| Notes |
Bio from Facebook 28 Feb 2010:
28 Feb 1755 -- Michel ARBOUR V is the oldest person we have yet profiled here, having been born 255 years ago. Born in St-Francois-de-la-Riviere-du-Sud, QC, Michel was the eldest son and 2nd child of Michel ARBOURIV and Marie-Louise BOUTIN. As the V attests, Michel is a direct descendant ofour immigrant ancestor Michel ARBOUR. Michel V married on 26 Aug 1793, to Ursule PROULX and they had one daughter, Marie-Barbe ARBOUR,before Ursule's untimely death. At some point after his first marriage,Michel moved from St-Francois to St-Gervais, QC, located in Bellechasse County. It was here that he married for a second time to Marie-Anne LABRECQUE on 03 Feb 1807. She bore him 4 children between 1807 and 1813- one of whom was his heir Michel ARBOUR VI. Michel VI, in turn, had ason named Michel VII. Michel VII never married or had children so the direct Michel ARBOUR descendancy ended with his death in 1904, some 263years after it began. Michel ARBOUR V and Marie-Anne LABRECQUE both died some time before 1861, but it is unclear exactly when or where.
Note added on 25 Sep 2010:
We now know why we have foundnothing further about Michel in Quebec. Hemay have died in Maine. In fact, this man has a wonderful, interestingstory. He is the only known ARBOUR to have served for the United States of America during the RevolutionaryWar. He must have been quite angry with the British in order to side with the Americans. Perhaps we willnever know his true motivation. In any case, here is some of the documentation regarding his service.
HONORABLE DISCHARGE
By His Excellency, George Washington, Esq, General and Commander In Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. These are to Certify that the Bearer hereof Corporal Michael Arbour of the United States of America in General Hazen's Regiment, having faithfully served theUnitedStatesfour years and two months and being inlifted for the War only, is hereby discharged from the American Army. Given at Head-Quarters the 30 June 1785. {signed} G Washington
By His Excellency's Command {signed} J. Trumbull ..
Registered in the Books of the Regiment, {signed} Benjamin Moore, Adjutant
The above Michael Arbour has been honored with the Badge of Merit for four Years faithful service. {signed} Moses Hazen, Brigadier General
Head-Quarters June 30, 1783. The within certificate shall not avail theBearer as a Dishcarge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treatyof Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation thereofshall be made, He is to be considered as being on furlough. George Washington
Michael Arbour Continental (Canadian) S36895
ORIGINAL CLAIM
State of Maine, County of Somerset
On this twenty sixth day of June Anno Domini eighteen hundred and twenty two personally appeared in open Court, beforethe Court of Common Pleas, now holden at Norridgewock, within and for the County of Somerset inthe State of Maine, (being a Court of record for said county proceeding according to the course of common law, having original jurisdiction, unlimited in amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment) Michael Arbour, now resident in theCounty of Somerset, aged 68years, who being first sworn according to law, in order to obtain the provisions made bythe Acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and 1st of May 1820, doth on his oath declare that heserved in the Revolutionary War as follows Viz: First inthe Company commanded by Captain Robinson and Regiment Commanded by Col. James Livingston in the year service, then in the Company commanded by Captain Selden and in the Congress Regiment commanded by Col afterwards Brigadier General Hazen, upon the Continental establishement during the war and actually served more than seven years: Being a native of Lower Canada he first enlisted in the fall of 1775 at Point Levi opposite Quebec as a private soldier; that he remained in Canada with the American troops till the next summer and retreated with them to Albany where he in December 1776 enlisted for during the war, and served as a Corporal and that he remained in the above Corps in the Army till June 30, 1783 when he washonorably discharged, signed by the Commander in Chief is hereunto affixed; that he has no other evidence of such service except for his honorable discharge which he has preserved with great care ever since he left the service: that he wasinboth the Battles of the taking of Burgoyne, at the Battle of Whiteplains, Horseneek, Brandywine, and at Yorktown;waswounded in the left leg by a buck shot, at the taking of Burgoyne, which was extracted by Doctor Schuyler at Stillwater,that he needs the assistance of his Country for his support being infirm, described "exceedingly poor."
