1642 The Founding Of Montreal
by Alfred Sandham
The history of Montreal dates back to October, 1535, when
Jacques Cartier first landed on the island. An Indian village,
called Hochelaga, existed here at this time. Its outline was
circular; and it was encompassed by three rows of palisades, or
rather picket fences, one within the other, well secured and put
together. A single entrance was left in this rude fortification, but
guarded with pikes and stakes, and every precaution taken against
siege or attack. Cartier named the place Mount Royal, from the
elevation that rose in rear of the site, a little way back from the
river St. Lawrence. It first began to be settled by Europeans in
1542, and exactly one century afterward the spot destined for the
city was, with due solemnities, consecrated at the era of
Maissoneuve and named Ville Marie, a designation which it retained
for a long period. In 1760 it was taken by the English. Since then
it has taken great leaps in the way of progress until to-day it is
the chief commercial city in Canada and the largest city in the
Dominion. Montreal has the further advantage, in its natural
situation, of being at the head of ocean navigation. Its population
to-day, including suburbs, is in the neighborhood of 350,000.
On the death of Champlain (on December 25, 1635), M. de Montmagny
was appointed governor of New France; but so little attention was
paid to the wants of the colony that its prosperity was much
retarded, the fur trade alone being conducted with any spirit. But
great vigor was manifested in religious matters and several
institutions were erected. In 1630 the Hotel Dieu, at Quebec, was
founded by three nuns sent out by the Duchesse d'Aiguillon, and
Madame de la Peltrie brought out from France at her own charge
another body of nuns, who established the Ursuline convent. The
peopling and fortifying of the island of Montreal, with the view of
repressing the incursions of the Iroquois and the conversion of the
Indians, had occupied the entire attention of the first
missionaries, and in 1640 the whole of this domain was ceded to a
company for that purpose.
Jerome le Royer de la Dauversiere, a collector of taxes at La
Fleche, in Anjou, and a young priest of Paris, Jean Jacques Olier by
name, having met each other, formed the idea of establishing at
Montreal three religious communities: one of priests of convert the
Indians, one of nuns to nurse the sick, and one of nuns to teach the
children of the Indians and of the colonists. It was an easy matter
to talk over these plans; but, in order to carry them out, they must
first raise some money. For this purpose Olier laid the matter
before some of his wealthy penitents, while Dauversiere succeeded in
securing the Baron de Fanchamp, a devout Christian and a wealthy
man, who, considering the enterprise as one calculated to further
his spiritual interests, was eager to take part in it. Shortly
afterward three others were secured, and the six together formed the
germ of the "Societe de Notre Dame de Montreal." Among them they
raised seventy-five thousand livres.
Previous to this the island of Montreal had been granted to M. de
Lauson, a former president of the Company of One Hundred Associates,
and his son possessed the exclusive monopoly of the fisheries on the
St. Lawrence. After much persuasion Dauversiere and Fanchamp
succeeded in securing from him a transfer of his title to them; and
to make the matter more secure they obtained, in addition, a grant
of the island from its former owners, the Hundred Associates. That
company, however, reserved the western extremity of the island for
themselves, as a site for a fort and stores. The younger Lauzon also
gave Dauversiere and his company the right of fishery within two
leagues of the shores of the island, which favor they were to
acknowledge by a yearly donation of ten pounds of fish. These grants
were afterward confirmed by the King, and thus Dauversiere and his
companions became "Lords of the Isle of Montreal."
They now proceeded to mature their plan, which was to send out
forty men to take possession of Montreal, intrench themselves, and
raise crops, after which they would build houses for the priests and
convents for the nuns. It was necessary, however, that some
competent person should be secured who should take command of the
expedition and act as governor of the newly acquired isle. To fill
this important position it was desirable that to the qualities of
the statesman should be added the courage of the soldier. One in
whom these were combined was found in the person of Paul de
Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, a devout Christian, an able
statesman, and a valiant soldier. Maisonneuve at once accepted the
position, while many wealthy ladies contributed toward defraying the
expense of the undertaking and also became members of the
"Association of Montreal." In February, 1641, the Associates, with
Olier at their head, assembled in the Church of Notre Dame at Paris,
and before the altar of the Virgin "solemnly consecrated Montreal to
the Holy Family" and to be called "Ville-Marie de Montreal."
Maisonneuve with his party, forty-five in number, reached Quebec
too late to ascend the river. On their arrival at that place they
were received with jealousy and distrust. The agents of the Company
of One Hundred Associates looked on them with suspicion, and
Montmagny, the Governor, feared a rival in Maisonnenve. Every
opposition was thrown in their way, and Montmaguy tried to persuade
Maisonneuve to exchange the island of Montreal for that of Orleans.
But Maisonneuve was not to be deceived, and he expressed his
determination to found a colony at Montreal, "even if every tree on
the island was an Iroquois."
During the winter Maisonneuve employed his men in various labors
for the future benefit of the colony, but principally in building a
boat in which to ascend the river. While staying at Quebec the party
gained an unexpected addition to their numbers in the person of
Madame de la Peltrie, who joined them, and took with her all the
furniture she had lent the Ursulines.
