History in New France (Canada)

 

Parish of St-Pierre-de-Sorel, Sorel, Quebec

 

Many of our Bibeau ancestors were baptised and married in the church of St-Pierre-de-Sorel, Sorel. Following is a brief history of the city and the parish.

 

Sources:

http://www.memoireduquebec.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sorel-Tracy_%28municipalit%C3%A9_de_ville%29.

 

 

The Foundation

 

1642:  Foundation of the city of Sorel, making it the fourth oldest city of Quebec.  Governor Montmagny ordered the construction of a fort at the mouth of the River Richelieu, to be called Fort Richelieu, after Cardinal Richelieu of France.  The Fort was blessed during the first mass said on the site.  Seven days later the Iroquois attacked with 300 men and several French were killed or wounded, but the garrison held.

 

1646-1647:  After several bloody conflicts with the Iroquois, the small garrison of Fort Richelieu departs and soon after the Iroquois destroy the fort.

 

 

Fort Richelieu and the Seigneurie de Saurel

 

1665:  Reconstruction of Fort Richelieu by Pierre de Saurel, capitain of the Regiment of Carignan-Salières.

 

Following is a map of the region around Sorel (dating from 1666).  The top of the map is pointing west, with the Richelieu River emptying into the Saint Lawrence (Laurent) River.  The town of Sorel was called Richelieu at that time, after the fort.

 

 

 

 

1666:  Peace treaty signed with the Iroquois, but peace would not last.

 

1670-72:  Mgr. de Laval, first bishop of Quebec, founded a mission for the 117 inhabitants, and gave it the name Saint-Pierre.  The intendant of Nouvelle France, Talon, ceded land to Pierre de Saurel, who named the place Saurel.  Pierre de Saurel constructed several buildings within the fort, including a modest mission church built of squared off wooden timbers. 

 

1675:  First church registers of the mission of Saint-Pierre.

 

1681: The population of the seigneurie is 118 habitants.

 

Following is a map of the area around Sorel and Fort Richelieu in 1695:

 

 

1685-1850:  Five generations of our direct Bibeau ancestors were born, lived and died in Sorel beginning as early as 1685 and ending in around 1850.  Other Bibeau relations may still live in the area and would be cousins of our ancestors.

 

1696:  Attack on the fort by the Iroquois.

 

Following is a map of Sorel from 1704 overlaid on a map of 1939:

:

Key to above map :  1=outline of fort as it was in 1939, 2=storage, 3=barracks, 4=church, 5&6=houses

 

1704-1708:  Construction of the first church of Saint-Pierre, under the direction of the Sulpician Louis Geoffroy.  (some histories do not mention this church)

 

 

End of the French Regime – Beginning of the English Regime

 

1713:  Pierre de Saurel’s widow ceded the seigneurie of Saurel to Claude de Ramesay.

 

1717:  On 1 February 1717, our ancestor, Nicolas, fourth son of Francois and Louise (Esnard) Bibeau, and Emily’s 4x great grandfather, married Marguerite Pelletier in St-Pierre-de-Sorel.  They would probably have been married in the first church of Saint-Pierre.

 

1721:  The parish of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel is officially created by the bishop of Quebec, Mgr de Saint-Vallier.  The first resident pastor, Jean-Baptiste Arnauld, installs himself at Sorel.  The parish territory includes the seigneurie of Saurel, as well as the Ile du Moine, the Ile des Barques, the Ile Madame, the Ile Ronde and the Ile aux Ours.

 

1721-1730:  Nicolas and Marguerite (Pelletier) Bibeau had seven children between 1721 and 1730, all born/baptised at St-Pierre-de-Sorel in probably the first church:

Michael

Antoine

Enfant, died at birth

Marie-Therese

Joseph (our ancestor)

Marie-Rose

Pierre

 

1727:  Joseph, fifth child of Nicolas and Marguerite (Pelletier) Bibeau, was born/baptized on 26 January 1727 at St. Pierre-de Sorel.  He is our ancestor and Emily’s 3x great grandfather.  He would probably have been baptized in the first church. 

 

1732-1735:  Construction of the second church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel.  This church was built in wood and located outside the fort.

 

1735-1750:  The wars with the Iroquois cease sometime during this period and the population of the seigneurie increases.

 

1750:  Construction of the third church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel.  This church was built in stone and located within the fort. (This church was located at the modern day rue Reine in the parking area near the grain elevators.) 

 

 

1754:  The English attacked and the War of Seven Years was officially declared in Nouvelle France in 1756.  (Note:  The The French and Indian War was the nine-year North American chapter of this war.)

