Name Suffix:<NSFX> Sieur De Montigny
[blended.FTW]
Capt.Jacques Testard, sieur de Montigny: (1663 - 1737)
He was the son of Jacques Testard de LaForest & Marie Pournin, de la Faye, born in Montreal. Jacques married 1st.to Marguerite Damours de Chauffours (1677-1703) (daughter of Mathieu d'Amours, de Chauffours & Marie Marsolet) in 1698 and 2nd.to Marie-Anne Laporte de Louvigny (1696-1763) (daughter of Louis de la Porte de Louvigny & Marie Nolan) in 1718. His children were: Marie-Marguerite (1699-1745), Marie-Josephe (1702-1750), Marie-Francoise (b.1719), Marie-Louise (1721-1799)(m. Jean-Marie Raimbault in 1765), Jean-Bte.-Philippe (b.1724) (m.Marie-Charlotte Trotier-Desrivieres in 1748), Jacques (b.1725), Marie-Anne-Louise (17261804) (m.Pierre-Julien Trottier-Desrivieres in 1747), Marie-Anne (b.1727)(m.Charles Mezieres, sieur l'Epervanche) & Marie-Anne-Amable (b.1729)(m.1st.to Pierre II Gaultier LaVerendrye & 2nd.to Louis-Joseph Gaultier, sieur La Verendrye in 1755). His relatives included Francois LeBer (uncle), Jean Bte.Nolan (bro-in-law), Jacques Lamarque (step-father)
Jacques was promoted to Lieutenant. in 1693 and Captain in 1706. He was given the Cross of St.Louis in 1712 and served in the west from 1721 to 1731. Father Charleviox, writes in July of 1721 that he left Michilimackinac on his way to Fort St.Francois (Green Bay, Wisconsin) with Capt.Montigny who was on his way to assume command there. In 1731 he was commander at Michilimackinac.
2 July 1721 Pierre-Francois-Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761) begins a journey with de Montigny from Michilimackinac to Green Bay [the following exerpts are from translated letters of Charlevoix's, written to the Dutchess of Lesdiguieres].
"...Since writing my last letter, I have made a voyage to the Bay eighty leagues distant from this (Michilimakinac) post. I took advantage of the opportunity of going with M.de Montigny, Captain of a company of troops which the King maintains in Canada, Knight of St.Louis and whose name is famous in the annals of this colony; but he is at least as valuable for his probity and his character full of equity and sincerity, as for his courage and warlike exploits...After we had gone five or six leagues, we found ourselves over-against a little Isle, which is not far from the west Side of the Bay, and which hid from us the Entrance of a River, upon which is the Village of the Malhomines, which the French call folles Avoines, (wild Oats), probably because they make their common food of this grain. The whole Nation consists of no more than this Village, which is not very populous...The Otchagras, who are commonly called the Puans, dwelt formerly on the borders of the bay, in a very delightful situation. They were attacked here by the Illinois, who killed a great number of them: The remainder took refuge in the River of the Outagamis, which runs into the bottom of the bay...We have in the bay a fort which stands on the west side of the River of the Outagamis, half a league from its mouth; and before we arrive at it, we leave on the left hand a Village of Sakis. The Otchagras have lately come and seated themselves near us, and have built their cabins about the fort...The Sakis, though they are but a small number, are divided into two factions, one of which side with the Outagamis, and the other with the Pouteouatamis....They received the new Commandant with great demonstrations of joy...The next day the Chiefs of the two Nations paid me a visit, and one of the Otchagras shewed me a Catalan Pistol, a pair of Spanish shoes, and I know not what drug, which seemed to be a sort of ointment...About two years ago, some Spaniards, who came from New Mexico, intending to get in the Country of the Illinois, and drove the French from thence, whom they as with extreme jealousy approach so near the Missouri, came down the river and attacked two Villages of the Ocotatas, who are allies of the Ajouez; from whom it is also said they are driven. As these savages had n