Robert de La Berge (1638–1712) was one of the original colonists to settle in New France in 1658, and became one of the early industrialists in the area.
Early life and journey to America Robert de La Berge was born on May 24, 1638, in Colomby-sur-Thaon, Normandy, France, in what is now the department of Calvados. Robert was the son of Jacques de la Berge and Marie Poitevin who were married on May 8, 1636, in Colomby-sur-Thaon. Marie Poitevin was the widow of Jacques Touchet and had a son, Thomas, from that marriage. Jacques and Marie had two other sons: Abraham (born 2 September 1640) and Guillaume (born 15 February 1643). Abraham and Guillaume remained in France.
Thomas Touchet, a carpenter by trade, had spent the years from 1650 to 1653 in New France. When he returned to New France in 1658, he took his half-brother Robert with him. Robert went to New France as a labourer, under a three-year contract to work for a man named Massé Gravel in Château-Richer. Under the terms of the contract, Robert received a cash advance, an annual salary, and a guaranteed return trip to France. Robert arrived in New France aboard the ship Taureau on August 6, 1658.
In 1661, Robert completed his three-year obligation to Massé Gravel, but instead of returning to France, he received a concession of land in Château-Richer. In the October 1662, after a year of hard work, Robert sold the land to Charles Pouliot. Robert was apparently discouraged and intended to return to France. During the winter, Robert must have changed his mind. On February 4, 1663, Robert received a concession of land in the parish of Sainte-Famille.
At about this same time, Nicolas Durand and his wife Françoise Gausse dit Le Borgne were living on a farm in Château-Richer (which would later become L'Ange-Gardien) with their infant daughter, Marie-Ursule. Nicolas had received the land as a concession from Olivier Le Tardif and built a wood house with a stone chimney on it. That is the east side of Maison Laberge today. Françoise Gausse was the daughter of Maurice Gausse and Marguerite Blay of Noyon, Picardy, France. In late March 1663, Nicolas Durand died suddenly. The register stated that he "tué _____ sans pouvoir recvoir aucun sacrement" where a blank was left. It meant that he "died ____without being able to receive the sacraments." Did the registrar not know how he died, or did he not want to report it? That was abridged to say "S'est tué accidentellement dans son désert" where the word "desert" has multiple meanings. He could have died accidentally on his land in the "wilderness" cutting down trees; however, that would have been in the dead of winter. He could have also possibly died in the "desert" of his despair. We may never know. Unfortunately, his widow and young daughter were left to fend for themselves.
After only two months of widowhood, Françoise married Robert LaBerge on May 28, 1663, in Château-Richer. Françoise probably knew Robert from his earlier years in Château-Richer. Robert sold his property in Sainte-Famille and took up residence on the Durand farm in Château-Richer.
In the years that followed, Robert became a respected citizen. He participated in the election of the first three church wardens of L'Ange-Gardien. Records of his business transactions indicate that Robert prospered financially in New France. Robert was one of the early industrialists in the area. Sometime before 1674, Robert installed furnaces which were used for the manufacturing of lime. It was later expanded in 1692 for the retirement of Robert & Françoise and then again in 1791. Maison Laberge remained in the Laberge family until 1970 when it was sold to Jacques Gagnon. In 2011, Philip LaBerge purchased it and brought it back into the family. It is one of the oldest buildings in Canada. Maison Laberge is located at 14, rue Adrien Laberge, L'Ange-Gardien, Quebec, QC G0A 2K0.
The LaBerge household also grew over the years. Robert and Françoise had six children: Geneviève LaBerge was born on 22 April 1664 and was baptized the following day. Françoise LaBerge died a few days after her birth and was buried in Château-Richer on 6 February 1666. Catherine LaBerge was baptized on 15 September 1667. In 1687 she married Guillaume Maroist. In 1702 he purchased the western portion of the Laberge property from Nicolas who had received it as his inheritance. The 30th prime minister of Québec, Mme Pauline Marois, is a direct descendant of Guillaume Maroist. François LaBerge was born on 12 June 1669. Nicolas LaBerge was baptized on 29 February 1672. In 1702, Nicolas sold his property mentioned above, left his wife and children and went to help establish a tannery at present day Cairo, Illinois. After an epidemic broke out, he continued down the Mississippi to Mobile where he arrived in 1705. He was in the 1711 census and one of the very earliest inhabitants of French Louisiana. Guillaume LaBerge was born on 30 April 1674. In 1702, Guillaume had signed a contract to farm at Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit but did not leave most likely because of the lawsuit with Marie Ursule Durand mentioned below was resolved.
