Historical Narrative of the Genealogy of
Pierre Bernard dit LaFontaine
Origin in Montbron, Angouleme, France
The LaFountain family line begins with Pierre Bernard and Marie
Rezeson Rose of Montbron, France in the diocese of Angouleme. The
original data states the place of origin in Monbrun, and fortunately
included the diocese as Angouleme. There is a Monbrun in the southeast
of France in the Gers (Midi-Pyrenees) just west-northwest of Toulouse.
This is not the location of our ancestors. The Monbrun referred to as
Montbron, or variously spelled Montbrun, of the diocese of Angouleme.
We have found many Bernards in this region of France.
"Soldat de la Compagne de Lepervanche"
Pierre Bernard dit Lafontaine, son of Pierre Bernard and Marie Rezeson Rose of Montbron, Angouleme, France came to Canada as a soldier in the company of Lepervanche around 1729.
Who Was Lepervanche?
We have discovered that Lepervanche was none other than Charles Francois de Mezieres, esquire, sieur de Leperueinche (Lepervanche). He was a nobleman of France and as such was called Chavilier or Sir (knighted). He came to New France in 1715. He married the daughter of the infamous and notorious swindler, commandant of Fort Detroit, Alphonse de Tonty (Tonti) de Paludy (1650/59-1727). He served in Detroit from 1725 to 1727. When Tonti died he left and returned to Montreal. Later he served in Fort Chambly, and for one year only, in 1743, he was the commandant. After that he returned to Montreal.
Served in Montreal
As far as we can ascertain Pierre Bernard dit Lafontaine served in Montreal. Prior to 1755 it was the obligation of a captain to enlist men for six years of service in Compagnie Franche de la Marine after which it was expected that they would stay in the New World.
There is no evidence that Pierre served anywhere with Lepervanche except in Montreal.
French Soldiers in Montreal
The Ministry of the Navy, which was responsible for the administration of France's North American colonies, was assigned the task of raising a force for service in Canada. Three companies of "Navy Troops" (Troupes de la marine), comprising some 156 all ranks, were recruited in France and transported to Quebec in then to their stations. Between 1689 and 1750, the garrison of Canada consisted of twenty-eight companies of colonial regulars known as the Companies Franches de la Marine (Independent Companies of the Navy). A company was ordered to consist of one captain, one lieutenant, two ensigns, three sergeants, four corporals, two cadets, two drummers, and fifty-four soldiers. It is notable that many of the archives of men coming as soldiers stated in their marriage certificates and other important documents that they were a "soldat de la compagne de…" and the name of his captain or superior officer.
Such is the case with Pierre Bernard who identified himself as "soldat de la compagne de Lepervanche" and "corporal de la compagne de Lespervanche" (sic).
Whether he followed Lepervanche from place to place it is not known.
Registered in l'Hotel-Dieu in 1729
There is a question of his birth date and age that arises in searching ancient documentation. His individual record consistently declares that he was born around 1711 in Montbron, Angouleme, France. Yet, in 1749 the patient register of l'Hotle-Dieu, the oldest hospital on the continent, has him entered as a patient on September 24, 1729 and says that he is a 21 year old recruit from Angouleme. Later on his death certificate it says that he died being 65 years old. Two things emerge here: 1) If you do the math of both of these declarations either is not 21 in 1729, and not 65 at his death, or he was the age that was witnessed and his year of birth is off by three years. It should be registered that he was born around 1708. 2) He had just arrived in New France and is still a "recruit" not yet considered a seasoned soldier. Therefore we conclude that our guess of his arrival around 1740 to be wrong and surmise that he arrive around 1729 as a 21 year old recruit.
Brother Simone Bernard dit Langoumois
He evidently had a brother Simon Bernard to adopted the nickname Langoulmois, which indicates he was from Angouleme with parents of the same name as Pierre Bernard. It is certain that he was born around 1702 in Angouleme. He died in June 2, 1774 at the age of 72 years and was buried in the cemetery of the poor in Montreal. If he came to Canada together with his younger brother that would have made him 27 years old in 1729 and his brother Pierre 21 years old, a six year difference in ages matching or supposition that Pierre was indeed born around 1708, not 1711. According to Canadian records at the University of Montreal database of French ancestry Simon evidently never married and is buried in a poor man's cemetery in Montreal in 1774-06-03 (burial date, he died 06-02). His birth date and age at death agree with the origin birth in 1702.
The "dit LaFontaine"
Pierre Bernard took on the nickname of "dit Lafontaine." That was not part of his original name but often the French in America took on descriptors to set them apart from other men with a common name. There were other Pierre Bernards in the Montreal area and we assume this is why our Pierre Bernard took on this moniker. Often, after years passed by, the original surname is lost and what remained in the moniker as the individuals last name. That is why by the fourth generation in America we were called dit Lafontaine, which became Americanized into LaFountain, simply because it was easier for non French speaking Americans to identify and write correctly.
Marriage
In 1743 Pierre Bernard dit Lafontaine married Marie Josephe Cadien (Candienne) who was born in 1710, and married November 26, 1743. That is the original French spelling in the database of French ancestry in the University of Montreal.
Later Life as a Baker
Marie Josephe Cadien and Pierre Bernard dit Lafontaine established their home in Montreal where in 1744 says he is a day laborer. Later in life he was listed as "boulanger de Mtl," a baker of Montreal, as stated by a notary bill of sale for property he purchased in Quebec City in 1759.
Sale of a building for cash located near and below the suburb of Quebec, in the place commonly called the Hill of St Louis, by Louis Perthuis, Iroquois language interpreter and Catherine Joly, his bride, residing near the gate of the suburb of Quebec; to Pierre Bernard dit Lafontaine, baker, Mtl. (Montreal). -- 1759-02-04 Notaire: P. Panet de Méru
They had three children, all born in Montreal; Marguerite 1744, Marie Charles 1746, and Antoine Bernard dit Lafontaine in 1747.
Records show that both declared they were not able to sign their names. Nothing more has been found of their lives.
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