But as yet they had no claim on the Island of Montreal. As we have
learned, this had been ceded to M. de la Chaussée in 1636 and
transferred to M. de Lauson in 1638, who had become the intendant of
Dauphigny where he was now residing. With daring boldness M. de la
Dauversière and M. de Fancamp, journeyed to Vienne in Dauphigny to
arrange terms with him for the cession of the island to them. De Lauson
had not colonized it, or carried out any of the conditions requiring
its being tilled, but he was not easily disposed to relinquish what was
a valuable possession for the advancement of his family, the more so as
he learned that his interests were jeopardized by the new company. He
therefore refused to discuss the question.
A second attempt and visit were made, this time with success, for M. de
la Dauversière had secured in the meantime the powerful co-operation of
Father Charles Lalemant, who had been the first Jesuit superior of the
Canadian missions, having been sent out in 1621.
Lalemant knew Canada well and had great influence with the Company of
the Hundred Associates. He had been superior of the church of Notre
Dame de Recouvrance in Quebec, as well as Champlain's confessor, and
had had naturally many official relations with M. de Lauson in his
capacity as intendant of the company. As he was held in great esteem by
M. de Lauson, Father Lalemant, who since his return from Canada two
years before was now the procurator of the missions of the society, was
a powerful advocate for the cession.
Accordingly the cession was granted by deed dated Vienne, August 7,
1640, to Pierre Chevrier, écuyer, Sieur de Fancamp, and Jérome de
Royer, Sieur de la Dauversière. This declares "that M. Jean de Lauson
cedes, has given and transferred, purely and simply the Island of
Montreal, situated on the River St. Lawrence, above Lake St. Peter,
entirely as it was given by the gentlemen of the Company of New France
to M. de la Chaussée for them and theirs to enjoy, having regard to the
same duties and conditions expressed in the act of the fifteenth of
January, 1636."
A second contract was signed, the same afternoon, by which "M. de
Lauson as much in his own name as the legitimate administrator for
Francis de Lauson, écuyer, Sieur de Lyrée, his son, yields to them the
right of navigation and passage on all the extent of the River St.
Lawrence as well as the right of fishing in this river, within ten
leagues around the Island of Montreal and that in consideration of the
great number of men which they are to cause to pass into this island to
people the colony and to aid to till the lands adjoining those of the
said Sieur de Lyrée, with the duty of giving him each year six pounds
of fish, as a token of simple acknowledgment."
In December following the general assembly of the Company of the
Hundred Associates or the "Société de Nouvelle France" was held in
Paris in the house of M. Bordier, secretary of His Majesty's council
and a former director of the Company.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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