François (LeBreton) LeBreton dit Robert (1704 - 1799)

Born 7 Mar 1704 in Saint-Léger, Normandie, France

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 28 Oct 1799 at age 95 in Tracadie, Tracadie-Sheila, Gloucester, Colony of New Brunswick

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Biography

François (LeBreton) LeBreton dit Robert migrated from France to Acadia.

Birth and Childhood

François (Robert) LeBreton was born in 1704 at Saint-Léger, within the bishopric of Coutances, Normandie (today part of Saint-Jean-des-Champs, Manche), France. ^[1] He is indicated to have been born on 7 March 1704, and to have been baptized the following day at Saint-Léger. ^{[2] [3]}

François travelled to Acadia in 1723 and settled at Isle Royale.^[1] He worked as a fisherman, a lumber-jack and a plowman. ^[4]

Historic Context: At its zenith, the French colony of Acadia comprised much of present-day Gaspé and New Brunswick, which were easily linked in the winter^[5]; Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Maine down to the area of the Kennebec River; Newfoundland (especially the area around Plaisance); and Louisiana. It was rich natural resources - particularly wood and fishing - but for the British it was a strategic threat because of its position between the French colony of "Canada" (most of modern-day Quebec) and the New England States. François and his family could have lived through much turmoil as the area was disputed between the French and the British in numerous skirmishes and wars, with his many of his children being born around the time of the Great Deportation (1755-1764). ^[6]

Francois and Marie Mordant

François' first marriage was with Marie Mordant (sometimes spelled as Mordan or LeMordant) around 1734 on L'Ile Royale,^[4] Marie was born about 1720, in Petite-Brador, Ile Royale, daughter of Joseph (Lanou) Le Mordant and Marie Hebert.

François and Marie Mordant's nine children were:^[4]

1. Marie-Josephe (Priou) married Isaac Theriault.
2. Eleonor-Elie (Priou).
3. Joseph-Françoise (Prioux) born May 11, 1741.
4. François (Prioux) born June 01, 1743.
5. Charles (Priou).
6. Hyacinthe-Judith (Priou) married Jacques a Blin.
7. Isabelle born August 08, 1750.
8. Pierre-Joseph born March 03, 1753, died January 09, 1754, Louisbourg*, Isle Royale.
9. Rene born around 1758, he married Anne Hyppolite dite Appoline Hebert.

Fishing and Family at Baye de l'Indienne

In 1752, François Le Breton and Marie Mordan were living at Baye de l'Indienne, Isle Royale (near present-day Dominion, Nova Scotia), with three of their children - François (age 12), Charles age 7, and Isabelle age 2. The family was living in a house that belonged to Marie's father.^[1]

François had a fishing enterprise based at Baye de l'Indienne that involved three other partners: Nicolas Le Breton (age 24), who also from Saint-Leger (and presumably a relative), and two other Norman fisherman, Pierre Tosse from Bruvilly and Julien Tournier from Hedia (both towns from within the bishopric of Saint-Malo).^[1]

François and partners were seeking a new location outside of the narrows because their fish-drying platforms were disrupted by the loading of vessels supplying 'coal for the King'. ^[1]

The Baye de l'Indienne was the subject of multiple skirmishes between English and French, including the seizures of ships laden with coal. ^[7]

Francois and Marie Therese Boissel

François (Robert) LeBreton married Marie Therese Boissel, daughter of Antoine Boiselle and Madeline Laroche, around 1759 in Caraquet,* . Marie Therese was born on March 14, 1739, in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec. She died on October 01, 1816, in Tracadie. ^[2][3].

Children of François LeBreton and Marie Boissel are:^[4]

• Marie-Josette (Robert) dit LeBreton was born around 1760 in Caraquet, NB. She married twice: (1) Her first marriage was with Edouard Synnett on September 17, 1790; (2) her second marriage was to John (Fling) Irving on October 07, 1812. Marie-Josette died around 1827 in Tracadie, NB.

• Charlotte LeBreton was born around 1762 in Caraquet, N.B. On August 16, 1788 (or 1789) Charlotte married Prospère Desjardins dit Lauzier aka Roy, son of Augustin Roy and Angélique Lizotte took place in Caraquet or Tracadie, N.B. Charlotte died around 1825 in Tracadie, N.B.

• Anne (Robert) (Breton) LeBreton dit Robert was born about 1767 in Caraquet, NB; She married twice: (1) Pierre Gionet, on July 04 , 1791, in Caraquet, NB; Pierre was born around 1760 in Caraquet, NB, to Francois Gionet and Marie LeVicaire, and died before 1795 in Caraquet, NB. (2) Anne's second marriage was to Charles McLaughlin around 1794 in Caraquet, NB. Charles had been born around 1760 in England or Ireland, and died on April 22, 1842, in Tracadie, NB. Anne died May 08, 1843, in Tracadie, NB.

Research Note: Two birth years in these two entries. Sources?

Anne (Robert, Breton) married Pierre Gionet on July 04, 1791 in Caraquet N.B. Son of . Pierre Gionet sec. wife was Marguerite Frigault.

