Remarks on the book“The Genealogy of the Poissant Family”
Written by Dr. J. C. Poissant in 1909
John
R. Fisher #2 20 Mar 2006
After many years of research on the Poissant family, especially because of my successful efforts in the past 2 years; I believe that I can help answer some of the questions and statements made by Dr. J. C. Poissant in his remarkable book; “The Genealogy of the Poissant Family,” which was published in 1909. This book, containing his many years of research in Quebec, France and the U.S. was a wonderful gift and a great impetus to me in the pursuit of my genealogy and family history. My copy was originally my grandfather Joseph Poissant’s book, who left it to his son Paul Poissant/Fisher & wife Marion. After Uncle Paul died, Marion gave the book to me after many of our talks about the family genealogy. I had the narrative portion of the book [55 pages] translated from French to English in 1979 and I have enjoyed using it ever since then. By the following comments, I am not being critical of Dr. Poissants great work, but simply adding what I have found. I also have more questions and may have made some errors or invalid assumptions.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book:
“When and where did he marry her? Most probably at La Prairie where he had land—that he was to occupy and where his wife lived also. Yet in spite of all the research, it was impossible to find in the registers his marriage certificate. Was it drawn up in a summary by a passing Missionary, or was it destroyed accidentally by someone? Mystery!!” Dr. Poissant noted that the marriage was about 1698.
We may never know the answers to these questions. The marriage contract and marriage acts would certainly have confirmed this information for us. They may have also identified the occupation and death date of Jacques father, Jacques Poissant from Marennes, France.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book:
“His parents, Calvinists, like most people of La Rochelle and its surroundings, had just died, most probably leaving him alone in the world, since the archives of Marennes makes no mention of brothers nor sisters.”
However, according to my latest research in the records of the Reformed Church in Marennes, using films from the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, the father Jacques was married twice; first to Suzanne Guichard on the last Sunday of January in 1638 [31st] and second to Elizabeth Magord on 23 Jul 1653 [Info from Fichier Origine]. The first marriage produced 5 children, Raimond, Jacques, Suzanne, Jaques and Abraham. There was only one child born of the 2nd marriage, my ancestor Jacques. We have no birth, baptism or death record of Jacques the father.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book, which describes Marennes and it’s people.
“At the time when the Poissants were living in Marennes, salt commerce was still more considerable than today and the surname “La Saline” came most probably from some salt marshes exploited by the family: but this commerce however, was not that fruitful, from information received from the people of that place, they were simple people, fisherman perhaps, as were a large number of people living in Marennes. This place was so to say, an important fishing port. Today Marennes is a “head port” in the surrounding area of Charente-Inferieure on the Seudre, about 31 kilometers from La Rochelle the port from where most of the ships came in from Canada and 6 kilometers from Brouage, homeland of the Founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain. It is not more than 2 kilometers from the Atlantic that continually ravages the shores and at every high tide, sends the surplus of its waters into the nearby marshes. The population, mostly Calvinists, is about 6,000. It has a tribunal of Inferior Court and of Commerce and continues considerable exploitation’s for salt, wine, marsh beans, peas, corn, but most of all green and Portugeuse Oysters ... universally known.”
For many years, people have made the assumption that the Poissants were common fishermen, oystermen or salt workers because of Jacques military ‘soubriquet’ or ‘nickname’ of “Lasaline”; or “The Salt”. However, according to the latest research in the records of the Reformed Church in Marennes, using films from the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, we see that his father Jacques was a “Sergeant Royal” in Marennes. According to a french dictionary, a Sergeant Royal was a person who was charged to “apply the decisions of court”. Dr Poissant had mentioned in his book that Marennes had a tribunal of Inferior Court. This may have been where Jacques worked. Jacques brothers were master tradesmen in Marennes. They were Master Tailor’s; Master Glove makers; and Master shoemakers; all very skilled at their professions as most Huguenots were. There were also two other Poissant families that were sailors, but I could not prove any relationship to them.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book:
“We learn that two of Jacques’ sons, Jean Baptiste and Pierre left for a place ‘further North’ having departed not too long before the father’s death”
When his WILL was drawn up before the Notary ‘Barette dit Courville’ on 14 Aug 1734, Jacques made the statement above. Jacques died 5 days later. In researching the Notarial Acts we see these two acts of engagement as voyagers by Jean Baptiste and Pierre.
These canoes left Laprairie or Montreal, which is just across the St Lawrence River, and they traveled to ‘le Post de la Baie de Puants”, or in english, ‘the Post at Stinking Bay’, today it called Green Bay, Wisconsin. This is a voyage of about 880 miles. Did Pierre stay there for 2 or 3 years? He was definitely back in Laprairie on 15 Apr 1736 when he married Marie-Angelique Giroux.
