Jacques Messier II
Jacques was born in Varennes on November 4, 1692 from the marriage of Jacques Messier and Marie Renée Couillard. He was baptized the next day at Varennes. Records of Varennes is not yet open, the act is recorded in Boucherville. Early, Jacques becomes orphaned. His mother dies while he has not yet three years. His father, meanwhile, died a few months later. Although the story does not mention Michel Messier has probably raised his nephew.
At twenty, Jacques finally chose a girl from Varennes to share his fate. He married Elizabeth Bissonnet, on November 23, 1712. The priest, Claude Steering writes his marriage contract before the celebration. It is filed on January 19, 1713, within minutes of the notary Jacques Bourdon. After his marriage, Jacques settled on land inherited from his father, located in the lordship of Jacques Lemoyne.
Two years after his marriage, an order dated November 6, 1714 by Intendant Begon, forcing all the inhabitants of government Montreal to attend a chore for the construction of new fortifications in Montreal. A list is compiled of all those who should participate. Jacques and his cousin Rene Messier are listed. It does not mention what and how many days must attend the Jacques chore. For some unknown reason, the brother of René, François-Michel and his father are not on the list.
The following years pass without a story to Jacques. On April 29, 1722, before the notary Nicolas Senet, Michel Poulin, priest of Varennes, contracts of pews (rental) for his parishioners. The document is also signed by the churchwardens Christophe Lussier, Jacques Messier and Nicolas Chaput. Jacques holds "the bench against the wall on the right as you enter and the first of said rank."
Jacques seems not to have suffered from poverty. On March 29, 1736 he lends 1600 pounds to Rene Messier, father, gesture he repeats on July 16, 1741, for a sum of 1073 pounds. This time it is repaid with a land of half an acre of sixty. A third loan of 402 pounds is made to Rene Messier father, on April 15, 1754.
The wealth of Jacques increases with acquisition of lands. In addition to that mentioned in the previous chapter, on January 10, 1735, Jacques Lemoyne granted him a land of 5 acres with 20 in front of his land. On May 20, 1737, René sells him a land of one acre wide by the depth of the lordship. Finally, on September 8, 1755, Rene Messier sold him another piece of half of one acre of sixty, in front of the river. Land inherited from his father is in the lordship of Jacques Lemoyne. Acquisitions made by René Messier are located in the seigniory of Cap St-Michel that François-Michel Messier received at the death of his father.
From his marriage with Elizabeth Bissonnet, Jacques has seventeen children. One marries Joseph. Most die in infancy. A daughter, Marie Josephte died at the age of nineteen years and a son, Augustin, died unmarried at twenty-seven years.
Cap St-Michel (aerial view)
The Cap St-Michel
Jacques Messier house in Varennes
The marriage of their son Joseph with Marie-Anne Godu is not done in joy. Elizabeth Bissonnet is violently opposed. At the time a person gets his majority at the age of twenty-five years.
Before the disparaging words of Elizabeth Bissonnet on Godu family, René Godu, the father of Marie-Anne, suing Jacques Messier. Before determining of Joseph to marry Marie-Anne Godu, Jacques Messier and René Godu be found at the notary. They come to an agreement to avoid a trial that requires repairs to the words that Elizabeth Bissonnet and Jacques would have on them. A statement on the future parents-in-law of their son is made. Jacques Messier recognizes that René Godu and his wife Françoise Tétreau are people of good conduct.
Joseph does not expect its majority to end up before the altar. On April 21, 1743, the day before the wedding, his father and René Godu be found at the notary with their children to write a marriage contract. At twenty four years and eight months without the approval of his parents, he married Marie-Anne Godu, on April 22, 1743 in Varennes.
After the wedding, things do not stay there. A week later, Elizabeth Bissonnet is before the notary. She made her will. She disinherit his son Joseph and bequeathed his property to his daughter Marie Josephte and to his son Augustin. In her will, she expressed her resentment; "The lack of respect and debauchery of his son, he abused and assaulted his parents." It also mentions her strong opposition to the marriage of his son with Marie-Anne Godu.
On 7 July 1743, possibly due to the pressure from his wife, Jacques is also at the notary office to make his will and disinherit his son in turn. Anger seems to have calmed down after a few years. On April 16, 1747, Elizabeth Bissonnet returned to the notary to lift the disinheritance of his son. The issue of inheritance is settled without much problem. All children of Jacques Bissonnet and Elizabeth died before their parents. Joseph drowned in August 1758 in Laprairie by going to Fort Frontenac. He was buried on August 19, 1758 at this location. In addition, Marie-Anne Godu drowning on September 27, 1769 in Sainte-Marie current, in front of Montreal. His body was found on October 17, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, where she is buried. Joseph and Marie-Anne Godu leave five of the nine living children they had. Only small children Jacques will share the inheritance of their grandparents.
History also teaches us that Jacques was an officer in the militia. On March 29, 1736 he is said that he taught in the militia. In 1759, during the battle for the capture of Quebec by Wolfe, all of New France must contribute to the defense of the city. At Beauport, the militia company "Messier" is directed by Jacques, then a captain of militia.
On April 27, 1748, he is at the notary as a matter of way. An agreement is made with the priest and many citizens of Varennes on a path that must traverse the land, including that of Jacques. An agreement is also done on June 6, 1774 with Joseph and Jacques Messier, children of Joseph and Marie Anne Godu. At issue is a path that must go to the land of Jean Mongeau to allow people to go to the edge of the water.
