François POISSON

(b. 12 January 1716 , Champlain, Canada, New France d. 1 January 1796 , Bécancour, Nicolet, Lower Canada )

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François POISSON was born 12 January 1716 in Champlain, Canada, New France

François POISSON was the child of Francois POISSON and Elisabeth DIZY dite MONTPLAISIR and the grandchild of: (paternal) François POISSON and Marguerite BEAUDRY (maternal) Michel-Ignace DIZY dit MONTPLAISIR and Marie-Jeanne BAUDOIN (BEAUDOIN)

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

François married Marguerite-Genevieve RIVARD dite LAVIGNE 24 July 1741 in Champlain, Canada, New France . The couple had (at least) 3 children.
Marguerite-Genevieve RIVARD dite LAVIGNE was born 26 April 1720 in Champlain, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation). Marguerite-Genevieve died 23 December 1802 in Bécancour, Nicolet, Québec, Canada (Nativité-de-Notre-Dame-de-Becancour) (Saint-Edouard-de-Gentilly). Marguerite-Genevieve was the child of François RIVARD dit LAVIGNE and Marie-Madeleine TURCOT.

François POISSON died 1 January 1796 in Bécancour, Nicolet, Lower Canada .
Details of the family tree of François appear below.

Occupation

François POISSON was a Seigneur primitif de Gentilly.

Québec Généalogie - Over time, Québec has gone through a series of name changes
From its inception in the early 1600s until 1760, it was called Canada, New France.
1760 to 1763, it was simply Canada
1763 to 1791 - Province of Québec
1791 to 1867 - Lower Canada
1867 to present - Québec, Canada.

Thanks to Micheline Gadbois MacDonald for providing this information.

Québec Généalogie - The Seigneurial System (1627 - 1854)
The seigneurial system was a form of land settlement modeled on the French feudal system. It began in New France in 1627 with the formation of the Compagnie des Cent-Associés (or Company of 100 Associates), which was initially responsible for handing out land grants and seigneurial rights. The land was divided into five by 15 kilometer plots, usually along major rivers like the St. Lawrence. They were then further subdivided into narrow, but long lots for settlement. These lots were usually long enough to be suitable for faming, and they provided everyone who lived on them with equal access to neighbouring farms and the river. There were three main groups of people who lived off the land in this system: Seigneurs, Habitants and Engagés

François POISSON was a seigneur.
Seigneurs were the most important colonists, as they were usually in the military or aristocracy prior to being a settler. These seigneurs then were charged with the task of subdividing large parcels of land into five by 15 kilometer concessions, then renting this land to a habitant. Under regulations set up by the French government in France, the seigneur could also set up a court of law, set up a mill on his land and organize a commune.

Source: Canada in the Making (www.canadiana.ca/citm/index_e.html)

A Glimpse into Everyday Life: The Average Man in 18th Century Quebec

The Definitive Guide for Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors in 2025

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