These canoes left Laprairie and
they traveled to the “Post of the Ouyatanons” which is on the Wabash River,
southeast of Chicago, which is today near Lafayette,
Indiana. This also is a voyage of about 880 miles.
Note: The purpose of these voyager ‘engagements’ was to sign up men to row the ‘Montreal’ type canoes which were up to 36 feet long and could carry more than 2,000 lbs of merchandise that was traded for Beaver and other types of furs at these Posts mainly with the Native Americans in the area. All the merchandise was separated into 90 lb packs and when portaging was necessary, the voyagers would carry the 90 lb packs, and then the canoes, to the next river. This was a way for the young and strong Frenchmen to earn some cash, which was a rare commodity in that time. The trip usually took about 6 to 8 weeks, one way. They would sometime stay over the winter and return the next spring.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book:
“A difficulty arises concerning the exact location of the ancestral land. Following the opinions of the “ancestors,” especially the father of J. C. Poissant, the family home was about six or seven miles from La Prairie, implying that it was far from the farmlands. We do not believe that it was the primitive property grant, but probably a second property bought later. This land called “Cote de la Tortue” is still existing. It begins from the village of La Prairie going southwest, across Saint Philippe’s Parish, on into Saint Edwards. The small river bearing this name, probably because of its winding form, branches off in different places before pouring its contents into the Saint Lawrence River.”
When I received and translated the 14 page “Inventory of the Goods of Jacques and Marguerite Poissant”, which was drawn up after Jacques death, I noted that the description of the lands owned by them were exactly the size of the lands in the original concessions in 1694 and 1719. The 1694 description also mentioned that the neighboring land was originally owned by Jean Lefore, his original neighbor. They also mentioned paying rent for use of the Commons in 1732 and 1733, which was a common area used by all farmers for grazing their animals. The Inventory then listed the Paper Notary Acts found in the house and they match the exact concessions. I must therefore assume that Jacques lived his whole life on the original concession.
The following is a quote from Dr. Poissant’s book:
“Another unknown fact is the donation of the paternal farm. It is not mentioned in the father’s testament. Was it bequeathed before hand? Most probably since the old man mentions only detailed questions. To each of their sons, he gives them their dues, what they lent and what they earned by working on his farm. His farm? What did he do with it? Did he own it or was it just rented? These are questions difficult to explain. We are perplexed when reading the testament! The notary writes, “not being able to work nor to evaluate his possessions.” Hence by simple deduction the farm belonged to him, also the harvest, since he disposes of it. Claude and Francois, who always worked (Since their brothers left for the Northern Country) to earn a living for the family so that they could survive until this day were paid for their troubles. So they were not only working for themselves. Jacques was married since four years and was earning a living. Jean Baptiste and Pierre were gone, Claude and Francois were hired by their father to work on his farm and he dies without willing it to them. Does his wife keep the property? It is not likely because of the customs of that time. This question cannot be solved even by those who have done research in the archives.”
In examining the summary information of 84 Poissant Notarial Documents, which were written from 1694 until 1780, I have noticed the following:
It appears that Jean Baptiste is buying the Inheritance portions from his siblings, and his brother Claude retains a portion of it. I will need to examine more documents to determine if this is what actually happened. I assume that after Jacques death, Marguerite made an agreement to keep the house and lands until the last child was of majority age or married.
|
Name |
Land Transaction |
Voyager Engagement |
Obligation Receipt |
Marriage Contract |
Inventory Of Goods |
Will |
Jacques Sr |
5 |
- |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Jean Baptiste |
11 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Jacques |
3 |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
|
|
Francois |
8 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Pierre |
18 |
- |
2 |
1 |
- |
|
|
Claude |
9 |
3 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Marguerite |
5 |
- |
1 |
3 |
- |
|
|
Agathe |
5 |
- |
- |
1 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
64 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
That is a total of 84 Notarial Contracts done by the family from 1694 until 1780. Admittedly, some may have been for their children because there were so many common names in the family such as Pierre, Jean Baptiste and Jacques.
Note: Land transactions include Concessions of land, Buying or Selling, Exchanges, Donations to children, or only the Inheritance Rights to the land.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my latest research efforts on the Poissants of Marennes, France and both obtaining these notarial documents from the Quebec Archives, and translating them. These efforts have broadened my knowledge of the Poissant families and, how they lived and what they did. I was amazed at how many notary documents were made by only the first family.