Louis Sedilot, ancestor of the Sedilots and the Montreuils of Canada, was born about 1600 at Montreuil-les-Bresches (or Montreuil sur Bresche) in Picardie, France. He went to Paris in 1626 as a young man, and there met and married Marie Challe. They had a daughter, Marie, born in 1627. Marie Challe died in 1630 and Louis married a second time to Marie Grimoult,{sometimes spelled Grimou), widow of Bonaventure Pagnon, from Gif-sur-Yvette Arrondissement of Palaiseau, Archdiocese of Paris (Essonne) in 1636.
The following year, 1637, Louis and wife Marie crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada. Sometime before their departure Louis placed his daughter Marie, born of his first marriage to Marie Challe, with the Feuillantes Nuns of Rue St. Jacques in Paris and had advanced these nuns maintenance fees of 500 pounds, which amount covered the expense for a four or five years stay. There is some question as to exactly when Louis returned to France for his daughter, Marie. It is presumed to be around 1639 when Marie was 12 or 13 years of age. Upon arrival in Quebec Louis contracted to the 100 Associates Company to clear and break ground for tillage. He worked for them until 1640 and then was hired by the company that succeeded them, The New France Co.
In 1645, he decided to acquire his own land. He gained a concession from the Governor of New France, Charles Huault de Montagny, at Cote Sainte-Genevieve. In 1651 he obtained a new land concession from the third Governor, Louis d'Ailleboust. Finally in 1660 he received a third concession from Governor d'Argenson.
The 1667 Census recorded proof of his life and work. He owned 40 arpents (60 acres), cleared, and three head of stock in his barn. He had seven children in his two marriages, three sons and four daughters. Each of the three sons adopted a different surname. Adrien took the surname of de Brisval. Etienne called himself Desnoyers and Jean took the name, Sedilot dit Montreuil. Jean is the first link of our decendency from Louis and Marie Grimoult. Grimou in her notes.
1627 Jean Nicolet de Belleborne (Metis? (1598-1642)) married a Algonquian or Huron woman. According to Champlain the population of Quebec is 67 including children . This would imply the existence of a Metis population.
In 1643, one hundred and nine years after the first unloadings of Cartier, there were only three hundred immigrants in Quebec. Twenty years later, only five hundred people.The following is part of an e-mail sent to me from Harry E. Montroy.
The person making this inquiry is Harry E. Montroy. 03/13/2004 Your message is interesting, but I would like to know which Montreuil, France you speak of. I have visited several and haven't found the correct one yet. I think that Montreuil sur Bresche is the correct one. Montreuil sur Mer is not the correct one. Please respond.My answer to Harry was;
I consider Harry an authority on the Montroy family, so if he believes it is "Montreuil sur Bresche", that is good enough for me. I would have to dig out my papers, but it seems to me Louis married his first wife in Paris and I believe she was from Paris, but I can't say that for sure. And, I remember Montreuil as sort of a small village on the edge of Paris, I believe. If there is more than one, and obviously there is, I will take Harry's opinion over anyone, that is for sure. When I get that far back either on my mother's side or my father's side it becomes a little guest work, ESP and feelings in the bones so to speak. I will add Harry's opinion to my family history notes on Louis Sedilot if he doesn't mind. Best Regards, TomMarch 15, 2004: An e-mail from Harry E. Montroy
Tom: Harry, now if we could find one named Dick with our interest we would be one fine trio. I just read the information you sent to Joan it shows excellent work. My work is strictly tunnel, a straight line of all marriages of father to son to our m, arriage in 1952, Joan and I. My efforts were greatly helped the University of Quebec to include visits to their genealogy department or Societe de genealogie de Quebec. I did no lateral work except finding some marriages of the children. I have great difficulty with my Jean Baptiste 1826 marriage to Marie Ann Harr (Hore) and the second marriage to Julia Andrews (Eason) with no deaths or divorces my my my --- in 1841. It is getting late and I'm too windy, but we visited Montreuil. It is the remains of an old walled city on the sea above Calia. We were the first Montroy-Montreuil to return. None in the telephone book. The visitor's center made a fun thing of it telling us there were forty such Montreuil di Mere or Breche etc of people leaving the town carrying the name of origin. Breche is a river north of Paris, there is a sector of Paris called Montreuil. A Pierre Montreuil designed Notre Dame ??? Good night; Harry
