Jeudi... en 'Flat Town"

Yesterday was a 'growing' day for me. I spent the day with a good friend and made several new friends. All graciously sharing their passion for our history. The story of our Acadina cousins is well known and celebrated. But the history of the creole founders, soldiers and settlors is just waiting to be told....

Settling of Quebec and Natchitoches

Bonjour!

I have been so intrigued discovering facts about our family that I have neglected my responsibility to share this fascinating history...the settling of Quebec....and how it is related to the founding of Natchitoches...Grandfather settled Quebec and grandson founds and settles Natchitoches....

Now remember, this takes place in the sixteenth century when England, France and Spain are competing for dominance of the New World to establish colonies, conduct fur trade, find new trade routes......

The Company of One Hundred Associates (The Company of New France) established in 1628, was headed by Robert Giffard, a pharmacist from the Perche region. He signs on with the Company as a Navy Surgeon, and begins his second voyage to Quebec in 1629. The English seize the ship and he is a prisoner until England & France come to an agreement. Giffard and the other are released and in 1634, H\he returns to Quebec and develops the lands of Quebec City, across from the Isle d'Orleans. Giffard brought with him several associates and among the principal ones include the Juchereau Brothers; Noel, Jean and Pierre from Tourouvre, Perche, France.

Jean Juchereau, became a seignor, member of the fur council and church warden. He was married to Marie Langlois. Their son, Nicholas, married Marie Therese Giffard, daughter of Robert Giffard. Nicholas Juchereau de St. Denis was a Seignior, colonizer, business man, member of the fur trade council, director of Tadoussac trade and soldier. He owned land and ensured that it was developed.

Nicholas and Marie Therese had twelve children, it is from number eleven that we descend; Louis Juchereau de St. Denis When he was 25 years old, he sailed to Louisiana from La Rochelle, France with his first cousin, the newly appointed 27 year old governor, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberviile.

 In 1713, St. Denis established a post near near present day east Texas, the village/post Natchitoches. The purpose was to limit the Spanish and promote trade.

Ok, ya'll need to research the the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online and Louis Juchereau de St. Denis to learn more... my few notes ado an injustice to the contributions this family made to the development of Quebec down to New Orleans.  Oh by the way, there is an awesome historical novel entitled "Cavalier in the Wilderness" by Ross Phares depicting the life of Louis Juchereau de St. Denis.

St. Denis' great grand daughter married Joachim Ortega (Ortego)  and settled in the Opelousas Territory. Ortego is another story that is simply fascinating.... If any of you research archived records or have used Fr. Hebert's books you will notice that Joachim Ortego was a prominent figure in the Opelousas Territory and apparently a friend of Governor Galvez, as evidenced by his writings.

enough for now,,,,