M. 15 Nov 1694 in Montreal, New France2
Wife: Catherine Brunet
D. 16 Aug 1722 in Lachine, New France3
When an Indigenous person was guilty of a crime in the colony of New France, the fear of retaliation by the person’s tribe often prevented true justice. Such was the case following the murder of Honoré Danis.
Honoré was born in Montreal on October 30, 1669 to Honoré Danis dit Tourangeau and Perrine LaPierre.1 His father was an early settler in Montreal, and his mother was a Fille du Roi. Honoré had a twin sister named Catherine and nine other siblings. He also had two half-brothers from his father’s earlier marriage. Honoré’s father was 45-years-old when he was born, and he died in 1690.4
On November 15, 1694, Honoré married Catherine Brunet,2 the 13-year-old daughter of a man involved in the fur trade. Brides of that age were fairly common in Montreal, but often a young girl stayed in her parents’ household for a year or two before sharing a bed with their husband. Honoré and Catherine’s first child was born in 1698,5 and by 1711, they had six more. The family moved to Lachine in around 1700 where Honoré made a living as a carpenter.6
On November 15, 1694, Honoré married Catherine Brunet,2 the 13-year-old daughter of a man involved in the fur trade. Brides of that age were fairly common in Montreal, but often a young girl stayed in her parents’ household for a year or two before sharing a bed with their husband. Honoré and Catherine’s first child was born in 1698,5 and by 1711, they had six more. The family moved to Lachine in around 1700 where Honoré made a living as a carpenter.6
There are records of three court cases involving Honoré during this time. The first was dated December 24, 1694 when he sued a man named Claude Robillard for “damage cause by a defective wheat thrasher.”7 The second trial happened in early 1712 with another man, Pierre Raimbault, charging Honoré with being delinquent on a payment for some land.8 The third court record was from June 30, 1720; he was one of three men who were each ordered to build 24 feet of a rough fence on the property of a woman referred to as “widow Danis.”9
The events that took Honoré’s life began on the evening of August 14, 1722 when five Mohawks living at Sault-Saint-Louis bought some brandy from Lachine settlers.10 Sault-Saint-Louis was a Jesuit mission on the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River populated by Mohawks who had converted to Christianity. It was said that after the five men became intoxicated on the brandy, they got into a fight with some French residents of Lachine, and among them was Honoré, who lost his life as a result.3 The cause of death was from a blunt object striking his head.10
Mission Sault-Saint-Louis.
The five Mohawks were arrested, but a group of tribal leaders came to the place where they were being held and demanded their release.10 The situation was tense, because punishing the men who killed Honoré could lead to a violent reaction from their tribe. The governor in charge agreed to let them go as long as they would “stay in their village” from then on.10 The governor then decided to prosecute the French settlers who had sold liquor to the Mohawks, which was against the law. Two men, three women and a 14-year-old boy were tried in court, and two of them, Charles and Angeliqué LeDuc, were found guilty and fined 500 livres.10
Many years later, Honoré’s widow Catherine remarried to a man at Fort Frontenac.11 It isn’t known when she died.
Children:
1. Marguerite Danis — B. 23 Jan 1698, Montreal, New France;5 D. 10 Aug 1784, Laval, Quebec;12 M. Charles-François Raymond (1697-1746), 24 Nov 1721, Lachine, New France13
2. Jean-Baptiste Danis — B. 7 Feb 1701, Lachine, New France;14 D. 14 Mar 1701, Lachine, New France15
3. Marie-Catherine Danis — B. 19 May 1702, Lachine, New France;16 D. 21 Aug 1739, Montreal, New France;17 M. Jean Custeau (1699-1769), 11 Sep 1724, Montreal, New France18
4. Jean-Baptiste Danis — B. 21 Apr 1704, Lachine, New France19
5. Marie-Anne Danis — B. 4 Sep 1706, Lachine, New France20
6. Jean-François — B. 8 Jul 1709, Lachine, New France;21 D. 14 Jan 1731, Montreal, New France22
7. Marie-Josephe Danis — B. 11 Sep 1711, Lachine, New France;23 M. Jean-Baptiste Chabot (1701-1771), 23 Jan 1732, Montreal, New France24
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of Honoré Danis, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of Honoré Danis and Catherine Brunet, Q., C. P. R.
3 Burial record of Honoré Danis, Q., C. P. R.
4 Burial record of Honoré Danis dit Tourangeau, Q., C. P. R.
5 Baptismal record of Marguerite Danis, Q., C. P. R.
6 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Honoré Danis
7 Lawsuit between Honoré Danis and Claude Robillard, 24 Dec 1694, BAnQ
8 Lawsuit between Honoré Danis and Claude Robillard, 6 Feb 1712, BAnQ
9 Lawsuit involving Honoré Danis, Mathurin Parent, and Charles Leduc, 30 Jun 1720, BAnQ
10 “Demon in a Bottle, a Devil to Control: Alcohol Regulations and Illicit Consumption in New France,” Selina Antounucci, April 2018, pp. 53-56
11 Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Catherine Brunet
12 Burial record of Marguerite Danis, Q., C. P. R.
13 Marriage record of Charles-François Raymond and Marguerite Danis, Q., C. P. R.
14 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Danis (older), Q., C. P. R.
15 Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Danis (older), Q., C. P. R.
16 Baptismal record of Marie-Catherine Danis, Q., C. P. R.
17 Burial record of Marie-Catherine Danis, Q., C. P. R.
18 Marriage record of Jean Custeau and Marie-Catherine Danis, Q., C. P. R.
19 Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Danis (younger), Q., C. P. R.
20 Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Danis, Q., C. P. R.
21 Baptismal record of Jean-François Danis, Q., C. P. R.
22 Burial record of Jean-François Danis, Q., C. P. R.
23 Baptismal record of Marie-Josephe Danis, Q., C. P. R.
24 Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Chabot and Marie-Josephe Danis, Q., C. P. R.
