Champlain, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation)
1832 - CHAMPLAIN

and its Augmentation, in the county of Champlain, lie between Cap de la Magdelaine and Batiscan. The seigniory is 1 1/ 2 l. in front by 1 league in depth and was granted Sept. 22, 1664, to Etienne Pezard, Sieur de la Touche. The Augmentation, of the same breadth as the seigniory and 3 l. deep, is bounded in the rear by the T. of Radnor and waste crown lands; it was granted Apr. 28, 1697, to Mad. de la Touche, and the present proprietors are Mr. Munro and Mr. Poole. - In the front of the S. the soil is a yellow loam mixed with sand; in the rear it is stronger and better, in many places so good for the cultivation of flax, that it is to be regretted that so profitable and important an article is not attended to. - The timber is various and, though not of the first rate quality, is not too much mixed with the inferior sorts. - This S. is watered by the little river Champlain and by many small streams, which rise at a short distance in the interior, and winding down the gradual descent to the St. Lawrence in little rivulets, cross the main road, agreeably diversifying the meadows and cultivated grounds along the front. The R. Champlain works a corn and a saw-mill. - About one third of this seigniory is cultivated in a neat style and, by the side of the Quebec road, displays many good houses with thriving farms almost wholly cleared of wood. - A very small proportion of the aug. is under cultivation; the remainder continues in a state of woodland producing some capital timber. - The narrows of the rivers supply abundance of the fish called petite morue in the beginning of winter, and in the spring considerable quantities of cels are taken. The corn grown here is consumed by the inhabitants, who sell a little hay. The horses are, generally, of the Canadian breed.

The Parish of Champlain, by a regulation confirmed by a royal decree, Mar. 3, 1722, extends 2 1/ 4 l. along the St. Lawrence, viz. from Batiscan to fief l'Arbre a la Croix, from Champlain to fief de Marsollet and from l'Arbre a la Croix to the Cap de la Magdelaine, comprehending the depths included in these boundaries. - A few years since, the inhabitants of the V. Hayotte in the P. of Champlain were alarmed by the following extraordinary occurrence: a tract of land, containing a superficies of 207 arpents, was suddenly moved about 360 yards from the water's edge and precipitated into the river Champlain, overwhelming in its progress barns, houses, trees and whatever lay in its course. The earth thus removed, dammed up the river for a distance of 26 arpents. The effect was instantaneous and accompanied by an appalling sound; a dense vapour, as of pitch and sulphur, filled the atmosphere, oppressing those who witnessed this awful convulsion almost to suffocation. A man named Dube,, who was on the ground at the time, was removed with it to a considerable distance, and buried up to the neck, but was extricated from his perilous situation without sustaining any serious injury. The course of the river thus being obstructed, the waters were swelled to a great height by this extraordinary event. Dube lost and island of 5 arpents, which he had on the river. Another inhabitant, named Hamelin, also suffered a loss of land, wheat and hay; and a third, named Francis Gossett, had his hay and grain destroyed. - The parish church and parsonage-house are near the road.

Population 755
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Presbyteries 1
Villages 1
Corn-mills 1
Saw mills 2
Tanneries 2
Medical men 1
Notaries 1
Shopkeepers 1
Taverns 2
Artisans 12
River-craft 1
Tonnage 15
Keel-boats 1


A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

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