Société Notre-Dame de Montréal
Coat of arms of the organization
|
|
| Formation | 1639 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1663 |
| Type | Religious organization |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | The foundation of Fort Ville-Marie |
| Headquarters | Paris |
|
Region served
|
Montreal Island |
|
Official language
|
French |
|
Leaders
|
Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière Jean-Jacques Olier Jeanne Mance Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve Pierre Chevrier |
The Société Notre-Dame de Montréal was a religious organisation responsible for founding Ville-Marie, the original name for the settlement that would later become Montreal. The original founders of the organization were Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière, Jean-Jacques Olier and Pierre Chevrier. They were later joined by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance. The organization's mission was to convert the Indigenous population to Christianity and found a Christian settlement, which would be later known as Ville-Marie.
According to de la Dauversière, he conceived of the Society originated in an episode of divine inspiration sometime between the years of 1635-1636. De la Dauversière, seeing great potential in the site for the conversion and civilizing of Native peoples, sought out likeminded individuals for his ambitious project. In 1639 his ideas caught the attention of Pierre Chevrier, Baron de Fanchamp, who expressed great interest and enthusiasm for his plans. A friend of Chevrier, Jean-Jacques Olier, future founder of the Seminary of St-Sulpice also expressed great interest in the project, donating a hundred pistoles to de la Dauversière and telling him to "commence the work of God." Olier was also instrumental in recruiting three more associates to the Society, most notably the Baron de Renty. He played an important financial role as a financial benefactor for the project. These six individuals would form the core of the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal.
They intended to establish the colony for the purpose of the religious conversion of the Indigenous population, whom they considered pagans, and the development of a Christian settlement. The venture was very expensive, and the Society initially had trouble finding potential financiers.
The next step for these men was to acquire the rights to the Island of Montreal. At the time, the entire island had been ceded to a Jean de Lauson, the intendant of Dauphiné. Through negotiations with M. de Lauzon, the territory was formally ceded to M. de la Dauvisiere and Chevrier on 17 December 1640. On the very same day the Society engaged itself to transport thirty men, and thirty tons of provisions to New France by its own means and vessels.
...
Wikipedia