History of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada

The history of this part of the Montérégie country dates back as early as the first half of the 18th century, with the founding, in 1740, of the parish of Saint-Denis-de-la-Rivière-Chambly (this is an old name of the Richelieu River), whose canonical erection will only take place in 1832.

It was on the occasion of the civil erection which occurred in 1835 that the denomination was reduced to Saint-Denis, a form adopted by the parish municipality officially created in 1855.

seigniory, in the co. of Richelieu, is bounded N.E. by the aug. to St. Ours; S.W. by St. Charles and Cournoyer; in the rear by St. Hyacinthe; in front by Contrecoeur. - It is 2 leagues in breadth and depth, and it includes the isles and islets in the R. Richelieu as far as the S. extends up that river. Granted Sept. 20, 1694, to Louis de Ganne, Sieur de Falaise. It now belongs to Madame Fleury Deschambault. The lands are fertile and the whole of the S. is conceded and peopled. There are 5 ranges of concessions, containing 250 farms, all under cultivation. Flax is raised generally and the soil is in many place fit for hemp. The lands form many leagues in this neighborhood are considered the most productive in the district of Montreal. The sterile lands in this S. have been left covered with standing wood, and the parts that have been cleared have been abandoned. Timber has been reserved on good lands, but not in sufficient quantities, which has obliged many to procure lands in the...

to become and independent country. But even more important, Saint-Denis was the site of the only Patriotes victory over the British during the Rebellion of 1837-38.

Fabulous Quebec, Collective Series, Ulysses Travel Guides Series
Authors Francois Remillard, Benoit Prieur
Publisher Ulysses Travel Guides, 2004
ISBN 2894647166, 9782894647165
Page 142

Lt-Col. Charles Gore returns to St-Denis after earlier standoff by the Patriote rebels; troops sack and burn the village; heads to St-Charles, Québec the following day, then to St-Hyacinthe, Québec. St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Quebec

ST. DENIS, a flourishing post village and parish of Quebec, co. of St. Hyacinthe, on the River Richelieu. 14 miles from St. Hilaire Station. The village contains 7 or 8 stores, and saw, grist and carding mills. This place has attained an unenviable notoriety from the murder of Lieut. Weir, who had been sent overland to Sorel from Monreal with despatches, and wishing to join his regiment, which was on its route to St Denis, fell a prisoner into the hands of the rebels who barbarously and brutally murdered him, and then threw his body into the Richelieu. This was during the rebellion of 1837-38. Pop. of parish 2,463.