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Last
change date is at the bottom of each page. |
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Thanks
Rita & Côme Lachance |
| Much
of the content of this page was written by Rita and Côme
Lachance (a direct descendent of Pierre Noel Pepin dit Lachance
and his marriage to Charlotte Rondeau). Rita has graciously
provided the two "plaque" photographs contained on this
page and they belong to HER. DO NOT take them from this
page! Other photos were obtained from the web, or otherwise,
sources unknown. Thanks Rita and Côme for helping
all of us to learn more about the place from "whence
we came". |
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From
a book entitled The Isle of Orléans by Pierre George
Roy we read, "No part of the Province of Quebec is more
picturesque than the Island of Orleans. Authors have written
its history, poets have sung its charm painters have reproduced
its lovely landscapes. Indeed, this spot seems to typify
the splendor of Canadian scenry. Its cool groves, its colorful
meadows, the fringe of trees which surround it recall the
intese vegetation of the tropics. Nothing is prettier to
behold than the little brooks which meander with a silvery
gleam through the fields and bubble down to the river."
The explorer Jacque Cartier established the island at "about
twelve leagues long and very beautiful to behold." Other
in history have estimated its size to be larger or smaller.
Acutally L'Île d'Orléans is 34 kilometres (21.25 miles)
long and 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide.
There are six (6) Parishes on the
island and each of them has a rich history of the original
founding families of New France which includes the ancestors
of (we Lachances).
From this tiny island, we, the Family Pepin dit
Lachance, established ourselves permanently in
this hemisphere. |
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| A map of the island showing
the locations of its parishes appears below. If you click
on the map, itself, a new page opens with the full size
image. You may have to scroll left and right to view the
entire map. Simply close the map window when you have finished. |
| A second map is available that has the
addition of a textual description of our Pepin dit Lachance
ancestors, where they settled and who went where. To see
this map, simply click "Ancestor Map" to the right. -----> |
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clicking
on the image opens a new window with the full-size map |
| L'Île d'Orléans has a jagged
coast line with many coves and points that extend into the
St Lawrence River. Viewing the island from the mainland,
it ascends from the water in a gentle incline, manifested
only by valleys and low ridges. The island has a temperate
climate, which is influenced by the surrounding body of
water. The island is also subjected to the ebbs and flows
of the tide. |
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L'Île D'Orléans and the Saint Lawrence River
were discovered by French explorer and mariner Jacques
Cartier (read about Jacques by clicking his name
- the link is to the Virtual Mueseum of New France.)
in 1535. While at anchor off the coast of the island from
the 7th - 14th of September, Cartier decided to make a fresh
investigation of the island. While here, he gave the island
it first name... the "Island of Bacchus".This was from the
wild grape wines growing on it. He later changed his mind
in 1536 and renamed it Isle D'Orleans in honour of the Duke
of Orleans, the son of Francois 1, King of France. For the
next 100 years the island was part of the Beaupre Seigneurial
domain.
The native indians used to name it "Ouindige", an Algonquin word which means "Bewitched Place". Today's inhabitants are still known as "Island Sorcerers", attributed to the abundance of fireflies that appear at night. |
In 1636 it was
granted to Jacques Castillon as an independent Seigneury.
The island then subjugated to the Bishop of Quebec Francois
Montmorency, then to Francois Berthelot and finally to
Guillaume Gaillard and his descendants. The Seigneur's
role was to grant land. As of 1651, the residents were
granted fiefs and sub-fiefs, which they settled on and
cultivated. By 1685 the Census recorded 1205 residents
and 917 heads of cattle. Most of the colonists chose to
settle just above the northern arm of the St Lawrence
where they were sheltered by the cliffs near St Pierre
and Ste Famille. The colonists then spread throughout
the island with the Lachance family mainly congregating
in St Jean. The island was occupied by General James Wolfe
in 1759. This English conquest was short-lived and no
trace of this occupation remains.
The colonists had
to be self-sufficient because they were cut off from the
rest of the world. They became fisherman, blacksmiths,
carpenters, saddlers, tanners, shipbuilders and captains.
The farmers sowed flax to weave into linen for clothing,
wheat for flour and grains for cattle feed. Windmills
and watermills were built to help with the grinding of
flour. Until
1940, the island was accessible only by ferry in the summer
and by ice bridges in the winter. The completion
of the Pont de l'ile -- the Bridge of the Island -- made
access easier, but the island's little communities have
remained largely rural and picturesquely Quebecois in
style.
There are
over 600 historically important buildings on the island,
and strict controls have ensured that even new buildings
adhere to the original character.
The Chemin
Royal, the 68-kilometre "Royal Road" that circles the
island, takes visitors through the six distinctly different
villages, presenting glimpses around each turn of the
sinuous curves of the St. Lawrence River. |
Life
on the Island |
Click to View Full Size |
The land was divided into long strips
perpendicular to the shore. These parcels of land continue
inland until they reach the "trecarre". The "trecarre" is
the line separating northern and southern lots.The island
farmers were subject to Seigneurial law until 1854, which
dictated that the land would be used to cultivate sustenance
foods. The farmers started to produce specialized crops
once the Quebec City markets created a demand for it. Today
the main crops are oats, hay, potatoes and strawberries.
Today's farms are operated as a specialized business. |
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| Architecture on the island has a 350-year-old history.
