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Corporation
the constant attacks of the Iroquois almost rendered impossible
all residence in that locality, several miles removed from the forts.
The nearest was that of St. Annes, erected in 1683, on the fief Bellevue, some few arpents above the church of the present day. The redoubt of Pointe Claire was built only at the beginning of last century. The Fort La Presentation, at Dorval, was too far removed to protect the settlers, not only of Pointe Claire or Beaurepaire, but even those of Grand’Anse. The land register and old deeds show that all the lands west of Fort La Presentation to Grand’Anse, were conceded at the same time as those Of Lachine, that is to say, from 1666 to 1685, whilst those of ‘Grand’Anse, and all Pointe Claire, to the limit of Ste. Annes (Telesphore Madore), were only conceded in 1698 and after. ‘Only six or seven concessions are to be found previous to this, the oldest of which is without doubt that of May 18th, 1678, in favor of Jean Guenet, but no possession in earnest took place till the end of the 17th c-ntury (1).
JEAN GURKNET.
Guenet or Quenet contracted marriage at Montreal in 1675. Being a merchant, he indulged in scouring the woods, thereby incurring in 1680 a penalty of 2000 livres ‘ for having been in “the depths of the woods trafficking skins with the distant ‘“ savage tribes.” Jug. et Dél., vol. 2, p. 435. The penalty was heavy, but a better example was to be expected n the part of a prominent citizen. Guenet, moreover, was doing a good business. As far back as 1677, he was one of the head supp'iers of Montreal. In 1677, Mgr. Laval was notitied by M. Dudouyt that ‘ Guenet has been paid what was due him of old, namely 47391. 195. whereof Father Ragueneau paid 1,7391. 198. and ‘“ myself 3,0001. We still owe him this year’s supplies, amount- “ ing, as you will see, by the invoice, to 1.7501. “Canadian Archives, Report of Douglas Bremner for 1885, p. CXXX (2).
Gtuenet was also comptroller of the King's farms and perceptor
(1) Although he was residing in the parish of St. Louis, probably on fief Bellevue, as early as 1681, On the 4th of November, 1681, Clémence, daughter of Jean Guenet, ‘‘laboureur, habitant du bout de l'Isle de Montréal”, was baptised at Lachine.
(2) Guenet was in France on the 4th of November, 1681, undoubtedly looking after his importations. Register of Lachine.
ets
of the fees of the seigniors of the Island of Montreal, and was consequently acquainted with the situation of all the lands of the Seigniory. Then, as at the present day, the points on the river were sought after, and it is not surprising to see Guenet, who was in constant negotiations with the Seminary, securing for himself, some of the beautiful sites on Lake St. Louis and the River St. Lawrence. We have seen him take the con:ession of Beaurepaire in 1678. The same year he acquired from the sieur de Chailly part of the fief Bellevue, at St. Annes, Greffe de Bass:t, 10th December, 1678. In 1694, he took the granit of 8 arpents west of Beaurepaire, which to all appearances had'been abindoned by his cousin Lemire and other grantees In 1682, he induced Pierre Heurtebise, his brother in-law, to take up the title of concession of a farm situated in the Baïe d'Urfé (to-day Chs. St. Denis), but having been returned to the s-igniors, Guenet obtained the concession of it on Oct. 21, 1685. This land was advantageously situated near the chapel «cf St. Annes, at the Pointe Caron of our days.