The origin of the following composition has not been verified. However, it appears to be and it is highly likely that this composition was authored by one J. Ford and distributed at the “150th Anniversary” service held at the Halesboro Anglican Christ Church in 1992. It seems that a memorial service is held each June at “the chapel” located just north of the village of Notre-Dame-de-Portneuf, Quebec, Canada.
JUN-16-92 TUE 14:55 CIE J. FORD LTEE PORT
The year 1636, seems to be the year in which recorded history starts for the region around the mouth of the Portneuf River, flowing into the north shore of the St. Lawrence waterway. We might note that this was some 231 years before Canadian Federation. The fact that there was a native settlement on the hills behind the river-mouth has been lost in the mists of time, but we should remember that it was there and named Achelacy.
In 1636, Pierre Robineau, a member of the French “Company Of 100 Associates”, in accordance with the policy of the “Government Of New France”, to establish himself on the banks of the Portneuf River, cleared and started cultivation of several fields. In 1639, another member of the “100 Associates”, Jacques Leneuf de la Poterie, was given a concession situated between Portneuf and Cap Santé. In 1640, there was a tentative settlement at the mouth of the Portneuf River, but it was discouraged by Iroquois harassment. It wasn’t until 1647 that Jacques Leneuf de la Poterie was definitely awarded a “seigneurie d’une lieue et demi de la terre le long du fleuve St. Laurent sur trois lieue de profondeur”, designated by the name, de la Poterie.
Pierre Robineau had by this time settled in Bécancour on the south side of the St. Lawrence, opposite Trois Riviéres. He had served the Government of New France well, and was in 1657 ceded the fief of Bécancour with the title Sieur Robineau de Bécancour, or M. de Bécancour. He was also appointed “Grand-Voyer” of New France. Of his large family, René, the second son, distinguished himself both in the French Army and here in New France by military service to the Government.
In 1652, René married Marie-Anne Leneuf de la Poterie, and in 1671, Jacques Leneuf de la Poterie ceded to his son-in-law René Robineau the “Seigneurie Of Portneuf”. He took possession of Portneuf in 1673, re-establishing the settlement his father had started in 1636. René Robineau fulfilled his duties as seigneur by building a manor house and a chapel and welcoming settlers. He had a lively interest in the fur and liquor trade, both of prime importance in the economy of New France. He was friend of Governor Frontenac and of most of the officials of the colony, and was, with them, soundly condemned by the Intendant Duchesnau, who, with the ecclesiastical authorities, was trying to curb the liquor trade with the Indians. In spite of this, in 1681, Louis XIV accorded Robineau the greatest honor yet given to an inhabitant of New France by elevating the Seigneurie of Portneuf to a Baronnie. This was doubtless in reward of military and other services, but might also be construed as a posthumous honor to his father, Pierre Robineau de Bécancour. René Robineau had ten children, on of which, Marie-Anne Robineau, became an Ursuline nun.
We will pass over the second and third barons of Portneuf, until in 1723, the property passed to M. de la Croiselle, a brother-in-law of the then M. de Robineau. It changed hands several times, until in 1774, it was ceded, by one Dumont, to the Ursuline Order in Quebec City as dowry to a sister-in-law who had entered the convent. The seigneurie was administered on the nuns behalf by various agents until 1801, when it was leased for a period of fifty years to a Mr. MacNider, a businessman from Quebec City. It was then that the English speaking presence began to be felt in Portneuf.
In 1810, the lease was passed to W.B. and John Coltman, both of Quebec City, who were joined in partnership by Edward Hale in 1811. They built a wharf and a boat works at the mouth of the Portneuf River and started a thriving lumber industry, exploiting the rich timber stands north of the settlement and exporting it to England. However, John Coltman was killed by a falling timber and W.B. Coltman thereafter lost heart and interest in the enterprise and left the area. The lease then passed to Edward Hale, who was a younger brother of the Honorable John Hale. Both were sons of the General John Hale who had been with Wolfe at Quebec in 1759, commanding the Lacelles regiment. Edward was also the uncle of the Honorable Edward and Jeffery Hale, both well known to Quebecers.
Edward Hale took his duties as seigneur seriously and as well as conducting the lumber business, looked after a grist mill, a saw mill, a nail factory and a tannery. He also encouraged colonization. Many Irish and English settlers came into the area north of the village of Portneuf and it became known as “le route d’Irlande” or “The Hardwood”, depending upon with whom you were speaking. The connection with the influential Hale family and their great interest in the cause of English speaking Protestantism in Lower Canada probably had a lot to do with the construction of an Anglican church about nine kilometers north of Portneuf in 1842 and its eventual consecration on 12 March 1843. Edward Hale is presumed to have donated the land and the area is to this day known as Halesboro.
According to the Diocesan records, the Portneuf area was first served by traveling missionaries from 1838. St. Bartholomew’s Church in Bourg Louis was built in 1840, but not consecrated until 1852. Both Halesboro and Bourg Louis continued to be served from Quebec City until 1848. In that year, a parsonage was built by Reverend Richard Lewis and he resided there until 1852. Bourg Louis then became a separate mission and was served by Reverend Robert Sydney Birtch. In 1862, Halesboro acquired a parsonage situated across the road from the church. However, it burned to the ground in 1868 and was never replaced. There was a school for the children of the Halesboro area since we know that Reverend John Dalziel and his wife conducted a school in the parsonage from 1862-1868. There is also a record of a Miss Florence Cook holding classes in the Halesboro Anglican Christ Church in 1917, but the records are sketchy at best.
A gradual shift in population from the Halesboro area had begun by 1868, at which time the mission reunited with Bourg Louis. This presented some difficulties for the incumbent trying to cope with winter conditions, as attested to by excerpts from the Church Society Annual Reports; first from Reverend James Debbage in 1873 and then from Reverend W.C. Bernard in 1888. Obviously things failed to improve over fifteen years.
In 1874, the Halesboro mission was again separated from Bourg Louis and Reverend James Debbage came to Portneuf Village where a parsonage had been established. He served both Halesboro and Portneuf, the latter congregation meeting in the schoolhouse. In 1884, building of the Church Of St. John The Evangelist was begun in Portneuf, and it was consecrated in 1888. In that year, the Lord Bishop of Quebec confirmed fifteen candidates in Halesboro and fifteen in Portneuf, evidence of a healthy parish life. However, the rural farming community of Halesboro was rapidly moving to the industrial areas. Portneuf now had several paper mills, and the cities to the south and west offered opportunities for employment. Also, the west was being opened by the railroads. Today there are few names left in Portneuf from the roster of landowners of the old days. However, many of their descendants come to the Annual Memorial Service held in the Church which has been such an important part of our local history.
It is good to come and worship where some of our ancestors worshipped and to remember where we come from.
Christ’s Church, Halesboro, is the oldest building of wood construction still standing in the Municipality of Portneuf, and as such is a source of pride to all its citizens. As we have come to know and appreciate each other’s cultures more and more, we have developed an admiration and love for each other’s symbols. This Church is certainly one of the best of them.