British and Canadian army units were returning to camp at Belfast, after a long burning expedition, when they were attacked by a Boer commando. British General Smith Dorrien ordered Col. Fancois Lessard from Quebec to organize he Canadians (Mounted Rifles and artillerymen) to fight a rea guard action to protect the back of the retreating British army. Because of his outstanding work Lessard was pictured as one of only two Canadians honoured to be among 75 British general pictured in a huge colour portrait called "Celebrities of the Army."
More information can be found at:
http://www.goldiproductions.com/Pages/BoerWar_Museum/Boer/Boer30_battles3.html
Monday, November 29, 2004
Col. Francois Lessard
Map of the Lessard Family's first land in the new world..
On February 10, 1651, Etienne obtained a land from Olivier Letardif one of the members of the Company de Beaupre.
This land was 10 frontal acres on the St-Laurence river and 5 miles in land.
To help him develop the land which he called St-Etienne, he hired men; Michel Marquiseau, Urbain Jamineau et Jean Chauvet aka Lagerne.
On March 8, 1658 Etienne gave away to the Catholic Church two frontal acres located on the West end of his land so that a chapel can be built.
This chapel became the Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre basilica.
Etienne gave this land to M. Gabriel de Queylus Vicar general in New France.
The first contract was done by notary (public) Audouart. It was ratified by The Bishop of Laval on December 17, 1666 and renewed by a second contract in 1684 by notary Genaple.
Note: In 1922 after the fire of the basilica another contract had to be signed by Napoleon Lessard the direct descendant of Etienne and the Redemptorist Fathers. By this contract Napoleon gave away the Lessard's right to a bench in the church.
In the 1681 census Etienne declared to be 59 years old, married to Marguerite Sevestre 45 years old and to have 10 children; Etienne 28, Charles 26, Pierre 24, Marie-Therese 20, Anne-Dorothee 15, Noel 12, Joseph 10, Prisque 7, Jacques and Dorothee (twins) 4 years old.
The couple had a daughter named Marguerite born September 4, 1664, she died December 7, 1665.
He also declared as owner of:
3 Guns
7 Cows
40 farmable acres, on which he grew wheat, barley, peas and cabbage.
Etienne de Lessard
Born in 1623 in Normandy France.
Etienne de Lessard arrived in Quebec in 1645.
Lieutenant junior grade of the militia of Cote de Beaupre, he became co-lord of the Lanoraie fief in 1688.
Married to Marquerite Sevestre, Etienne de Lessard was survived by a large family of six boys and two girls.
Etienne de Lessard, son of Jacques de Lessard and Marie Herson, was born in Chambois, diocese of SEE (Orne) in Normandy.
In 1645, at the age of 22, he left France on a ship to come to New France (Canada). At the time only a few people from Europe lived in the colony of France.
Etienne owned a boat and was associated with Martin Grouvel who was a navigator from Quebec.
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