The lordships of Isle-Verte

L'isle Verte is situated between Rivière du Loup and Rimouski on the south shore of the St Lawrence River in Québec (see map below).

The largest part of the lordship is on dry land, but it also includes an island that carries the same name. It was first known as the lordship of the rivière-du-saumon, conceded in 1653 by the governor Louis of Lauzon to his son Louis, sieur of Citière.

January 19, 1663, this domain was given to Louis Couillard de Lespinay, son of Guillaume Couillard and Guillemette Hébert (daughter of Louis Hébert).

April 27, 1684, the governor de la Barre and l'intendant des Meulles gave this fief to Augustin Rouer de la Cardonnière (20 years old) and to Louis Rouer of Artigny (17 years old). April 24, 1688, Augustin became Lord of Rimouski and Louis Rouer of Artigny, the only Lord of Isle-Verte.

The 1st of May 1701, Louis Rouer of Artigny gave up his lordship of the Isle-Verte to his cousin Pierre de Niort de la Noraye in return for a yearly pension of 240 livres ($40).

On February 11, 1711, Jean Baptiste Côté (3), eldest son of Jean (2) exchanged his two farms on the Island of Orleans for the lordship of the Isle-Verte. The contract was executed before the notary of Citière. Jean Baptiste was 41 years old and his wife 31. The family already has six children; four others will soon be added. In the spring of this same year, the small family settled in the manor constructed by the new Lord. Some colonists had already settled there. Jean Baptiste was the 5th Lord but the first Lord to reside on Isle-Verte. He inaugurated the era of agricultural development. He died March 22, 1736 without a will.

Half of his possessions passed to his widow Françoise Charlotte Choret. His son eldest Jean-Baptiste (4) inherited the other half and became Lord in turn.

In 1738, the widow Françoise-Charlotte Choret gave her possessions to her children in return for an appropriate pension. The sharing was by a long process determined by drawing lots: The eldest Jean-Baptiste and his wife Geneviève Berniers received 4 arpents (roughly acres) between Rivière Verte and the manor. The 11 other arpents were divided between the nine other children and a nephew, Etienne who had been raised by the family. Jean-Baptiste Côté (4), the 6th Lord, married Elizabeth Lepage. In 1759, he took part to the battle of the Plains of Abraham.

In 1780, he conceded a parcel of land of 10 arpents of frontage to Peter Fraser. In 1786, Peter obtained the right to settle in the west part of Isle-Verte. At that time, it all belonged to members of the Côté family. In 1796, Fraser obtained the eastern the part is the island. He now owned all of the island. Then started the partitionning of the lordship. In 1805, Régis Garon acquired large extents of land, which was known as Villeray.

The 7th Lord, Jean Baptiste Côté (5), spouse of Marie-Louise Côté (dauther of Joseph-Claude Côté) confided, in 1809, the administration of the lordship to his eldest son Barthélémy because of poor health.

On February 22, 1813 he handed over the lordship to Barthélémy Côté, who became the 8th Lord of the Isle-Verte. This same year entered Louis Bertrand who will play an important role in the future of the lordship. Barthélémy married Marie-Victoire Durand. July 31, 1819, he conceded the lordship to Louis Bertrand though a long term lease of 29 years.

In November 20, 1846, Barthélémy gave his possessions to his son Jean Baptiste Côté (spouse of Adele McClure), who became the 9th and last Lord of the Isle-Verte. He died at the age of 82 years in 1920.

Louis Bertrand's lease ended in 1848. On October 23, 1849, he purchased the manorial rights of Jean Baptiste Côté, the last of Côté lord. On July 2, 1850, Louis Bertrand gave the lordship to his son Charles.

On December 18, 1854, a law abolished the manorial regime was proclaimed.

Côtés were Lords of Isle-Verte from February 11, 1711 to October 23, 1849, that is for 138 years.

If you travel to Rimouski, you will travel through Isle-Verte. The national road carries the name of Seigheur Côté. A street in the village is called St-Jean-Baptist.