PIERRE BRELAND (1764-1829)

[gnstill]

New Family Page: PIERRE BRELAND (1764-1829)

Please post comments and queries about Pierre BRELAND and his children here.

[bthor]

Gary
Frenchman Butte, near Fort Pitt on the map below.
Where is the Map?
Beth

[gnstill]

It's there now! Thanks Beth

[r_marchand53]

Hi

I was working on the marriage between Jane Grant (daughter of Richard Grant and Mary-Ann Breland or Berland and Jacques Rivard dit Loranger (son of Bénoni-Jacques Rivard dit Loranger and Geneviève Geffard) , May 27th 1846 at Immaculée-Conception of Trois-Rivières, QC.

I then discovered what could be the answer to your question about the sons and daughters of Pierre Berland (Breland) dit Duboishue and Louise-Josephte Bellay dite Bélidau.

On Feb 18th 1813, in St-Martin de l'Ile-Jésus (Laval) QC, (few miles north of Montreal), you can find this marriage: (I will translate because the original is in French, sorry if it is not perfect!)

"This year one hundred and thirteen, the eighteen of February, without any publication of the banns, and Monseigneur Plessis, bishop of Quebec having given an exemption for the publication of three banns, I, undersigned, parish priest, have received the mutual marriage agreement between Pierre Berland dit Duboishue, trader, and Marie-Josephte Bélidau, both majors, living in this parish, in presence of captain Julien Leblanc and François Bonin, both friends of the contracting parties, who declared with the bride that they do not know how to sign. And the said contracting parties, at the moment of their marriage celebration, have declared as their true and legitimate children: Alexandre, nine years old, Édouard, seven years old, Marie-Élize, five years old, and Paschal 18 months which they want able to inherit their actual and future possessions, and any other children who could be born later from this union. This in presence of the said witnesses who declared with the bride that they do not know how to sign. The groom has signed:

Pierre Berland di Duboishue and M. Brunet, priest"

Please note that Pierre signed clearly Pierre Berland and not Breland

With this, I think that it is obvious that Ann was born from the previous union of Pierre Berland

Regards,

Robert Marchand
Brossard, QC

PS: sorry for my English, I usually speak French

[gnstill]

Thanks very, very much Robert!

It’s like a breath of fresh air to finally have some facts to state. I have updated the Pierre BRELAND Page accordingly.

Also please check this link: RICHARD GRANT (1794-1862)

Tell us more about your own connection to these families.

[r_marchand53]

It is quite strange, but there are two different copies of this register available. In the first one the bride is named Josephte Bélidau, but in the second Josephte has been clearly scratched and replace by Louise Bélidau

You can check it on Ancestry.ca:

1- http://interactive.ancestry.ca/1091/d1p ... p_11270943

2- http://interactive.ancestry.ca/1091/d1p ... _1153b0651

In the second version the missing names for the bishop and the friend were much more easier to read: Mgr. Plessis
and François Bonin

I do not have any relation with any of those and was doing some genealogical research for a friend

Regards

Robert

[EdmontonTom]

Wow, nice work everyone!

I can most assuredly identify with the 'Who's on first' feeling of finding information about Louise Umpherville's early life, and the resolution of the 'Belly' surname is very gratifying.

Gary, can you tell me what the source is for Madeleine (c1800 MADELAINE DUBOISHUE dit BRELAND (m. Charles HOULE)) ? Is there a scrip record somewhere?

I can't help but wonder that upon his marriage to Josephte, Pierre has Alexandre his nine year old son with him while about the same time Louise is raising Marie-Anne, born around the same time. I suppose we can only imagine at the familial relationships and the circumstances that surround the marriage and later split.

[gnstill]

Sprague & Frye ID-2228, Table 1: Charles HOULE, Metis, born 1794 in Red River, DADSID-2229 (Un-named HOULE b-1769). Wife 1) Magdeleine BRELAND, Metis, born 1800, died 1833. Wife 2) Catherine FALARDEAU, Metis, born 1820 in Red River

I also found two Scrip records identifying children of Madeleine BERLAND and Charles HOULE: Isabelle HOULE b-1821 and Charles HOULE b-1828.

[EdmontonTom]

Amazing. I love this website!

[dmsherk]

Pierre Duboishue dit Berland ( Joseph b. 1758 ) Jan. 2024
by Don Sherk and Patricia Breland Sherk

This posting will try to better define Pierre Duboishue dit Berland the Fur Trader, born 29 September 1758 at Fort St. Frederic New France. Fort St. Frederic ruins are located at Crown Point New York.

