailloquet, ptre, Ragueneau, ptre. Pierre Boucher and Jeanne Crevier who are his parents are not even mentioned. Godparent's names are hypothetical. De St Quentin could be Quentin Moral sieur de Saint-Quentin who was lieutenant for the King in Trois-Rivières acting for another gentleman named Lambert of whom we know nothing. The godmother could be Quentin Moral's wife; her name is Marie Marguerie, widow of Jacques Hertel. (1) Lambert follows his family to Boucherville in 1668, he stayed there for a few years and then he appears to be in Trois-Rivières. His name shows up in the parish register on the following dates autumn1675 and May 1677. (2) He seems to be on good terms with his sister and brother-in-law, René Gaultier governor of the place. (3) It is also possible that René gives him a few responsibilities.
At the time of the census in 1681 Lambert lives at the family home in Boucherville. That same year he celebrated his twenty fifth year, full legal age at that time, he and his brothers Pierre B. de Boucherville (1-1) and Ignace de Grosbois, (1-4) received jointly from their father a part of Saint-Joseph Island facing Boucherville in the Saint-Lawrence river hoping that something more advantageous and honourable would be presented to them in the future. (4) This concession will be confirmed four years later when each of the three sons request a particular title, having had their land surveyed by Gilbert Barbier dit M le minime. (5) On June 17th 1683 in Boucherville, Lambert and his brother Pierre (1-1) are witness to the signing of a contract regarding church repairs. (6) On August 21st 1683 Lambert is present at the wedding of his aunt Marguerite Crevier with François Renou in Boucherville. (7) In 1684 he is back in Trois-Rivières. (8) Lambert Boucher de Grandpré continues his career in the militia.
Lambert the militiaman
Does he participate with the governor M. De La Barre in the Anse-a-la-famine expedition in July and August 1684? It's probable, since he is eighteen years old. He returns to Trois-Rivières and his name appears on the parish register. (9) He represents his father at the baptism of Pierre, René Gaultier and Marie Boucher's child, (10) which may confirm that he is a friend of the Gaultier family. Who would imagine that this child would become the famous explorer Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye? On March 20th 1687, with his brother Ignace Boucher de Grosbois, (1-4) they rent their land on St-Joseph Island to Jacques Mousseau and Claude Pastourel. (11) In 1687, he has to participate on the de Denonville expedition against the Iroquois Tsonnontouans. He returns to Trois-Rivières and on June 5th 1689 he is present at René Gaultier de Varenne's funeral who was his brother in law and governor of the place. (12) As noted below he acted as a major in Trois-Rivière's government. On October 18th 1689, his father Pierre Boucher rents Lambert's farm to Michel Charbonneau for a period of three years; (13) six months later Michel Charbonneau has abandoned his obligations.
Lambert the officer
On November 17th 1689, Frontenac writes to the Minister to recommend a promotion for Lambert as follows: (Referring to Claude de Ramesay the new governor at Trois-Rivières) it is certain that a major would be most helpful to him and that Lambert Boucher de Grandpré who has always done this work without due payment, even before my arrival in this country, and did it with dignity, which should possibly allow him to receive a commission of 300 or 400 livres which is a modest sum, but would encourage him to do even better (14) Therefore, Lambert must have acted as major since the summer of 1689 and most certainly before! On May 1st 1690 following Michel Charbonneau's absence, Lambert leases his St-Joseph Island farm to Nicolas Bonin dit Saint-Martin de Contrecoeur. (15) In November 1690, like many other officers, he takes part in a combat in Quebec against William Phipps who is from Boston and on November 12th 1690 Frontenac recommends him for another promotion due to his good standing. (16) On March 1st 1691 he becomes a reformed lieutenant. On January 12 1691 he sells his land to Jacques Denys de La Broquery. (17) This land, which had been given to him by his father in 1681 and confirmed by a deed, dated June 15th 1685. In this deed, it is said being a major in Trois-Riviéres …his land situated on Saint-Joseph Island is managed by his farmer Nicolas Bonin and was sold for 2000 livres, payable in the following September… Signed Grandpré, Labroquery (sic) Dates mentioned above lead us to believe that Lambert returned to Les Ïles Percées to recuperate after the campaign led against the Bostonians.