Today, Monday the twenty-sixth day of April, in the year one thousand six hundred thirty-eight, there appeared before us, Charles Huault de Montmagny, Lieutenant for His Majesty throughout the entire region of the St. Lawrence River of New France and deputy commissioner acting for His said Majesty, to sovereignly judge without appeal, both civilly and criminally and Louis Sedilot, land-clearer and ploughman, husband of Marie Grimou, who is recorded as having made complaint to us that on the said day, at between five and six o'clock in the morning, leaving his dwelling to go to work, claimed that he heard Olive{a blank) wife of Anthoine Sallardin. also a land-clearer and ploughman, both living at Quebec, in the country of New France. in the service of the members of the Company of this place, who was threatening to knockdown and to kill his wife and that, saying that she had intended to do so for a long time, to which he, the plaintiff, claimed he replied that she certainly should not do so & after some little time had elapsed that he, the plaintiff, being at his work near his dwelling, claimed he heard his said wife cry out, going to the aid of said cry, he claimed he ran to see what the matterwas and, he claimed he saw, being at his house, that the (blank) was holding down the wife of him, the plaintiff, under her feet against the ground---that she was all bloody and unable to speak, and the said Sallardin was said to have stated, when coming on the scene, tohis wife that she should kill her, and said plaitiff claimed to have asked the son of the (blank) what his mother used to wound his wife; he (the son) was claimed to have replied that he did not know, except that his mother did have a knive with which shde used to scrape turnips, which knife is being held at our office--its blade is entirely defective & broken in the handle, moreover that he, Sallardin, was claimed to have threatened her several times to kill her, and that he indeed would, but for the time being would refrain from so doing, calling her a rogue and uttering other atrocious profanities, moreover, he the plaintiff, claimed that he learned from his wife that, when she was cast onto the ground, the Sallardin woman held the knife and would have struck her in the stomach, had she not parried the blow with her arm, and further, that the said Sallardin woman hit the wife of said plaintiff with firebrands, and the plaintiffs wife was unable to judge what she was wounded with was near her & the plaintiff declared he could not write nor sign and therefore only made a mark. (mark of Sedilot).**
Curiosity of: Robert Edward Montreuil Montroy (1924) The 1667 Census recorded proof of his life and work. He owned 40 arpents (60 acres), cleared, and three head of stock in his barn. He had seven children in his two marriages, three sons and four daughters. Each of the three sons adopted a different surname. Adrien took the surname of de Brisval. Etienne called himself Desnoyers and Jean took the name, Sedilot dit Montreuil. Jean is the first link of our decendency from Louis and Marie Grimou. LOUIS SEDILOT IS OUR GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER.
At the beginning of colonization in the 16th and 17th centuries, new families arriving from France were often listed separately by their birthplace city's name, for the purpose of registration. Montreuil was the birthplace name used with the Sedilot family. The dit (called or known as) was used, so the family name became Sedilot dit Montreuil. The name took several variations. I have found it spelled Sedilot, Cedilot and Cedilotte in the church records I have researched. Most family genealogies are by word of mouth handed down from generation to generation. Items are related about family history as best as they "can recall." Names and dates inadvertently change. There were many people that were unable to write their names; when they had to have documents recorded, the Priests, Clerks, Notaries etc. would spell the names the way they sounded. Consequently, the same name could be found with three or four different spellings, and the person having the recording done would sign his or her "X" not knowing the difference. Regarding the name Sedilot, I found a book on the origin of French names which listed the name as follows: SEDILOT - of Chediac (a town of New Brunswick, in France near the Belgian border), a community of the hills (or in the hill community of), county of St. Gauden; vicinity of the capital (Liege).
My name is listed on my Baptismal and Birth Certificate as Robert Edward Montreuil in the records at Notre Dame Church and City Hall, Ogdensburg, New York. On the 1870 census of Ogdensburg, New York our family (probably Great Grandfather Antoine) adopted the English spelling of Montroy. I did uncover a Jean-Baptiste Cedilot married to Judith Cholette living in Ogdensburg in the 1850's. Tracing back I found a common ancestor in Jean-Baptiste Sedilot dit Montreuil's sons, Michel and Jean-Gabriel. Jack Cholette is descended from Michel who was married to Marie-Josephte Lalonde. We are descended from Jean-Gabriel and Marie-Amable Miville.
The main reason the Montreuil families and others moved to Eastern Ontario and Northern United States was the poor economic and political climate of the late 1700's and early 1800's. Between 1760,( the year the British "invaders" took power in Nouvelle France) and 1838, there were many conflicts between French-Canadians and English newcomers. All these conflicts ended with the Rebellion of 1837-1838, when radicals tried , without success, to stop the English domination by way of a civil war. The largest part of that war took place in Vaudreuil-Soulanges county. So for almost a century the region was under military domination. For those who were not farmers, there were few jobs.
