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HACHE, Michel (DIT L'Arche)

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[E_Cole5H17.GED]

[Cole5H17.GED]

DC0096 Michel Ache-Gallant by Father Patrice Gallant, Ramous, Canada The
Evangeline press published on February 17,1964, that there would be
a great reunion of the Gallant-Gallant family in Charlottetown the
following July 25. Among the numerous events on the program would
take place the unveiling of the monument erected at Port Lahore
itself to the memory of Michel Gallant-Gallant and his wife Anne
Cormier, the first white people to settle on St. John Island and the
ancestors of all the Gallants and Hachés of the Maritimes. "I am
happy to bring my humble contributions to this forthcoming
celebration by summarizing to this numerous descendants the life of
our common ancestor, Michel Gallant-Gallant." The first mention of
Michel Haché, in Acadia, is to be found in the parish registers of
Beaubassin, April 27,1682. He is godfather to a child and his name
is written Michel Larches Gallant. In the census of Beaubassin in
1686, his name is still written Michel Larches; he is a bachelor, 22
years old and living with the
seigneur of Beaubassin, Michel Leneuf de la Valliere. The origin of
Michel Haché or Larches is quite obscure. Honorable Bona Arsenal
and myself have studied this origin and have come to the same
conclusions. These conclusions, I give out as pure hypothesis as the
documents do not give any absolute proof. Many circumstantial facts
found in the archives of Québec in the life of Nicholas Denys,
tell us that Michel Larche know in history by the name of Michel
Haché dot Gallant is the son of Pierre Larche from Saint Pierre
Parish in the town of Mont Didier, of Bravoes(sp) in France. This Pierre
Larche was married to Adrienne Langlois and apparently was an
employee of the fishery establishments founded by Nicholas Denys and
his brother Simon Denys in Cape Breton around 1650. This Pierre
Larche was already dead in 1688 when his daughter Madeleine was
married to Elie Voisen, in Notre Dame Church, Québec on October 15.
Young Michel Larche, now an orphan, was confided by Nicholas Denys
to his son-in-law Michel Laneuf married to Marie. And so he was
brought up in Trois- RiviFres at Jacques Leneuf de la Poterie,
Michel Leneuf's father. Around 1676, when Michel Leneuf, Sieur de la
Villière, took possession of his Beaubassin seigneury, where he went
to live with his wife and children, he brought along young Michel
Larche who was then about 15 years old. Under the name Michel Haché
dit Gallant, he became the ancestor of all the Gallants and Hachés
of the Maritime Provinces. The fact that Sieur Pierre Denys, son of
Simon Denys and husband of Catherine Leneuf, and so brother-in-law
to Michel Leneuf was present at Madeleine Larché's marriage as
principal witness brings us to adhere firmly to the hypothesis that
Madeleine Larche was without doubt Michel Larche's sister.
Otherwise, why would Sir Pierre Denys, a person of fame in Québec,
future Seigneur of Percé in Gaspé, have assisted at the wedding?
Nicholas Denys' commercial establishments in Acadia are not
mentioned in the census at the time. Not being on friendly terms
with
those in authority at Port-Royal, Nicholas Denys often did business
at Québec where he had numerous and well established friends.
Moreover, as the missionaries seldom went to the fishing
establishments especially under English rule from 1654-1670, many of
his men went to Québec to get married. In the absence of
missionaries, in the far away posts of Acadia, the new born were
immediately baptized then officially baptized often several years
later with all the religious ceremonies. That seems to be young
Michel Larche's case as on April 24,1668, in Trois-Rivières, Sieur
de la Poterie and Demoiselle de la Valliere stood as godfather and
godmother, "of a male child, named Michel, eight years old, born in
Acadia, whose father was French and mother Esquimo." However, there
were never any Esquimo in Acadia, and if this baptismal act made in
Trois-Rivières on April 24,1668 is Michel Larche's, it no doubt
meant that his mother was a Métis, which is quite possible.
Inter-marriages between Frenchmen and Indian women
were rather frequent at that time. In the same period Nicholas Denys
met with many difficulties from his rivals, who in 1667 captured
with arms the commerce which he had established at Saint Pierre in
Cape Breton. It seems most likely that Pierre Larche died about this
time. During the summer of 1667, Nicholas Denys who was already 70
years old returned to France and came back the following spring. The
French authorities had re-established his former rights at Saint
Pierre, Cape Breton. But this commercial post was completely
destroyed by a fire during the winter of 1668-69, Nicholas Denys,
now ruined, took refuge at Nipisiguet (Bathurst) during the summer
of 1669 and died there in 1688 at the age of 90. To get to France in
1667, Nicholas Denys had left directly from Cape Breton on one of
his rival's, La Giraudiere's ships. During his absence, his only
son Richard looked after his business. He returned in the spring of