August 20th 1691 Lambert Boucher signs a receipt for two thousand livres en lettres de change for the sale of a piece of land on Saint-Joseph island to Jacques Denys de La Broquetterie (resic) ensign in the troops. (18) Finally he is named major in Trois-Rivières in 1692. (19) In a preceding article after many transactions (19a) we have seen that this tract of land goes to Ignace Boucher de Grosbois. (1-4)
Marriage in the Vauvril de Blazon family
A few weeks before Lambert's wedding on July 2nd 1693, his father Pierre Boucher through the medium of Renée B. de la Perrière (1-9) sells him half of the fief de Grosbois, minus 7 acres on the St-Pierre Lake. (20) The notary Louis Chambalon from Quebec wrote a wedding contract on August 12th and the following day in Quebec City with the presence of Frontenac, Lambert weds Marie Marguerite Vauvril de Blazon daughter of deceased Pierre-Charles Vauvril and Françoise la Pellé; he was thirty-seven years old and his wife was twenty-one years of age. (21)
On August 20th 1693, in Trois-Rivières, Lambert de Grandpré, major, exchanges a tract of land with Phillipe Etienne. (22) On July 30th 1695, Frontenac and Champigny governor and intendent grant him a tract of land one league in frontage by three leagues in depth on St-Pierre lake. This land will become the de Grandpré fiefdom or Petit Yamachiche. (23) De Grandpré fiefdom is adjacent on the west side to part of the fief de Grosbois that he received from his father in July 1693. At this time Lambert B. de Grandpré is commanding a militia battalion in Trois-Rivières. In correspondence between Frontenac and the Minister in France, we find quite a few references to Lambert B. de Grandpré, particularly when he takes command in the absence of the governor M. de Ramesay. (24) As one can see Frontenac seems to have considered Lambert on friendly terms. Are there hidden intentions behind this friendliness? Did Lambert take advantage of the situation in requesting new letters of nobility for his father? It is possible that Champigny could have supported this request on November 24th 1694. (25) Lambert passed away suddenly in Trois-Rivières on April 3rd 1699; he is buried there on the following day. (26) He is the second son of Pierre Boucher and of Jeanne Crevier to die before his parents and the first to go at a relatively young age. Nobody knows what happened to him. Previously in his Adieux Pierre Boucher wrote to his son Pierre de Boucherville (1-1) You will say to your brother de Grandpré that I tell him adieu, to his wife and to his children. I urge him to work as hard as possible and to use his abilities and his credibility to maintain peace and union in the family. I pray that he will continue to live in the fear of God and be a man of honour as he has been up to now. (27) In their testament (28) Pierre Boucher and his wife Jeanne Crevier granted to deceased Lambert Boucher de Grandpré's heirs the concession on St-Joseph Island; land situated on St-Peters Lake close to Trois-Rivières and a fiefdom of six acres by two leagues in depth situated in Boucherville, downriver where the following habitants are situated: Marien Tailhandier, Bernard Joachim dit Laverdure et Roger Latouche.
On May 25th 1706 Marguerite Vauvril de Blazon concedes the land in the fiefdom of Grosbois West to the Gélinas brothers. Etienne Véron de Grandmesnil acted as her notary. (29) Marguerite, whose marriage lasted five years and eight months, remained a widow for ten years, and then married Raymond Blaise des Bergères widower at Dupas Island on November 13th 1709. (30) Marguerite dies, and is buried in Trois-Rivières on January 8th 1730. (31)
Lambert and Marguerite's children
1-3-1 On July 3rd 1695 Louis is baptized in Trois-Rivières, his godfather is Frontenac and his godmother Charlotte Denis wife of Claude de Ramesay, governor of Trois-Rivières. (Charlotte Denis is Pierre Denis sieur de La Ronde's daughter and is the niece of Charlotte Denis who is Pierre Boucher de Boucherville's wife) An article will follow later.
1-3-2 On July 9 1697 Geneviève is born, baptized in Trois-Rivières on July 10th 1697. Her godfather is Monsieur (Pierre) Boucher, his being absent, Amador Godefroy represented him, and his godmother was Françoise Lefebvre. An article will follow later.
