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History of Lacolle, Québec, Canada
Journey back in time to Lacolle, Québec, Canada
Also known as(Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle)
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Lacolle, Québec, Canada.
ABOUT THE PLACE
About Lacolle
Lacolle
A town in St-Jean County, located on Rte 221 at the corner of Montée Van Vliet, 5mi (8km) north of the US border and 2.7mi (4.3km) west of the Richelieu River.
St-Bernard-de-Lacolle
A village in Lacolle County, located 1.9mi (3km) west of Lacolle on Rang St-Charles, 0.25mi (0.4km) north of the corner with Montée Dupuis.
Cimetière de Lacolle
A catholic cemetery in Lacolle, located behind the parish church,a short distance NW of the corner of Rte 221 and Montèe Dupuis.
Cimetière de St-Bernard-de-Lacolle
A catholic cemetery located in the village of St-Bernard-de-Lacolle at the back of the church.
The written history of Lacolle can be traced back to July 4th, 1609 when Samuel de Champlain and his entourage stopped briefly at the mouth of a small stream for a meal before continuing southward up the Richelieu River into the lake which now bears his name. In his journal Champlain refered to the location of the delta as "Lacole". When translated literally the term means the neck of a bottle or that which is above the shoulders.
Under the French Regime little development occurred in the seigniories of New France. In 1733 the King of France granted the northern half of the Lacolle seigniory to Louis Denis de la Ronde. The southern two leagues were granted to Louis Leonard de Beaujeu. Both men served as French officers during the Colonial Wars. By 1741 both tracts were reclaimed by the Crown. In 1743 the southern half of the seigniory was acquired by David Lienard de Beaujeu, son of Louis. In 1752, David Lienard de Beaujeu was granted the northern portion with the condition that both tracts become one seigniory, 4 leagues by 3 leagues. During this period the land was known as the seigniory of Beaujeu.
A town in St-Jean County, located on Rte 221 at the corner of Montée Van Vliet, 5mi (8km) north of the US border and 2.7mi (4.3km) west of the Richelieu River.
St-Bernard-de-Lacolle
A village in Lacolle County, located 1.9mi (3km) west of Lacolle on Rang St-Charles, 0.25mi (0.4km) north of the corner with Montée Dupuis.
Cimetière de Lacolle
A catholic cemetery in Lacolle, located behind the parish church,a short distance NW of the corner of Rte 221 and Montèe Dupuis.
Cimetière de St-Bernard-de-Lacolle
A catholic cemetery located in the village of St-Bernard-de-Lacolle at the back of the church.
The written history of Lacolle can be traced back to July 4th, 1609 when Samuel de Champlain and his entourage stopped briefly at the mouth of a small stream for a meal before continuing southward up the Richelieu River into the lake which now bears his name. In his journal Champlain refered to the location of the delta as "Lacole". When translated literally the term means the neck of a bottle or that which is above the shoulders.
Under the French Regime little development occurred in the seigniories of New France. In 1733 the King of France granted the northern half of the Lacolle seigniory to Louis Denis de la Ronde. The southern two leagues were granted to Louis Leonard de Beaujeu. Both men served as French officers during the Colonial Wars. By 1741 both tracts were reclaimed by the Crown. In 1743 the southern half of the seigniory was acquired by David Lienard de Beaujeu, son of Louis. In 1752, David Lienard de Beaujeu was granted the northern portion with the condition that both tracts become one seigniory, 4 leagues by 3 leagues. During this period the land was known as the seigniory of Beaujeu.
SourceThe English Settlers of Lacolle, Quebec
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VINTAGE LACOLLE
Lacolle Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Lacolle, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 - Catholic Church and Presbytery, built about 1842){kind=small}
Catholic Church and Presbytery, built about 1842
Lacolle, Québec, Canada
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Lacolle, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 - Church Street){kind=small}
Church Street
Lacolle, Québec, Canada
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 - Lacolle Inn){kind=small}
Lacolle Inn
Lacolle, Québec, Canada
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Church St.
Genealogy gifts & optional resources
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Genealogy Gifts & Resources Related to LACOLLE
I Love QUÉBEC Mug – Poutine, Tourtière & Tarte au Sucre Quebec Coffee Cup
Savor the flavors of Québec with every sip from our vibrant Ceramic Mug! Crafted with love, this mug is a tribute to the iconic culinary delights of Québec, featuring mouthwatering illustrations of Poutine, Tourtière, and Tarte au Sucre. If you're passionate about Québecois cuisine or simply want to show your love for this beautiful province, this mug is the perfect choice.