1668, on a ship sailing to Québec where his son went to get him in a
schooner. It is very likely on the occasion of this voyage that
Richard Denys had brought young Michel Larche along with his sister
and that Nicholas Denys confided them to his son-in-law Michel
Leneuf and his daughter Marie. This would explain the baptismal act
of April 24,1668 at Trois-Rivières, if it really is Michel Larche's.
In the same manner, the presence of Pierre Denys, Catherine
Leneuf's husband, at Madeleine Larche's wedding on October 15,1668,
would point to some relationship existing between Madeleine Larche
and Michel Larche. In Placide Gaudet's manuscript, we read the
following quotation referring to Michel Haché,: "Michel
Haché-Gallant was born in 1662 and brought up in Trois-Rivières at
Sieur Jacques Leneuf de la Poterie, father of Michel Leneuf, Sieur
de la Valliere and Seigneur of Beaubassin. When the latter went with
his wife and children to live in his manor on Valliere Island, today
Tong's Island, around 1676 or 1677, he brought young Michel Haché,
about fifteen years old as manservant. Alert, intelligent, knowing
how to read and write, devoted to his master, he accompanied him on
his voyages by land and sea. It is said that on the occasion of a
battle of some king, he fought like a lion and merited himself the
nickname "Galant" Around 1687, when Sieur de la Valliere left his
seigneury to settle in Québec, he left Michel Haché a large
concession of land at Beaubassin". Pierre Larche, whom we consider
as father of Michel Larche was from Saint Pierre Parish, Montdidier,
diocese of Beauvois. While on a trip to France, I myself went to
this spot. Montdidier is situated in Picardie, about 100 miles North
of Paris. It is a village of 5000 inhabitants, situated on the road
leading to Belgium, which has known sieges, plundering and
conflagration. When it was liberated by French troops in August,
1918, there were but ruins left. Sad memories near the parochial
cemetery, we find three cemeteries dating from the first World War;
in them lie 9,000 Frenchmen, 19,000 Germans and 40,000 allies.
Today, Montdidier is a
completely new city, the inhabitants have made it their duty to
rebuild their monuments on the ancient ruins. On my arrival, I set
out to find Larches or Hachés, as the name Gallant, according to
tradition, was added in Acadia. However, nobody knew of Larche or
Haché families. Surprisingly, I found Galland (written with a "D").
In the cemetery I found a burial vault for the Galland families and
at the village entrance a monument built in memory of a hero bearing
this name. I studied very old registers dating up to 1618;
unfortunately the second treating of the 1750 era was destroyed
during the First World War. There either, I did not find any Larche
families but some Galland families among whom was a Pierre who was
born about the time of our Pierre Larche. That really puzzled me and
still does. Is Gallant really a surname given in Acadia as tradition
leads us to believe? How can we explain that young Michel is already
known by that name in 1684 and that we meet the name Galland in
Montdidier where Pierre
Larche who is known as his father lived? Michel Hecht's marriage
certificate has been lost. The only register in Beaubassin which
still exists deals with the period from 1679 until 1686 and Michel
Haché was married to Anne Cormier in 1690. The census and a few
religious registers still existing have permitted us to reconstruct
Michel Haché's family which consisted of twelve children, seven boys
and five girls. The census reports from Beaubassin, give us the
following details: Census of 1693. "Michel Haché, 30 years old, Anne
Cormier, 19, Michel 11/12 years old and Joseph 2 months. They had 13
head of cattle, 10 sheep and 6 pigs. In the space reserved to the
number of acres tilled, is marked "new Land". It is probably the
land given him by Sieur de la Valliere in 1687." Census of 1698:
"Michel Haché 33, Anne Cormier 25, Michel , 7; Joseph 5; Mary 4;
Jean-Baptiste 2. They have 12 head of cattle, 12 sheep, 5 pigs, 13
acres of tilled soil." Census of 1700: Michel HachT 38, Anne Cormier
27, Michel 9, Joseph 7, Mary6, Jean Baptiste 4, Charles 2." Census
of 1703: "Michel Haché dit Galan, his wife, 5 boys and 2 girls.
Census of 1714: "Michel HachT, Anne Cormier, Joseph, Marie, Jean
Baptiste, Charles, Pierre, Anne, Marguerite, Francois, Madeleine,
Jacques." The widow of Thomas Cormier lived with Michel Haché's
Michel Junior is Madeleine Leblanc and has two children, Marie and
Michel. Louise, twelfth and last child of family was born in 1715.
September 24,1710, an English fleet with 3400 soldiers entered the
basin of Port Royal. On October 6 the same year, Port Royal passed
into English hands and three years later the treaty of Utrecht
granted England all the territory known formerly as Acadia. The
Islands of Cape Breton and St. John (today Prince Edward Island)
remained French possessions. March 28,1715, was given out at
Beaubassin by the king of England the promulgation stating that all
inhabitants had become British subjects. Michel Haché, father and
son were present but, like many other, would not take oath of
allegiance demanded and preferred to emigrate elsewhere.

