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Michel Messier Sieur de St. Michel: A Biography of a French Fur Trader and His Relations with Native Americans During the Early Settlement of Montreal 1640-1725
This book brings Michel Messier, a French fur trader born in 1640, out of the obscurity of time and weaves his life into the tapestry of Montreal's early history. Messier rose from humble beginnings in France, sailing the Atlantic to Canada when he was ten years old, and arriving at the settlement of Ville Marie on Montreal island eight years after its founding in 1642. At the time, Ville Marie had fewer than 200 settlers, a fort, and other rude structures. Messier purchased land in the area from Charles Le Moyne when he was 17 and married Charles's sister, Anne, three months later, thus becoming associated with Montreal's illustrious Le Moyne family. As a lieutenant in Ville Marie's militia, Messier was responsible for building Fort St. Michel. He was a fur trader with Native Americans and became Sieur de St. Michel managing a large tract of land much like a feudal lord.
Messier became acquainted with early government and church officials, townspeople, and Native Americans. He took months-long canoe trips deep into Native territory to trade in furs. He was captured by the Iroquois three times, after which he lived with them for extended periods. Michel Messier lived for three-quarters of a century in the Montreal area. He lived during the entire 72-year reign of King Louis XIV (1643-1715) and died ten years later in 1725 at the age of 85.
The author has written this book based on extensive research in the stacks of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the largest library in the world; and from archives, museums, and other historical sites in Canada and the United States, particularly in places where Michel Messier and his family lived or ventured. This book includes many pictures, illustrations, and maps; detailed endnotes; appendices including Messier's chronology, and a detailed bibliography and an index.
Messier became acquainted with early government and church officials, townspeople, and Native Americans. He took months-long canoe trips deep into Native territory to trade in furs. He was captured by the Iroquois three times, after which he lived with them for extended periods. Michel Messier lived for three-quarters of a century in the Montreal area. He lived during the entire 72-year reign of King Louis XIV (1643-1715) and died ten years later in 1725 at the age of 85.
The author has written this book based on extensive research in the stacks of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the largest library in the world; and from archives, museums, and other historical sites in Canada and the United States, particularly in places where Michel Messier and his family lived or ventured. This book includes many pictures, illustrations, and maps; detailed endnotes; appendices including Messier's chronology, and a detailed bibliography and an index.
247 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2022
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