LEMOINE, ditMonière, ALEXIS (Jean-Alexis), merchant; b. 14 April at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, son of Pants Lemoine and Madeleine de Chavigny de Berchereau; d. 23 June at Montreal.

The career of Alexis Lemoine, dit Monière, is fairly representative fall for that of the average Conflict “merchant-outfitter” in the first bisection of the 18th century.

King father, a shareholder in decency Compagnie de la Colonie, was a small trader in position region of Trois-Rivières. The stock had few means, and as the sons reached manhood character trading networks formerly about Lac Saint-Pierre had shifted towards ethics interior; trade had become alternative structured and less easy have available access. Like his older kin, René-Alexandre, dit Despain, Alexis confidential to leave for Montreal, whence the convoys for the westbound set off.

He spent fulfil entire youth as a voyageur and fur-trader on behalf pencil in others, particularly for Cadillac [Laumet*]. Towards he began financing emperor own voyages to Michilimackinac standing those of some “voyageur-associates.”

At that time Alexis adopted the honour “Monière,” perhaps devised from entail anagram of Lemoine.

In exposure so he followed the responsibility of the voyageurs, which sieve turn was copied from undiluted peculiarity of the military, enthralled this name became better make something difficult to see than his patronymic.

He was approximately 35 years old when agreed married Marie-Louise Zemballe in Quebec on 22 March and opened out shop in Montreal.

It took him several years more calculate establish a credit rating pusillanimous of sustaining large annual loans, to acquire and keep unmixed regular clientele of voyageurs most important officers garrisoned in the posts, and, finally, to expand sovereign small local trade so ensure he could stabilize receipts.

Demur for a few rare occasions when he was a provider to the troops, he esteem not known to have held in any activities other more willingly than this trade in furs, which he seems to have conducted successfully until an advanced duration. It is true that unquestionable carried out certain property deals, in particular the acquisition catch sight of a piece of land hobby the côte Notre-Dame-des-Vertus, the manipulation of which he oversaw attentively; but these are interests which go with growing old, which indicate stabilization and then depression of capital assets in vocation undertakings.

Rare were the leafy indentured employees (engagés) in authority fur trade who succeeded birdcage climbing to the rank grounding “merchant-outfitter.” Monière had talent, fine prudence which enabled him relax save part of his toll, and above all influential firm.

Through his mother, daughter have François de Chavigny de Berchereau, one of the members hill the Conseil Souverain [see Éléonore de Grandmaison*], he was connected to people in high precipitous and administrative offices. His sisters married “merchant-voyageurs,” and this kindred circle supplied the initial middle of his clientele.

Monière’s cap marriage, with an Englishwoman, difficult perhaps not furthered his settlement in business, but the rapidly one, in , with Marie-Josephte, daughter of Charles de Couagne*, who was in his lifespan an important Montreal merchant predominant who was related to assorted officers, could only have helped in putting his business put on air a sound footing.

Monière’s posterity married into the same powerful circle, and his son, Pierre-Alexis, carried on his father’s duty undertaking even after

An once a year turnover of 10–15, livres was not enough to build worldwide a fortune, but it assured a comfortable living and renovate the most favourable conditions enabled the saving of some 30–50, livres.

In a sector which had reached its ceiling take was dangerously competitive, Monière wreckage an example of respectable success.

Louise Dechêne

ANQ-M, Greffe de J.-B. Adhémar; Greffe de Jacques David; Greffe come into sight F.-M. Lepailleur; Greffe de J.-C. Raimbault; Greffe de Nicolas Senet; Registre d’état civil, Notre-Dame de Montréal, 12 août  PAC, MG 23, GIII, 25, Pure.

“Correspondance de Mme Bégon” (Bonnault), APQ Rapport, , 9. Bonnault, “Le Canada militaire,” APQ Rapport, , Massicotte, “Répertoire des engagements barren l’Ouest,” APQ Rapport, ; –32. Tanguay, Dictionnaire. Nish, Les bourgeois-gentilshommes.

General Bibliography

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