DOLLIER DE CASSON, FRANÇOIS (Humanitarian/Philanthropist in Quebec City, New France)

DOLLIER DE CASSON, FRANÇOIS (Humanitarian/Philanthropist in Quebec City, New France)

Most of his work within Quebec City was religiously based. Tenured as the vicar general of the diocese – he handled the administrative work for the Catholic Church, in which would’ve been a prestigious and powerful position, being that this was New France, and the power structure was entirely based around the Catholic Church. He later dedicated his work to furthering youth education, by making books accessible to “Indian” youth as he was an avid humanitarian and was often described as being quite kind.

(1666-1701), his time in Quebec was never truly solid, seemingly being periodic.

Person

The Catholic Church, Quebec City

AJM, Greffe d’Antoine Adhémar, 30 oct. 1700. AN, Col. C11A, 3, f.56.
AQ, Dollier de Casson, Histoire de Montréal, 1640–1672 [In addition, this deposit contains a photograph of a portrait said to be that of Dollier de Casson.]. ASQ, Chapitre, I, 13; Congrégation Notre-Dame, 11; Lettres, M, 21, 22, 23; O, 36; Polygraphie, IV, 20; XXIV, 12a, 24; Séminaire, I, 20. PAC, FM 17, 7–2, 1, pp.11–16. ... “Acte de remontrance des seigneurs de Montréal au sujet des usurpations du Sieur de Boyvinet,” BRH, XXXI (1925), 291–93.
[Dollier de Casson], Histoire du Montréal 1640–1672 (Société historique de Montréal Mémoires, IV, 1868); Histoire du Montréal 1640–1672, RC, 1er sér., VI (1869); Hîstoire du Montréal 1640–1672 (Lit. and Hist. Soc. of Quebec, 1871); A history of Montreal 1640–1672 . . . , ed. and trans. by Ralph Flenley (Toronto, 1928).
René de Bréhant de Galinée, “Exploration of the Great Lakes 1669–1670 . . . ,” ed. J. H. Coyne, Ont. Hist. Soc., Papers and Records, IV (1903). “Procès-verbal d’une assemblée tenue à Québec le 10 octobre 1682,” BRH, XXX (1924), 249–52. Saint-Vallier, Estat présent de l’Église (1856).
É.-Z. Massicotte, “Maçons, entrepreneurs, architectes,” BRH, XXXV (1929), 132–42. ... [Faillon], Histoire de la colonie française.
Raphael Bellemare, “‘Le bureau des pauvres’ de Montréal,” BRH, V (1899), 279–80. R.
Bonin, “Le canal Lachine sous le régime français,” BRH, XLII (1936), 265–99. “Un Breton supérieur du Séminaire de Montréal,” NF, III (1927–28), 183–86.
Roger Duhamel, “Dollier de Casson,” Cahiers de l’Académie canadienne-française, VIII (1964), 131–36.
Ovide Lapalice, “Le pain bénit à Notre-Dame de Montréal,” BRH, XXVII (1921), 153–60.
É.-Z. Massicotte, “Ville Marie-Montréal,” BRH, XX (1914), 125,
Olivier Maurault, “Les aumôniers de troupes . . . sous le régime français,” Cahiers des Dix, XXX (1965), 9–17; “Études sur Dollier de Casson,” Revue trimestrielle canadienne (L’Ingénieur), IV (1919), 361–70; “Les origines de l’enseignement secondaire à Montréal,”
Cahiers des Dix, I (1936), 95–104; “Les Sulpiciens seigneurs de Montréal,” Revue trimestrielle canadienne, XXVIII (1942), 237–53.
J.-M. Paradis, “Le lieu d’hivernement de l’expédition Dollier-Galinée,” Mémoires de Diplômes d’études supérieures, Université Laval, 1967.
Robert de Roquebrune, “Deux historiens de Montréal au XVIIe siècle,” CF, 2e sér., XXI (1933), 19–30.
F. Uzureau, “L’abbé Dollier de Casson, supérieur du Séminaire de Montréal,” CF, 2e sér., XII (1924), 134–39.
[Jean Marmier, “Le Récit de M. de Courcelles . . . et Dollier de Casson,” RHAF, 32 (1978).].

1636

Lower Brittany, France

1701

Montreal, New France

Cavalry Captain; Priest; Sulpician; Military chaplain; explorer, Superior of the Sulpicians in New France; Seigneur of Montreal Island; Parish Priest of Trois-Rivieres and Montreal; Vicar general of diocese of Quebec; Architect; Historian.

French; English; Algokinian.

Born within what was a very religious family, as shown through his eventual work, Francois Dollier de Casson was born in 1636 in Lower Brittany, France. He, like many young men at the time, fought for France in war and was known for his absurd strength – in part earning him the general’s esteem. Initially, he was not fond of New France whatsoever, being sent there as (often times referring to himself as one of three victims sent to Canada). Taking on numerous positions inside and out of Quebec City, his work was often religiously based, namely as the Vicar General of the diocese in Quebec City for numerous years, along with many other administrative positions in Montreal, and Trois-Rivieres. His work in Quebec was primarily based on the continuation and development of expeditions and projects, such as the necessary permission from civil and religious authorities for his trip and stay with “the Indians”. Later on in life he committed himself to furthering literacy levels for indigenous youth. He eventually passed away in Montreal, in late September of 1701.

“François Dollier De Casson.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed October 4, 2021. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/francois-dollier-de-casson.

Burton, Clarence M. (1922). The City of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. I, p. 61. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.

Conflict and Change in Early Canadian History (Carleton HIST 1301)

Sam Barton