Parents of Felix
Joseph, son of Jacques Metay dit Ladouceur, was born on 20 May 1735 at Boucherville, province of Quebec. His mother was Marie Francoise Lalouette LeBeau. He was baptized there the same day. Since both his parents are buried at Boucherville, is seems reasonable to assume that this is where he spent his childhood.
Sometime before 1757, Joseph made his way to the Detroit region. In 1749 the French Government was well aware of the strategic importance of Fort Ponachartrain and Detroit and also the agricultural value of the surrounding land. A public proclamation offered land and support for families willing to migrate west. One must wonder if this is what brought Joseph to the Detroit area, where he would marry and raise his family. The area where he chose to live was most probably the area where the Parish of Notre Dame de l'Assomption was later established.
At the time of the conquest of New France by the British in 1760, the south shore along the Detroit river had a settlement of nearly 600 colonists. The Parish of Notre Dame de l'Assomption at La Pointe de Montreal du Detroit was established on October 3, 1767. This small parish with less than 150 inhabitants at that time continued to grow. The transfer from French to English rule made little change in the way of life for the south shore inhabitants. For the first twenty years after the conquest, no English settlers join the Detroit garrison, however, some merchants followed the troops and took charge of commercial operations. The mission store on the south side disappeared and all business was done in Detroit with the English merchants.
On the 11th of January 1757, Joseph married Catherine Dufour, born 24 Aug 1740 at Detroit, daughter of Peter Dufour and Mary Charlotte Gloria. They were married nearly 21 years and to this union was born 11 children. Joseph was buried at Detroit on 5 Aug 1791 and had been preceded in death by Catherine who was buried at Assumption, Sandwich on 23 December `1777. Their children were:
Mary Catherine b. 21 May 1758 Detoit, m. 20 Feb 1775 at Assumption to James Bezer dit Leveille, b. 1743 parish of St. Etienne in Tours, France bur 24 May 1803 Assumption son of Andrew Bezer and Mary Bergeron
Jospeh b 14 Jan 1760 North East Coast of Detroit
Peter b 1 Dec "Faubourg Ste Rosalie" South Coast of Detroit bur 5 Dec 1761 Detroit
John Baptist b 15 Feb on the farm of Charles Barthe East of Detroit bur 4 Dec 1763 Detroit
Theophile b 24 Nov 1764
Felix b 19 Oct 1766
Mary Frances b 15 Nov 1768 North East Coast of Detroit bur 4 Mar 1830 Assumption m 1st 12 Nov 17887 Detroit Francis Deslauriers, b 17 Dec 1748 Montreal d before 1806 son of Francis Deslauriers and Susanne Colin, m 2nd 24 Nov 1806 Assumption Francis Bertrand d before 1826 son of John Baptist Bertrand and Magdelene Martin dit St Jean, m 3rd 9 Jan 1826 Assumption John Baptist Beaubien b there 28 Jan 1771 bur 19 Nov 1858 Mt Clements son of John Baptist Beaubien and Geneveva Parent
Rene b 27 Feb 1771
Francis b 8 Dec 1773
Peter b 20 Oct 1775
James b 30 Nov 1777 Assumption
Perhaps Catherine died as a consequence of this final birth.
Sometime before 1757, Joseph made his way to the Detroit region. In 1749 the French Government was well aware of the strategic importance of Fort Ponachartrain and Detroit and also the agricultural value of the surrounding land. A public proclamation offered land and support for families willing to migrate west. One must wonder if this is what brought Joseph to the Detroit area, where he would marry and raise his family. The area where he chose to live was most probably the area where the Parish of Notre Dame de l'Assomption was later established.
At the time of the conquest of New France by the British in 1760, the south shore along the Detroit river had a settlement of nearly 600 colonists. The Parish of Notre Dame de l'Assomption at La Pointe de Montreal du Detroit was established on October 3, 1767. This small parish with less than 150 inhabitants at that time continued to grow. The transfer from French to English rule made little change in the way of life for the south shore inhabitants. For the first twenty years after the conquest, no English settlers join the Detroit garrison, however, some merchants followed the troops and took charge of commercial operations. The mission store on the south side disappeared and all business was done in Detroit with the English merchants.
On the 11th of January 1757, Joseph married Catherine Dufour, born 24 Aug 1740 at Detroit, daughter of Peter Dufour and Mary Charlotte Gloria. They were married nearly 21 years and to this union was born 11 children. Joseph was buried at Detroit on 5 Aug 1791 and had been preceded in death by Catherine who was buried at Assumption, Sandwich on 23 December `1777. Their children were:
Mary Catherine b. 21 May 1758 Detoit, m. 20 Feb 1775 at Assumption to James Bezer dit Leveille, b. 1743 parish of St. Etienne in Tours, France bur 24 May 1803 Assumption son of Andrew Bezer and Mary Bergeron
Jospeh b 14 Jan 1760 North East Coast of Detroit
Peter b 1 Dec "Faubourg Ste Rosalie" South Coast of Detroit bur 5 Dec 1761 Detroit
John Baptist b 15 Feb on the farm of Charles Barthe East of Detroit bur 4 Dec 1763 Detroit
Theophile b 24 Nov 1764
Felix b 19 Oct 1766
Mary Frances b 15 Nov 1768 North East Coast of Detroit bur 4 Mar 1830 Assumption m 1st 12 Nov 17887 Detroit Francis Deslauriers, b 17 Dec 1748 Montreal d before 1806 son of Francis Deslauriers and Susanne Colin, m 2nd 24 Nov 1806 Assumption Francis Bertrand d before 1826 son of John Baptist Bertrand and Magdelene Martin dit St Jean, m 3rd 9 Jan 1826 Assumption John Baptist Beaubien b there 28 Jan 1771 bur 19 Nov 1858 Mt Clements son of John Baptist Beaubien and Geneveva Parent
Rene b 27 Feb 1771
Francis b 8 Dec 1773
Peter b 20 Oct 1775
James b 30 Nov 1777 Assumption
Perhaps Catherine died as a consequence of this final birth.
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