• Charles Francois dit Charlot LeBreton, born Abt. 1768 in Caraquet, NB; died Abt. 1855 in Tracadie, NB; married Marguerite Gionet 15 Jul 1794 in Caraquet, NB; born Abt. 1771 in Caraquet, NB; died 16 Dec 1855 in Tracadie, NB.

Research Note: Two birth years and places on these two entries. It is possible that there was a travelling missionary and that the birth was in one place, while the registration was held a different place months, even years later. Check sources.

Charles Francois (Charlot) born June 12, 1769 in Nipisiguit (Bathurst) N.B. Married Marguerite Gionet on July 15, 1794 in Caraquet N.B. daughter of Francois Gionet & Marie LeVicaire.

• Brigitte Felicite Robert dit LeBreton was born on June 12, 1769, in Caraquet, NB, and died around 1819 in Tracadie, NB. Brigitte Felicite married Michel Stephen McGrath around 1789 in Caraquet, NB. Michel was born around 1749 in Coork County, Ireland, and he died on August 24, 1819 in Tracadie, NB.

• Julien LeBreton dit Robert was born around 1770 in Caraquet, NB, and died in Tracadie, NB. He married Marie Genevieve Magdeleine Gionais (variation on spelling: Madeleine Gionet), daughter of Francois Gionet and Marie LeVicaire, on July 15, 1794, in Caraquet, NB. Magdeleine was born around 1775 in Caraquet, NB.

• Jean Baptiste (Robert) LeBreton, born 24 Jun 1777 in Caraquet, NB; died Abt. Jun 1829 in Tracadie, NB; married Marie Anne Drysdale Abt. 1803 in Tracadie, NB; born Abt. 1787 in NB; died Abt. 1843.

'Research Note - different birth places here. It is possible that there was a travelling missionary and that the birth was in one place, while the registration was held a different place months, even years later. Check sources.

Jean-Baptist (Robert) BORN JAN 24, 1777 IN PERCE QC. MARRIED ANNE NANCY DRYSDELLE.

• Jean LeBreton dit Robert, born around 1778 in Caraquet, NB. He died Abt. 1826 in Caraquet, NB.

• Marguerite Robert LeBreton, born Abt. 1779 in Caraquet, NB; died around 1824 in Caraquet, NB.

In the autumn of 1784, François and his family moved and settled in Tracadie, NB.

Death and Legacy

François died in Tracadie on October 28, 1799, at the age of 95 and 7 months. He is the first death registered in that Parish^[8]. Francois is the ancestor of the LeBreton's in Canada.^[2][3].

In his book Histoires de Tracadie- Sheila, 2010 Maurice Basque writes that they finally acknowledge Francois (Robert) LeBreton (Charles' Father) as a founding father in Tracadie-Shiela N.B. He arrived in 1784 but because he didn't cultivate the soil the title of founding father went to Michel Bastarache who settled in Tracadie in 1785 but now they share the title as founding fathers.

As part of New Brunswick's bicentennial celebrations in 1984, a granite monument to Tracadie's founding families, that is the families who settled in Tracadie before 1800, was erected at 3585 Principale Street (Main Street) on the grounds of the St-Jean-Baptiste et St-Joseph Church. ^[9] The families are a true mix of culture, with Scottish, Irish, Acadian, French, and Canadian descent. ^{[10] [4]}

To Be Resolved

• The Francois LeBreton monument in Tracadie-Sheila (picture attached) indicates eight children in the second marriage, yet there are nine listed here.

• The children are said to have been born in Caraquet, NB, but the family does not seem to have ever lived there. The first church in Tracadie is the St-Jean-Baptiste et St-Joseph Church, founded in 1798. ^[11] It is likely that the missionary that served the Tracadie region before that time and possibly for some time after was based in Caraquet and that that is where his registers were kept. Sources to be found...

• If François was in Caraquet in 1759, he would likely have been among the Acadians that went there with Alexis Landry around 1757, fleeing the Deportation. In 1761 the town was raided by the British and deserted. Many went to the Bonaventure area of Gaspé and to Miscou Island on the northeastern tip of present-day New Brunswick, and returned once it was safe to do so. (personal studies over the years - will have to find references!... Denise Chiasson) Was this part of the Lebreton family's movements? Tracadie, where he eventually settled, is only about 70 km from Miscou Island by car. ^[12]

• Possible follow-up: The Herald (Halifax, NS, newspaper online article) Tracing French-Indian roots :

Bras d'Or woman with long family history founds group now 400 members strong, published Published April 10, 2014 - 7:35pm [5]

Research Notes: Locations

• In 1723 when Francois moved to New France, it would have just passed it's zenith (after Britain and France signed the Treaty of Utrecht on April 11, 1713). In its colonies of New France, France ceded the draining of the Hudson's Bay, New Newfoundland and its base at Plaisance (although they retained the right to fish on Newfoundland shores), Port-Royal/Annapolis Royal. France kept modern New Brunswick, and Cape Breton, where they built the fortress Louisbourg. and Île St-Jean. ^[13]