Michel Haché on St. John's Island After the final conquest of Port
Royal and Beaubassin by the English, a certain number of Acadians,
choosing not to live under a new regime, asked permission to move
either to Cape Breton or St. John Island. In order to help these
Acadians, the French government in January 1720, conceded St. John
Island to the Count of St. Pierre, April 15,1720, in Rochefort
Harbour, could be seen there three small ships carrying 300
passengers. Four months later, on August 23, these same ships were
anchored in the bay at Port Lajoie (now Charlottetown). The first
French Colony was founded. According to the report of the Minister
of the Marine given out on November 6, 1721, there were in Port
Royal 16 families from France and four from Acadia. Michel Haché's
family was one of them. The first census of St. John Island dates
from 1728. It states that Michel Haché, farmer and seaman has been
in Port Lajoie for eight years. He has with him his wife, two boys
over 15, two girls, one over fifteen
and one under. All the other children are married and are also
living at Port Lajoie. On his arrival, Michel Haché is named captain
of the Port. A learned man, he occupies an important position; he
has remained by form the right hand man of the government. Michel
Haché's last signature is found in the register of the civil statute
of St. John Island is dated March 3,1737, on the occasion of the
baptism of Marguerite, daughter of Pierre who was his son. One month
later, April 10,1737, he met with a tragic death. Here is his burial
certificate, taken from the registers at Port Lajoie: "On July
17,1737, I, the undersigned, have buried in the harbour cemetery,
the body of Michel Haché dit Gallant, inhabitant of this part, who
was drowned at the mouth of the North River the tenth day of April
of this year and whose body has not been found up to the present
day. Signed Father Angèlique Collin." All of the above text from
the beginning to this point is a translation from French of the
introductory portion of
"Michel HachT-Gallant et ses Descendants" volume 1 by Patrice
Gallant, priest, published in 1958.

BIO: He was the godfather of Magdaleine Michelle Mercier, born and
baptized 27 Apr 1682 at Beaubassin, Acadia. Magdaleine was the
daughter of Pierre Mercier called "Caudebec" and Andrée Martin. He
was also the godfather of Angèlique Giasson (Chiasson), baptized at
Beaubassin on 27 Oct 1684. Angèlique was the daughter of Dion
Giasson and Marie-Magdaleine Martin. Information extracted from
Gallant Family History. FHC # 6094044.

Michel was a most practical man, attested to by the following last
will and testament. Extracted from MEMORIES DE LA SOCIETE'
GENEALOGIQUE CANADIENNE-FRANCAISE, 1956, Vol. VII, pg. 95
Gallant-Ferland by Yvonne Dolbec Gallant Martel GFA# 108:
"Obligation of yearly pension of 10 livres by each of the
undersigned: On this day, 17 November 1736, in the presence of Fr.
Angelique Collin, Recollet of the Province of Brittany, missionary
and chaplin of the King at Port Lajoye, diocese of Quebec, in the
absence of a notary to pass the following act between Michel Haché'
and Anne Cormier, his wife, of the first part, and his children on
the second part, herein named, who agree to the following: Be it
known that all the named children are obligated to give their father
and mother during their lifetime, the sum of 10 livres tournois each
year, commencing as of this date. Furthermore, the named children
renounce the inheritance of their father and mother after their
parents' death, they, the parents being free by the
present document to give their estate to the one of their children
whom they will determine appropriate. It is further agreed by the
said Michel Haché and Anne Comier... with their children that when
one of the parents dies, the said children will pay only half of the
above named sum of 10 livres to the other parent."

"First family of the white race permanently established in Prince
Edward Island, ancestor of the Gallant families of Canada and the
United States, arriving here at Port Lajoye in 1720". Inscription on
Gallant-Gallant monument at Rocky Point, near Fort Amherst,
Charlottetown, PEI. See also "A Gallant Family History" Vol. 1,
published 1990 for additional stories about Michel and his
descendants. 1. Michel & a son captured by the British and condemned
to die. 2. Michel's involvement with one accused of witchcraft. 3.
Xavier Gallant, murderer at Rosehill Farm

Summerside Journal Pioneer Tues. October 17, 1989 Picture with
caption "To Lecture on Archeological Dig". Reg Porter, left, and
Colin Campbell are shown taking part in an archeological dig during
the summer of 1988 at Fort Amherst Port LaJoye. The excavation was
part of a search for the home of Haché-Gallant, one of the first
Acadians to settle on Prince Edward Island. A lecture on the dig
will be held October 17 at 7:30 P.M. at Musée Acadien in Miscouche
by Reg Porter. This lecture will be given in French and will include
slide presentations and a review of what was discovered during the
excavation.
/DC0096

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