We have worked on the Pierre Duboishue dit Berland Family tree for 40 odd years and would like to give some insight and correct some misinformation about this family.
Pierre Berland, the Fur Trader's full name is Pierre Joseph Duboishue dit Berland and is the first of four sons of Pierre Antoine Duboishue dit Berland and Marie Louise Raymond to be given the first name Pierre.

They are : Pierre Joseph b. 29 Sept 1758 at Fort St. Frederic
Pierre Louis b. June 1759, Fort St. Jean,. d. 12 June Fort. St Jean
Pierre Charles b. 2 April 1764, Chambly
Pierre Raphael b. 21 Dec. 1769, Chambly, d. 1771 Chambly.
So you can see that calling a son Pierre Duboishue dit Berland can be confused to be any of the above 4 sons.

There are many erroneous claims on the Internet that Pierre Charles is Pierre the Fur Trader but a simple examination of the time line of Pierre the Fur trader positively excludes Pierre Charles.

1- The birth of John Baptiste Berland in 1777 in the Kootenays. John Baptiste is the son of Pierre the Fur trader and an unknown Cree
woman.
In 1777 Pierre Joseph Berland would be 19 years old.
In 1777 Pierre Charles Berland would be 13 years old.

2- On 13 June 1780 we have a Notary Public employment contract between Pierre Charles Berland and George Heckler at Montreal. The Notary is Simon Sanguinet, Fils Notary Act # 1617.
in June 1780 Pierre Charles would be 16 years old.

So it should be obvious that Pierre Charles is too young to have traveled to the Kootenay mountain area and fathered a child at the age of 13.
Also Pierre Charles could not be in Montreal signing a contract for employment in 1780 at the age of 16 and at the same time be in the far west engaging in Fur Trading.

So Pierre Duboishue dit Berland the Fur Trader was Pierre Joseph Duboishue dit Berland. I will refer to Pierre Joseph Duboishue dit Berland as "Pierre Joseph" thru ought this doc.

There is a gap in time of some 20 years, 1777 to 1797 where Pierre Joseph engaged in his Fur Trading business and various "country marriages" without leaving any documented trail that we can find.

The next issue is that of Louise Lisette Umfreville. Louise Lisette Umfreville was born circa 1783, daughter of Edward Umfreville a Clerk / agent of the Northwest Company at that time. Her mother is believed to be a Cree woman. Edward had been previously employed by the Hudson Bay Company at York Factory and Fort Severn from 1771 to 1782 when he was taken captive by the French and taken back to France as a prisoner in 1782.
In 1784 Edward returned to Montreal, signed up with the Northwest Co. and undertook a project to find an alternate route from the west end of Lake Superior to the west via Nipigon. In the years 1786 to 1789 Edward set up and ran a trading post ( Umfreville House ) on the North Saskatchewan River. In 1789 Edward returned to England abandoning his North American "country wives" and children.

Louise Lisette Umfreville became a " country wife " of Pierre Joseph circa 1797.
From this union Louise Lisette Umfreville bore five children :
Joseph Berland circa 1797
Madeline Berland circa 1800
Clotilde Sophie Berland b. 1801 This birth date is from a baptism entry in St Laurent Parish Montreal. The Baptism entry of
1813 certifies that Clotilde Sophie is the legitimate daughter of Pierre Berland and Lisette Umfreville and was age 12 years.
(in 1813). It also states that Sophie was born on the Pembina River. The Pembina River is a tributary to the Athabasca River
in today's northern Alberta.
Alexander Berland b. 26 April 1802 ( date from Cemetery Headstone)
d. 7 March 1858.
Note... Alexander has been proven by a DNA study in 2021 to be the son of Louise Lisette Umfreville.
The base DNA source for this study was Patricia Breland who is a documented direct descendant of Alexander .
Marie Ann Berland b. 1805

Marie Louise Bélédau
1805 In 1085 Pierre Joseph now has a new " country wife" in the person of Marie Louise Bélédau.

1805 Pierre Joseph has decided to retire from the Fur Trade and relocate to the Montreal Area. We do not know if Louise Lisette
Umfreville did not wish to go with him or perhaps Pierre Joseph felt that Marie Louise Bélédau would be a better fit in Quebec
society. In any case, Pierre Joseph, Louise Lisette Umfreville and Marie Louise Bélédau divide up the children from the
Umfreville union with Joseph b. 1797, Madeline b. 1800, and Marie Ann b. 1805 staying with Louise Lisette Umfreville.
Leaving with Pierre Joseph and Marie Louise Bélédau are Clotilde Sophie b. 1801 and Alexander b. 26 April 1802.
The family leave the west and settle in St. Martin Parish. Isle Jesus, today's Laval Quebec.

