Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (seigneur)


Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay was the Seigneur of Beauport, Saint-Denis, Fossambault, Gaudarville, and Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. He fought with the Troupes de Marine and after the British Conquest of New France joined the British Army, defending Fort Saint-Jean where he was captured and imprisoned by the Americans in 1775. He represented Buckingham County in the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada and was afterwards appointed a member of the Executive Council of Lower Canada.

Early life

He was born at the family Manor at Beauport, Quebec in 1740. He was the eldest son of Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay, Chevalier de Saint-Louis, 5th Seigneur de Beauport etc., and Marie-Françoise, daughter of Eustache Chartier de Lotbinière. The first of his family to come to New France was Jean Juchereau de Maur, brother of Noël Juchereau des Chatelets. He was a nephew of the Marquis de Lotbinière and Michel d'Irumberry de Sallaberry. He was a grand-nephew of Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denys.

Career

He served as an ensign in the army of New France. After the British gained control of Quebec, he served with the British Army. In 1767, he formed a company to trade with the West Indies. When his father died in 1772, he was the sole beneficiary, inheriting the four seigneuries of Beauport, Fossambault, Gaudarville, and Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies. From that point on, he spent much of his time administering these properties.
He helped defend the province during the American Revolution and was taken prisoner. His properties were looted during his imprisonment, but he quickly recouped his losses after his release and expanded his property holdings. In 1792, he was elected to the House of Assembly representing Buckingham County and supporting the Parti Canadien. In 1794, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Lower Canada. He died at the Manor house, Beauport, in 1806.

Family

Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay was married twice. In 1765, he married his first wife, Julie-Louise Liénard de Beaujeu de Villemonde, daughter of Louis Liénard de Beaujeu de Villemonde and niece of Daniel Liénard de Beaujeu. Her mother died when she was young and she was brought up by her father's second wife, Geneviève Le Moyne de Longueuil, granddaughter of Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, 1st Baron de Longueuil. They were the parents of three surviving children,
In 1778, he married his second wife, Catherine Le Comte Dupré, daughter of Colonel Jean-Baptiste Le Comte Dupré and Catherine Martel de Brouague, niece of Louis-Philippe Mariauchau d'Esgly, 8th Bishop of Quebec. She was the sister of Colonel The Hon. Georges-Hippolyte le Comte Dupré who married first a daughter of Daniel Liénard de Beaujeu and second a daughter of Luc de la Corne. They were the parents of three surviving children,