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Sip Christmas the way your ancestors would have loved it with this festive French-Canadian coffee mug. Featuring the elegant greeting “Joyeuses fêtes de Noël à vous et vos proches!” (Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones), it’s perfect for genealogy enthusiasts, Francophiles, and anyone who cherishes family traditions. Joyeuses fêtes de Noël – literally “Happy Christmas holidays,” which is a common way to wish someone a merry Christmas and holiday season in French. à vous et vos proches – “to you and your loved ones,” adding a friendly, inclusive touch.
CANADA - Canadian Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug - Curling and Olympics
"My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for curling and watching the Olympics!"
CANADA - Canadian Roots Ceramic Coffee Mug - Maple Syrup and Apologies Edition - Genealogy
Embrace your Canadian heritage with our "My ancestors came from Canada" ceramic coffee mug! Perfect for sipping your favorite brew while reflecting on your roots, this mug features a moose sampling maple syrup and a humorous caption that reads, "My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for maple syrup and apologizing!" Whether you're enjoying your morning coffee or unwinding with an evening tea, this mug is sure to bring a smile to your face.
QUÉBEC, Canada Roots Canadian Genealogy Coffee Mug Gift Idea - Celebrate Your Quebec Heritage in Style
Raise your morning cup to your rich Québecois heritage with this charming Québec Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug! Perfect for proud descendants of Québec, this ceramic mug features the bold phrase "Québec Roots" – a nod to the generations that have shaped your family’s history.
LOCAL HISTORY
Discover Lacolle: History, News, Travel, and Stories
Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped Lacolle through the years.
In 1733 the King of France granted the northern half of the Lacolle seigniory to Louis Denis de la Ronde. The southern two leagues were granted to Louis Leonard de Beaujeu.
Both men served as French officers during the Colonial Wars. By 1741 both tracts were reclaimed by the Crown.
Read more about Louis DENIS dit DELARONDE
1743 - Seigniory (La Colle or Beaujeu) Re-granted March 22, 1743, to Sieur Daniel Lienard de Beaujeu (son of the original grantee)
Read more about Daniel LIENARD DE BEAUJEAU
In 1763 British General Gabriel Christie purchased the seigniory from the heirs of Beaujeu after his death in the Seven Years War.
Gabriel Christie died in 1799 and his son, Napier Christie Burton, was next in line to inherit the seigniory.
Burton, a Major General in the 3rd regiment, had become more wealthy than his father. In 1801 Napier Christie Burton appointed Samuel Potts as his Agent. The death of Burton's wife forced his return to England and he didn't return to Canada until after the Napoleonic Wars, and then when he did, it was only breifly.
First Skirmish at Lacolle Mill, 1812
This brief skirmish at Lacolle Mill (now Lacolle, Que) during the War of 1812 marked the end of the American campaign to invade Lower Canada and take Montréal in the fall of 1812. In the summer of 1812, US Major General Henry Dearborn collected 2000 regular soldiers and 3000 militiamen at Plattsburgh, New York, for the coming offensive. He arrived in Plattsburgh on 10 November, already very late in the campaign, and by 19 November he was in Champlain, New York. American brigadier general Zebulon Pike crossed the border into Lower Canada early the next day, with 650 regulars and a party of Aboriginal warriors. Their plan was to suppress British allies active in the area, but instead they moved in on a British guardhouse at Lacolle. They were met by a modest force of only 25 militiamen and 15 Aboriginal men.
Clearly outnumbered, the allies soon withdrew, allowing the Americans to destroy the guardhouse and several buildings before Pike and his men moved on to the frontier. It was not ...
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Clearly outnumbered, the allies soon withdrew, allowing the Americans to destroy the guardhouse and several buildings before Pike and his men moved on to the frontier. It was not ...
Battle of Lacolle Mill, 1814
Following a disastrous American attempt to take Montréal in the fall of 1813, Major General James Wilkinson made a last-ditch effort to achieve success on the northern front in March 1814. His plan was to lead 4000 men from Plattsburgh, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, into Lower Canada. His division included 11 infantry regiments, the First US Rifle Regiment, the US Regiment of Light Dragoons, and 11 field guns. Brigadier General Alexander Macomb supported the operation by briefly occupying Philipsburg, Lower Canada, on 22 March.
Wilkinson's force had its first encounter with the British at Lacolle. The garrison under Major Richard Handcock included 180 regulars, a battalion of Royal Marines, a detachment of the rocket corps of the Royal Marines, and the Canadian Voltigeurs. Handcock positioned his forces around a three-storey mill on the south side of the Lacolle River and a wooden barracks on the north side. Another 550 Royal Marines and regular infantry were stationed at...
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Wilkinson's force had its first encounter with the British at Lacolle. The garrison under Major Richard Handcock included 180 regulars, a battalion of Royal Marines, a detachment of the rocket corps of the Royal Marines, and the Canadian Voltigeurs. Handcock positioned his forces around a three-storey mill on the south side of the Lacolle River and a wooden barracks on the north side. Another 550 Royal Marines and regular infantry were stationed at...