1805 Pierre Joseph joins the Militia as required by law. He also starts a trading business with the first recorded trade on 12 Sept. 1805. His trading business activity is recorded in the Quebec Notary Public Records.

Some important background regarding life in a Quebec Parish in circa 1800

Baptisms:
In the Catholic Church newborn babies were expected to be Baptized in the first 24 hours of life. In many births made without medical assistance, the mother was not in a condition to participate in the baptism ceremony so the father of the baby and perhaps a neighbor would attend.
In the case of Marie Louise Bélédau, if she did not attend then Pierre Joseph attended and gave her name as Josephte Bélédau.

Parish Power Structure
It is important to understand the control that the Parish Priests had over the lives and structure of the Parish. The main governing officials were the Parish Priest, followed by the Militia Captain or Captains.
The Militia Captain besides directing the Militia Force of the Parish acted as a Mayor, organizing road repairs and any work that was common to the Parish and settle disputes. This was a prominent position within the community as well as having a close connection to the Church. At the Catholic Church the Militia Captain had a designated spot at the front of the Church and would receive communion first ( after the clergy) . So you can see that the Militia Captain needed to be of fine character and in the good graces of the Parish Priest.

Another note about Catholic Church Registers

Each Parish was required to make a copy of the Church register book and when full, send one of the books to headquarters for safekeeping. This is important in the Pierre Joseph and Marie Louise Bélédau wedding in that both register books have the same name entry for Marie Louise Bélédau as Josephte Bélédau but in one book a correction has been made in that Josephte is crossed out and Louise has been written in. This is in both the body of the entry and in the left margin.

This is one of the proofs that Marie Louise Bélédau is her correct name and not Josephte which Pierre Joseph called her. ( perhaps as a term of endearment ????).
Images of both Church Register entries are available at Ancestry.ca

So, in 1813 the Militia promotes Pierre Joseph to the rank of Captain, however this simply cannot stand as Pierre Joseph is not married to Marie Louise Bélédau, they have children from different mothers, and the children have not been baptized. It may not help that Marie Louise Bélédau is referred to by the Parish Priest as a savagese ( today the political correct interpretation for the word savagese is " of indian land ").
The only way for Pierre Joseph to take the position of Captain is to marry Marie Louise Bélédau and then have the children recognized as the legitimate children of Pierre Joseph and Marie Louise Bélédau.

Marie Louise Bélédau's Name

There is sometimes a difference between what a persons name is and what they are called by those around them. This is one of those cases. Marie Louise Bélédau ( her actual name ), has been called Josephte Beledau / Marie Louise Beledau / Josephte Belley etc. .
So lets explore this confusion.
First, all of these names refer to the same person, Marie Louise Bélédau.
We can show that Marie Louise Bélédau is indeed her proper name by citing examples of Marie Louise giving her name in a formal setting to a person of some authority.
1- Marie Louise Bélédau's baptism 4 Feb. 1813
2- Marie Louise Bélédau's wedding 18 Feb. 1813

Note.... In the two Church Registers for ST Martin Parish both original entries show Marie Louise Bélédau's name as Marie Josephte Bélédau. However in one copy of the Church Register the name Josephte has been crossed out in both the body of the entry and in the left margin entry and been replaced with Louise.
This correction shows that Josephte is not Bélédau's given name.
3- Pierre Berlands Baptism 12 May 1816 shows her name as Louise Bélédau.
4- The making of Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph's Wills 30 April 1817. At Montreal, Notary Public - Trudeau, Francois-
Joseph. Notary Act Numbers 512 and 513.
5- Marie Louise Bélédau's Death 22 June 1817 shows her name as Marie Louise Bélédau.

In summary, the only time that name Josephte is used is when Pierre Joseph is present and volunteers Bélédau's name.

The next Bélédau name issue is that Marie Louise Bélédau has been documented as named Marie Louise Belley.

First question, "Where did the name Belley come from" ?
These three weddings below are Marie Louise Bélédau's children and it is clear that Bélédau's children knew her name as Belly.

The first recorded use of the name "Belly" to address Marie Louise Bélédau is on 8 Feb. 1836 at the wedding of Pascal Breland and
Maria Grant.
The second recorded use of the name "Belly" to address Marie Louise Bélédau is on 13 Nov. 1838 at the wedding of Elise Breland
and Louis Labelle.
The third recorded use of the name "Belly" to address Marie Louise Bélédau is on 9 April 1839 at the wedding of Pierre ( junior) and
Elmire Vernier Ladouceur.
Also keep in mind that Marie Louise Bélédau had died in 1817 some 20 years prior to these weddings with no one around to correct the name Belly as they grew up.

