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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2002-12 > 1038944319
From:
Subject: Re: [Q-R] You anyone know about the Grande Recrue 1653
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2002 14:38:39 EST
In a message dated 12/3/02 12:15:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
<< Now if some kind soul
could translate the story for those of us who French illiterate (or nearly)
it would be a great help. >>
HOMAGE TO THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF MONTREAL
THE GREAT RECRUITMENT OF 1653
Ville-Marie was founded in 1642, in a joyful spirit brought about by the
dream of the members of the Society of Notre-Dame of Montreal to assure the
spiritual and material development of New France. Unfortunately, after ten
years of sustained effort, it was necessary to conclude that the continued
existence of the little colony established at the upper limit of navigation
on the Saint Lawrence was in jeopardy, unless efforts to bring reinforcements
were swiftly rewarded with success. It was obvious that the handful of
colonists who had settled there could not, by themselves, establish the town
on solid footings, since they were constantly occupied with taming a hostile
environment, and with defending themselves against the unceasing attacks of
the Iroquois. Moreover, many of the settlers wanted to leave Canada, since
fear and terror were so widespread.
It was Jeanne Mance who persuaded the founder of the little colony, Paul
Chomedey de Maisonneuve, to return to France with the aim of recruiting
settlers to furnish the colony with the ability to survive, and, eventually
to prosper. Maisonneuve left Ville-Marie in the autumn of 1651, intent upon
recruiting 100 new settlers. If unsuccessful, it was his intention not to
return, and to order that the colony be abandoned,. He came to La Fleche,
where, with the assistance of Jerome le Royer de la Dauversiere, and thanks
to the generosity of Madame de Bullion, he carried on a campaign in Maine and
Anjou to recruit settlers who would commit themselves to leave homeland and
family and become land-clearers and soldiers in the New World. Between March
and May of 1653, 153 men signed before notaries acts of commitment to the
Company of Montreal. They were recruited for a term of three to five years
at wages proportionate to their crafts. In return, they would be housed and
fed, and, at the end of their contract, they would be brought back to France
at no cost to themselves, if they so desired.
THE CROSSING
On June 20, 1653, 117 passengers, including Monsieur de Maisonneuve, embarked
on the Saint Nicolas of Nantes, sailing under the command of Captain Le
Besson. Fourteen of them were women. The ship left the port of
Saint-Nazaire traveling westerly to the New World. After covering 350
leagues in a few days, it became evident hat the hull was split, and that a
serious breach threatened to flood the hold and ruin the provisions. The
crew could not manage to caulk the breach, and it became necessary to return
to Saint-Nazaire in order to perform the necessary repairs.
According to the narrative of Marguerite Bourgeoys, the passengers were
furious, believing that they were being sent to perdition. M. de Maisonneuve
felt obliged to "set all of the colonists down on an island from which they
could not escape, since otherwise, not one of them would have stayed." Two
recruits managed nonetheless to escape. A month went by before the Saint
Nicolas of Nantes was once again deemed seaworthy. The signal for departure
was sounded on July 20, 1653. After two months of a rather difficult
crossing, eight passengers having died at sea, the ship finally arrived at
Quebec on September 22.
Ill fortune continued as the ship became grounded on a sand bar below Quebec,
at the place called Saint Denis' mill. Marguerite Bourgeois writes, "that
the great tides could not dislodge it, and it had to be put to the torch at
the site". The group stayed in Quebec through the month of October, until
M. de Maisonneuve found boats to bring them to Ville-Marie. They did not
reach their destination until November. Two weeks later, on November 16,
1653, nearly five months after leaving the port of Saint-Nazaire, the little
band of settlers finally set foot on the soil of Montreal.
Four decades later, in 1687, Governor Denonville and Intendant Champigny
commemorated the arrival of "these hundred men [who] saved the Isle of
Montreal and all of Canada as well". The Société généalogique
canadienne-française (French-Canadian Genealogical Society) will celebrate
the 350th anniversary of this event, considered the second foundation of
Montreal, during the year 2003. The SGCF has associated itself with partners
that share its goal of honoring the past, to set in place a series of events
to which the public, in particular the descendants of the men and women of
the Recruitment, will be invited to participate.
Fr Owen Taggart
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