La Rochelle.

la rochelle map
The Siege of La Rochelle October 1628.

La Rochelle is a town in the ancient région of Aunis, but is singled out here because so many of our ancestors left France from the city.

La Rochelle was an important port on the Atlantic Ocean. The tepid waters flowing from the Gulf Stream through the Pertuis d'Antioche Strait pass between the mainland, Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron assuring a temperate climate. During their occupation Romans began mining salt and from that time wine and salt were traded across Europe including England, Spain, Africa and later, Canada. Salt was extremely valuable for use as a food preservative.

Le Siège de La Rochelle.

Huguenots (French followers of John Calvin) found a foothold in otherwise Catholic France in La Rochelle where the population embraced the Protestant religion early in the 16th century. But increasing political power in the region caused royal tolerance to wane during King Louis XIII's rule. Compounding the concern of the French, the area soon found a friend in England.

At first the English under George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, attempted to agitate the Protestants living on the islands off the coast. It did not take long for the French to respond. At the command of the king's advisor Cardinal Richelieu, a 14-month siege began in 1627. The town was choked by a tight necklace of forts on land and by warships at sea. They were pummeled by cannon fire. Supplies were blocked from entering the city while the residents starved.

Only about 5,000 out of the population of 27,000 survived the assault, famine and ensuing disease. We see following the siege a few of our family members had moved out to the islands off the coast while others moved in. The unconditional surrender under the Peace of Alès in 1629 allowed the religious freedom that had been granted by Henry IV in the 1598 Edict of Nantes, but demanded the abandonment of all territory, as well as political and military holdings.

Point of Embarkation.

In later years thousands of Frenchmen bound for New France sailed past the three impressive towers that included a medieval lighthouse, Tour de la Lanterne, the Tour de Saint-Nicolas and the Tour de la Chaine which was meant to control access to the port.

Our ancestors who emigrated from La Rochelle are listed below. The dates reflect the year the arrived in Canada if known, otherwise it is the date of their earliest appearances in the records there: