Artus Tessier was born about 1600 Château-Lavalliere, Angers, Anjou, France. He married Jean Meine about 1620 Anjou, France. Artus is the earliest Tessier ancestor discovered. His son UrbaTessier was born about 1624 Château-en-Anjou, Touraine, France. Ubraine emigrated to Montreal, New France the mid 1600's. He married Marie Archambault, daughter of Jacques Archambault, farmer and wine grower the hamlet of l'Ardilliere, parish of Dompierre, Aunis, and Francoise Toureauon Sep 28, 1648.

Urbain Tessier was a sawyer by trade, addition to farmer and Indian fighter taken by the Iroquois on Mar 24 1661 and held prisoner for a year and a half

From The Genealogist, Volume 11, Nunber 4, Issue No. 26, Fall 1985 (American Canadian Genealogical Society). P. 159:

"Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne, [...] was an early settler of Montreal, being the second person granted a tract of land, now a part of the Place d'Armes section of the city. A marble plaque commemorating this event was affixed to a building on the northwest corner of Rue de St. James and Place d'Armes Hill."

From Faillon's History of Canada:

"The first fortifications built by Msr. de Maisonneuve to protect the settlers of Montreal from attacks by the Iroquois were constantly guarded by armed men who had already made themselves reknowned by their courage. One of the three men granted this honor was UrbaTessier dit Lavigne.
One Sunday morning, 18 June 1651, four settlers were attacked as the were returning from Mass by a large number of Iroquois. The four withdrew to a dilapidated house nearby from where they commenced firing upon their assailants. The noise brought more colonists to the scene, foremost among them UrbaTessier, whose house had been burned by the Indians the previous May 6. He rushed to the settler, narrowly escaping Indian ambushes, and joined his comrades their fortification. His bravery greatly encouraged the men and they succeeded driving off the attackers."

One of the most promient among Montreal's pioneers and citizens land grant, situated outside the town received 1651 from the Company of Montreal; and an arpent withthe town heich he received at the same time, includes the greater part of the present Place d'Armes, the site of the Bank of Montreal. Inscription into a building block of The Royal Trust co, rue St Jacques : This building is erected on part of the original concession to UrbaRessier dit Lavign being the 8th grant made to an individual the island of Montreal.

Census Findings / Timeline:
> 1666 Census : At Montreal, UrbaTessier, dit Lavigne, 42 years old, inhabitant; Marie Archambault, 30 years, his wife; Paul 15 years; Laurent 11; Louise 9; Agnes 7; Urba4; Jean 3; Claude 7 weeks; Etienne Gentes, 18years, hired domestic and Jacques Hurtaut 25, also a hired domestic.

>1667 Census : UrbaTessier, 40years; Marie Archambault, his wife, 33; Paul-Laurent 15; Laurent 11; Agnes 8, Urba6, Jean 4; Claude 17 monts; Louise 9; domestics Etienne Launay 21, Lamondor 22; 4 cows, 36 arpents under cultivation.

>The AngevUrbaTessier dit La Vigne expired at Montreal at the age of about 65 and he was buried May 21, 1689 the Cemetery UrbaTexier

>April 12, 1689 (Adhemar registry) : Declaration by the co-heirs of UrbaTessier to their mother, authorizing her during her entire lifetime to enjoy any real or personal property withch may devolve on them from said estate.

>July 28, 1690 (Adhemar registry) Inventory of the property of UrbaTessier and division, among Marie Archambault and her children of the land amounting to 30 arpents (2x15) situated near the town. The mother received half of this land contiguous to the 1/5 received from her parents. The other half is divided into 10 lots allocated to the children who were Anne Lemire, widow of Laurent Ressier, Ignace, Jean, Nicolas, Louise, Jacques, Agnes, Jean-Baptiste, Peronille and Paul Tessier.

>May 22, 1692 (Adhemar registry) Division among the tessier co-heirs of th arpent situated town. to this piece is attached the formal report of the locations of UrbaTessier's successors, drawn up by Gedeon de Catalogne

>May 27, 1693 Bailiwick of Montreal : Sentence rendered between Jean Petit dit Boismorel and the Tessier heirs.

>January 23, 1702 Relinquishment by Marie Archambault favor of her children

Descendants