Sorel, Québec, Canada (Saint-Pierre)
1832 - SOREL or SAUREL,

seigniory, in the co. of Richelieu, is bounded N. and N.E. by the South Channel of the St. Lawrence and the Bay of Yamaska; S.W. by St. Ours; S. and S.E. by Bourchemin, Bourg-marie West, and Bonsecours; N.W. by the St. Lawrence. - 2 1/ 2 leagues in front, viz. 1 1/ 2 league above the R. Richelieu by 2 leagues in depth, and one league below the Richelieu by one league in depth. This seigniory, with isle St. Ignace, isle Ronde and isle de Grace, was granted, Oct. 21, 1672 to Sieur de Saurel. - The town of William Henry or Sorel is agreeably situate at the confluence of the Richelieu with the St. Lawrence, and contains a Protestant and a Roman Catholic church. On the siet of this town, a fort was constructed in 1665 by M. de Tracy, viceroy of New France, as a defence against the irruption of the Iroquois. M. de Saurel, a captain, superintended its execution; and from him this part of the R. Richelieu received the name of Sorel or Saurel. Before the T. the bank of the Richelieu is from 10 to 12 feet high, having near the point two small wharfs or landing-places; the river is here 250 yards broad, with from 2 1/ 2 to 5 1/ 2 fathoms of water. ON the opposite shore are convenient places for building vessels, where some of large tonnage have been constructed; but latterly this branch of trade has not been so much attended to here as it used to be, notwithstanding the accommodations for carrying it on.

Statistics of the Parish of Sorel, including the Town of William Henry.
Population 4,193
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Presbyteries 1
Corn-mills 2
Towns 1
Notaries 1
Shopkeepers 8
Taverns 16
Artisans 27

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

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