La Pocatière, Québec, Canada (Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere)
1832 - STE. ANNE DE LA GRANDE ANSE or LA POCADIERE,

seigniory, in the co. of Kamouraska, is bounded N.E. by the S. of Riviere Ouelle; S.W. by St. Roch des Aulnais; in the rear by Ixworth; in front by the St. Lawrence. - This seigniory is one of the least in extent and wealth on the south side of the St. Lawrence. It is about 1 1/ 2 league in breadth, and 1 1/ 2 league in depth. It was granted, Oct. 29, 1672, to Demoiselle Lacombe, and is now the property of Monsr. Schmidt. It is divided into 3 ranges of concessions, and all the lands susceptible of cultivation are conceded... The soil is very fertile and produces grain of all sorts; most of the concessions are under a good system of agricultural management, and thickly inhabited: the land approaching the mountains is of good quality, but none of it is under tillage. Among a variety of fine timber, abundance of capital red pine is produced, also white pine, maple, black birch, epinette, and sapin. - This S. is watered by the rivers Ste. Anne and St. Jean, and by several minor streams. Riviere Ste. Anne turns 4 saw-mills, one corn-mill with 3 sets of stones, and one fulling-mill. The Riviere St. Jean turns one corn-mill with 2 sets of stones, which can only work in spring and autumn. - Beside the main road, there are some others branching off in different directions into the seigniories of Riviere Ouelle and St. Roch, all of which are in good order. - In this S. geese and turkies are in abundance, although they are scarce in Kamouraska, and not very numerous in Riviere Ouelle: the inhabitants sell their poultry at Quebec. - The church, which is 120 ft. by 50, is surrounded by several houses, pleasantly situated; and there are two schools, each having 80 scholars, in which the Latin, French and English languages are taught, also accompts, &c. The college of Ste. Anne is about 25 leagues from Quebec, and is well situated in regard to the northern parishes of Lower Canada. It is built one arpent from the church, in a romantic solitude, in the midst of a grove in the vicinity of a fine mountain; and, perhaps it is no exaggeration to say, that there is not in all Canada, a place more healthy nor more convenient, in every respect, for the purposes of such an establishment. The building is 100 ft. by 43, three stories high, and built with stone. - Of the 283 families living in this S. 121 lives solely on the produce of their farms, and 100 are desirous and capable of cultivating lands if any were provided for them, and not too far off. Nevertheless none of the inhabitants emigrate to the townships conceded in free and common soccage, although the town of Ixworth is so near and there is a very convenient road to it, and although it is separated from the seigniory by the last line of houses only, no one will leave home to settle there. - In this S. six fisheries are carried on, principally by companies. They extend far into the St. Lawrence and produce bass, sturgeon, herrings, some salmon, and a large quantity of eels are taken on the mud. This S. is the last eastward on the south shore where herrings are caught. - When the author was in this S., the inhabitants had killed 3 bears during the week: these bears had destroyed 40 sheep in that year.

Population 2,546
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Presbyteries 1
Colleges 1
Schools 2
Corn-mills 1
Notaries 1
Shopkeepers 2
Artisans 15
River-craft 2
Tonnage 50
Keel-boats 9

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

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