On May 8, 1642, Maisonneuve embarked from St. Michael, and on the
17th his little flotilla, a pinnace, a flat-bottomed craft moved by
sails, and two row-boats, approached Montreal, and all on board
raised in unison a hymn of praise. Montmagny was there to deliver
the island, on behalf of the Company of One Hundred Associates;
while here, too, was Father Vimont, superior of the missions. On the
following day they glided along the green and solitary shores, now
thronged with the life of a busy city, and landed on the spot which
Champlain, thirty-one years before, had chosen as the fit site of a
settlement. It was a tongue or triangle of land, formed by the
junction of a rivulet with the St. Lawrence. This rivulet was
bordered by a meadow, and beyond rose the forest with its vanguard
of scattered trees. Early spring flowers were blooming in the young
grass, and the birds flitted among the boughs.
Maisonneuve sprang ashore and fell on his knees. His followers
imitated his example; and all joined their voices in songs of
thanksgiving. Tents, baggage, arms, and stores were landed. Here
were the ladies with their servants; Montmagny, no willing
spectator; and Maisonneuve, a warlike figure, erect and tall, his
men clustering around him - soldiers, sailors, artisans, and
laborers - all alike soldiers at need. They kneeled in reverent
silence as the host was raised aloft; and when the rite was over the
priest turned and addressed them: "You are a grain of mustard-seed
that shall rise and grow until its branches overshadow the land. You
are few, but your work is the work of God. His smile is on you, and
your children shall fill the land." Then they pitched their tents,
lighted their fires, stationed their guards, and lay down to rest.
Such was the birthnight of Montreal. The following morning they
proceeded to form their encampment, the first tree being felled by
Maisonneuve. They worked with such energy that by the evening they
erected a strong palisade, and had covered their altar with a roof
formed of bark. It was some time after their arrival before their
enemies, the Indians, were made aware of it, and they improved the
time by building some substantial houses and in strengthening their
fortifications.
The activity and zeal of Maisonneuve induced him to make a voyage
to France to obtain assistance for his settlement. Though his
difficulties were great, he yet was enabled to induce one hundred
men to join his little establishment on the island. Notwithstanding
this addition to his force, the progress of the colony was greatly
retarded by the frequent attacks of the Indians. These enemies soon
became a cause of great trouble to the colonists, and it was
dangerous to pass beyond the palisades, as the Indians would hide
for days, waiting to assail any unfortunate straggler. Although
Maisonneuve was brave as man could be, he knew that his company was
no match for the wily enemy, owing to their ignorance of the mode of
Indian warfare; therefore he kept his men as near the fort as
possible. They, however, failed to appreciate his care of them, and
imputed it to cowardice. This led him to determine that such a
feeling should not exist if he could possibly remove it. He
therefore ordered his men to prepare to attack the Indians, at the
same time signifying his intention to lead them himself. He sallied
forth at the head of thirty men, leaving D'Aillebout with the
remainder to hold the fort. After they had waded through the snow
for some distance they were attacked by the Iroquois, who killed
three of his men and wounded several others. Maisonneuve and his
party held their ground until their ammunition began to fail, and
then he gave orders to retreat, he himself remaining till the last.
The men struggled on for some time facing the enemy, but finally
they broke their ranks and retreated in great disorder toward the
fort. Maisonneuve, with a pistol in each hand, held the Iroquois in
check for some time. They might have killed him, but they wished to
take him prisoner. Their chief, desiring this honor, rushed forward,
but just as he was about to grasp him Maisonneuve fired and he fell
dead. The Indians, fearing that the body of their chief would fall
into the hands of the French, rushed forward to secure it, and
Maisonneuve passed safely into the fort. From that day his men never
dared to impute cowardice to him.
In 1644 the island of Montreal was made over to the Sulpicians of
Paris, and was destined for the support of that religious order. In
1658 Viscount d'Argenson was appointed governor of Canada, but the
day he landed the Iroquois murdered some Algonquin Indians under the
very guns of Quebec. The Indians seemed determined to exterminate
the French. In addition to keeping Quebec in a state little short of
actual siege, they massacred a large number of the settlers at
Montreal. D'Argenson having resigned, the Baron d'Avagnon was
appointed governor (1661), and on his arrival visited the several
settlements throughout the country. He was surprised to find them in
such a deplorable condition, and made such representation to the
King, as to the neglect of the Company of One Hundred Associates,
that M. de Monts, the King's commissioner, was ordered to visit
Canada and report on its condition. At the same time four hundred
more troops were added to the colonial garrison. The arrival of
these troops gave life and confidence to the colonists and relieved
Montreal from its dangers. The representations made by M. de Monts,
as well as those of the Bishop of Quebec, determined Louis XIV to
demand their charter from the Company of One Hundred Associates and
to place the colony in immediate connection with the crown. As the
profits of the fur trade had been much diminished by the hostility
of the Iroquois, the company readily surrendered its privileges. As
soon as the transfer was completed, D'Avagnon was recalled and M. de
Mesy was appointed governor for three years. Canada was thus changed
into a royal government, and a council of state was nominated to
cooperate with the Governor in the administration of affairs. This
council consisted of the Governor, the Bishop of Quebec, and the
intendant, together with four others to be named by them, one of
whom was to act as attorney-general.
END