Many of the buildings have been deemed of great historical
value. The first houses were patterned after the French
houses that they were familiar with in France.
The houses were small and centred
around a fireplace that was used both for heat and cooking.
They were built of wood with thatched roofs. As time passed
they designed houses that were larger and more adapted to
the weather conditions. Villages tended to expand length
wise following the contours of the shore. Houses were mostly
built along the Chemin Royal close to one another in the
villages and became less frequent between towns. The main
attraction in town was the church and rectory with the cemetery
as an important part of the parish landscape. The importance
of the church in their lives is signified by the ornate
interior of those churches. |
Click to View Full Size |
| Voici les 6 paroisses de l'Île d'Orléans |
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click to view full size |
Sainte-Famille
Area : 17.92 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 942 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1661 |
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| Sainte
Famille was founded in 1661 making it the first parish on Ile D'Orlean but
the church was not built until 1743. Sainte Famille has a view of Sainte
Anne de Beaupre and the Laurentian Mountains. Being the oldest parish the
village to this day has several stone houses dating from the French Regime.
Also facing the church we see the famous Notre Dame Convent founded by Marguerite
Bougeois. The industry in this area is mostly dairy and beef farms, and
apple orchards. On June 24, 1659 Antoine Pepin dit Lachance bought a farm
of 2 "arpents"(73,604 square feet) number 28B, which was very close to the
Ste Famille church. Today the land numbers are 3990-4019. This land was
later subdivided into town lots. |
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click to view full size |
Saint-Pierre
Area : 12.02 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 2000 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1679 |
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| Saint
Pierre was founded in 1679. St Pierre has the oldest church in the province
of Quebec dating back to 1717. It may even be the oldest church in Canada.
This area was known for traditional industries such as blacksmiths, tinsmiths,
and butter and cheese production. The area presently has dairy farms, and
the agricultural cultivation of potatoes, corn and strawberries. Saint Pierre
is the closest village to the bridge linking the Island to Quebec City.
This has increased the population of this area. A main attraction for this
parish is the thousand of snow geese, Canada geese and several species of
ducks. |
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click to view full size |
Saint-François
Area : 11.87 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 483 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1679 |
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| The St Francois parish was founded in 1679 with
the church being built in 1734. The church burned in 1988 and was rebuilt
in 1992 It is located at the eastern end of the Island with its farms stretching
from north to south. The farmers here principally produce strawberries,
leeks and potatoes. This area is also famous for duck, snow geese and canada
geese hunting. The observation tower bestows a magnificent view of Montmagny,
Mont Sainte-Anne and Cap Tourmente. |
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click to view full size |
Saint-Jean
Area : 16.85 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 832 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1679
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| The
St Jean parish was founded in 1679. The church was built in 1732 with a
walled cemetery overlooking the St Lawrence River. The farms in this parish
run south to north to the middle of the island making the farms 4 kilometres
long. These farms butt onto the Ste Famille parish farms in the middle of
the island at the "trecarre". St Jean was considered the island capitol
because of several prosperous dairy, potato and strawberry farmers, numerous
navigators and several summer residents. It lost its status when the bridge
to Quebec City was built in 1935. This is the parish where most of the Lachance
family settled. |
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Of special interest to the Lachance Family is the commemoration plaque on the front
of the St Jean church.
My loose transation is:
In honor of the Lachance family who in memory of
their ancestors established on the island of Orleans erected at the (religious)
establishment of the parish of St Jean in the year 1679.
click on the image to view full size |
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| Also to the descendents
of Barthelemy the plaque inside of the church naming Barhelemy, his wife
Marie-Anne Thivierge and his daughter in law Genevieve Paquet as being buried
in the church nave which is a great honour because that privilege was normally
reserved for priests. |
click to view Full Size |
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click to view full size |
Saint-Laurent
Area : 13.64 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 1551 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1679 |
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| The
St Laurent parish was founded in 1679 but the church was not built until
1860. This parish is renowned for its maritime activities. It had a shipyard
and was famous for building "chaloupes" a long rowing boat. This also where
you will find the Processional chapel. |
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click to view full size
| Sainte-Pétronille
Area : 1.74 Sq. Miles
Population - 1995 : 1064 inhabitants
Founding of the Parish : 1870 |
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| St
Petronille was the last parish to be founded in 1870 and the church was
built in 1871. It is locally known as the "end of the island" and situated
at the western end of the island. In the 1800's Quebec City merchants built
magnificent "Regency" style homes that are to this day part of the landscape
along Chemin Royal. This part of the island also was a popular summer resort
for the rich residents of Quebec City. As a result of this posterity a Victorian
style hotel "Chateau Belair" was built. This part of the island also has"
Boreal Oak Grove" which has North America's rare red oaks. |
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| Links to Other L'Île d'Orléans
Sites |
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| Link |
Description |
| Québec
Tourism Bureau |
Official Web site of the greater
Québec Area Tourism and Convention Bureau - It was here
that the original ancestors first cleared and settled their
lands; the names of the founding families are still quite
in evidence throughout the island. Life on Île d'Orléans. |
| île d'Orléans Tourism Site |
Tourism specifically for île d'Orléans this page is devoted to the island. |
The
île d'Orléans
Chamber of Commerce |
Discover a treausure island,
come to Ile d'Orléans. Especially check out the Historic
Link on this site. |
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