Born 26 Nov 1799 in Berthier-en-Haut/ Berthierville, Quebec, Canada

Ancestors

Died 27 Oct 1866 in Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada

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Biography

Louis Beaupre was born and baptized on November 26, 1799 in Berthier-en-Haut,/ Berthierville, Lower Canada/ Quebec. ^[1]He was the youngest of sixteen children for Pierre Beaupre and Marie Martin. Five of his older siblings passed away in infancy. He was the couple's eighth son who lived to adulthood.

Louis was just thirteen years old when he followed in his older brothers' footsteps and enlisted in the British Naval Military as a midshipman during the War of 1812. On April 27, 1813, he along with his brother-in-law Francois Gauvreau (husband of his older sister Marie-Anne) were captured as prisoners of war at the Battle of York (Toronto) by the Americans.^[2] "A crushing defeat for the British in the War of 1812, the sacking of York began on the morning of 27 April 1813. At dawn, a flotilla of 16 American ships under Commodore Isaac Chauncey made its way to the capital of Upper Canada, York [Toronto]. Landing to the west, the Americans suppressed the small group of warriors defending the shore, while knocking out the town's meagre batteries. The American force of approximately 1700 men easily assumed control with the fort poorly defended by an undersized garrison of 700 soldiers and backed by an unenthusiastic (indeed, almost wholly absent) militia"^[3] While they waited for the terms to be ratified, the surrendered militia were held prisoner in a blockhouse without food or medical attention for the few wounded. As a part of the terms of surrender, any troops remaining in York became prisoners of war, although those serving in the militia were "paroled," allowing them to return home, so long as they not rejoin the conflict until an official prisoner exchange had secured their "release". Members of the York Militia were ordered to relinquish their arms, and proceed to Fort York garrison. The officers of the militia were subsequently released on "parole," although the rest of the militia remained imprisoned for two days. Kept without food, water, or medical attention, the imprisoned militia was eventually released ^[4][5] Thankfully, the prisoners were not taken to the US and placed in a prisoner of war camp. It is unknown if Louis continued to be a part of the militia after that experience.

In 1815, Louis' father Pierre penned a poem as a tribute to his sons and sons-in-law for their allegiance to the King of England during the War of 1812. Each verse was devoted to each of his sons/ sons-in-law outlining how proud he was of their involvement in the conflict. The verse for Louis went as follows: "Dear little Louis, but sixteen years old (might have been thirteen). The youngest, and yet a "Middy" I ween, with courage and daring and true soldier bold, At York, and defending a canon, was seen. " The English transcribed poem showed a picture of what might have been Louis' pistol.

On August 16, 1824, Louis married Marie Louise Gauvreau, daughter of Louis Claude Gauvreau and Marie Vincent in St. Louis RC Church in Kamouraska. Louis was shown as a "negotiant" (wholesale seller). No records were located for any children of this union. A death record was not located for Marie Louise but since Louis remarried in 1859, it would have been before that date. They might have been married for close to 35 years.

On February 14, 1859 at the age of 59, Louis married Suzanne Olympe Gagne age 37 in Kamouraska.^[6] They had one daughter together, Marie Louise Olympe born May 5, 1860.^[7] The family was shown in the Canada Census 1861 as living in St. Pashcal, Kamouraska. Louis (62) was shown as an innkeeper. Olympe was shown as age 36 and Louise as age 1. They were living in a wood frame house. ^[8] Sadly, Marie Louise died at age 7 in June, 1867. She was buried in the St. Louis RC Church Cemetery in Kamouraska. ^[9]The 1871 Canada census showed the couple living in the Village of Kamouraska where Louis (71) was still shown as an innkeeper and Olympe (45). In addition Louise Gagne (56) was living in the household. This was Olympe's older sister. ^[10] Four years later, July 9, 1871, Louis lost his second wife Olympe after they had only been married for twelve years. She was buried on July 13 in the St. Louis RC Church Cemetery.

Following Olympe's death, Louis married her sister Louise who had been shown living with the couple in the 1871 census. On June 30, 1873, Louis and Louise were married in the St. Louis RC Church in Kamouraska. Louis was age 72 and Louise age 61. Louise's age was not shown correctly in the 1871 census. This was Louise's first marriage. ^[11]

In the 1881 Canada Census the couple was still living in the village of Kamouraska. Louis was shown as age 80 and still an innkeeper and Louise as 68. On October 2, 1881 a severe earthquake occurred in Kamouraska. It appears that this area has been hit by the same type of event in more recent years. ^[12]

On October 26, 1884, Louis Severin Beaupre passed away in Kamouraska when he was 86. He was buried in the St. Louis RC Cemetery. He and Louise Gagne had been married 11 years. His death record confirmed that he had been an innkeeper. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_00860528?pId=14583428
2. ↑ P. 166, https://books.google.ca/books?id=4TNEAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA166&lpg=RA1-PA166&dq=louis+beaupre+midshipman&source=bl&ots=UIkfDoMkD_&sig=ACfU3U2h31wIOpQEPnJh1aSOeXXKicC4BA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimj4n63PbmAhUKR6wKHQcDALMQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=louis%20beaupre%20midshipman&f=false
3. ↑ https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-sacking-of-york#:~:text=Sacking%20of%20York-,A%20crushing%20defeat%20for%20the%20British%20in%20the%20War%20of,morning%20of%2027%20April%201813.&text=With%20the%20fort%20poorly%20defended,Sir%20Roger%20Hale%20Sheaffe%2C%20retreated.
4. ↑ Benn, Carl (1993). History Fort York, 1794–1993. Dundurn.
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_York
6. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_18060198?pId=13379366
7. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_18510652?pId=7334637
8. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/53393263/person/132253512877/facts
9. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_18060390?pId=2266848
10. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1578/images/4395566_00304?pId=948994
11. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_18060533?pId=14407699
12. ↑ https://greenerpasture.com/Places/Details/96
13. ↑ https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_18060845?pId=8985812

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