Note that Belley was not Marie Louise Bélédau's real name so all of the claims that Marie Louise Bélédau is the daughter of Antoine Belly
are simply bogus.

Back to the time line.

1806 Birth of Edouard Berland, no Church record exists of his birth except for the reference to it at the marriage of his parents,
Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph in 1813 at St. Martin Parish, Laval.

1808 Birth of Marie Elise Berland, no Church record exists of his birth except for the reference to it at the marriage of his parents,
Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph in 1813 at St. Martin Parish, Laval.

1811 Birth of Pascal Berland b. 15 June 1811. no Church record exists of his birth except for the reference to it at the marriage of his
parents, Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph in 1813 at St. Martin Parish, Laval.

1813 Up until this date it appears that Pierre Joseph has had no contact with the Catholic Church other than his Baptism at Fort. St.
Frederic in 1758. Pierre Joseph has been a member of the Militia some 7 years ( since 1805 ) and is now about to be
promoted to the rank of Captain provided he receives the blessing of the Parish Priest.
This blessing will not be forthcoming until Pierre Joseph brings his family into the Catholic Church.


So in 1813 Pierre Joseph takes the necessary steps to bring his family into line with the Church.

1- 4 February 1813 Marie Louise Bélédau is Baptized at St. Martin Parish.

2- 18 February 1813 Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph are married and children Alexander, Edouard, Marie Elise, and
Pascal are recognized as the legitimate children of Marie Louise and Pierre Joseph.

There is a problem here in that Clotilde Sophie is not included in the wedding and we know that she is not the
legitimate child of Marie Louise Bélédau but is the daughter of Louise Lisette Umfreville.

Also there is the issue that Alexander is also is not the legitimate child of Marie Louise Bélédau but is the son
of Louise Lisette Umfreville. As mentioned before, we now have solid DNA proof of the Umfreville lineage. Of course the
Parish Priest has no way to know Alexander's true lineage so this is not an issue at this time.

3- 29 July 1813. The remaining issue with the family and the Parish Church is Clotilde Sophie and her status.
To resolve this Pierre Joseph took Clotilde Sophie to the St. Laurent Parish in nearby Montreal and had Clotilde Sophie
recognized as the legitimate child of Lisette Umfreville and Pierre Joseph.
Note.. should you read the actual Baptism record you will see that Umfreville appears as Monfreville. This is due to the
early writing practice of starting the capital letter U with an upstroke from the base line and then a down stroke of the
capital U as we know it.

1813 After the Baptism of Clotilde Sophie all outstanding issues with the Parish Priest have been resolved and from this date foreword all
references to Pierre Joseph in the Church Registers read Captain Pierre Duboishue dit Berland.


1814 Birth of Marie Adelaide Berland 5 Jan. 1814

1814 Death of Marie Adelaide Berland 6 Feb. 1814

1816 Birth of Pierre (Jr.) ( second name is illegible ) Berland 12 May 1816.
Married Elmire Vernier Ladouceur 9 April 1827.

1817 Wills are prepared for Marie Louise Bélédau and Pierre Joseph on
30 April 1817

1817 Death of Marie Louise Bélédau 22 June 1817

1817 Death of Luice Berland 24 Nov. 1817
Note... no record of birth for Lucie.

1818 23 Jan. 1818 Pierre Joseph enters into a marriage contract with Marie Miller. (Notary Public, Trudeau, Francois-Joseph. Notary
Act # 600, Notorial Place, Montreal) The Contract also specifies the marriage date as 23 Jan. 1818. It is odd that the
marriage contract date is the same date as the marriage date unless they were actually married that day. We have not been
able to find a Catholic Church record of such marriage..

1820 Marriage of Clotilde Sophie to Louis Couvrette 20 May 1820

1820 Pierre Joseph and sons Alexander, Edouard, and Pascal return to the North West Territory to engage in the Fur Trade
again.

1821 and 1822 Pierre Joseph enters into a contract to work for the North West Company as a Trader.

1824 Governor George Simpson wrote: " as quoted in "The Beaver " magazine 1974 Autumn edition, article "The Metis and
Canadian Councilors" of Assiniboia" part 2.

Governor George Simpson: Poor Burleigh, Simpson wrote in October 1824, was some 20 years ago one of the most active enterprising Canadians of his standing in the country, a first rate hunter and possessing a strength and acuteness of mind rarely to be met with in his walk of life. He had amassed a fortune of about 7,000 pounds and returned to Canada, but so enchanted was he with the roving life of a freeman and the charm of some half dozen wives (natives of the soil) that he could not sit down quietly at home to enjoy his good fortune but must revisit the Indian country since which time he has met nothing but reverses.