And now in persuance ofthe Act of 1st of May 1820, I the said Michael Arbour do further swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the said eighteenth Day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my propertyor any part thereof with intent thereby so as to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the Act of Congress aforesaid, entitled. "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," passed on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income whatever. Michael {his mark} Arbour Witness Daniel Williams
The following is a schedule of my whole estate "Income" I have no houseor land and no property whatever except a poor coarse suit of cloths; having lost my wife I have no familyexcept my two little boys Michael aged thirteen and Symon aged eight years. I am by occupation a laborer but from old age can do but little. Michael {his mark} Arbour Witness Daniel Williams
Somerset Ct Common Pleas June 26, 1822
Subscribed sworn and declared both the Schedule and declaration in openCourt before DavidPesham, Judge of CC Pleas
I, William Allen, Junior Clerk of all the Judicial Courts holden withinand for the County of Somerset, do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and Schedule hereto affixed are truly copied from the records ofthesaid Court of Common Pleas; and I dofurther certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount of the notice of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is two dollars. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Courtat Norridgewock the twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord1822. {signed} William Allen, Jr Clerk of the Court of SomersetCounty
CERTIFICATE OF PENSION
Maine
Michael Arbour (age 68)
at Somerset 67 in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Hazen of the Pen line, for the term of 1776 to June 1783.(on Roll)
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 26 of June 1822.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 of August 1822 and an a .. .. Augusta, Maine
Arrears (Part of) to the 4th of Sept 1822. Semi-anl. all'ce ending $18.40
Revolutionary Claim Act 18th March 1818 [amended] May 1, 1820
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A little more about Michel's two commanding officers . . .
JAMES LIVINGSTON
Colonel James Livingston (27 March 1747-- 9 March 1832) was born in theFrench province of Canada to New York-born parents. He was living in Quebec, as Canada was known following the French and Indian War, when the American Revolutionary War broke out. He was responsible for raising and leading the 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army during the invasion of Canada, and continued to serve in the war until 1781. He retired to Saratoga, New York, where he served as a state legislator and raised a family of five children.
American Revolutionary War -- Livingston was living in Chambly, workingas a grain merchant, when the invasion of Quebec began in September 1775. As early as August, he had been in contact with General Philip Schuyler, mostly through the efforts ofJohnBrown, an Americanspy.On 18August, he sent a messenger to Schuyler at Fort Ticonderoga, presumably withinformation on British military readiness at Fort Chambly and Fort Saint-Jean; unfortunately, this messenger destroyed the message, fearing hemight be captured withit. General Richard Montgomery (who was marriedto one of Livingston's relatives), who was in command of Ticonderoga at the time, sent John Brown back to Livingston. On the 28th, they sent word back to Montgomery withnewsthat spurred him tobegin the invasion: the British had almost completed ships capable of threatening the American naval superiority on Lake Champlain. Up to, and then also following, the arrival of the American forces at Île aux Noix inearlySeptember,Livingston was active in the Chambly area, raising local support for the Americans. On 15 September, he reported to Schuyler that militiaunder his control had cut off Fort Chambly from communication with Montreal, and that Brownand Ethan Allenwere raising additional troops and guarding the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Forces under his command, numbering about 200, participated in the capture of Fort Chambly on 18 October, along with militia under Brown's command. On20 November, Montgomery made him a colonel in the Continental Army, and gave him command of the 1st Canadian Regiment, consisting mainly of the troops he had recruited. This regiment then served at the battle of Quebec in December1775, andtheensuing retreat. They later saw action in the Saratoga campaign, including the relief of the siege of Fort Stanwix in August 1777, both Battles of Saratoga, and the Battle of Rhode Island. Livingston was in command of Verplanck's PointontheHudson River in September 1780, when he played a crucial role in the unmasking of Benedict Arnold's treachery. While on guard duty, his troops fired on the Britishsloop of war Vulture, forcing that vessel to retreat southwards. Thisshiphadbrought Major John Andréto meet with General Arnold. Sincethe ship was driven off, André was forced to attempt travel by land to New York; he was captured with incriminating papers in his possession. André as hanged asa spy, and Arnold, hisplot discovered,managed to escape to the British lines. Livingston retired from the Continental Army on 1 January 1781. In recognition of his service, he was granted 3,500 acres (14 km2) of land near where Tyre, New Yorkistoday. In 1801, Congressawardedhim another 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land near the modern location of Columbus, Ohio.