1832 - Lacolle Post Office opens
1832 - LA COLLE or BEAUJEU,
seigniory, in the co. of Arcadie, is bounded N. by De Lery, S. by the state of Vermont, and in the rear by Hemmingford, in front of the R. Richelieu. - 2 leagues in breadth by 3 in depth. Granted March 22, 1743, to Sieur de Beaujeu, and is now the property of General Christie Burton. - Towards the front the land is rather low, with some few swampy patches, which excepted, the soil is in general good and very well timbered: in the rear the land is much higher, and although partially intersected by strata of rocks and veins of stone, lying a little below the surface, the soil is rich and perhaps superior to the lower lands. On these upper grounds there is much beech, maple and elm timber; the we places afford abundance of cedar, tamarack, spruce fir and hemlock. Although the greatest part of this S. is very eligible for the purposes of cultivation, and would produce all sorts of grain abundantly, besides being peculiarly well suited to the growth of hemp and flax, there is not more than ...
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Show more local history, news & stories
1836 - Methodist Church opened at Lacolle
1842 - Église de Saint-Bernard established at Lacolle
The census of 1846 revealed a well-developed population of 3,228 in the seigniory of Lacolle.
Across the seigniory, there were 5 taverns, 3 stores with liquor, 1 each of grist, saw, fulling and carding mills and 2 threshing mills. There were also 3 pot or pearl asheries, 2 tanneries, a brewery and a trip hammer forge.
By 1851 the census of the seigniory revealed a population of 3,483. Of those, 1,760 were english speaking and 1,723 spoke french as a mother tongue. There were 1,886 Catholics and 1,597 Protestants.
1873
LACOLLE, a post village in St. Johns co., Que., on the Richelieu river, and on the G. T. R., (Champlain division,) 44 miles S.E. of Montreal. It contains a telegraph office, an iron foundry, several mills and factories, 3 churches, 6 hotels, and about a dozen stores. Lacolle is a port of entry. Total value of imports for 1872 $8,578 ; exports $19,432. In 1812 a battle was fought here between the British and American troops, which resulted in the defeat of the latter. In 18?7, the rebels had possession of the village, but in 1838 they were defeated and a number of them captured. Pop. of village 750; of parish 3,307.
1895 - Lacolle
Lacolle, ià'koll', a post-village in St. Johns co., Quebec, 'the Richelieu River, and on the Grand Trunk Railway (Champlain division), 44 miles S.E. of Montreal. It has an iron-foundry, several mills and factories, 3 churches, 6 hotels, and about a dozen stores. Lacolle is a port of entry. In 1812 a battle was fought here between the British and American troops, in which the latter were defeated. P. 750.
1901 - Église de Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel established at Lacolle
1916
Lacolle, a post-village and outport of St. Johns co., Quebec, on the Richelieu River and on the Grand Trunk R., 44 miles SE. of Montreal. In 1812 a battle was fought here between the British and American troops, in which the latter were defeated. Pop. about 500.
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Lacolle and its surrounding areas:
La Roche à Veillon Park: This tranquil park is a great place to start your visit to Lacolle. It features walking trails, picnic areas, and beautiful views of the Châteauguay River. It's an excellent spot for a leisurely stroll or a peaceful picnic.
Lacolle Border Crossing: If you're coming from the United States, Lacolle is known for its border crossing. While it may not seem like a tourist attraction, it's an interesting experience to witness the comings and goings of travelers at this important international border.
Château de la Roche: This historic site is just a short drive from Lacolle and offers a glimpse into the past. It's a beautiful stone castle that was built in the 18th century and has been lovingly restored. You can take a guided tour to learn about its history and architecture.
Vignoble de la Bauge: Wine enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to this local winery. Take a tour of the vineyard and sample some of the delicious wines produced in the region. It's a...
Read more
Lacolle Border Crossing: If you're coming from the United States, Lacolle is known for its border crossing. While it may not seem like a tourist attraction, it's an interesting experience to witness the comings and goings of travelers at this important international border.
Château de la Roche: This historic site is just a short drive from Lacolle and offers a glimpse into the past. It's a beautiful stone castle that was built in the 18th century and has been lovingly restored. You can take a guided tour to learn about its history and architecture.
Vignoble de la Bauge: Wine enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to this local winery. Take a tour of the vineyard and sample some of the delicious wines produced in the region. It's a...
GENEALOGY IN LACOLLE
Discover YOUR Roots: Lacolle Ancestry
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BIRTHS & DEATHS
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Lacolle, Québec, Canada
We currently have information about 161 ancestors who were born or died in Lacolle.
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Ancestors Who Were Married in Lacolle, Québec, Canada
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Updated: 9/19/2023 10:29:18 PM
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