Hello All,
I was wondering if there was anyone in this group that might have some knowledge of the lower Quebec Rebellion of 1837-38?
My gr gr gr grandparents were living in Longueuil, Quebec at this time and I'm trying to determine what their level of involvement in these Rebellions might be, although I have not gone beyond parish records in Quebec and am not sure where else to look.
My gr gr gr grandfather was Jean Marie Bessette, and he married Marie Gelineau in 1823. They lived in Longueuil and raised their family until sometime between 1839-1841. Their last daughter while they were living in Longueuil was baptized in Dec 1839 and their residence is noted on the bap. record. They next show up on the baptism record of their next daughter in May 1841 in Henryville, but the bap. records notes they they were living in Hygate (Highgate, Vermont).
The timing that they choose to leave their home seems to indicate some level of involvement with the Patriots, but I really have not been able to find any additional information on them that notes any of this. There was something written by the Longueuil Historical Society that notes that the incident that happened at the end of 1837 (where the people of the town lined the road to free the leaders that had been arrested and were being marched through the town) occurred on Joseph Bessette's farm. I've gone through all the parish records for Longueuil and Chambly and am fairly certain that this Joseph must have been Jean Marie's second cousin. That is as close as I've been able to put him to being involved with the Patriots.
I am assuming that those that left for the US would have left behind property (if they owned it), but does anyone know how to determine if this was so? Were there land records that might give some indication of this?
Or is anyone else able to give me some direction as to what kinds of records might exist that might shed some light on their lives in Longueuil?
I would greatly appreciate it!! Thanks so much!
Amy Nichols
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Amy here is a bibliography to aid you in your research of French-Canadians involved in the military, war or skirmishes in Quebec, Canada in general, and the US (primarily Michigan) which had F-C settlers. There is some very general info and "how to" books on various wars before 1900. Hope this is of some use, Jim.
#SEARCHING YOUR FRENCH-CANADIAN ANCESTORS IN THE MILITARY
Hi Amy,
In the National Archives of the Province of Quebec, you'll find a bit of information here about a Jean-Marie Bessette and the Rebellion:
http://pistard.banq.qc.ca/unite_chercheurs/description_fonds?p_anqs...
Unfortunately, the document - an affidavidit - is not available on the site, but you could probably order it from the Quebec Archives. It's description, in french, reads:
TITLE OF THE DOCUMENT: Affidavit de Joseph Tremblay, journalier, de Longueuil . - 21 novembre 1837
DESCRIPTION: Le déposant déclare qu'il entendit des décharges d'armes à feu. Il vit ensuite passer plusieurs hommes armés, entre autres, Jean-Marie Bessette qui conduisait un cheval libre devant sa voiture.
Ce dossier fait partie d'un ensemble de documents intitulé : Attaque de la cavalerie à Longueuil, le 17 novembre 1855 .
I'll try a translation (I'm French Canadian...)
TITLE: Affidavit of Joseph Tremblay, laborer, from Longueuil - november 21, 1837
DESCRIPTION: : The applicant states that he heard the discharge of firearms. He saw then several armed men, among others, Jean-Marie Bessette leading a loose horse in front of his cart.
This file is part of a set of documents entitled: Attack of the cavalry in Longueuil,November 17, 1855.
What the document tells is that your ancestor was probably part of the Rebellion!
Hope this will help,
Johanne Prud'homme
I want to add to my last message that you can also find a file refering to Jean-Marie Bessette on the site of LAC (Canada Archives). It's title is: Lower Canada Rebellion losses claims [textual record, cartographic ...(R200-113-0-E)
The url which refers precisely to JM Bessette is the following:
http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/pam_archives/public_mikan/index.php?fuseac...()&back_url=()&&back_url=(&node_state_all=0&page_nbr=6.3&&back_url=()
I don't know if this is the same document as the one I found in the Quebec Archives.
Johanne
HI Amy,
I hope you feel well after your 23 heart attacks! I'm very glad that these informations were of interest for you. If I find anything else, I'll post here. The year is not finished yet!
Johanne
Of possible interest - https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=724892510918419&a...
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