Van Clerc dit Leclair
This ancestor was originally from Alsace, Germany. He arrived before 1800, the year of his marriage, and settled in the parish of Saint-François-Régis (Saint-Philippe de Laprairie). On October 13, 1800, at this parish, Louis-Henri, age of 37 years, and the son of Chester Leclaire and Elizabeth Vestreseize of Germany, wed Marie-Josephe Perras, 37 years of age and the daughter of Etienne and Marie-Josphe Demers from Saint-Constant. He was said to be a labourer in Saint-Philippe.
We know their six children married. A daughter, Catherine, was named Vincler, and another Eleonore, named Wincler at their marriage. At least one of their grandsons, Nazaire, was named Van-Clerc at his marriage. This family, even though they started much later, became a real puzzle, genealogically speaking. In "Nos origins Allemande" he was called Henri Leclerc.
This family is very numerous in the gardens of Quebec, the black soils of Saint-Michel, Saint-Constant, Sherrington, Saint-Edouard, etc. If you meet a descendant of this family, they will tell you that the different spelling, Leclair or Leclerc, for them, is two different sources and is of great importance, even though they are all descendants of Louis-Henri.
Catherine Vincler, daughter of this ancestor, married on October 24, 1831 at the parish of Saint-Philippe de Laprairie, Pierre-Rémi Narbonne, 28 years of age, and a painter/decorator and a bailiff from St-Edouard de Napierville. He was a hero in the Patriots Rebellion of 1837-1838. On February 15, 1839, in the company of Chevalier de Lorimier, Charles Hinde, Amable Daunais and François Nicolas they climbed the steps of the scaffold. About this event, it is written: "The spectacle of this assassination was vile. He had only one arm, and when the trap door opened, he held the deadly rope with his one good hand. A mercenary struck him savagely with his rifle butt on the face and arm. Bleeding heavily and his face swollen, Narbonne released his hold on the rope. Then, he took hold of the rope again with the wounded hand. Several mercenaries attacked him again with incredible savagery. This manoeuvre was repeated two or three times.... " Catherine has died during his imprisonment, leaving two orphans.
The author had a real sense of the determination and the absolute pride during the time he spent in this region composed mainly of prosperous farmers. We acknowledge the members of the Association who assisted us with this article: Léopold (#197), Clément (#195), and the one responsible for this line, Sylvie (#250), who, with the author, is available to answer your questions concerning this ancestor.
She can be reached at 450-358-0087 or by e-mail at Sylvie Leclair. She also has an Internet site, under construction, about this ancestor at «La page de généalogie de Sylvie».
Writer Gilles P. Leclaire