Gagnier (Gagne) History Web Site
by Rev. John F. Gagnier
Section Three: Ancestral Documents & Signatures
After
reading this section,
click on the blue link at the bottom of the page to go to
Section Four: Family Heraldry, Two Coats of Arms
In italics below
appears an English translation of the deed
to the property obtained in 1650 by Louis Gasnier
(1612-1661)
This was a form of "homesteading" in which the owner received
eventual
clear title to the property in return for living on it and establishing a
residence there.
It was a way of building up the economy of the region and more specifically
bringing business to the mill later operated by Olivier LeTardif.
"I, Olivier LeTardif, associate in the Beaupre Company for a one eighth share, in my name as well as special and general counsel to Messrs. Berruyer and Cheffault, responsible for the operation of said company by an act passed before Morel and Vasseur, notaries in the district of Paris, the seventeenth day of April, 1646, recognized to have deeded under manorial lease, payable each year on the festival of St. Martin in winter, to Louis Gaigner, the number of five arpents of land, in field and woods, along the great river St. Lawrence with 10 perches of frontage for each arpent and with a depth of up to four and one half miles, situated between land belonging to Pierre Picard on one side and nondeeded land on the other side along the great river, the remaining land borders on nondeeded property;
provided that he is to establish residence there himself, or for someone else, in the current year and to pay on the day of Saint Martin in winter, for each arpent of land along the great river the sum of 20 sous in manorial lease and 12 deniers in fees and tithes when the lease takes effect, and for the said deed, two live capons or twenty sous for each capon at the choice and option of me, LeTardif, and of my successors having the right to the said position in the manorial residence of said Beaupre or other location where I happen to reside.
The said lease includes lots, seizures, and foreclosures according to
the customs of the provost and viscounty of
Said Louis Gaigner may not hunt or fish on the present deed without the consent of his neighbors. There is to be a path 15 feet wide from one end of his holdings to the other and along the great river to serve as a path for navigation.
In case the said LeTardif builds a mill, said Gaigner will be required to take his grain there to be milled. The common meadows that are in front of his property may not be mowed to his profit. To avoid any disputes and to maintain peace among his holdings, said Louis Gaigner is to gradually enclose his lands as they are cleared; in case this is not done, said Gaigner may not derive any benefit from the damages or offenses that his livestock may cause his neighbors.
He and his rightful heirs are to use and dispose of this deeded
property as they see fit.
Accorded in witness thereof, I have signed the present deed in
--- signed LeTardif with initials.
attached to the original in parchment by me. Paul Vachon,
notary in Beaupre Manor and in other areas, ect. The
original returned this 25th day of May, 1668. P.Vachon,
Notary. The reason for the copy made was omitted -
A copy was given to me for the execution of the ordinance of Monseigneur Talon,
made April 9, 1666
-- signed Bequet with initials.
Today the property starts at the cliff and goes uphill to the north. Before the town below was built along with the railroad and highway parallel to the river, the property extended right up to the riverbank.
Each property owner thus had access to the river for fishing and
transportation,
land for farming, and the forest for wood above the farm.
The properties were laid out in narrow strips perpendicular to the river.
The Gasnier property was 367 feet wide and four and
one half miles long!
Below you will see a property map of the time showing the lands belonging to both brothers as well as the location of the first church built in 1658.
The map shown below at left is adapted from an original in the Archives
of the Quebec Seminary and is found in the book "Saint Anne de Beaupre,
Pilgrim's Goal for Three Hundred Years" by Fathers Lucien Gagne and
Jean-Pierre Asselin, C.Ss.R., published by the Shrine in 1971.
On the right side of the map, south, are the Saint Lawrence River and the Isle
of
A similar map shown below at right, dated 13 March 1658, is carved in
stone
and mounted on the exterior west wall of the "Souvenir" Chapel at
Saint Anne de Beaupre.
Unlike his widow who signed Louis' 1661 postmortem
inventory with an "X" witnessed by a notary, Louis was at least
literate enough to sign his name.
At that time, contracts for marriage, land lease and sales were signed in the
presence of Notaries, whose files became a legal record still in existence today.