 

1760:  Nouvelle France was taken by the English.  The War of Seven Years ended in 1763.  The Province of Quebec was established.  The boundaries of Quebec were expanded to include the Ohio Country and Illinois Country, from the Appalachian Mountains on the east, south to the Ohio River, west to the Mississippi River and north to the southern boundary of lands owned by the Hudson's Bay Company.  For more information about this period of history, see: 

http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/encyclopedia/SevenYearsWar-FrenchandIndianWar-TheWaroftheConquest.htm

 

1752-1775: Joseph, our ancestor and Emily’s 3x great grandfather, married Marie Anne Boissel in St-Francois-du-Lac on 2 Nov 1727. They had six children between 1752 and 1775, all baptised in St-Pierre-de-Sorel in what was probably the third church:

Joseph, died as an enfant

Nicolas

Joseph Alexis (our ancestor)

Antoine, died as an enfant

Louis

Herman, died as an enfant

 

Joseph Alexis Bibeau, our ancestor and Emily’s 2x great grandfather, was born on 17 Aug 1758 and baptized on 20 Aug 1758 at what was probably the third church of St. Pierre de Sorel.

 

 

The Loyalists

 

1767:  Construction of the presbytère (parsonage) of Saint-Pierre.

 

1769-70:  The third church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel is partially renovated.

 

1775 – 1783:  America was at war with England in order to obtain independence.  Britain is defeated.  After the war, many US Loyalists in support of England moved north to Quebec which still belongs to Britain. 

 

1779:  87 US Loyalist refugies were in Canada and 300 soldiers from the 60th regiment of the English army installed themselves at Sorel.

 

1780:  Joseph Alexis Bibeau, our ancestor and Emily’s 2x great grandfather, married Marie Anne Desrosiers (Desrocher or Dutremble) on 7 Feb 1780 at the third church of St. Pierre de Sorel. 

 

1781-1801:  They had twelve children between 1781 and 1801, with all but three being baptised either in St-Pierre-de-Sorel in the third church:

Alexis, died young

Michel Antoine

Pierre

Jean-Baptiste

Joseph, died young

Angelique Judith

Joseph

Louis, may have died young

Hypolite

Marie Josette

Louis (our ancestor)

 

1785 The English military engineer, Graham French, redesigns the city in the form of a square with large streets cut at right angles.  The streets were given the names of the primary people in English royalty:  George, King, Queen, Augusta, Sophy, Prince, Phipps, Charlotte etc. with a Place d’Armes in the center (the royal square). 

 

 

The City of William Henry

 

1787:  Prince William Henry of England visits Sorel and stays at the seigneurial manor.  

 

1791:  Quebec divided into Upper and Lower Canada.  Sorel becomes part of Lower Canada.  City officials decide to rename the city “William Henry” in memory of the visit of Prince William Henry.  This prince would eventually become King of England in 1830 under the name of William IV.  The city retains this name for nearly 75 years, until 1862, at which time it retakes the name Sorel.  At this time, the population of the city was primarily English and Loyalist Americans.  Most of the Franco-Canadians lived in the rural areas. 

 

Late 1700’s:  The third church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel is enlarged.

 

1796:  Hypolite (Paul) Bibeau, son of Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau, and Emily’s great uncle, was baptized on 4 Sep 1796 at the third church of St. Pierre de Sorel. 

 

1801:  Louis Bibeau, last child of Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau, and Emily’s great grandfather, was born on 9 Sep 1801 at St. Ours-sur-Richelieu (south of Sorel).

 

1815:  The population of the city and the seigneurie is 1 500 inhabitants.

 

Approximate location of the third church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel in 1815.

Source: Le Carignan, volume V, number 2, « L’eglise Saint Pierre : son histoire, son architecture », by Paul Racine ; p. 5.

 

1822:  A decision was made to build a fourth church of Saint-Pierre, but in a new location.  This fourth church is at the site of today’s current church, located at 170, rue George.  This location was chosen because of flooding that occurred at the previous location near the river and due to too much military activity nearby.

 

1823-1831:  Construction and inauguration of the fourth church Saint-Pierre.  The interior of the church, with its vaults, cornices and Corinthian columns, was not completed until 1833.

 

Following is a modern day map of Sorel showing the approximate location of the third church of Saint-Pierre (and its cemetery) and the location of the fourth church of Saint Pierre at 170 rue George, the current location of the church.

Source:  Google maps, http://maps.google.com

 

 

1824:  Hypolite (Paul) Bibeau, son of Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau and Emily’s great uncle, married Veronique Millet in Sorel on 21 September 1824.  As the fourth church was still under construction, this marriage would probably have taken place in the third church.

 

1825-1846:  They had 16 children between 1825 and 1846, most of whom were born in Sorel, Canada; however six died at birth or quite young.  Some would probably have been baptized in the third church and others in the fourth church.  It was during this time that there was much political instability, including the Rebellions of 1837-1838.

 

1829:  Louis Bibeau, last child Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau, and Emily’s great grandfather, married Charlotte L'Archeveque on 28 July 1829 at St. Pierre-de-Sorel, in probably the third church.

 

1830: They had one child, Louis Bibeau, Emily’s grandfather, baptized on 26 April 1830 at St. Pierre-de-Sorel, in probably the third church.

