Claude Dénéchau
Encyclopedia
Claude Dénéchau was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Quebec City
in 1768, the son of surgeon Jacques Dénéchaud. He went into business with his brother Pierre at Quebec, later entering the import-export on his own. In 1800, he married Marianne-Josette, the daughter of seigneur
Jacques-Hyacinthe Simon, dit Delorme. In the same year, he became a member of the Freemasons. After her death, he married Adélaïde, the daughter of Louis Gauvreau
in 1807. In 1808, he was named justice of the peace for Quebec district. In the same year, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for the Upper Town of Quebec and represented it in the assembly as a member of the English party until July 1820. He was a captain in the local militia during the War of 1812
, becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1828. In 1813, he leased the seigneury of Bellechasse from the nuns of the Hôpital Général of Quebec and settled at the manor house at Berthier
. He became a partner in a toll bridge across the Rivière du Sud in 1818. He served as commissioner for the trial of small causes at Berthier and was also president of the Quebec Fire Society. Dénéchau was a member of the freemasons
and became provincial grand master for the districts of Quebec and Trois-Rivières in 1820. He was secretary-treasurer of the Union Company of Quebec, which operated the Union Hotel at Quebec.
He died of a stroke
at Berthier in 1836. During the last year of his life, he had renounced freemasonry and he was buried in the local church.
His daughter Eulalie-Antoinette married physician Marc-Pascal de Sales Laterrière
and his daughter Zoé-Louise married physician Olivier Robitaille
, who later became a mayor of Quebec City.
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He was born in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1768, the son of surgeon Jacques Dénéchaud. He went into business with his brother Pierre at Quebec, later entering the import-export on his own. In 1800, he married Marianne-Josette, the daughter of seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
Jacques-Hyacinthe Simon, dit Delorme. In the same year, he became a member of the Freemasons. After her death, he married Adélaïde, the daughter of Louis Gauvreau
Louis Gauvreau
Louis Gauvreau was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Petite-Rivière-Saint-Charles near Quebec City in 1761 and studied at Quebec. He owned a general store and was also involved in lumber, wholesale trade, real estate and money-lending...
in 1807. In 1808, he was named justice of the peace for Quebec district. In the same year, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for the Upper Town of Quebec and represented it in the assembly as a member of the English party until July 1820. He was a captain in the local militia during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1828. In 1813, he leased the seigneury of Bellechasse from the nuns of the Hôpital Général of Quebec and settled at the manor house at Berthier
Berthier-sur-Mer, Quebec
Berthier-sur-Mer is a town in the Montmagny Regional County Municipality within the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, east of Quebec City on Route 132....
. He became a partner in a toll bridge across the Rivière du Sud in 1818. He served as commissioner for the trial of small causes at Berthier and was also president of the Quebec Fire Society. Dénéchau was a member of the freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and became provincial grand master for the districts of Quebec and Trois-Rivières in 1820. He was secretary-treasurer of the Union Company of Quebec, which operated the Union Hotel at Quebec.
He died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
at Berthier in 1836. During the last year of his life, he had renounced freemasonry and he was buried in the local church.
His daughter Eulalie-Antoinette married physician Marc-Pascal de Sales Laterrière
Marc-Pascal de Sales Laterrière
Marc-Pascal de Sales Laterrière was a Quebec doctor, seigneur and political figure.He was born in Baie-du-Febvre, Lower Canada in 1792, the son of Pierre de Sales Laterrière who became the seigneur of Les Éboulements. Laterrière studied at the Petit Séminaire of Quebec and went on to study...
and his daughter Zoé-Louise married physician Olivier Robitaille
Olivier Robitaille
Olivier Robitaille was a physician and businessman in Lower Canada. He was mayor of Quebec City from January 1856 to January 1857....
, who later became a mayor of Quebec City.