1-3-3 On October 6th 1698 Pierre-Louis was baptized in Trois-Rivières, his godfather was Pierre de Langet, and the godmother was Louise de Marsan (Louise-Elisabeth de Joybert) wife of M. de Vaudreuil who were both absent. Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville, and Françoise Godefroy de St-Paul represented them. Pierre-Louis dies at the age of seven weeks in Trois-Rivières
REFERENCES:
1. R.A,B. du P.R.D.H. The Boucher-Crevier parents are known due to the work done by Tanguay and Jetté, even though both have erred in citing baptismal date.
2. On October 28 1675, Madeleine Duguay, is baptized in Trois-Rivières. The godfather is Lambert, his sister Madeleine is godmother. On May 30th 1677, Lambert acts as a witness at Étienne Véron de Grandmesnil and Marie Moral's wedding.
3. How can the role that Lambert had in Trois-Rivières be explained differently when Frontenac confirms it at a later date?
4. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated June 15th 1681. A.N.Q. Montreal.
5. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated June 15th 1685. A.N.Q. Montreal.
6. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated June 17th 1683. A.N.Q. Montreal.
7. Boucherville Register. (RB)
8. On July 2nd 1684, Amérindien Lambert is baptized. Trois-Rivières Registry. Lambert is his godfather and Lambert's sister Marie-Ursule is godmother.
9. On February 8th and July 4th 1685 there are two baptisms. Trois-Rivières Registry. Lambert acts as godfather for both baptisms.
10. Born November 17th and baptized on November 18th 1685 in Trois-Rivières. P.RD.H. Lambert replaces his father as godfather.
11. His occupations in Trois-Rivières do not leave him any time to deforest and cultivate his land. On July 23rd 1685 Claude Pastourel marries Marguerite Mousseau, daughter of Jacques and Marguerite Sauviot from Repentigny. Therefore Claude Pastourel is Jacques Mousseau's son-in-law. Michel Moreau passed this deed on March 20th 1687. A.N.Q. Montreal.
12. Trois-Rivières Registry. René Gautier has been governor of Trois-Rivières from October 1667 until May 1689. He was Pierre Boucher's successor during nearly twenty-two years
13. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated October 18th 1689. A.N.Q. Montreal.
14. Correspondence from Frontenac in R.A.P.Q. 1927-1928, page 26
15. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated May 1st 1690. A.N.Q. Montreal.
16. Nomination confirmed by the king March 1st 1693. R.A.P.Q. 1927-28, p. 84.
17. Deed by Michel Moreau, notary dated January 12th 1691. A.N.Q. Montreal.
18. Deed by Séverin Ameau, notary dated August 1691. Parchemin.
19. Nomination confirmed by the king Louis XIV dated April 7th 1692.
19a.Refer to our article on Pierre Boucher de Boucherville (1-1)
20. Deed by Antoine Adhémar, notary, A.N.Q. Montreal. Also refer to the fief de Grosbois et fief de Grandpré which will follow.
21. Deed by Louis Chamballon date August 12th 1693, registered in Notre-Dame de Québec on August 13th 1693.
22. Notaries deed.
23. I.C.F.S. by Pierre-Georges Roy, Vol IV, p. 117. There is a double error, his name is neither Pierre or Louis, but Lambert.
24. See Refernce no.14.
25. For Champigny's correspondence refer to R.A.P.Q. 1923-1924.
26. Refer to Trois-Rivières's registry.
27. Les Adieux of the grandfather Boucher written on August 6th 1688.
28. Antoine Adhémar, notary, October 12th 1707. A.N.Q. Montreal.
29. Deed by Véron de Grandmesnil, notary. A.N.Q.T.R.
30. L'Ile Dupas register.
31. Trois-Rivières register.
Jody Smith has followed the De Grandpré descendants attentively from Bâton Rouge, LA. I wish to thank her for her precious collaboration. Jacques Dunant prepared this text in February 2000, revised in February 2004 and in October 2005. Translated by Bernice Dunant.
Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Norm Léveillée
©Tous droits réservés
Copyright © 2005 Jacques Dunant
©Tous droits réservés