 

1831:  Inauguration of the fourth church Saint-Pierre

 

1830-35:  Louis Bibeau appears to have left Sorel.  In 1833 and 1834 his wife gave birth to unborn children and ultimately died during the childbirth in 1834.  In 1835 Louis married his second wife, Lucy Rabouin.  Between 1836 and 1847 they have nine children.

 

1837-1838:  Upper and Lower Canada - Rebellions of 1837 and 1838, resulting from there being too much control from an elite group of British Loyalists in the legislature.  This rebellion was put down by the British. 

 

1841:  Upper and Lower Canada united to form the Province of Canada. 

 

1847:  Hypolite (Paul) Bibeau, son of Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau, Emily’s great-uncle, immigrated to Minnesota with his wife and children. 

 

1848:  Louis Bibeau, son of Joseph Alexis and Marie Anne (Desrosiers) Bibeau, Emily’s great grandfather, immigrated to Minnesota with his second wife and children.

 

1685-1850:  Five generations of our direct Bibeau ancestors were born, lived and died in Sorel beginning as early as 1685 and ending in around 1850.  Other Bibeau relations live in the area but would be cousins of our ancestors.

 

1850: Renovations undertaken in the fourth church of Saint-Pierre to make it more spacious in order to accommodate the growth of the parish.  A balcony with seating was added.

 

1854:  Abolition of the seigneurial system.  

 

 

The City of Sorel

 

1862:  The city of William Henry adopts the name of Sorel (not Saurel, due to a spelling error).  The population is now primarily Franco-Canadian.

 

1865:  Natural catastrophe by flooding.  The islands of Sorel are completely submerged and 33 people die.

 

1867:  Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia are combined to form the country of Canada.  Canada East becomes the province of Quebec.  Canada is self-governing locally but still under control of Britain federally.

 

1876:  The streets of the city of Sorel are lit by gas.

 

1880-1882:  The fourth church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel is renovated, restored and repainted.  The ceiling at this time was covered in paintings representing different biblical scenes.  The sacristy was supplied with furnishings made of ash and black walnut (what one sees today).

 

Source: Le Carignan, volume V, number 2, « L’eglise Saint Pierre : son histoire, son architecture », by Paul Racine ; p :21.

 

1882:  Inauguration of the railway link between Montréal and Sorel.

 

1896:  Flooding caused by the mounting waters of the Saint Lawrence River, all villages on the riverbanks are flooded.

 

 

Modern Day Sorel-Tracy

 

1903:  Lighting of the city with electricity.

 

1914:  The church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel acquires the organs from the Casavant Freres.  These are the organs one find in the church today. 

 

1920:  The church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel undertakes renovations to the ceilings, and additional decoration is added.

 

1931:  Canada becomes self-governing but retains some legislative ties to Britain.

 

1937:  Strike of 350 workers at Sorel Steel Foundries, Sorel Mechanical Shops and Sorel Iron Foundries, followed by the employees of Chantiers Manseau and the future Marine Industries of Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel.  Followed by some violence, the provincial police from Québec take control of the situation and the strike ends.

 

1939-1945:  During the second world war, a military camp was established in the south part of Sorel serving as a training ground for Canadian soldiers, then Indian soldiers, and finally for the internment of German prisoners.

 

Late 1950’s-1960’s:  Restoration of the church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel to return aspects of it to its original state.  This included removing the balcony with seating.

 

 

1984 – 1985:  Strike of 1050 members of the Syndicat (CSN) of Marine Industries, marked by violence and manifestations over 10 months.  The strike ends with a new union agreement favoring the workers.

 

2000:  Sorel’s population is 23 164 and Tracy’s population is 12 741.  The municipalities of Sorel and Tracy merge under the name Sorel-Tracy.

 

 

Highlights of the current church of Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel: 

 

 

For additional photos of the church, click here. 

 

Ile Bibeau, Sorel, Quebec

 

If you follow the Saint Lawrence River northeast from Sorel-Tracy, toward Lac Saint Pierre, you will enter into the Lac Saint Pierre Biosphere Reserve:

 

This Reserve, noted for the richness of its wetlands, was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2001.  The area edging the city of Sorel-Tracy includes 103 islets and water channels, making up 40% of all the St. Lawrence wetlands. These shelter an exceptionally rich plant and animal life.  Known for its unique ecosystem, the area is a vital stop along this migratory route and 288 species of resident and transient birds - home to more than 167 species of these birds. Close to 70 species of fish are to be found in the Biosphere and it is the largest freshwater waterfowl staging area on the St. Lawrence. It is also the nesting spot, in its protected habitats, to the largest heron colony in North America.   

Source: http://www.davestravelcorner.com/journals/publish/article_56.shtml

 

One of the islands in the Biosphere is called Ile Bibeau.  We don’t really know the origin of the name, but it is not unlikely that one of our Bibeau ancestors lived there, as many islands received their names due to their residents and characteristics, such as the island of monks, of grapes, of cows, of bears, of sand, etc.

 

Following is a map of part of the Reserve showing the island called Bibeau:

Source:  www.tourismesoreltracyregion.qc.ca