OUR ANCESTOR WAS A COUREUR DES BOIS!
Follow our family ancestry through time: From medard des Groseilliers to antoine Grozelle
Explore the visual timeline of our family ancestry, tracing our lineage from the 1600s through the 1900s, from des Groseilliers to Grozelle.
Because the timeline of our family ancestry is so interesting and important the page will start with a timeline. The timeline will start with Medard Chouart des Groseilliers and end with Louis Fredrick Grozelle, his family and their families.
A CLICK WILL TAKE YOU TO THE TOPIC YOU WISH TO EXPLORE.
🌿 Visual Timelines of Our Ancestry
🧭 1618 — Médard Chouart des Groseilliers
Explorer, coureur des boise, and co‑founder of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
His journeys opened the interior of Canada to trade and exploration.
👶 1661 — Marie‑Antoinette Chouart
Daughter of Médard.
Her marriage carries the Des Groseilliers bloodline into the Bouchard family.
👨👩👧 1698 — Jean‑Baptiste Bouchard
Grandson of Médard.
Born in Montréal. Hw marries Marie‑Josephte De Chavigny.
Their children continue the family line in New France.
🌾 1774 — François Desgroseilliers
Born in the Châteauguay region of Quebec.
Marries Catherine Reid.
This generation anchors the family in the parishes of Châteauguay, Sainte‑Martine, and Beauharnois.
🏡 Early 1800s — Joachim Desgroseillers
Son of François and Catherine.
Marries Geneviève Rochon.
As they move to english speaking regions,their children stop using Desgroseilliers and start using the anglicized Grozelle name.
👶 1842 — Antoine Alfred des Groseilliers (Grozelle)
Born in Châteauguay, Quebec.Antoine moves to Callander, Ontario.
Antoine marries Elenore Laroche.
He is your great‑great‑grandfather and the bridge between the Quebec and Ontario branches.
👶 1869— Antoine des Groseilliers (Grozelle)
Born in Callander, Ontario, he moves to Haileybury Ontario. Marries Anne Jane Johnston.
🌲 Late 1800s–1900s — The Grozelle Family in Ontario
The name becomes firmly established in Northern Ontario communities. These cities were Callander, Nipissing and now Sault Ste. Marie. Where Faye Smedley (Grozelle) is living.
As you can see we Grozelle’s are direct descendants of Médard Chouart des Groseilliers.
This website is attempting to preserve and share a family story that spans four centuries.
From Alfred’s generation onward, the surname appears as Grozelle, reflecting the common practice of English clerks simplifying French names. The Grozelle branch leads to our families today.
Why This Story Matters
This lineage is not just a list of names. It is a story of:
- Exploration and resilience
- The Culture blending between the French, the Indigenous, and the English people.
- Migration from Quebec to Ontario
- The Desgroseilliers family name change to Grozelle maintains its roots.
It is a reminder that our ancestor’s journeys shape who we are today.
the seven children of Antoine and Anne jane grozelle
1892- Louis Fredrick was born in Detroit Michigan. He married Cora Lulu Farrell on September 4, 1914, Cora died on March 12, 1894, They had four children,
June 7, 1897-Violet Jane Grozelle was born. She died April 13, 1988. She married Alex Mosher born July 5, 1993, he died May 5, 1993. They had a daughter Corrine who is deceased.
1903 – Eleanore Pearl was born. She married MJ Crisp. They had 2 daughters, Norrine Crisp born 1928, Jacqueline Crisp. Norrine married Bruce Connon and divorced him. Later on she married Alan Hingley. They had a daughter Darla Hingley.
1905 – Percival Antoine Grozelle was born in 1968 he died. He married Mable Corrine Sutherland in 1928. He died in 1973. They had 3 children- Betty Grozelle, Bill Grozelle and Bob Grozelle.
1906 – Harold Grozelle was born, he died in 1967. He never married
September 6. 1911- Dorothy Catherine was born. She married Fredrick James James Best August 4, 1938. They had two children -Ronald leigh Best born November 13, 1941 – James Fredrick best born February 8, 1943.
1914-Cyri was born , died in 1917. He married Margaret Elgins born 1918 died 1973. They had one child Linda Grozelle.
