Notes on the Early Settlers Project, Monroe Co MI

 

Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne, born 24 February 1624 in Chateau, Anjou France, was the son of Artus Tessier and Jeanne Meine.  He was one of the original 70 Frenchmen who established a post in New France (Quebec) in 1641.  He was a soldier, pit sawyer, carpenter, farmer, and Indian fighter.  He married Marie Archambault on 28 September, 1648.

Marie was baptized on 24 February 1636 at Dumpierre-sur-Mer, in Aunis France, daughter of Jacques Archambault and Francoise Toureau.  Marie was 12 years and 7 months at the time of her marriage.  Urbain and Marie had 17 children, 13 of whom reached adulthood. 

Urbain Tessier received a land grand in Montreal 10 January 1648 by M. de Maisonneuve.  He was also one of the first 5 colonists to have a child baptized in Montreal. Urbain was taken prisoner by the Iroquois on 24 March, 1661, along with thirteen others. He was liberated on 31 August 1661, minus one or more fingers lost to torture. Urbain died at Montreal and was buried 21 March 1698 at Notre-Dame de Montreal, Quebec.  Marie died on 6 August 1719 at Pointe-Aux Trembles, near Montreal.

Ignace Tessier dit Lavigne, son of Urbain and Marie was born in Montreal, and baptized there on 11 March 1677.  He married Marie Marguerite Lussier, the daughter of Jacques L’hussier and Catherine Clerice, in Repentigny Quebec on 23 May 1703. Marguerite was baptized at Boucherville on 05 September 1683.  Ignace and Marguerite had two known children, Margaret and Pierre. Ignace died in 1747 and Marguerite died in 1748. She was buried at Repentigny on 07 May 1748.

Pierre Tessier dit Lavigne was born 29 June 1708 in Repentigny, to Ignace and Marguerite, and was baptized that day at Regentigny parish by Father Gaschien. He married Marie Charlotte Forcier (1707-1744).  After Charlotte’s death he married Marie Genevieve Parenteau who was born 26 September 1715.  Genevieve was the daughter of Pierre Parenteau and Marguerite St Laurent. They were married 30 June 1745 at Yamanska parish Quebec by Father FXN Brassard. Their marriage produced 8 children (in addition to the 4 children from his first marriage).

Pierre died and was buried on 6 February, 1759, at Yamaska parish, officiated by Father Jean Baptiste Delabrosse.  Genevieve died 10 December 1760, and was buried at Yamaska parish on 11 December 1760, officiated by Father Parent.

Pierre Tessier dit Lavigne was born on 11 December 1747, to Pierre and Genevieve, at St Michel, Montreal.  He was a resident of St. Antoine (Monroe) at the time of his marriage to Barbara Madeleine McDonald on 31 October 1790 at Ste. Anne Church in Detroit.  Barbara was from Assumption Sandwich (Ontario), but very little is known about her early life, including date of birth and parents’ names. Pierre and Barbara lived at St Antoine where Pierre was listed as a land owner along the River Raisin as early as 1788.  Pierre and Barbara had several children; he died in 1801 and was buried at St Antoine.  A proclamation signed by President James Madison in 1812 describes a parcel of land to be had and held by his widow and heirs. 

Dominique Tessier dit Santure, son of Pierre and Barbara, was listed as property owner of the land next to his father’s claim. He was born 15 April 1794 at Riviere aux Raisins. He married Teresa Chauvin, who was baptized at Ste. Anne, Detroit, and they had 7 children, including 2 infants buried at St Antoine, and a daughter Euphrosine Tessier dit Santure born in 1826. Dominique died in 1869 in Newport MI. Teresa died in 1849.

Euphrosine Tessier dit Santure became known as Eliza Santure.  She married Louis Benjamin LaDuke on 28 October 1849. Louis was the son of Louis LaDuke and Cecilia Labadie, and was born 17 November 1809 in Detroit, MI.  They had 8 children and lived in Berlin Township, MI.  The property for the old St Charles cemetery (Dixie Hwy. west of Swan Creek Rd.) was donated by Louis and Eliza. Louis died in 1887 and Eliza died in 1893. Both are buried at the old St. Charles cemetery which they endowed.

The daughter of Eliza and Louis, Rose Anne LaDuke was born 24 March 1858 in Oldport MI.  She married Edward Rivard, born 20 November 1851.  Edward was born in St Alban Quebec, the son of Jean-Baptiste Rivard and Adelaide Loranger.

Edward and Rose Anne had 9 children. Daughter Eliza Paulina (Lena) born 10 January 1893, married August John (Gus) Wickenheiser, born 25 December 1893, on 20 April 1915 at St Charles church, Newport, MI.   Edward died 25 February 1937 and Rose Anne died 24 October 1949.  Both are buried at the “new” St. Charles cemetery in Newport, MI (Dixie Hwy. east of Swan Creek Rd).

Lena and Gus had 10 children. Gus died 23 July 1942; Lena died 9 June 1972. Both are buried at St Patrick cemetery #2 (Exeter Rd. just north of S. Stony Creek Rd.)

Urbain Tessier (1624-1698)

    Ignace Tessier dit LaVigne (1677-1747)

            Pierre Tessier dit LaVigne (1708-1759)

                        Pierre Tessier dit LaVigne (1747-1801)

                                    Dominique Tessier dit Santure (1794-1869)

                                                Euphrosine Tessier (Eliza Santure) (1826-1893)

                                                            Rose Anna LaDuke (1858-1949)

                                                                        Eliza Paulina (Lena) Rivard (1893-1972)

                                                                               Clara Mary Wickenheiser (1918-1975)

                                                                                      Linda Joblinski Tilley (1952-)

                                                                                       Rana Joblinski Willit (1955-)

Researched by Linda Joblinski Tilley and Rana Joblinski Willit, with inspiration from our aunts Rosemary Wickenheiser Zochowski (1928-2012) and Ellen Patch Wickenheiser. This lineage was documented and presented to the Genealogical Society of Monroe County as part of its project to recognize the descendants of original land owners of Monroe County.