ANTOINE DESROSIERS... was born about 1617 in Renaison, department of the Loire in the old province of Auvergne, France. He died in August 1691 in Champlain, PQ at the age of 74.
He arrived in Canada around 1641 as a carpenter. In time, he became a master carpenter. In 1645, he was employed by the Jesuits at Trois-Rivières.
The marriage contract, drawn up in November 1647, between Antoine Desrosiers and Anne LeNeuf was witnessed by her father, Michel LeNeuf, squire of Hérisson; Jacques LeNeuf de la Poterie, her uncle; Jacques Hertel de la Fresnière, a respected interpreter and fur trader; Gaspard Boucher; Pierre Boucher, governor of the Trois-Rivières colony and Pierre LeFebvre among others. Twelve signatures, in all, plus two marks by citizens unable to sign. The dowry bestowed upon the couple by her father included: 500 livres in cash, two suits of clothes, a mattress with bolster, two blankets and twelve sheets, six tableclothes, three dozen napkins, twelve plates, twelve dishes and a pot (all of pewter), a pregnant heifer and a pregnant sow.
In 1649, Antoine Desrosiers was granted a piece of land of 10 sq. arpents (approx. acres) for cultivation on the right bank of the St.Maurice River on the outskirts of Trois-Rivières.
Also in 1649, he and two others were commissioned by Pierre Boucher to supply and deliver 500 stakes eleven-feet long to the fort he wanted to build to protect the citizens of this small settlement. The fort was commanded by Jacques LeNeuf, the uncle of his bride, Anne LeNeuf.
In 1650, Desrosiers received a concession of land at Trois-Rivières accorded by Governor d'Allebout located on the inside of the fortification built to protect colonists from the Indians. On this plot, 128 feet square, he built a house and small stable. It was here that he raised his family. Seventeen years later, he sold this piece of land to Michel Godefroy. who in turn gave it to his daughter, Marguerite-Thérèse in 1691 as dowry when she contracted to marry Jacques Hertel de Cournoyer, son of François Hertel.
In 1657, Desrosiers obtained a concession of 10 arpents at Rivière-aux-Sables, Pointe-du-Lac where he became a neighbor of Pierre LeFebvre.
Antoine Desrosiers was captured around May 26, 1659 by a band of Onondagas (Iroquois) at Lac St.Pierre along with two companions. One companion was tortured and put to death by fire. Desrosiers was rescued near Lake Ontario eleven weeks later.
In 1664, he was granted some land by Quentin Moral at l'Arbre-à-la-Croix, former fief of Jacques Hertel at Cap-de-la-Madeleine. In 1667, he was living there with 15 arpents under cultivation.
He and fellow settler, G. Larue, undertook to contruct a windmill for the Jesuits at the Pointe de St. Éloy in 1668.
Antoine Desrosiers was fiscal manager, trustee and judge of the new fief of Champlain from 1669 to his death in 1691.
He married Anne LeNeuf in 1649. She was 17 and he was 32 years of age. They had eight children, among them sons Jean and Antoine, who were members of an association created in 1683 between nine men from Champlain for the purpose of fur trading. The composition of these associates is noteworthy in that it concentrated the power of three influential families in the region: Dandonneau (Huguenot fur-trading merchants), Chorel and Aubuchon. Jean's wife was Françoise Dandonneau. The association dissolved after the summer of 1688 when Jacques Babie, merchant and principal investor, died.
All the sons were involved in the business of procuring and selling furs in one way or another.
Michel Desrosiers dit Desilets born 1652 married Thomasse Artault the daughter of an Algonquin and a fur trader.
Jean Desrosiers dit DuTremble, born in 1657 married a Marie-Françoise Dandonneau as mentioned above.
Antoine Desrosiers dit LeFréniere, born in 1664 was part of the syndicate mentioned above and received a passport in 1689 to trade in the west. The west, in this case, was probably no further than the Great Lakes. To control the fur trade and collect appropriate taxes, the French government issued passports (permits), a form of license. They were difficult to acquire since in many years, only 25 were issued. To conduct fur trading or to travel west without a passport was considered illegal and subject to punishment, most often fines or the confiscation of furs. To obtain these passports (congées), it was helpful to have connections. The Desrosiers did.
Pierre Desrosiers dit Dargy born around 1667, married Marguerite Aubuchon in April 1693 in Champlain, PQ. Her uncle was active in the trade.
The direct ancestor in my family is the youngest son Pierre Desrosiers dit Dargy.
The genealogy of it...
Antoine DESROSIERS and Anne LENEUF, m.c. 1649 in PQ
Pierre DESROSIERS dit Dargis and Marguerite AUBUCHON, m. 4-27-1693 in Champlain, PQ
Pierre DESROSIERS dit Dargis and Louise Thérèse DUREAU, m. 11-7-1728 at Trois Rivières, PQ
Antoine DESROSIERS dit Dargis and Marie-Louise DESHAIES, m. 11-3-1767 in Bécancourt, PQ
Antoine DARGIS and Louise PRINCE, m. 10-4-1802 at Nicolet, PQ
Antoine DARGIS and Hélène LaFOND, m. 9-1-1844 at Granby, PQ
Napoléon DARGIS (Dargie) and Léonise TURCOTTE, m. 10-15-1883 in Lewiston, ME
Delia DARGIS (Dargie) and Wilfred CAMERON, m. 10-11-1910 in Attleboro, MA
Rhea CAMERON and Edward LIZOTTE, m. 6-20-1636 in Attleboro, MA
