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Canadian Besner Family of French
Origins
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The nickname
"prêt-à-boire" (ready-to-drink), a memory of his
military life
In his
marriage contract, February 18th 1760, it is mentioned that the
ancestor of French Canadian Besner family already had the nickname
"prêt-à-boire" (ready-to-drink). This teasing reveals
that he, may be, easily inclined to have a drink. When looking at the
list of soldiers names of Montcalm's army, we recount this nickname
at least twenty other times. So, this confirms the reputation of the
soldiers in those years of being drawn to the bottle... Every soldier
had a nickname, describing either a talent, either a fault, either a
physical or moral characteristic. Some of these nicknames became
Canadian proper names: Vadeboncoeur ( good hearted) , Ladouceur (with
gentle-ness), Lavigueur (with vigor) , Lavertu (virtuous) , Vaillant
(courageous), etc.
After the
transfer of Canada to England, a Franco-English protocol signed in
November 1760, specified that the remaining French in the colony
could not be forced to raise weapons against France and that they
would continue to follow French customs without being subjected to
other taxes. Many soldiers preferred to stay in colony than to return
to France. Jean Bezanaire was one of those.
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Louis XV, king of
France in 1750; the Besner ancestor of French origin served
under His flag.
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The Tower of the
Lanterns in LaRochelle, rallying place for the troops
departing for the New World.
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Louis XV, king of
France, coat of arms, as wooden carvesd in 1727 by
Pierre-Noël Levasseur (Museum of Quebec)
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Amateurs re-enacting
the Compagnies franches de la Marine era
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The preceding pictures: "Parcs Canada/Jean Audet"
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The old Fort Niagara
was certainly an area that was visited by the ancestor of
French Canadian family during his military career
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