Burial : January 19, 1812 --- Alexandre Blanchette
Death : January 17, 1812 --- Age 88, about
Present at interment : Michel Parent sacristan, Jean Baptiste Moijen, François Marier Foulard, Joseph Carier, Hervé Ouellet, Alexis Mercier, Amable Bélanger
Alexandre Blanchet served with French-Canadians Rendering Aid during the American Revolution.
The following comes from the "Journal of Francois Baby, Gabriel Taschereau and Jenkin Williams." English translation found in the book Quebec During The American Invasion, 1775-1776, Ed. Michael P. Gabriel. The original documents can be found in the Quebec National Archives.
St. Pierre du Sud
Wednesday, July 10, 1776
Parish priest, Mr [Jean-François] Curot.
The militia assembled at 1:00 PM. The reading of our charges. Called forth and cashiered the following officers appointed for the King last fall for reasons that we will give later. We declared them unworthy of ever holding any government position:
We publicly shamed and declared unfit to serve the government:
[They were appointed by parish election during an assembly ordered by Clémt Gosselin, who presided over the meeting held in April at Augustin Morin's house.]
Jean Blanchet, Capt.
Augustin Morin, Lieut.
Jean Dessince dit St. Pierre, Ensign
Discharge of the bailiffs. We have reappointed and nominated as officers:
Michel Toussaint Blay, Capt.
Michel Blay, the son, Lieut.
Sergeants:
Antoine Talbote dit Gervais
Louis Pellerin
Pierre Blanchet, the son of Louis
Jean Blay, the son of Joseph
Routine public address to the officers to recommend that they show equity, but above all, firmness; to arrest anybody who would make disparaging remarks towards the government; to maintain the roads in good repair & c.
Reviewed 91 men. [Cheered] "Long live the King" & c.
Louis Fontaine was seen bearing arms on the evening of the action at Michel Blay's house. He was coming from St François to get powder and a keg of brandy upon orders from the named Ayot[te]. On Holy Saturday [April 6], he assembled the parish at his home upon the rebels' orders and asked if any parishioner wanted to enlist for 40 livre per month. The seven individuals named below accepted this offer. They left for Pointe Lévy, where they have served until the moment that the rebels fled. They have returned here.
Joseph Ayot[te]
Jean Bte Monmeny
One of Jean Marot's children
Beaupré Cloutier
The named Gauvin
Augustin Picard
Noël Gagné
Joseph Morin told the sergeant who was ordering him to join the king's detachment that he would not March for or against the King; his sentiments were for the rebels in the action at Michel Blay's.
Augustin Blanchet, after having ordered that people join Mr. Besujeu's detachment, went with the said Jean Dessaince [Dessince] dit St. Pierre to warn the rebels of this development and returned with their army. However, he was not seen at the battle. The sergeants Germain Morin and Joseph Valière have acted in their rank as sergeants for the rebels and marched, as we will show, against Michel Blay.
Augustin Morin had 60 measures of wheat taken from Joseph Blay's house and 50 from Louis Fontaine's. It seems, however, that the owners did not object much. He [Morin] had the parishioners bring this wheat to the rebels at Pointe Lévy. All those involved got only a receipt as payment.
Below are the names of those who most opposed the government, took part in inciting the parish, and rendered the most assistance to the rebels.
Augustin Morin
Pierre Morin
Augustin Rousseau
Jean Dessaince [Dessince] dit St. Pierre
Jacques Picard
Augustin Blanchet
Charles Cloutier
Names of those from this parish who joined the rebels against the king's militia in the action at Michel Blay's house on March 25.
Jacques Picard
Antoine Morin, his two sons and his nephew Louis Fontaine
Ignace Letournau
Alexandre Blanchet and his two sons
Marchetere, working at Augustin Bouchard's house
Jean Bte Chartier
Germain Morin
François Cloutier, the son of Gabriel
Augustin Roussau
Jean Roussau
Joseph Valière
Jean Izabel, the son
Augustin Mathieu
Louis Marie Picard
André Picard
Joseph and Jean Martin
René Mathieu
Charles Mathieu, the son and his father
Bazil Picard
Paul Marot
Augustin Picard
Augustin Morin
Jean Bte Arnois
Pierre Picard
Jean Dessaince [Dessince] dit St. Pierre and his son
Augustin Valière
Augustin Gervais
Joseph Lavaigne
Joseph Ayotte
Joseph Gervais
Charles Cloutier
Jean Bte Montmeny working for Joseph Morin.
The following have received pay from the rebels for a certain time:
Michel Blay, the father, and Michel Blay, his son, are the only individuals from this parish who have been looted by the Bostonnais, as well as by the Canadian rebels. This was after the March 25 episode. We have a report to support these facts.
The genuine proof of Michel Blay's zeal and affection for his King led us to decide to retain him as capt. Of this parish, although he had a brief lapse, which we must here explain.
The named Ayotte from the lower coastal region, capt. For the rebels, came here last January and asked Capt. Michel Blay to announce at the church doors that those who wished to enlist for the Congress should come forward. Blay carried out this request but only with the intention of preventing any trouble. In fact, he presented the situation with such irony that nobody came forward.
You will find below the names of those from this parish who joined with Blay for the King.
Mr. Baillif [Bailly], parish priest
Michel Blay, the son
Berthelemy Gagné
Louis Malbeuf
Julien Fontaine
Jean Blay, the son of Joseph
Hyacinthe Peltier
Jean Izabel, still in prison
Louis Pelerin
Antoine Talbot dit Gervais
There are only about 9 families in this parish who remained truly loyal to the government.
Almost all these parishioners have been to Pointe Lévy and to Ste Foye to sell their goods during the winter.
Ten to twelve went to the seditious assembly at Pointe Lévy last fall.
About 20 stood guard at Berthier, last fall, for almost a month.
Gabriel, Michael, Ed. Journal of Francois Baby, Gabriel Taschereau and Jenkin Williams. English translation found in the book Quebec During The American Invasion, 1775-1776
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