M. 19 Oct 1812 in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec
Wife: Marie-Charlotte Dubois
D. 15 Jul 1846 in St-Norbert, Quebec
In a story common to many 19th-century French-Canadians, Joseph Mignault dit LaBrie’s ancestors had farmed in Quebec for generations. But he was the end of the line, as none of his six sons carried on that tradition when they came of age.
Joseph was born to François-Joseph Mignault dit LaBrie and Marguerite Chouinard, probably on July 21, 1781 in St-Jean-Port-Joli, Quebec. His parents had been married there in 1779, and there are baptisms for their children, but none were named Joseph. There was a child, though, named Jean-Baptiste who matches Joseph’s estimated birth date, and no further mention of him appears in marriage or burial records in Quebec. So it’s very likely that Jean-Baptiste and Joseph were the same person.
Joseph didn't get married until he was about 30-years-old. His bride, Marie-Charlotte Dubois was only 15, and the wedding took place on October 19, 1812 in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy. For a few years, Joseph had a farm in the same community where he was married. By 1822, the family moved to Arthabaska, but in 1825, the census showed them back in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, living next to the households of Charlotte’s brother and uncle. The couple had a total of 12 children born between 1813 and 1838; only the first-born and the last-born children died young.
Joseph didn't get married until he was about 30-years-old. His bride, Marie-Charlotte Dubois was only 15, and the wedding took place on October 19, 1812 in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy. For a few years, Joseph had a farm in the same community where he was married. By 1822, the family moved to Arthabaska, but in 1825, the census showed them back in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, living next to the households of Charlotte’s brother and uncle. The couple had a total of 12 children born between 1813 and 1838; only the first-born and the last-born children died young.
1825 census showing Joseph fourth from the bottom on the page.
French-Canadians along the south shore of the St. Lawrence had made a living in agriculture for generations, in spite of the harsh climate. It was a hard life with practically no opportunity for upward mobility, not to mention the fact that the physical labor took a toll on people. Many began to seek new land, perhaps because the coast was being over-farmed. In about 1830, Joseph moved his family to a place near where he was born, in St-Jean, Dorchester County. The 1831 census indicated that he was the proprietor of a 60-acre farm, and he paid rent for it amounting to 3/8 of his earnings. His farm was under an antiquated tenant system where farmers leased their land from seigneurs (or landlords); within a generation, the system would be abolished.
On 24 acres of his farm, Joseph produced 100 bushels of potatoes that year. While many of his neighbors grew wheat, oats and peas, potatoes were Joseph’s only crop. The farm also had 8 head of cattle, 2 horses and 4 pigs. Charlotte’s brother and uncle were living close to them just as they were in St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy. Joseph and his family are missing from records of the 1842 census, likely because the originals have been lost for many communities in Quebec.
Joseph died in St-Norbert on July 15, 1846 and was buried at the church cemetery there. His wife Charlotte passed away sometime before 1864. None of Joseph’s surviving sons remained in Quebec, with most of them ending up in the United States; if they became farmers, their land was far away from the fields their father had planted.
Children:
1. Joseph LaBrie — B. 19 Sep 1813, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. 19 Dec 1820, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec
2. Genevieve LaBrie — B. about 1815, Quebec; D. 15 Mar 1881, West St. Paul, Minnesota; M. Flavien Roberge (1813-1894), 8 Nov 1834, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec
3. Louis LaBrie — B. Nov 1818, Quebec; D. 22 Feb 1903, Minneapolis, Minnesota; M. Julie Fortier (1821-1904), 14 Sep 1841, Sylvestre, Quebec
4. Henriette LaBrie — B. 9 Sep 1822, Arthabaska, Quebec; M. Jean-Baptiste Boucher dit Morency (1819-1873), 27 Apr 1841, Sylvestre, Quebec
5. Jean-Baptiste LaBrie — B. 9 Sep 1822, Arthabaska, Quebec; D. 13 Jun 1905, Barron County, Wisconsin; M. Perpetue Demers (1827-1899), 27 Feb 1843, Blandford, Quebec
6. Marie-Marguerite LaBrie — B. about 8 Mar 1826, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. about 1888; M. Olivier Demers (~1822-?), 12 Jan 1847, Arthabaska, Quebec
7. Francis LaBree — B. 15 Jan 1828, St-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-Lévy, Quebec; D. 27 Dec 1909, Minneapolis, Minnesota; M. Eliza Furlong (1830-1912), 23 Jan 1854, St. Paul, Minnesota
8. Benjamin LaBrie — B. (possibly) 1831, Quebec; D. (possibly) 19 Feb 1907, Arthabaska, Quebec; M. Marie Vachon (~1833-~1896), 3 Nov 1864, Tlingwick, Quebec
10. Edouard LaBrie — B. about 18 Jul 1834, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec; M. (1) Catherine Couture, 24 Sep 1860, Tlingwick, Quebec; (2) Josephine
11. Marie-Heloise LaBrie — B. about 16 Oct 1838, St-Jean Chrysostome, Quebec; D. Jul 1839, Quebec
Sources:
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
U.S Federal Census records, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900
1825 and 1831 Canada census records
Canada Census (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) 1906
Find-A-Grave
Seigneurial System, The Canadian Encyclopedia (website)