Regarding the various dates of birth; some of these dates are actually baptismal dates which were shown in the church records instead of the date of birth. Usually the child was baptized within two or three days.
In researching at the Ogdensburg Public Library, I came across several items of interest regarding the Sedilot/Montreuil family. I found a reference to a (Role des engage du dit cannot) which gave Louis Montreuil in June 1743, Charles Montreuil de Soulanges in June 1752, and Francois Montreuil & Joseph Montreuil in June 1745, a Trade Passport to go into the interior by canoe to trade with the Indians for furs. I found a reference to a French Canadian fur trader named Louis Montra in a history of Chetek, Wisconsin, where I now live. He was married to an Indian Lady and ran a trading post in Chetek. He is buried where Lake Pokegama now covers the spot. Although the spelling is different, the pronounciation of Montreuil is the same??????? I am researching for more information. Of Louis' children: Marie married Bertrand Fafard in 1640 At St Maurice Parrish, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Jacqueline married Jean Chenier in 1651; Adrien married Jeanne-Angelique Briere in 1661; Etienne married Madeline Carbonnet in 1664; Marguerite married Jean Aubuchon in 1655; Marie (Louis & Marie Grimou's daughter) married twice: She married Rene Filiatrault 11 June 1657 when she was 13. This marriage was annulled and she married Julien Trottier in 1660 when she was 16 years old. Jean(our direct descendent from Louis) married Marie Claire LaHogue in 1669 and then Charlotte-Francoise Poitras in 1689 after Marie died. Marie Claire LaHogue came to Canada as one of the Filles du Roi (Kings Daughters). These women were afforded passage to Canada to become wives of the French settlers presently in Canada and to create families to populate Neuville France. (Source: Listing of "Kings Daughters" at http://204.50.177.183/roots/fillesdu htm).
Benoit Montreuil, who lives in Coteau Landing, Quebec (Near St. Polycarpe) sent me some copies of several pertinent pages of the marriage record of Soulanges County. This is where I found my Great Grandfather Antoine Cedilot dit Montreuil, and began my search to go back as far as possible. The Parrish of St. Polycarpe was not founded until 1851, so all families there were on the records of St. Joseph du Soulanges at Les Cedres, Quebec. If I found them in the St. Joseph register I entered that as a birth-place, they may have been born in St. Polycarpe or the nearby area. I found marriages to men and women named Paquet, Fournier, Leroux, Pilon, Lalonde, Poirier, Martin, Bray, Lefebre, Daoust, Smith, Monpetit, Sauve (Sovie), Duval, Picard, Cholette, Gauthier, Doucet, Rapin, Pharand, Cholet, La Framboise, Giroux, Briere, Chenier, Carbonnet, Aubuchon, Trottier, Auclair, Jodoin, Legris, Brunet, de laHaise, Sabatier; just to name a few of the families we are related to.
I have added other Sedilot/Cedilot/Montreuil families to this family history. They are not in a direct line to our parents but are related as Great Aunts and Uncles, first, second etc. cousins. I add them as a matter of interest and also in case other Montroy families wish to trace back on their own family. My Aunt Lena Montroy (Melina Lena's) maiden name was Montroy. I am researching at present to trace the branch family she is descended from. I think the possibility exists that she may be descended from Jean Baptiste's son Michel who would be our 6th Great, Uncle. { JULY 9, 2000....I have completed research re: Aunt Lena Montroy. Retracing her ancestry I found she did indeed descend from Jean Baptiste's son Michel). If I am correct She and her husband Napoleon Henry would have been 4th cousins.I am indebted to many people for this information, besides the Mormon Family History Center in Barron, Wisconsin and several genealogical books. They are (Cousin)Benoit Montreuil, Coteau Landing, Quebec, Canada, My brothers, Dick and Paul Montroy, My sister-in-law, Carol Montroy, my cousins, Marie, Carmen & Gerald Montroy, my "cousine" Elizabeth Montroy Cox, Washington, D.C., French Canadian researcher Father Youville LaBonte, Auburn, Maine, Persis Boyesen,(Ogdensburg and Town of Oswegatchie Historian). All have provided some bits of information which have assisted me.
Other sources of information are the parrish records of St Joseph du Soulanges, Les Cedres, Quebec, the parrish records of St Polycarpe, Quebec, marriage records of (Comte de Soulanges), Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Francais (1668-1760)Tome II, Dictionnaire genealogique des familles du Quebec (Rene Jette), Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles Canadiennes(Mgr Gyprien Tanguay) Septieme Volume, Repertoire Alphabetique des Mariages des Canadiens-Francais de 1760-1935, Parrish records of St. Zotique, Quebec, St. Foye,( Notre Dame) Quebec, St. Ignace, Coteau-Du-Lac, Quebec, and Parrish records of Notre Dame Church, Ogdensburg, New York.