Robert was involved in a near-fatal accident during a trip to Québec. The event which took place prior to 1667 was recorded by Father Thomas Morel as follows:
Later life and death
LaBerge became embroiled in a legal dispute with his stepdaughter, Marie-Ursule Durande, that lasted for five years before finally being resolved. On March 22, 1694, Robert obtained a receipt for 600 pounds from Marie-Ursule and her husband, Antoine Huppé dit Lagrois. This receipt was in return for the 600 pounds stipulated in her marriage contract and granted the entire property in L'Ange-Gardien to Robert.
Later, in 1697, Robert sold a half acre to his son Guillaume. In 1697, Robert sold most of the remaining property to his sons, Nicolas and Guillaume. It was after these transactions, in 1698, that Marie-Ursule and her husband filed a petition with Sovereign Council seeking to have their marriage contract declared null and void and to renounce their inheritances. Marie-Ursule alleged that she was short-changed on her inheritance by Robert and Françoise who underestimated the value of her father's estate. She also alleged that she was a victim of her stepfather's greed and that he had attempted to marry her off at the age of 12 to a simpleton. She stated that her marriage to Antoine Huppé freed her from the slavery and abuses of her stepfather, Robert. The Court initially decided in favour of Marie-Ursule. Robert and Françoise appealed and the decision was overturned on August 20, 1703 and all of Marie-Ursule's claims were dismissed.Jugement qui met au néant la sentence de la Prévôté de Québec rendue le 22 avril 1702 entre Robert Laberge et Françoise Gausse ou Leborgne, sa femme, habitant de Beaupré, appelants et Antoine Huppé dit Lagroix et Marie-Ursule Durand, sa femme, au sujet d'une certaine succession, 20 août 1703, Archives nationales à Québec, Fonds Conseil souverain, (03Q,TP1,S28,P7687).https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3368593Arrêt qui appointe les parties Robert Laberge et Françoise Gausse dit Leborgne, sa femme, habitants de la seigneurie de Beaupré, appelants d'une sentence de la Prévôté de Québec, en date du 22 avril 1702 et Antoine Huppé dit Lagroix, habitant de Notre-Dame-des-Anges et Marie-Ursule Durand, sa femme, à s'en remettre par devant le conseiller qui sera commis, 23 octobre 1702, Archives nationales à Québec, Fonds Conseil souverain, (03Q,TP1,S28,P7410). https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/archives/52327/3368287
Robert LaBerge lived to the age of 74. His son, François, took care of him during his last years. Robert was found dead in his bed on the morning of April 12, 1712. He died at the home of Guillaume Boucher, the father-in-law of his son, François. Robert was buried in Château-Richer on the same day.
Françoise Gausse died at the home of her daughter, Marie-Ursule Durant, in Beauport. She was buried on 8 March 1714. The burial records gave her age as 80 years.
De La Berge surname and notable descendants Robert was the first to arrive in North America with his surname. Most people today with the La Berge surname, and its variants, in North America trace their family roots back to him. While there are currently many Laberges in L'Ange-Gardien, where Maison Laberge is located, many Laberges migrated to Montreal and the town of Châteauguay, just south of it.
Captain Joseph LaBarge (1815–1899) - Joseph LaBarge of St. Louis, Missouri, was one of the most famous of the Mississippi river boat captains. He transported people and goods up and down the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. According to an 1898 newspaper article, Captain LaBarge was the man who taught Mark Twain about the Mississippi River. His illustrious life is documented in the book, History of Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri River: Life and Adventures of Joseph LaBarge by Hiram M. Chittenden.http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~laberge/biography/captain.htm Joseph LaBarge Biography
Joseph Marie LaBerge (1787–1860) - The father of famed riverboat captain, Joseph LaBarge, Joseph Marie LaBarge Sr. was born at l'Assomption, Quebec, on July 4, 1787. In about 1808, he emigrated to St. Louis in a birch-bark canoe, travelling through various waterways to reach the Mississippi River. LaBarge served in the War of 1812 and was wounded in the battle of the River Raisin. In this battle, LaBarge lost two fingers from a gunshot and was scarred for life from a tomahawk wound to the head. He became a naturalized citizen following his service in the Army. For several years he was involved in the manufacture of charcoal and later owned a hotel and livery in St. Louis. He is probably best known for his exploits as a fur trapper in the far west. Several geographical landmarks such as LaBarge (or Battle) Creek and the city of La Barge, Wyoming, were named in his honor. These took their name from a battle with Indians in which LaBarge took part. Details of this event have been lost, however. LaBarge was also present in General Ashley's disastrous fight with the Aricara Indians on the Missouri River in 1823, and was the man who cut the cable of one of the keelboats so that it might drift out of range of the fire of the Indians. In January 1860, while on his way to visit an ill relative, LaBarge slipped on an icy St. Louis sidewalk and struck the curb. He died from his injuries two days later on January 22, 1860. (Further details of Joseph Marie LaBarge's life are contained in Hiram Martin Chittenden's book, History of Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri River: Life and Adventures of Joseph LaBarge, published by Ross & Haines, 1962.)