MOSES HAZEN
Moses Hazen (1 June 1733 -- 5 February 1803) was a Brigadier General inthe Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born intheProvince of Massachusetts Bay, he saw action in the French and Indian War with Rogers' Rangers before settling outside Montreal, Quebec, where he became involved inthe American invasionof Quebec early in the American Revolutionary War, servingin theContinental Army. He went on to lead his own regiment (the 2nd Canadian, or Congress' Own) throughout thewar. He was also a land developer, with propertyinterests in Quebec, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
Revolutionary War -- ContinentalArmy Arrives -- At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775, Hazen was living on half-pay in Saint-Jean, dueto his prior service during the French and Indian War. When Benedict Arnold raided Fort Saint-Jean on 18 May, Hazen reported the newsof that raid (as well as the captureof Fort Ticonderoga) first to the military authorities in Montreal, and then to Governor Guy Carleton in Quebec, before returninghome to consider the consequences the conflict might have on him and his lands.TheAmerican invasion of Quebec arrived near his home at Saint-Jean on 6 September. On that day, Hazen met with General Philip Schuyler, explaining to himthat Fort Saint-Jean was well-defended and unlikely to be taken by siege, and that the local habitantswere unlikely to assist the American effort. This gloomy portrait led Schuyler to consider retreating; but the arrival ofadditional American troops,and a more optimistic assessment from James Livingston, a grain merchant livingnear Chambly, encouraged the Americans to renew the attack. Livingston went on to form the 1st Canadian Regiment in November 1775.
Imprisonment andRelease -- On 17 September, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, now commanding the American forces, beganto besiege Fort St Jean. The next day, adetachment of American forces under the command ofJohn Brown arrested Hazen north of the fort. However, aBritish sortie from the fort forced Brown's men to retreat; Hazen ended up in British hands.MajorCharles Preston,the British commander, was mistrustful of Hazen, and sent him to Montreal under the guard of Claude de Lorimier. BrigadierGeneral Richard Prescott, unhappy with Hazen's explanations of his movements, imprisoned him.He was held in poor conditionsfor54 days. Following the fall of Fort St Jean, the British withdrew from Montreal,transporting prisonerson one ofthe many ships used in the evacuation. Most of this British fleet was captured by the Americans, whoreleased Hazen and other politicalprisoners who had supported them. Unhappy with the treatment he received by the British, Hazen joinedthe American forces, which were on their way to Quebec City. He did this in spite of thefact that the Americans had donesignificant damage to hisestate duringthe siege,plundering the estate for supplies, and using his house as abarracks.
Service in Quebec (Battle of Quebec (1775)) -- Hazen served in the battle of Quebec, and was one of two men (the other was EdwardAntill) sent toreportthe devastating loss to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. TheCongress, in recognition for his efforts, gave Hazen a commission as a colonel, leading the Continental Army's 2nd Canadian Regiment, also called Congress' OwnRegiment or Hazen's Regiment. (Antill wascommissioned the regiment's Lieutenant Colonel.) Hazen was initially offered a position as Brigadier General, but he refused, requesting instead a Colonel's commission, and indemnification against losses caused by the conflict. (His property had already been significantlydamagedbythe Americanactionaround St. Jean.) Hazen was fortunate in arriving in Philadelphia before John Duggan, one of Livingston's captains, to whom Benedict Arnold hadearlier promised the commission for the 2ndCanadian. Hazen and Antill returned to Quebec, where Hazen was stationed at Montreal while Antill recruited men for the regiment. Hazen was briefly in command of the defenses of Montrealfor the Americans,from late March tomid-April1776, when General David Wooster took command of the Americanforces outside Quebec, and Benedict Arnold assumed command of the Montrealgarrison. During the time he was in command, Hazen dispatched Timothy Bedel and 390 men tofortify TheCedars, about 40 miles(64 km) upriver from Montreal; these forces surrendered to a British-Native force duringthe Battle of The Cedars in May.
Trouble with Arnold (Battle of The Cedars) -- Following Arnold's assumption ofcommand at Montreal,Hazen's regiment was assigned to garrison duty atFort Chambly.Hazen (andlikely his men) were called as reinforcements to assist in the American response to the action at The Cedars. In council, Hazen and Arnold had a heated exchange over what actions to take,which, in Arnold's opinion, bordered on insubordination. Arnold had previously held a high opinion of Hazen, writing that he was "a sensible, judicious officer, and well acquainted with this country". During theAmerican retreat from Quebec inMayand June1776, Hazenand Arnold were embroiled in a dispute that led to charges and counter-charges, courts martial and other hearings, lasting into 1779. At issuewere supplies thatArnold had ordered seized from merchants in Montreal andsent toChamblyfor eventual shipment south as part of the retreat. Hazen, in charge ofthe facilities at Chambly, refused to sign for the goods, as he recognized them as the property of friends in Montreal. In the ensuing retreat, mostof thesegoods were plunderedand lost. Arnold wanted to immediately court-martial Hazen for failing to follow orders, but the arriving British army delayed any such activity until the army's return to Fort Ticonderoga. Arnold's opinion ofHazen clearly changed;he wrote, "This isnot the first or last order Col. Hazen has disobeyed. I think him a man of too much consequence for the post he is in." Hazen's court martialwas held on 19 July 1776; he was honorably acquitted. However,there were irregularities in the proceedings(thejudge advocate was the same officer who had delivered the goods from Montreal to Chambly, so he did not testify), and Arnold continued to attack Hazen afterwards. In December 1776 anotherinquiry was held, andHazen wasagain cleared of anywrongdoing. Hazen then countercharged Arnold with the plundering of the Montreal merchants; Arnold was not cleared of these charges until 1779, when he was already considering changing sides to the British.
