Laronde History
I found this article in a file on the Laronde family at the musuem in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It was done for a lady by the name of Ida Schnieder whom was looking for the famous "Laronde Treasure". I think that she was related to the Laronde family, not sure on this. I saw this file about five years ago when I was looking for info on the Louis Laronde that was buried in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario in 1868. At that time the file appeared to be larger than it is today, it appears some of what was in it has flitted away somewhere. The curator at the museum couldnt say whether some was missing or not. The article below is interesting to read, how much is fact or fiction is up to youse out there to decide for yourselves. Perhaps some serious research could determine whether some of it is in fact true. If it is, then the Laronde family's history is quite a story. This copy is worded exactly as shown in the file. (Although very interesting, some things dont seem rite, for example, the fact that it shows Louis Denis VII being born in 1675 but also shows him as a Naval Officer in 1689 at the age of 14???, possible but not plausible)
Hope you enjoy the story as I did.
Ron Johnston, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
researching Johnston, Gaudet, Laronde, Gowanlock, Bible
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Brief History of the De-la-Ronde Family (1492 – 1840)
Prepared by/for Mrs. Ida Schnieder
Contained in the DeLaronde File, Thunder Bay Historical Museum Archives
Jehan Denis I – Honfleur (Honnefleur), France, end of the 15th Century – sea farring man – It is recorded in “Raccolta de Ramuceo” (1550-6) that in 1492 he sailed into the harbour of Honfleur with two vessels laden with goods from Mexico. (August 2/1492, C. Columbus sailed to the west and glimpsed the new world
1504 – Jehan Denis discovered a portion of Brazil and in Dionnes “Nouville France”, it is declared he was 1st of the Normans to set foot in a definite manner on the shores of Newfoundland, a score of years before Jacques Cartier. In 1506 he charted the gulf of North America known as the Gulf of St-Lawrence, the original being in the Archives of Ottawa. His names appears on pages 15-18 of the Registry of St-Leonard’s factory, and he also was a member of the Company of Verazzini. Commisioned by King Frances I of France to find lands in the new world. Jehan Denishas several sons and daughters – one son being:
Pierre Denis II, who was Intendent of the City of Ypres (?) in France. Pierre Denis II was the father of several children – one son being Pierre Denis III, de la Barodiere and another being Mathuren Denis (?-1589), Sieur de la Thibaudiere. Mathuren was a native of des ponts de Ypres, France and married a Mlle. Aubert of that place. He was captain of the Kings (Henry III) gaurds and the Household troops. On May 7, 1589 while Henry III was being besieged in the city of Ypres by the Duc de Mayenne, Chief of the League, Mathuren Denis was killed by a pike thrust. He was interred with full honours. The king himself marching on foot at the funeral procession, in the church yard at St. Simphoriers. In consideration of his services, King Henry III granted palents of nobility to his only son Jacques Denis IV.
Jacques Denis IV, Sieur-de-la-Thibaudiere who became an officer in the army of the King (Henry III & IV). He married Mario, daughter of Huguer Cosnier de Beseau and brother of Emilias Cosnier, one of the “Hundred Gentlemen of the King” and later married a Francoise Jeure. Jacques Denis IV became the father, by his 1st wife, of 2 daughters: Marie – who married firstly a M. de Norvaise and secondly a M. Robin, Marguerite – who married David de Forsythe of Drysler, Scotland and also 4 sons
--Jacques Denis V, who became a captain of the Kings troops, and subsequently Quarter-Master of the Armies of Louis XIII and XIV. During the war of Candea (1645-74) between the Turks and the Venetians he answered the Call of Venice for volunteers and took service with Malta. He was killed at Chios, in the terrible Naval battle between Anne Hilaire de Contentin and Count-de-Yourville, assisted by Honore de Mouchy d’Hocquincourt, who with 300 men in a 36 gun fugale, defeated 24 Turkish galleys.
--Hugh Denis V de la Thibaudiere who was an officer in the Royal Gaurds and was killed in Italy.
--Nicholas Denis V who became the Govenor of Acadea and was the author of Nicholas Denis’s description and geography of the new land.
--Simm Denis V (1599-?), Sierre de la Trinite, who married twice; first to Jeanne Dubreuil and secondly to Francoise Dutarte. Of his many children, the one who is of interest to us is; Pierre Denis VI (1630-1708), Sieur de la Ronde, who, in 1655 at Quebec married Catherine le Neuf and became the father of Louis Denis VII (1675-1741), Sierre de la Ronde. Louis Denis joined the Navy when very young and we find him within a year as an officer on a ship which took King James to Ireland in 1689. He went with Iberville to Hudson’s Bay and a few years later was sent to Boston on government business. In 1727, Louis Denis took over the Fort at La Pointe de Chequamegon and served as its commandant until his death in 1741. He was also engaged in the fur trade. On September26/1718, he, with Jeare Paul Legardeur and Rene Godfre de Linctoti, signed a partnership agreement to develop mines of copper and lead in the Lake Superior regem, and mining was actually commenced in 1734. These mines netted the partners no personal profit. After the death of Louis Denis VII, his wife, Louise Chartier, whom he married in 1709, with the assistance of her sons took over as the Commandant of the post. It was a unique position for a woman to hold in American history – military commandant, civil governor, judge and jury – over a domain of half a million square miles. After 6 years as Commandant, she returned to Montreal where she spent her remaining years, near her children, among whom Louis Denis VII was.
Pierre Francois Paul Denis VIII (1722-1781), Sieur de la Ronde. Pierre Francois Paul was an officer at Fort Ponchartrain (now Detroit). In 1749 he married a Suzanne de Selle (Celles-Duclos), who in1765 was granted a separation on the grounds of dissipation. Their children, with the exception of Charles Francois, were baptized at Ste-Anne’s Church, Detroit. Pierre Francois Paul Denis was killed at the battle of La Calle, April 23/1781; with General James Abercromber of Stirling Castle. One of their children was Charles Francois Denis IX (1763-1840), de La Ronde and Thibaudiere. He was one of the voyageurs who removed from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene when the garrison there was closed in 1828. During his lifetime, he was a resident of Penetanguishene, Holland Landing and Coldwater. He was a fur trader at Penetanguishene and suffered heavily when falsely imprisoned by other Merchant if Nibtreak. The Indians considered him as one who was dead and would do no business with him.