On two occasions, Jacques has to go to court for a question of money. On July 12, 1740, he prosecutes Joseph Bissonnet about a loan of 103 pounds. He also returns on March 15, 1741, against Joseph Bissonnet still about a loan of 29 pounds .
Jacques died on 15 and was buried on March 17, 1777 in Varennes. He followed his wife Elizabeth, who died on April 30, 1770. The register mentions he was a captain of militia.
Towards the end of his days, Jacques, whose children all died, decides to benefit her grandchildren. On 17 May 1772, he donated to his grandson Jacques, a land situated at Cap-St-Michel. Two weeks later, to a second, Joseph, he leaves another land in Cap-St-Michel. He also thinks to the last: on May 17, 1772, in Beloeil, he buys a land of Jean-Baptiste Burel to give it to Charles.
My curiosity was attracted by a stone house in Varennes. According to its architecture, it was built in the second half of the 18th century. The person who built proved on April 6, 1768. This is the marriage contract of his grandson Joseph Messier with Marie-Anne Mongeau. Jacques gives him land with a house of stone. This has the same area; its location is the same as that received in concession from Jacques Lemoyne by Jacques Messier, husband of Marie-Renée Couillard. The house was possibly built around 1750 by Jacques, husband of Elizabeth Bissonnet, or at his request.
Because of the many descendants of Jacques, I digress. To facilitate understanding of this text, I will identify by the name of their wives, as follow:
The third generation in Canada: Joseph Messier, son of Jacques, husband of Marie-Anne Godu.
The fourth generation: Joseph Messier, husband of Marie-Anne Mongeau.
The fifth generation: Joseph Messier, husband of Louise Fontaine.
The sixth generation: Joseph Messier, husband of Rosalie Laporte.
I mentioned above that the husband of Marie-Anne Godu died before the land distribution of Jacques. At the age of fifty-one years, the husband of Marie-Anne Mongeau decides to benefit the future husband of Louise Fontaine. Does he see his failing health? On July 26, 1797, he gives his land with the stone house to his son Joseph aged eleven. His father died a May 5, 1805. Inventory of property will be made on May 27. They will be sold the next day.
Widow, Marie-Anne Mongeau decides to give his property, including the stone house to his son Joseph. On June 19, 1807, she spent the notary to record his desire. The donation is conditional on an annuity and several benefits, such as rights to a servant and services necessary for a happy old age.
Two years after the death of his father, Joseph, at the age of twenty-one years, married Louise Fontaine on January 11, 1808. Enjoyment of the land will be short lived. His wife died on February 22, 1810, following the birth of her second child.
Health of Joseph was it weak? On December 28, 1810, Joseph leases his land and entrusted the maintenance of its animals to Pierre Provost. A few months later, on May 17, 1811, he followed his wife to the grave. In the inventory of the couple's property, it is mentioned that Joseph Messier owed 174 pounds to Dr. John Morley for purchase of medicines; this confirms his serious health problems.
This is a two year old child who inherits everything. Jean-Marie Fontaine, the maternal grandfather was appointed guardian. The inventory of the couple's property is made on May 27, 1811, followed the next day by their sale. He tells us that the paternal grandmother lived with the parents of the heir. Before proceding, they give to Marie-Anne Mongeau the effects specified in the deed of gift of June 19, 1807, a bed, a stove, a table, a crib, a chair, a wardrobe and several small objects for its convenience . After his death, these objects will return to the heir.
Here is the value of some property mentioned: a horse, 50 pounds; stove, 150 pounds; a cow, 48 pounds; a big wagon, 24 pounds; set to sleep with a bed of feathers, bunk, sheets, blankets and pillow is rated at 100 pounds. An object is mentioned for the first time in inventories Messier: a silver watch. Estimated at 24 pounds it is sold to Marie-Anne Mongeau for 60 pounds. Two silver goblets are estimated at 6 pounds each. Is it the same that belonged to Michel, the husband of Anne Lemoyne? First be sold to Toussaint Brodeur for 6 pounds and the second to Marie-Anne Mongeau for 15 pounds.
The same day, On May 27, guardian sign an agreement with Christopher Mongeau, in which he undertakes to sell to the latter "the land with stone house, a wooden house, a stone dairy and other wooden buildings constructs lad on earth. "The price of 16,500 pounds and interest will be paid to the heir to his marriage when he reaches the age of majority. In addition, the buyer will pay the mother of Joseph Messier, Marie-Anne Mongeau, "the assigned land on rent", granted by the husband of Marie Fontaine in the act of June 19, 1807.
A request is made to the judges of the Court of King's Bench, to allow Jean-Marie Fontaine to sell the land to these conditions. Permission is granted on June 1 by the judge PL Panet. On June 4, there is a family meeting. They authorize the sale and ask the guardian to dispose of other property of the child. Everything is formalized on June 15, 1811. On the same day, Marie-Anne Mongeau giving a proxy to Antoine Decelle to collect, Christopher Mongeau, the pension due to her.
As an adult, Joseph is placed at a doctor of Pointe-aux-Trembles, to teach him the trade. At this point, on July 7, 1828, at the age of nineteen, he married Rosalie Laporte. In his marriage contract on July 2, 1828, the future husband says he has the fruit of personal property that his guardian has sold. The husband of Rosalie Laporte will not live very long after his marriage; he died June 17, 1832, in Montreal, at the age of twenty-three years.
For those who want to see the house, it is 2790 Marie-Victorin in the eastern part of Varennes. It's close to the rise of Picardy, which forms a little further south, the boundary of the lordship of Jacques Lemoyne and Michel Messier. It currently serves as an information center for the company Albright and Wilson. In 2014, it is close.