A Canadian Family

Pedro da Silva dit le Portugais, Premier Messager en Nouvelle-France

In 2003 Canada Post wanted to celebrate the contributions that Portuguese Canadians had made to the country and they chose to do this by highlighting the work of Pedro da Silva, 18th century immigrant to New France.

Here’s an extract from the Canada Post ” … Based on the 1681 census, da Silva had settled with his family in Beauport, Quebec where he worked as a common carrier. He later moved to Sault-au-Matelot in Quebec City’s lower town, and became involved with the shipping of goods. His proximity to the St. Lawrence River gave da Silva easy access to the ships off-loading goods for delivery within Quebec City and the colony. It is believed that da Silva built a good reputation for transporting goods, packages and letters by offering delivery in all seasons, even the harsh winters ….. da Silva received a letter of commission signed by Jacques Raudot, Intendant of New France, bestowing on him the duty of ‘first courier’ in Canada. He also received permission to carry letters “… from private persons to their address and to bring back the replies…” It was da Silva’s punctuality, “…diligence and loyalty…” that earned him the privilege of being a ‘regular messenger’ of goods as well as royal dispatches and those of the Governor General of New France between Quebec City and Trois-Rivières or Montreal.”

Surname var.: Dasilva, Dassylva, Desilva

Related Post:
From Lisbon to La Nouvelle France – the Portuguese Desilvas

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February 5, 2009 Posted by Evelyn Yvonne Theriault | . | Desilva, Genealogy, Portugal, Quebec | 3 Comments

From Lisbon to La Nouvelle France – the Portuguese Desilvas

FIRST GENERATION

1. Joseph Da Silva was born in 1621 in St-Julien, Lisbon, Portugal. Joseph and his wife Marie Francois were the parents of Pedro Desilva – the founder of our Canadian branch of Desilvas. (+2 M i. ) Pedro Da Silva (hereafter called Pierre dit le Portugais Desilva / Dassylva Portugais) was born in 1647 in Lisbon, Portugal and died in 1717 in Quebec City, Canada.

SECOND GENERATION

2. Pierre dit le Portugais Desilva / Dassylva Portugais (Joseph 1) was born in 1647 in Portugal and died in 1717 in Quebec City. Pierre married Jeanne Greslon / Laviolette on 16 May 1677 in L’Ange-Guardien (Beaupre), Quebec. She was the daughter of Jacques Greslon/Laviolette and Jeanne Vigneault. Jeanne was born on 9 Feb 1663 in Chateau-Richer, Montmorency, Quebec, Canada. After Dasilva’s death, Jeanne Greslon married Jacques Morand in Quebec, Canada.

Children from the marriage of Pierre and Jeanne:

+3 M i. Jean Marie Desilva / Dassylva Portugais I was born in 1704 in Quebec. +4 F ii. Louise Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1681 in Beauport, Quebec. + 5 F iii. Madeleine Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1682 in Quebec and died in 1756 in Charlesbourg, Quebec. +6 F iv. Elizabeth Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1687 in Quebec and died in 1760 in Quebec. 7 F v. Jeanne Catherine Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1688 and died in 1689. She never married and had no children . +8 M vi. Pierre Desilva / Dassylva Portugais I was born in 1690 in Quebec and died in 1715 in Quebec. + 9 M vii. Jean Baptiste Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1692 in Quebec . 10 F viii. Anne (a) Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1694. Whe was never married and had no children. + 11 F ix. Anne (b) Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1695 in Quebec and died in 1732 in Quebec. 12 M x. Francois Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1697 in Quebec. 13 M xi. Pierre Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1698 in Quebec, Canada and died in 1703 in Quebec City. He never married and had no children 14 F xii. Jeanne Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born on 14 Feb 17003 and was buried on 17 Jan 1703.She never married and had no children. + 15 M xiii. Dominique Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1702 in Quebec and died after 1747 in Quebec. + 16 M xiv. Jean Baptiste Marie Desilva / Dassylva Portugais was born in 1706 in Quebec. + 17 M xv. Nicolas Desilva / Dassylva Portugais I was born in 1698 in Quebec and died in 1761 in Quebec. Read more »

February 4, 2009 Posted by Evelyn Yvonne Theriault | . | Desilva, Genealogy, Portugal, Quebec | 3 Comments