Note.. in this quote from George Simpson the word Canada refers to today's Quebec, the phrase Burleigh the Freeman refers to Pierre Joseph Berland, the phrase "some 20 years ago" appears to reference the time of 1805 when Pierre Joseph, retires from the Fur Trade and with new wife Marie Louise Bélédau, and children Clotilde Sophie and Alexander to Canada ( St. Martin Parish) Laval.
This quotation notes Pierre Joseph service as a soldier which was his service in the Militia.

Entries from the Fort Edmonton Journal

1825 19 September Pierre Berland with four Half Breeds and brought us 180 Beaver Skins.

1825 10 October Pierre Berland, a freeman arrived this evening with his family, and would willingly pass the winter in the Fort, bring
in skins and not set to kill an animal for himself but intend to go off soon to trap a few Beaver he knows of about the ?? Willy
Creek.
In short, Pierre Joseph and family wish to winter in the Fort in exchange for any animal skins that he can provide to the Fort.
Being allowed to stay in the Fort would give the family access to the communal food, Heat, shelter and safety.

Note... It is up to the Fort Commander , in this case John Rowand who is a Chief Factor of the Hudson Bay Co. and in charge of Fort
Edmonton, to approve any request to Winter Over in the Fort.
John Rowan's country wife is none other than Louise Lisette Umfreville, the same lady that Pierre Joseph had abandoned in
1805 in favor of Marie Louise Bélédau.

1825 27 October Old Peter ( Pierre) Berland a freeman and is come to see if he will be allowed to pass the winter at the Fort being
in a very bad state of health and can hardly put one foot before the other has no objection to paying for his food and lodgings.
It is left to the Governors Council whether he will be made to pay or not.

1825 28 October Pierre Berland and family which now consists of a woman, a child, a boy about 14 years old ( Pascal) and the
Berland boys ( assuming Alexander and Edouard). are approved to Winter Over in the Fort.

1826 16 May 1826. The final entry in the Fort Edmonton Journal regarding the Berlands:
16 May 1826, Berland and his family took their departure for the Red River.

Note.. Edouard did not go to the Red River Colony with the rest of the family but remained in West to pursue a career as a Fur Trader
with the Hudson Bay Co.

1827 The 1827 Census of the Village of Grantown or The White Plain ( today Known as Saint Francois Xavier Manitoba) list Alex
Berland as the 22nd family of 23 families.
Alexander Berland is listed as married with no children.

1828 The 1828 Red River Census Lists Pierre Berland as Married with 1 son and two daughters under the age of 15.

1829 31 October 1829. Death of Pierre Joseph Berland and Burial on Nov. 2nd.. at Saint Boniface Manitoba. Record from St.
Boniface Archives.

Note... The Widow Berland identifies herself in census returns as being born in Ruperts Land so she is not the same woman "Marie Miller"
in the Marriage Contract of 18 January 1818 in Montreal between Pierre Joseph and Marie Miller.

On another note: Two Separate misinformation items that are prevalent on the genealogical websites.

1. The statement that Pascal Berland was born in the Saskatchewan valley in 1811 is not true.
Since Pierre Joseph and family lived in Canada ( Laval) from 1805 to 1820 Pascal was not born in the Saskatchewan Valley in
1811. The " birth in the Saskatchewan Valley" appears to come from the Metis Scrip Application by Pascal in 1875 where he
claims his birth place to be the Saskatchewan Valley.
It is possible that Pascal's Scrip application would not be approved if he admitted that he was born in Canada ( today's
Quebec).
Also as a politician Pascal might be more credible as a Metis leader if he was said to be born in the west.

2. There is a statement that appears to have originated in the book
"A Son of the Fur Trade" by Johnny Grant.
The statement on page 329 is that Catherine Berland b. 1813 was the sister of Marie Ann Berland b. 1805, daughter of Pierre
Joseph and Louise Lisette Umfreville.
This is not true. Catherine Berland b. 1813 was the daughter of John Baptiste Berland and Susan McLeod Nipissing. so
Catherine Berland was the niece of Marie Ann Berland. The confusion may be due to the small age difference of 8 years.

We hope that this information will bring some clarity to this subject.

Donald Sherk and Patricia Breland Jan 2024



Sources for this post:
Fort St. Frederic files - LAC Canada

Quebec Church Records - PDRD
- Genealogy Quebec, Drouin Collection

Fort Edmonton File - Hudson Bay Co. Archives.

Copyright Files from PDRH Montreal and Genealogy Quebec