• L'Ile Royale is present-day Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
• "Petite-Brador, Ile Royale" - correct spelling would be Petit Bras d'Or in French, or Little Bras d'Or in English, in present day Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Nipisiguit is present day Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada
• Caraquet is on the Baie des Chaleurs in present-day New Brunswick. It is widely believed to be from the Mi'kmaq Kalaket ou Pkalge, a term identify where two rivers meet
• Louisbourg, a French fortress and port on L'Ile Royale, was established in 1713, but was destroyed in the 1760s after having been attacked by the British twice. It is now a reconstructed "living museum" [6] that is great to visit for historian or genealogist alike! (...personal experience... Denise Chiasson). Archaeological work is ongoing and often focused on archeology at risk from tides and weather. [7]

• New Brunswick became a province in 1784, and joined the Confederation in 1867 (i.e. became a province of Canada). [8]

Denise Chiasson found no reference to this family in...

• Fidèle Thériault, Les familles de Caraquet dictionnaire généalogique, 1985., either under "LeBreton", Brown", or "Lebrun".
• 'Régistre de l'Abbé Chrles-François Bailly, 1768 à 1773 (Caraquet), Transcrit sous la direction d e Stephen A. White, Centre d'études acadiens et Université de Moncton, 1978. - l'Abbé Bailly travelled the Acadian territory from Halifax to Louisbourg (the ruins and the village), Île St-Jean, Caraquet, Gaspé area, Labrador, etc. The registers were kept in Caraquet. Searched under "LeBreton","Brown", Lebrun, and Brein.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} 1752 Census Report Concerning Canadian Archives for the Year 1905, Volume II (Ottawa: Printed by S.E.Dawson, 1905), 1752 La Roque Census, p. 53. The original census, in French, can be found at Census Original Version “Recensement de l'Isle Royal et de Isle Saint-Jean”

   General Census of the Baye de l'Indienne - 1752
   - François Le Breton, fisherman, native of parish of St. Leger, bishopric of Coutances, aged 48 years. Married to Marie Mordan, aged 32 years, native of Little Bras d'Or. They have two sons and one daughter: François, aged 12 years; Charles, aged 7 years; Isabelle, aged 2 years.
   - He has three fishing partners - Nicholas Le Breton, native of the parish of St. Leger, aged 24 years. Pierre Tosse, native of the parish of Bruvilly, bishopric of St. Malo, aged 41 years. Julien Tournier, native of the parish of Hedia, bishopric of St. Malo, aged 22 years. All these fishing partners have it in view to settle in this colony.
   - Sr. François Le Breton has been in the colony 29 years. Has been given rations for two years.
   - His dwelling in which he is settled belongs to his father-in-law. He is settled on it, waiting to be given a location outside the narrows for where he now is he cannot put up platforms for drying fish, on account of the vessels loading there with coal for the King.

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1757-1946
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 August 2020), memorial page for Francois Lebreton Robert (7 Mar 1704–28 Oct 1799), Find a Grave Memorial no. 141157822, citing Cimetière Des Fondateurs Tracadie, Tracadie-Sheila, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada ; Maintained by KAREN LOVY (contributor 47428524) .
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Francois LeBreton monument in Tracadie-Sheila
5. ↑ my mother from Grande-Anse, NB, told me they would sometimes cross over on the ice of Chaleur Bay (Baie des Chaleurs) in the winter Denise Chiasson
6. ↑ Personal studies over the years by Denise Chiasson)
7. ↑ Wikipedia Dominion, Nova Scotia
8. ↑ Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1757-1946 [database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007; Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin Tracadie, 1800, page 8, which reads le 3 fevrier 1800 par nous prêtre missionnaire ont été suppliés les cérémonies de sépulture au corps de François LeBreton dit Robert laboureur décédé le 28 octobre, âgé d'environs 96 ans, époux de Thérèse Boissel, etc This refers to his death on Ocotber 28, 1799, and his burial on February 3, 1800. It is signed by Prospère Louis Joyer, prêtre
9. ↑ Commission consultative de la culture de Tracadie, inc., Lieux patrimoniaux de Tracadie - Religieux [1]
10. ↑ Canada's Historic Places [2]
11. ↑ Commission consultative de la culture de Tracadie, inc., l'Église de Tracadie, [3]
12. ↑ Google Maps [4]
13. ↑ The Canadian Encyclopedia [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/treaty-of-utrecht

See also:

• http://genforum.genealogy.com/savoie/messages/920.html
• http://www.mesaieux.com/an/noms-de-familles/L/Lebreton
• "Les Descendants de Francois Gionet" by Alexandre Jean Gionet 1984
• Voyage au Coeur de nos Ancetres "LeBreton un nom, une histoire" Mario B. LeBreton, Juillet 2003.
• Maurice Basque , Histoires de Tracadie- Sheila, 2010
• https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/161140459/person/192105565679/facts
• tree https://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?genealogie=Robert_Francois&pid=935614