Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (seigneur)

Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay (1704-1772) was a seigneur in New France and later British North America. He was a member of a prominent French-Canadian family that played a significant role in the social, economic, and military life of the colony.

Born in Beauport, Quebec, Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay was the son of Pierre Juchereau de la Ferté and Marie-Thérèse Giffard de Moncel. He inherited the seigneury of Beauport upon the death of his father, a substantial estate located near Quebec City.

Duchesnay served in the colonial militia and participated in various military campaigns, demonstrating his loyalty to the French crown. Like many seigneurs, he was responsible for managing the land, attracting settlers, and administering justice within his seigneury. He oversaw the cultivation of the land and the collection of dues from the censitaires (tenant farmers).

Following the British conquest of New France in 1760, Duchesnay, like many of the French-Canadian elite, had to adapt to British rule. While some chose to return to France, he remained in Quebec and managed to retain his seigneury and a degree of influence within the local community. He navigated the changing political landscape, maintaining his position and adapting to the new legal and economic realities under British administration.

He married Louise-Geneviève Couillard de Lespinay. Their descendants continued to be prominent figures in Quebec society, often holding positions in politics, business, and the professions.

Antoine Juchereau Duchesnay represents a transitional figure, emblematic of the French-Canadian seigneurial class adapting to the shift from French to British rule in North America. His life reflects the challenges and opportunities faced by the French-Canadian elite during this period of significant political and social upheaval.