George Pozer
Encyclopedia
George Pozer is the anglicised name of Johann Georg Pfotzer (November 21, 1752 – June 16, 1848) who was a merchant
, landowner and the fourth Seigneur
of Aubert-Gallion.
Born in Wilstedt
, Germany
he immigrated to England
in 1773 and later to the colony of New York where he became a merchant. Being a Loyalist, he left America after the American War of Independence and return to England
. In 1785, he arrived in Canada and settled in Quebec City
and through endeavours that started with his first grocery store
and extended to real estate
operations, with money lending and discounting in between, Pozer succeeded in building a fortune over 30 years.
Among his many real estate possessions
was the Aubert-Gallion Seigneurie
that he bought in 1807. Ten years later, he settled in Aubert-Gallion 189 German immigrants. Most of these immigrants died after a forest clearing
spread into a wildfire
. After this unsuccessful attempt to established German compatriots in Aubert-Gallion, Pozer, despite being a Protestant and a Loyalist, began collaborating with the Catholic Church and the francophone
population. He gave to the Archdiocese of Quebec the land for the establishment of the parish
of Saint-Georges
. The choosing of the name "Saint-Georges" is an hommage to George Pozer. He is considered as the founder of Saint-Georges-de-Beauce
.
George Pozer was the father of Jacob Pozer
and the grandfather of Christian Henry Pozer. He is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Sillery, Quebec
.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, landowner and the fourth Seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
of Aubert-Gallion.
Born in Wilstedt
Wilstedt
Wilstedt is a municipality in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany.Wilstedt belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180. In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union by the Swedish Crown -...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
he immigrated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1773 and later to the colony of New York where he became a merchant. Being a Loyalist, he left America after the American War of Independence and return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1785, he arrived in Canada and settled in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and through endeavours that started with his first grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
and extended to real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
operations, with money lending and discounting in between, Pozer succeeded in building a fortune over 30 years.
Among his many real estate possessions
Title (property)
Title is a legal term for a bundle of rights in a piece of property in which a party may own either a legal interest or an equitable interest. The rights in the bundle may be separated and held by different parties. It may also refer to a formal document that serves as evidence of ownership...
was the Aubert-Gallion Seigneurie
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
that he bought in 1807. Ten years later, he settled in Aubert-Gallion 189 German immigrants. Most of these immigrants died after a forest clearing
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
spread into a wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
. After this unsuccessful attempt to established German compatriots in Aubert-Gallion, Pozer, despite being a Protestant and a Loyalist, began collaborating with the Catholic Church and the francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
population. He gave to the Archdiocese of Quebec the land for the establishment of the parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
of Saint-Georges
Saint-Georges, Quebec
Saint-Georges is a city in the province of Quebec. It is the seat of Beauce-Sartigan Regional County Municipality, part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region. The population was 30,113 as of 2009. Route 173 runs through Saint-Georges Est and heads south to the border with Maine, USA...
. The choosing of the name "Saint-Georges" is an hommage to George Pozer. He is considered as the founder of Saint-Georges-de-Beauce
Saint-Georges, Quebec
Saint-Georges is a city in the province of Quebec. It is the seat of Beauce-Sartigan Regional County Municipality, part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region. The population was 30,113 as of 2009. Route 173 runs through Saint-Georges Est and heads south to the border with Maine, USA...
.
George Pozer was the father of Jacob Pozer
Jacob Pozer
Jacob Pozer was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. He represented William-Henry in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1812 to 1814....
and the grandfather of Christian Henry Pozer. He is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Sillery, Quebec
Sillery, Quebec
Sillery is a former city in central Quebec, Canada. Located just west of old Quebec City, Sillery was among the many outlying municipalities amalgamated into an expanded Quebec City on January 1, 2002. Its former territory now forms part of the new Borough of Sainte-Foy—Sillery—Cap-Rouge...
.