Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Gaultier de la Vérendrye (September 3, 1713 – June 6, 1736) was the eldest son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye and Marie-Anne Dandonneau Du Sablé. He was born on Île Dupas near Sorel
, New France
Jean Baptiste, with three brothers, Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye
, François de La Vérendrye
, and Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
, served in the expedition his father led west in 1731. When they arrived at Fort Kaministiquia
some of the engagés (indentured employees), exhausted by the long journey by canoe from Montreal and discouraged by the difficult portages facing them, refused to go on. His father's second in command, Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
and Jean Baptiste led a smaller advance party west to Rainy Lake
and established a fort they named Fort St. Pierre
(after the parish church where Jean Baptiste was baptised).
The following year Jean Baptiste was instrumental in founding Fort St. Charles
on Lake of the Woods
and in 1734 he established Fort Maurepas on the Red River
.
On June 6, 1736, Sioux Indians ambushed a party led by Jean Baptiste soon after they left Fort St. Charles
on Lake of the Woods
. They were headed for Fort Kaministiquia
to fetch provisions. Jean Baptiste, Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau
,and 19 other men were massacred. Their bodies were later transported to Fort Saint-Charles and buried in the chapel.
Jean-Baptiste de La Vérendrye’s share in the construction of Fort Maurepas makes him one of the founders of the present province of Manitoba.
Sorel-Tracy, Quebec
Sorel-Tracy is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada and the geographical end point of the Lake Champlain Valley at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. Lawrence River, on the western edge of Lac Saint-Pierre downstream and east of nearby Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006...
, New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
Jean Baptiste, with three brothers, Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye de Boumois was the second son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye...
, François de La Vérendrye
François de La Vérendrye
François de La Vérendrye was the third son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye. He was born at Sorel, New France in 1715 and was active in his father's trade activities from Fort Kaministiquia to the North Saskatchewan River.In 1738 he was part of his father's expedition to Mandan...
, and Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible...
, served in the expedition his father led west in 1731. When they arrived at Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Camanistigoyan, now standardized as Fort Kaministiquia, located at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River on Lake Superior in what is now northwestern Ontario, Canada, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits by...
some of the engagés (indentured employees), exhausted by the long journey by canoe from Montreal and discouraged by the difficult portages facing them, refused to go on. His father's second in command, Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye
Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye ,, was the lieutenant and nephew of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye in the exploratory party which headed west from Fort Kaministiquia in 1731. He and Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye established Fort St...
and Jean Baptiste led a smaller advance party west to Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake is a relatively large freshwater lake that straddles the border between the United States and Canada. The Rainy River issues from the west side of the lake and is harnessed to make hydroelectricity for US and Canadian locations. The U.S...
and established a fort they named Fort St. Pierre
Fort St. Pierre
Fort Saint Pierre was the first fort built west of Fort Kaministiquia by Pierre La Vérendrye in northwestern Ontario. La Vérendrye, the first western commander, built it in 1731 at the beginning of his explorations. As military officer, La Vérendrye had multiple responsibilities, and he created...
(after the parish church where Jean Baptiste was baptised).
The following year Jean Baptiste was instrumental in founding Fort St. Charles
Fort St. Charles
Fort Saint Charles was a secure trading post constructed in 1732, one of several western forts built under the direction of military commander La Vérendrye...
on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
and in 1734 he established Fort Maurepas on the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
.
On June 6, 1736, Sioux Indians ambushed a party led by Jean Baptiste soon after they left Fort St. Charles
Fort St. Charles
Fort Saint Charles was a secure trading post constructed in 1732, one of several western forts built under the direction of military commander La Vérendrye...
on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
. They were headed for Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Kaministiquia
Fort Camanistigoyan, now standardized as Fort Kaministiquia, located at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River on Lake Superior in what is now northwestern Ontario, Canada, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits by...
to fetch provisions. Jean Baptiste, Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau
Jean-Pierre Aulneau
Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau de la Touche, S.J. was a Jesuit missionary priest who was briefly active in New France and killed before he could take part in his first major assignment which was to be an expedition to the Mandan. He died near Fort St. Charles, on Lake of the Woods in an area now in...
,and 19 other men were massacred. Their bodies were later transported to Fort Saint-Charles and buried in the chapel.
Jean-Baptiste de La Vérendrye’s share in the construction of Fort Maurepas makes him one of the founders of the present province of Manitoba.
See also
- Sons of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian military officer, fur trader and explorer. In the 1730s he and his four sons opened up the area west of Lake Superior and thus began the process that added Western Canada to the original New France in the Saint Lawrence basin...
:- Jean Baptiste de La VérendryeJean Baptiste de La VérendryeJean-Baptiste Gaultier de la Vérendrye was the eldest son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye and Marie-Anne Dandonneau Du Sablé...
(b. 1713) - Pierre Gaultier de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de La VérendryePierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye de Boumois was the second son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye...
(b. 1714) - François de La VérendryeFrançois de La VérendryeFrançois de La Vérendrye was the third son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye. He was born at Sorel, New France in 1715 and was active in his father's trade activities from Fort Kaministiquia to the North Saskatchewan River.In 1738 he was part of his father's expedition to Mandan...
(b. 1715) - Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La VérendryeLouis-Joseph Gaultier de La VérendryeLouis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye was a French Canadian fur trader and explorer who took part in extending these activities westerly from the Great Lakes during the eighteenth century, an enterprise for which he and other members of his family were largely responsible...
(b. 1717)
- Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye