René Pinsonneau.

On 27 April 1752 René purchased land from the Brazeau family (related through his aunt Anne Pinsonneau, wife of Nicolas Brazeau). With six poles of frontage and 25 arpens deep it was a nice sized parcel in La Prairie de Magdeleine just across the Saint-Lawrence from Montréal.

Though he secured land René, 29, contracted with Jean Lechelle on 2 March 1753 to travel to Grand Portage to deal in the fur trade. He was perhaps seeking a stake to fund his next venture, marriage to Marie-Angélique Beaudin, which took place on 28 January 1754. She was 19. However events conspired to alter any plans they may have had for the future for their wedding took place on the cusp of the French and Indian War.

RenÉ, like all men of the colony, was required to serve in the militia to defend against the British invasion. The war raged, until finally in 1759 the capital ville de Québec fell.

The capitulation of Montréal to the British occurred on 8 September 1760, ending the era of French rule. The Articles of Capitulation of Montréal was signed by Vaudreuil for the French and Amherst for the British; the following applied to those who served:

Article 4: The Militia after evacuating the above towns, forts and posts, shall return to their habitations, without being molested on any pretence whatever, on account of their having carried arms.

The wealthy French merchants would return to France, the Canadians could return to their farms, but the Acadians were expelled. Many of them ended up in Louisianna after a long period of displacement. In December 1763 the Canadians were required to swear an oath of fealty to the British King George II.

Our ancestor Paul was one of five children born to the couple. His birthday was 19 April 1763.

Angélique Beaudin died at the age of 53 on 1 November 1788. René was 69 when he died on 23 June 1793 in Saint-Constant.