Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Québec, Canada (Saint-Jean)
1832 - The Parish of St. Jean Baptiste,

by a regulation of Sept. 20, 1721, confirmed by an Order in Council, Mar. 3, 1722, is 2 1/ 4 leagues along the South Channel, extending from and including the house of Andre Terrein to Riviere Maheu, comprehending all the lands in this space to the middle of the island. - In this parish are farms of various sizes, from 3 front arpents down to half an arpent, but none so large as six front arpents by 30 in depth. All the lands were conceded before 1759, and there being none unoccupied, many persons, who are desirous of making new settlements, are prevented from doing so near their relatives and friends, and would therefore settle elsewhere if they had the means. Not a single parishioner has migrated to the townships, for the mode of concession there practised is not agreeable to them. The old farms are too much divided, and the number of small emplacemens on barren soils are continually incresaing; and their occupiers carry on trades without a knowledge of scarcely the first elements; they bring up families of wretched beings destined to increase the number of mendicants.


1832 - ORLEANS ISLAND or ISLE ST. LAURENT, about 4 miles N.E. of Quebec, divides the River St. Lawrence into two channels. - 19 miles long and 5 1/ 2 broad, containing 69 sq. miles... Granted as a seigniory 15th Jan, 1636, to the Sieur Castellon. - It is at present divided into three distinct properties belonging to Madame Drapeau, Monsr. Poulain, and Monsr. Le Comte Dupre... It contains the parishes of Saint Pierre, Saint Jean, Sainte Famille, Saint Laurent, and Saint Francois, and the Islands of Madame and Reaux. - This island is next in size to that of Montreal, and approaches it in fertility and richness of soil more nearly than any other part of the district of Quebec...

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

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