Deschambault, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-Deschambault)
1832 - DESCHAMBAULT,

seigniory, in the co. of Portneuf, is bounded N.E. by the barony of Portneuf; S.W. by La Chevrotiere; by the St. Lawrence in front; by waste lands of the Crown in the rear. - One l. in breadth by 3 in depth. Granted Mar. 1, 1652 to Demoiselle Eleonore de Grand Maison and now belongs to Louis de la Gorgendiere, Esq. and the Hon. Juchereau Duchesnay. - This, in almost every respect, is a very valuable property; the soil is of unexceptionable quality, being a mixture of good clay with a little sand, a fine yellow loam and in many places a rich black mould, which in the vicinity of Point Deschambault has a stratum of rock beneath it. The surface is uneven, and from being a fine level flat near the river, it rises in small ridges mounting, by graduations, one above another nearly to the rear limits of the seigniory. From the W. also there is a gradual acclivity from the plain to the height of Point Deschambault; on this plain the land is every where fertile; the greater part being in an excellent state of cultivation, the numerous farms on each side of the main road, with their substantial houses and every requisite appendage, afford pleasing evidence of the industry and good husbandry of the proprietors. In this S. are 6 ranges of concessions, 4 of which are occupied in farms and another is in progress of being settled. On the ranges towards the interior many of the lots display an equal share of good management, which is the case with nearly all the land under tillage, amounting to a full third of the whole seigniory. - The timber is of a moderately good quality and there is mostly beech, maple and pine: there is, however, some wood of inferior descriptions. - The rivers Ste. Anne, crossing the rear, La Chevrotiere, Belleisle and a few smaller streams contribute to the luxuriant fertility of the soil...

The river St. Lawrence forms a large curve between Cap Sante and Point Deschambault, and either in ascending or descending the combination of objects that it presents is highly interesting and agreeable. The point was formerly a sort of military post, as the French, in 1759, had a battery upon it for the purpose of defending this pass of the river against any force that might have been sent upwards; indeed, this situation with the superior height of Platon, on the opposite side, might easily be fortified so as completely to command the passage either way, and together with the difficulties of the Richelieu rapid, would render any attempt to force it very disastrous. - In this S. is one village, consisting of 15 houses of wood, 1 inn, 4 dealers, 2 shoemakers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 miller. - The eel-fisheries in front of the S. are productive and almost every inhabitant has a fishery; besides eels, dore, carp, achigan and a number of sturgeon are caught; in autumn the epland abounds and in the winter the petite morue, a species of small codfish. In the R. Ste. Anne salmon and salmon-trout are taken in abundance...

Statistics of the Parish of Deschambault
Population 1570
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Presbyteries 1
Schools 4
Villages 1
Corn-mills 2
Carding-mills 1
Saw-mills 5
Ship-yards 4
Medical men - 1
Notaries - 1
Shopkeepers - 5
Taverns 1
Artisans 25
River-craft 13
Tonnage 537
Keel-boats 2

A Topographical Dictionary of The Province of Lower Canada by Joseph Bouchette, Esq., London, 1832

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