Yamaska, Québec, Canada (Saint-Michel-d'Yamaska)
1832 - YAMASKA,

seigniory, in the co. of Yamaska, is bounded N.E. by St. Francois; S.W. by Sorel and Bonsecoeurs; in the rear by Bourgmarie East; in front by Lake St. Peter. This property is described in the title to be only about a half a league in front, but in reality it is 1 1/ 2 league by 3 leagues in depth. Granted, Sept. 24, 1683, to M. de Lavaliere and is now the property of J. M. de Tonnacour, Esq. - Cultivation of a favourable description extends over nearly one half of the seigniory; the different concessions, large and small, amount to upwards of 160, lying on each side of the River Yamsaka, by the Petit Chenail, and in the Cotes St. Louis and Ste. Catherine. The Bay of La Vallier or Yamaksa, extends across the upper part of it into Sorel, and that of St. Francois makes rather a deep incision on its eastern side; immediately surrounding these bays the land is low and marshy, but a short distance from them are many large tracts of most excellent meadow; farther to the rear the soil is rich and very productive, consisting of good yellow loam and a fine clay intermixed with light earth, affording much good arable land and some spots well adapted to the cultivation of flax and hemp. The front is moderately well furnished with timber of a middling and inferior quality, as white fir, spruce fir, hemlock &c.; but on the drier grounds in the rear some of a superior description is produced, as plane, beech, hickory and oak. The land is tolerably well watered by several small streams, in addition to the little river David that has its source in the adjoining savannas or large swamps. The convenience of good roads is afforded in every direction. the main road from the eastward leading to the town of William Henry crosses the R. Yamaska at a ferry just above la Petite Isle Tonnancour; the price of passage is 3d. each person, 6d. for a horse and 12d. for a carriage.. A corn-mill and a windmill are near the ferry...

As the limits of the Parish of St. Michel d'Yamaska are not defined, it is difficult to state the precise quantity of unconceded lands, which is however, supposed to amount to more than 350 farms, each containing 3 arpents by 30. One half of the unconceded lands are of no value; one quarter is of tolerable quality but difficult to clear and the other quarter of good quality but difficult to drain: these lands have been surveyed but have no road across them...

Population 2,922
Churches, R.C. 1
Cures 1
Presbyteries 1
Village 1
Corn-mills 2
Saw-mills 2
Artisans 17

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

Visit Yamaska, Québec, Canada (Saint-Michel-d'Yamaska)
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.