Gagnier (Gagne) History Web Site
by Rev. John F. Gagnier
www.gagnier.org
THE FIRST FARM, 1646
On October 27, 1646 Louis and Marie leased a farm on the Saint Lawrence River at Cap Tourmente near the town of Saint Joachim. The farm was known as La Ferme Saint-Charles or La Grande Ferme. The owner was the "Company of New France." Its local representative was Olivier LeTardif, who on March 27, 1647 served as godfather for Louis and Marie's son, Pierre.
THE ANCESTRAL LAND, 1650 AND THE FIRST HOUSE, 1653
Later, on October 20, 1650 the Company of Beaupre granted him a concession for lot number 96 on the coast of the St. Lawrence River. He was required to build a house on the property not later than the following year. The text of his deed to this land is given later in this presentation.
There is a house on this property built on the original foundations built by Louis in 1653. The current address of the house is 432 Cote Ste. Anne in the town of Sainte Anne de Beaupre, Quebec. The original house measured 24 by 22 feet including walls two feet thick.
The present owners of this house enjoy dramatic views of the countryside. The house sits on a cliff overlooking the Saint Lawrence River valley. From the back porch of this house, facing south, you can see the Isle of Orleans in the St. Lawrence River. To the left, facing east, the river continues to the Atlantic. To the right, facing west, is the rear of the great Basilica of Sainte Anne de Beaupre.