Present Day Descendants — Fredrick Louis Grozelle son of Antoine and Anne Jane. listed below are their four Children
June 27, 1915 Richmond Louis Grozelle. Died in 1984. He married Florence Eleanor Sadler – July 26, 1911. They had one child -Dale Richmond Grozelle he was born on June 2, 1943 Died 1984.
April 5, 1918 Keith Percival was born in Timiskaming,Ontario. He grew up in Haileybury, After elementary school and Highschool Keith went to The Haileybury Mining School. After graduation he moved to Ottawa and boarded in Louise Armstrong’s Boarding House. This is where he met and eventually married Margret Pearl, Louise’s daughter. They married on December 14, 1920. Keith and Pearl Grozelle had four children.
July 24, 1921- Violet Lillian Grozelle was born. She died in 2000. She married Joseph Anthony Malick july 18, 1946.. They had 1 child stephen Anthony Malick born May 4, 1964.
November 27, 1917 – Verne Grozelle was born. He died January 27, 1978. He married Betty Mae Elliot August 29, 1943. They had 2 children. Cora Mae Grozelle August 25, 1944. Kenneth Grozelle born March 16, 1947
keith and pearl grozelle’s four children
April 7, 1938 Faye Cora Louise was born in Ottawa. She married Gordon Julian Smedley on November 26, 1960 after they both graduated, Gordon from University and Faye Nursing School. They had 2 children. Julie Anne Louise Smedley born May 19, 1962. James Julian Smedley born June 10, 1964.
December 16, 1940 Calvin Keith was born in New Liskeard, Ontario. Calvin died 1974. He married Jean Margaret Springbett born in January 31,1942. They had four children. Christopher Keith Grozelle, Lisa Grozelle, Scott Calvin Grozelle, Karen Holly Grozelle.
March 8, 1945 Terrance Robert was born. He married Carol Knox. Carol was born December 25, 1948 They had two children – Kevin James Grozelle born February 22, 1980. and Travis Robert Grozelle born November 11, 1981.
September 21, 1948 Sandra Gail Grozelle is born. She married John William Lash May June 14, 1969. John was born May 3, 1946. John died March……. John and Sandra had two children Becky robyn Lash, November 10, 1971, and Jason william lash born July 15, 1973.
Faye Smedley –A direct descendant of Médard Chouart des Groseilliers, preserving and sharing the family’s remarkable history.
By clicking the button below you will be taken to our english, irish ancestors – the Browns, Armstrongs, Farrells.
Who is Medard Chouart des Groseilliers?
This section of the page presents the researched information about des Groseilliers, a Canadian explorer whose expeditions contributed to the development of the fur trade. He travelled throughout the Great Lakes region and helped inspire the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company. You will also learn about his knighthood by King Charles II of England in recognition of his service.
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers was a French explorer and fur trader whose journeys helped expand European knowledge of the interior of North America. Working with Pierre-Esprit Radisson, he explored important waterways and contributed to the development of the North American fur trade. This page brings together images, historical information, documents, and a short timeline to introduce his life and legacy.
Medard and Radisson
Pictured above is Medard Chouart Groseilliers. Beside Medard is his brother-in-law Pierre Radisson. Pierre is quite a bit younger than Medard, but they explored Canada together and helped develop the Hudson Bay Company.
According to my grandfather Fredrick Grozelle and the research I have done, Medard des Groseilliers is an ancestor of the Grozelle Family, of today. Our family.
What the Canadian Museum of History tells Us
The Explorers
Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers 1654-1660
Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers , a native of Champagne, was baptized on July 31, 1618 at Charly-sur-Marne. Except for having spent some time in Touraine, nothing is known of his life before his arrival in New France in 1641. Taken into the service of the Jesuits as a servant, a donné or an interpreter, Des Groseillers travelled with them until 1646. He was the first Frenchman in New France to recognize the possibilities for fur trade around Hudson’s Bay. Despite being the person responsible for identifying the primary economic resource that could save the colony, history dismisses his as a mere adventurer trying to make money for himself.
