Eleventh Generation


1944. André BERZA (BRESA/BARSA) dit LE LIMOUSIN or LAFLEUR was born in 1635 in Auriat (Creuse) (Limousin Region), France.2870 He was a member of the Carignan-Salières Regiment. He was a solider in La Fredière's Company. He sailed from LaRochelle on 13 May 1665 aboard the L'Aigle d'Or and arrived in Quebec on 18 August 1665. He died in 1697 at the age of 62 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.1958 Françoise PILOIS (PILOY) and André BERZA (BRESA/BARSA) dit LE LIMOUSIN or LAFLEUR were married on 2 December 1669 in Montréal (Québec Province), Canada. Two of the witnesses to the marriage were Charles LeMoyne de Longueuil and his son, Jacques. Charles LeMoyne was the father of Iberville and Bienville LeMoyne - founders of New Orleans, Biloxi and Mobile.1,2322 (See note below about the Berza/Bresa/Barsa surname.)

1945. Françoise PILOIS (PILOY) was born in Paris (St-Germain-l'Auxerrois) (Paris) (Ile-de-France Region), France.2870,1770 She was a "King's Daughter". The King's Daughters or "Filles du roi" were a group of approximately 800 young French women who immigrated to New France between 1663 and 1673 as part of a program by Louis XIV to furnish brides for the male immigrants. They were usually between the age of 12 and 25, had to supply a letter of reference from their parish priest and were provided a dowry by the King. The King also paid for their transport to New France. Most of the women were commoners of humble birth, were held to very high standards and were required to be physically fit enough to survive the hard work demanded of immigrants to the fledgling colony. She came to the New World via the "Le St. Jean Baptiste" and arrived in Québec on 30 June 1669. There were 149 "Filles du Roy" otherwise known as "King's Daughters" on the ship. She was considered to be a 'Fille de la Haute Société' which included the members of the social elite as well as the bourgeoisie, the nobility, aristocracy or the top clergy. 1990,2000

The Barsa/Bresa/Breza/Berza surname
In the 1669 marriage record of André and Françoise Pilois, André's surname was listed as Barsa as was the surname of his father, Étienne. On the baptismal records of several children belonging to André and Françoise, the surname was listed as Barza. However, on the 1683 baptismal record of Ignacious (my ancestor), the surname was listed as Berzat. In the 1718 marriage record of Ignace (Ignacious) and Angélique St. Laurent, the surname was listed as Breza but Ignace signed the record as Ignace Bresa.

The 1719 baptismal record of Jacques-Joseph Berza dit Lafleur does not mention the surname of Barsa/Bresa/Berzat at all. His surname was recorded as Lafleur as was the surname of his father. Several of the other children of Ignace and Angélique were baptized as Lafleur although the name of their father was usually listed as Bresa (or Breza) dit Lafleur.

In the 1751 marriage record of Jacques-Joseph to Antoinette Lemoine, the groom was listed as Joseph Lafleur (s/o Ignace Lafleur). However, his 1778 burial record at Pointe Coupée showed the surname as Bersa/Berza dit Lafleur. Five of the children of Jacques-Joseph and Antoinette were baptized with the surname of LaFleur while two others were baptized with the surname of Bersa/Berzat.

Therefore, without further research in France, we cannot be sure of the actual spelling of this surname.

Children were:

i.

André BERZA was born about 1670 in Longueuil (Québec Province), Canada. He was baptized on 20 December 1670 in Montréal (Nôtre Dame)(Québec Province), Canada.

ii.

Marie BERZA was born on 14 March 1673 in Vercheres (Québec Province), Canada. She was baptized on 4 May 1673 at the home of Mr. de Verchere (recorded at Ste. Famille) in Boucherville (Québec Province), Canada.1,2866 She died on 11 March 1752 and was buried the following day at Nôtre Dame, Montréal (Québec Province), Canada1,2867

iii.

Marie-Magdalaine BERZA was born on 3 April 1675 and was baptized on 29 April 1675 at the home of Mr. de Verchere (recorded at Ste. Famille) in Boucherville (Québec Province), Canada.1,2868

iv.

Marguerite BERZA was born on 14 July 1677 in Vercheres (Québec Province), Canada. She was baptized on 21 July 1677 the home of Mr. de Verchere (recorded at Ste. Famille) in Boucherville (Québec Province), Canada.1,2869

v.

Catherine BERZA was born about 1679 in Canada.

972

vi.

Ignacious BERZA/BRESA/BARSA dit LAFLEUR.