La Prairie, Québec, Canada (St-Philippe) (St-Jean-François-Régis) (La Nativité)
1832 - LAPRAIRIE DE LA MADELEINE,

seigniory, in the co. of Laprairie, is bounded N.E. by Longueuil; S.W. by Sault St. Louis; in the read by the barony of Longueuil; in front by the St. Lawrence - 2 leagues in breadth by 4 in depth. Granted, 1st April 1647, to the order of Jesuits, whose possessions were once so large and valuable in this province. On the demise of the last of the order settled in Canad, it devolved to the crown, to whom it now belongs...

The N. and E. parts of the parish of St. Phillip are in this S., the W. part is in La Salle, the S. part is in the T. of Sherrington. The lands or farms in this parish, conceded prior to 1759, were each 3 arpents in front by 30 in depth, and at first were charged with the payment of two-thirds of a quart of wheat and a sol tournois per arpent, or 1 1/ 2 bushel of wheat and 4 livres 10 sols, old currency, for a farm of 90 superficial arpents... In Laprairie, 30 sols were extracted for the privilege of turning cattle on the common called the Commune de Laprairie de la Madeleine. There are two roads, St. Phillip and St. Barthelemy, which communicate with the townships...

Laprairie is now a flourishing handsome village of 200 well-built houses; some of them are two stories high and built with stone, in a very good style and covered with tin, giving an air of neatness and respectability to the whole. This village has the advantage of any other in the province in trade and population; its streets are more defined and its buildings more contiguous. Tradesmen of every order, mechanics and shopkeepers are to be seen in every direction, and all appear to be thriving. The constant arrival and departure of steam-boats and stages contribute to enliven the place and produce an almost ceaseless bustle and novelty of scene...

This village is the principal thoroughfare between Montreal and St. John's and the landing-place for the northern trade of Lake Champlain. Its population is about 1800, including about 30 artisans, 2 notaries, 4 merchants and 4 justices of peace..

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

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