Medard settled in Canada: his story –
The Des Groseilliers lived in Chateauguay, Quebec (New France). Some of that family moved to Callander, Ontario, where a name change to Grozell occurred. An “e” was added and the name became Grozelle.
des Groseilliers Achievements
MEDARD DES GROSEILLIERS AND RADISSON (his -brother-in-law) were the first Europeans WHO:
- explored the western and northern shores of Lake Superior,
- entered Minnesota,
- saw the Mississippi River,
- traveled on Lake Superior.
ON HIS TRAVELS OF THE GREAT LAKES HE CAMPED IN SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson stopped at Sault Ste. Marie in the summer of 1659 during their unauthorized trading expedition to the upper Great Lakes. [1]Find out more about this visit
Des Groseilliers received – Knight of the Garter –
Although he was a Frenchman he was knighted by Charles 11 for the services in did for England.
On May 2, 1670, under the authority of King Charles II of England, the Hudson’s Bay Company is set up under the name ” The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, trading into Hudson’s Bay “. According to Marie de l’Incarnation, writing shortly after her return to London, “des Groseillers received twenty thousand écus as a reward from the King who made him a Knight of the Garter, which is said to be a very great honour. ”
His courage and determination helped open the interior of North America to exploration and trade, shaping the course of Canadian History. He was Knight of the Garter by King Charles II for his contributions to England.
Des Groseillier and Radisson – The Hudson’s Bay Company
On May 2, 1670, under the authority of King Charles II of England, the Hudson’s Bay Company is set up under the name ” The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, trading into Hudson’s Bay “. According to Marie de l’Incarnation, writing shortly after her return to London, “des Groseillers received twenty thousand écus as a reward from the King who made him a Knight of the Garter, which is said to be a very great honour. ”
In the same year, Chouart returns to Hudson’s Bay. In New France, rumours abound that there are foreign vessels in the Bay. On November 10, the Intendant, Jean Talon, writes to the Minister of the Colonies: “After reflecting on the nations that might have penetrated as far North as that, I can only light upon the English who, under the guidance of a man named des Groseiliers, formerly an inhabitant of Canada, might possibly have attempted the navigation, of itself not much known, and no less dangerous… ”
The following information relating to the importance of des Groseilliers’ contributions to the founding of the Hudson Bay Company can be found at the end of the page. You will find the page in the Sault Ste. Marie Library
Des Groseilliers’ career was not merely adventurous and romantic. His daring led him to explorations that were crucial for French and English territorial claims in North America; and his intelligence enabled him to see quickly and clearly that the easiest and quickest route to the richest fur region of the continent was not by the difficult, dangerous, and time-consuming canoe highway through the Great Lakes and along the Grand-Portage–Lake of the Woods waterway, but across Hudson Bay in ships carrying large cargoes quickly and easily to the very heart of the continent. In addition he had the address sufficient on the one hand to assuage Indian fears of white men and on the other to persuade European officialdom and businessmen to carry out his ideas. The Hudson’s Bay Company continues to this day to prove the correctness of his judgement.
EVEN TODAY THE EXPLORERS ARE REMEMBERED WITH COMMEMORATIVE COINS
SILVER DOLLAR 1995- HONOURING DESGROSEILLIERS AND RADISSON
The 1995 Canadian silver dollar showing Médard and Radisson, we are looking at history and our own family’s story. A story of explorers, settlers, and generations who carried their name and courage forward.
And now, you are the one keeping that story alive.
Documents
HERE IS A CHANCE TO READ FOR YOURSELF THE LIFE OF Des GROSEILLIERS
The button link below (Documents in French and English) will take you to a number of old French and English documents.
Below is one button that will take you to Google. There are a number of articles relating to Des Groseilliers there.
Learn more about Medard and his involvement in the creation of the Hudson Bay Company, by clicking the button “Hudson Bay Beginnings” below.
Each button below will take you to one of the articles in Google Search.
📖 Family‑Friendly Narrative (Short Version for Kids & Grandkids) can be found in the list of bullets below in orange.
OURS IS A FAMILY LINE ROOTED IN EARLY CANADIAN HISTORY: THESE ROOTS DO START WITH DES GROSEILLIERS
Genealogical research confirms that we are descendants of Medard des Groseilliers
As you have seen our family’s story reaches back to one of the most influential figures in the early history of Canada:
My Heritage and Ancestry have family trees for you to view.