It has been most enjoyable for me to research the Parrish records (on Micro-film) all in French longhand. I have learned many new French words in translating and feel closer to our original French heritage. I still wish that some of the Priests entering the information would have taken penmanship lessons!!17 October 1997
I have made contact with another cousin, Patricia Rapin Binns, in Boulder, Colorado. Mrs. Binns has sent me a wealth of information on the Rapin Family and where we tie together. Thank you Pat.21 April 1998
I have been contacted by Mrs. Judy Varrette from Edmondton, Alberta,Canada. She has been researching the Montreuil family as to an Algonquin Indian connection. I find it fascinating and will anxiously await her research information, as well as trying to locate some of my own. There were rumors in the family when I was growing up as to a possible connection with the Iroquois Nation, Mohawk Tribe. However I have not been able to substantiate this. It would probably have been through the Lamping or Tyo Families, to which I am related.Cannot find the connection between her Great Grandfather Alexis Montreuil and Louis' line. Alexis' son Joseph married an Algonquin Indian.
Will continue to research. Records are difficult to research as they are kept on the Indian Reservation. I understand from Mrs. Varette that they will be available in the near future.I have made more contacts. Sharon & Wayne Montroy of Ottawa, Canada, Cindy and Dave Fregoe of Massena, New York, Jack Cholette, Rochester, New York, Christine Dussault, Sudbury, Ontario, Suzanne Stearns, Massena, N.Y, Harold & Mary Ellen Upell, Phoenix, AZ and Donald Lamping, Salmon, Idaho. We are presently exchanging information regarding our family ties of Sedilot/Montreuil/Montroy, Gougeon, Upell, and Lamping.
21 May 2000
Received large packet of information from Judy.
Judy's information shows that a Joseph Montreuil married Marie Kakawabit, an Algonquin Indian in Chapeau, Quebec on 24 February 1852. Joseph's parents are Alexis Montreuil and Marguerite Davant aka Josephte Davenne.August 2001
Back in contact with Judy Varrette. We have exhausted our research so far as to the parents of Alexis Montreuil. This would allow us to find the line back to Louis Sedilot.
Cannot find the connection between her Great Grandfather Alexis Montreuil and Louis' line. Alexis' son Joseph married an Algonquin Indian named Maria Kahawabik on 24 February 1852 in Chapeau, Quebec.October, November, December 2001
Will continue to research. Records are difficult to research as they are kept on the Indian Reservation. I understand from Mrs. Varette that they will be available in the near future.
We have postings on many of the surname boards. Let us hope one of them will be successful.
In the meantime I have been researching some other of the Montroy Families from Ogdensburg, NY who are not directly in my line.
Received a large envelope August 16th from Mrs. Corinne Chapman of Farmington, Missouri containing her research of Louis Sedilot. Spellings differ in some instances but I know they are the same people. Thank you Corinne.October 23, 2002
I have interspersed throughout my original research, information that Corinne has furnished. Her information is well documented and has changed some dates and has also furnished many interesting items I was not aware of. I have included a part of a notarized affair regarding Marie Grimou in her notes.
Francois Marie Grimou was the widow of her second husband Bonaventure Pagon. She was listed in the census of 1681 as 74 years of age. She was a domestique at the Hotel-Dieu in Quebec. She was confirmed at the age of 48 on 10 August 1659. There seems to be a discrepancy between the two records as to her age. The census record of 1681 would show her as being born in 1607. If she was confirmed at age 48 in 1659, she would have been born in 1611. Monsigneur Cyprien Tanguay in his Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles Canadiennes , Septieme Volume, shows her as being born in 1606.
Free traders and Coureurs des Bois are branded as criminals, and the penalty could be death. This is deemed necessary, as up to 25% of the colony goes native in one year.
In New France, the people have no political rights. Public meetings are banned. The people must be indoors by 9:00 P.M. Farmers are forbidden to move into town. Farmers can't own more than two horses. Books are banned, except for devotional matter. Two children are whipped for saluting the Governor before saluting a priest. Men must marry by age 20 and girls by age 16 or the parents are fined. Many girls are married at the childhood ages of 10 to 12 years. Immigrants to New France are forced to become Roman Catholic or be deported.Louis Sedilot (1600-1671) arrived Kebec 1637 with 2nd wife Francois Marie Grimoult.
4. Adrien Sedilot dit Montreuil de Brisval
December 18: Kebec, birth (II)-Adrien Sedilot, died March 1, 1715, son (I)-Louis Sedilot (1600-1672) and Marie Grimoult, b-1606