Building HisRegiment -- Hazen's regiment, which was significantly reduced in size by the retreat from Quebec, was assigned first to Ticonderoga, and then to Albany, in the summer and fall of 1776, before being orderedto winter quarters atFishkill, New York. During thistime, Hazen continuedrecruiting, receiving permission from Congress to recruit anywhere in the United States. In the northern states he ran into difficulties, as those states were havingtrouble filling their own regimental lines; hewas often outbid by other recruiters. By June 1777, the regiment reached about 700 members, out of an authorized strength of 1,000. The cultural differences between the original Quebec enlisteesand the new recruits from theThirteen Colonies was a regular source of friction withintheregiment. As a result, Hazen kept the French-speakers in separate companies. Hazen also submitted to Congress a claim for damages to his estate in Quebec. The original bill was for $11,363;Congress paid $2,595in October 1776.
PhiladelphiaCampaign (Battle of Staten Island, Battle of Brandywine, and Battle of Germantown) -- In May 1777, Hazen's regiment was ordered tojoin the main army at Princeton, where it was active in the Philadelphia campaign as part of JohnSullivan'sbrigade. Someof Hazen's companies (but not Hazen himself) participated in the Battle of Staten Island. Hazen's command during the Battle of Brandywine included the northern endof the Americanline; thisposition was one ofthose flanked by the British in their attack. Hazen's regiment lost 4 officers and 73 men in the battle. In the Battle of Germantown, Hazen commanded a brigade thatincluded in addition to his own regiment,the 2nd,4th,and6th Maryland Regiments. They formed part ofSullivan's columnwhenit marched on the town; hisregiment lost 3 officers and 19 men in the engagement.
Bayley-Hazen Road Proposed-- Hazen, ever since his returnto the United Statesin 1776, hadmaintained a constant stream ofcommunications with Congress, primarilyon the subject of Canada.[41] In January 1778, these communications bore some fruit, when, with French assistance, planning for aninvasion of Canada began. Hazen was assignedthe job of deputy quartermaster for this operation. However, the planningwas beset by supply difficulties, and never got off the ground. It was ultimately cancelledby Congress in March 1778. This failure did not deter Hazen from offering anew route for invadingCanada. This routewent from Newbury, where Hazen owned land and knew the area, to Saint Francis, Quebec. On 12 July, Hazen departed Newbury to scout the route. By 25 July, he hadreturnedto White Plains; the effort was abandoned forthe time beingbecause themanpower was needed in the New York area. Plans for possible attacks against Quebec based on routes departing from the Newburyarea were againcontemplatedin thefall of 1778,but Washington continued toresist the idea.
Construction work on the road (Bayley Hazen MilitaryRoad) -- In the spring and summer of 1779, Hazen's regiment and that of Timothy Bedel worked on constructionof the Bayley Hazen Military Road, once again withtheeventual goal of launching an invasion. Part ofthe road, between Newbury and Peacham had been constructed in 1776 byJacob Bayley. Hazen supervised the development ofthe road up to whatis now called Hazens Notch in northern Vermont. Work was discontinued on the road in August after word was received that the British were preparing a military force atSaint-Jean to attempt capture of the construction crew. General Washingtonhad neverintended to send an invasion along this route; theentireworkswas a ruse to divert Britishattention, and deter them from launching an invasion. Washington wrote toCongress thatthe work "was for the purpose of exciting jealousies at Quebec and atthe Enemy's posts on theSt Lawrence, and ofmaking a diversion in favor of the late expedition under general Sullivan ... this very happilysucceeded".