Below are reproductions of signatures of Louis Gasnier (1612-1661)
The first two photographs below were taken at the Shrine
of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New
York. The photo at the right
was taken at the Basilica of Saint Anne de Beaupre in Quebec.
The center and right photos show images of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a young Mohawk woman who fled to Quebec to escape the ridicule of her people because of her virginity and her devotion to Jesus Christ. On June 22, 1980, in a declaration by Pope John Paul II, she became the first Native American to be declared "Blessed." She was canonized, that is, declared a Saint on October 21, 2012
The left photo shows a statue of Saint Isaac Jogues,
a Jesuit priest and missionary who was killed at Auriesville
in 1647.
Louis Gagnier and seven of his neighbors were killed by the Mohawks there in
1661.
A postmortem inventory was taken of Louis's earthly goods. A translation of
this inventory appears after these two photos.
Left and Center Photos: North American Martyrs Shrine: Auriesville, New York; Right Photo: St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec
1661 INVENTORY
OF POSSESSIONS
OF THE LATE
LOUIS GASNIER
AND OF
MARIE MICHEL
(Auber, Notary July 14, 1661 No. 85)
Today, Monday, the fourteenth day of July,
One Thousand Six hundred Sixty One, at Chateau Richer, by verbal order of
Monsieur the Governor, we, Jean Cochon, tax collector
in the coast and manor of Beaupre, aided by our clerk, have taken inventory of
the property and possessions remaining after the decease of the late Louis Gasnier, represented to us through Marie Michel, widow of
said Louis Gasnier and estimated by Sir Francois Bellanger and Julien
Fortin, Lord in part of the said coast and manor.
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Thus there is as follows: |
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Livre=
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Sou=
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Denier= |
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Franc |
5c |
1/12sou |
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Item: |
Two dairy cows
estimated at 120 Francs |
120 |
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Item: |
Two heifers, two
years old, past age for veal est at 100f |
100 |
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Item: |
One ox for service,
est at 120f |
120 |
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Item: |
Two young bulls,
at end of usefulness for veal, est at 60 |
60 |
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Item: |
Two veal calves
born this year est at 40f |
40 |
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Item: |
4 large pigs est at |
60 |
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Item: |
5 other small
suckling pigs est at 100s each |
25 |
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Item: |
1 plow equipped
with a pair of wheels, total est at |
45 |
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Item: |
1 old boat with
its sail, cord and anchor, est at |
60 |
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Item: |
3 beds, bolsters
and pillows with a night stand, total est at |
100 |
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Item: |
2 bedcovers est at 40 |
40 |
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Item: |
3 old covers est at 12f |
12 |
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Item: |
2 old
tablecloths and six napkins est. at 12f |
12 |
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Item: |
2 pots, 1 frying
pan, 1 grill, 1 skewer, 2 ladles - total est at |
100 |
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Item: |
1 plate with a
burner est at 10f |
10 |
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Item: |
1 ripsaw and 1
crosscut saw, both with handles est at 155s |
5 |
15 |
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Item: |
One old thresher
est at 40s |
2 |
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Item: |
Two small rifles
and one pistol est at 50f |
50 |
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Item: |
Several small
axes and a hoe with a large axe, total est at 20f |
20 |
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Item: |
A suit, already old
and 4 shirts all for men's use, used by said deceased, total est at: |
30 |
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Item: Declared that the widow has ten
Item: All possessions have been left with the widow to produce them on
demand. She has been approved and guaranteed for this by Claude Bouchard,
son-in-law of the late Louis Gasnier and said widow.
For this, each shall be responsible for all their possessions and inheritances,
present and future and those of their heirs.
In the presence of Simon Guion, living in said manor
and Annet Villain, called LaMeneyre
as witnesses.
(signed)
Villian
Simon Guion
F. Bellanger
Cochon
X of said Sir Fortin
X of said widow
Auber, notary
Section Four: Family Heraldry, Ancient & Modern
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Gagnier
(Gagne) History Web Site
by Rev. John F. Gagnier
Last
modified on Monday April 9, 2012