Our ancestors were here before 1737

Even though our surname ancestor, Francois did not arrive in Nouvelle France until 1737, many of our maternal ancestors were here much earlier. Listed below is the roll of a militia outfit located in the area where many of our ancestors resided. The article was found on Michel Robert’s Homepage. Alink has been provided to his site, where you can find many other articles of information.

This roll was taken in 1760 during the Seven Years War between France and England.

The Compagnie de Sorel was originally a company of the "Régiment de Carignan-Salières", a regular regiment of the French Army. This regiment had been sent to Canada in 1665 to pacify the Iroquois who were constantly terrorizing the colony. After a successful campaign, the regiment was sent back to France in 1668, with many soldiers and officers settling permanently in Canada as civilians. Four skeleton companies were kept on duty in Canada, that of Captain Pierre de Saurel being one of them. Most of the soldiers stayed as civilian settlers, and a small group of new soldiers, perhaps a total of fifty, were sent from France in 1669 to man the four companies.

In latter years, the Sorel Company became a company in the Canadian militia system, with the Compagnies Franche de la Marine. In the 1740's, it is believed to have been based at various forts around lac Saint-Sacrement (Lake George N.Y.) and lac Champlain. It saw services under the Royal flag from about 1658 to 1760.

During the Seven Years War, it was used in regular warfare and guerilla style warfare, the latter being more natural to this group of fur traders and voyagers. Nearly all of the soldiers were from the Seigneurie de Sorel at the confluence of "Rivière Richelieu" and the "Fleuve Saint-Laurent", and from the adjoining settlement of "Chenal du Moine". As you will see from the roll, this company was a family affair, with the descendants of Paul Hus accounting for a large number of the roll.

The roll of the Company of Sorel (Compagnie de Sorel) is available from microfilm reel C-15684 at the Archives Nationales du Canada. It is part of the Ramesay Family papers, volume 5 p.

2282-2283 (MG 18 H 54).

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/6210/E2sorel1760.html