Service Around New York-- Hazen and his regiment spent the winter at Washington's main encampmentin Morristown, New Jersey. There Hazen was again involved in litigation; he was rejected for serviceon a court martial considering charges against Benedict Arnold dueto their previous confrontations, and he also opened complaints of supplymismanagement during the summer's roadbuilding activities. A detailed review of the army inthe spring of 1780 by Baron von Steuben led to the recommendation thatthe regimentsof Hazenand Livingston be merged, as Livingston's had shrunk to103 men. Hazen and Livingston had a political tussle over seniority; while Hazen lost the claim toseniority, he ended up in command of the combined regiment. In January 1780 the regimentwas involved in a failed attackon Staten Island; word of the operation leaked to the British.Hazen's regiment was then transferred to the brigade of Enoch Poor. Bythe time thetransfer was effected,Hazen was given command of the entire brigade,although repeatedrequests he hadmade for promotion to brigadier generalwere rejected. During the summer the brigade was relocated tothe West Point area. While en route, Hazen allowed his men to stopfor water, breaking the army column. VonSteubenordered Hazen's arrest for this transgression of military discipline. Hazen was acquitted, and promptly countercharged von Steuben with behavior unbecoming an officer andgentleman; von Steuben apologized. Hazen's regiment was garrisoned opposite West Point that fallwhen British Major John André was captured and General Arnold defected. One hundred of Hazen's men, includinghis nephew, BenjaminMooers, witnessed André'shanging.
Yorktown-- On 29June 1781, Hazenwas promotedto Brigadier Generaland assigned command of a brigade under Lafayette during the Siege of Yorktown. Hazen's brigade served on the right of the line, andwas deeply involvedin the 14 October battles for theredoubts. Following the British surrender,Hazen and his unit weregivenprisoner guard duty at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While on this duty, a misstep by Hazen caused a minor diplomatic incident, known as the "AsgillAffair". The British accused an American soldier of spying, and werethreatening to hang him. GeorgeWashington threatened to hang a British soldier if this happened, and instructed Hazen to choose an officer of similar rank. The man he chose by lot,Charles Asgill, should have been ineligible for selection due to the terms of the Yorktown surrender.The accused American was eventually acquitted, but Asgill's plight drew the attention of Marie Antoinette; Washington received a letter from theFrench foreign minister asking for a pardon. During the winterof 1781-2 Hazen also took time off for personal business. Among his dealings was a partnership with Timothy Bedel to acquire land along the military road they had built in Vermont.
After the War -- After thewar, GeneralHazen, unable to returntoQuebec, received a grant ofland in northern New York. He was active for many years on behalf of the men who served under him and their families, especially thosethat originally camefromQuebec, in their questfor compensation for their losses. He also continued his litigiousways -- hewas involved in an ongoing string of legal actions until his death in 1803. He died in Troy, New York where he was buried. His nephew, Benjamin Mooers, was ultimatelyresponsible for untangling many of Hazen's affairs. On 26 May 1828, Congress authorized a payment of $3,998.81 to Hazen's legal representatives in compensation for the half-pay lost to him when he joinedthe American forces.
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Courtesyof Denis ARBOURfrom "HistoirePopulaire duQuébec," written byJacques Lacoursière, a collection of very well written history books. In those books, one can find some stories involving an ARBOUR. One of them, I am sure now, is about our Michel ARBOUR:
From Volume 2, page31:
"Les Français sefont sans doute des illusions sur les sentimentsdes Canadiens à l'égard de l'ancienne mère patrie. La mort du roi Louis XVI a prévenu plusieurs habitants contre les révolutionnaires. Mais ilen demeure quelques-uns qui refusent toujours de se soumettre au roi d'Angleterre, tel Michel Arbour, de Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud,dans la régiondeBellechasse. L'évêqueJean-François Hubert écrit à son curé le 13 août 1793 : Si le nommé Arbour persiste dans ses anciens sentiments et ne veut pas reconnaître le roi d'Angleterre pourson légitime souverain, et luiêtre soumis, il nepourra être admis àaucun des sacrements de l'Église qui,conformément à la loi de Dieu, nous prescrit cette soumission."
English Translation:
"The French probably have illusions about the feelings of the Canadianswith respectto the former mother country. The death of King Louis XVI warned several residents against the revolutionaries. Butthere remains some who still refuse to submitto the King of England, as Michel Arbour, of Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, in the Bellechasse region. Bishop Jean-François Hubert wrote to his pastor on August 13, 1793: « Ifthe appointed Arbour persists with his old feelings and does not recognizethe King of England as his legitimate sovereign, and submit to Him, he will not be allowed to receive any of the sacraments of the Church which, according to the law of God, commands us this submission. »"
Fromemail to Denis ARBOURon 29 Sep 2010: For some reason, I did not have the burialfor Michel. But I did look it up. Do you wish a copy? I think it says that he died on 19 Feb 1835. But unlike other burial entries, it does not saywhere he lived. Furthermore, hiswife is listed as Marie-Anne LEBREC,which should either bethelate Marie-Anne LEBREC . . . or he lied to the USGovernment. Take your pick. Ok, nowI have found it . .. Michel lied to the US Government! Marie-Anne d/bd 27/29 Jan 1841 St-Gervais. Want to seea copy of this one, too?
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1755 - 1835 (79 ans)
