Pelland Family Genealogy

The Pellands are of Breton origin. The progenitor of the family in Canada was Yves Martin dit¹ Penlan. All Pellands and a good number of Pellants descend from this Breton pioneer. Most Pellan families of Quebec are also of Breton origin but from a more recent migration.² Yves Martin was in all probability born in the village of Péaule, in the former province of Brittany. He was baptized there on March 8th 1655. The act reads as follows:

Le huictiesme jour du mois de may mil six cents cinquante et cinq, je soubsigné messire Y: Madouas ptre et subcuré de la paroisse de Péaulle certifie avoir baptisé un fils né du légitime mariage de Jullien Martin et Mary Bernard du pontgoudro et luy a impozé le nom de Yves, le parain a esté M^ireYves Martin ptre la marainne Guillemette Rio de cette paroisse (signé) Y: Madouas ptre Y: Martin

Translation:

The eighth day of the month of May, one thousand six hundred and fifty-five, I the undersigned Y: Madouas, priest and subdeacon of the parish of Péaule, certify that I have baptized a son born of the legitimate marriage of Jullien Martin and Mary Bernard of Pontgoudro, and imposed upon him the name of Yves, the godfather was Mr Yves Martin, priest, the godmother Guillemette Rio of this parish. (signed) Y: Madouas priest Y: Martin

The map below shows the village of Péaule (department of Morbihan):

What does it mean?

The name Pelland is derived from a nickname which Yves Martin adopted or acquired shortly after his arrival in this country. Following the custom of the time, he adopted this sobriquet in order to distinguish himself from the many Martins in Canada. Yves Martin's adopted surname was Penlan. The origin of this name is uncertain. However, one hypothesis seems realistic: Yves Martin was born in the village of Péaule, in the former duchy of Brittany. This village is a mere 15 kilometres from a point of land that juts out into the Atlantic. This point is called la Pointe de Pen-Lan. The prefix pen is widely used along the Breton coast. It signifies head or extremity in the Breton language. Lan signifies moor or consecrated land in Breton. Thus, Pen Lan would denote a place where the land ends. (The name McIntyre is quite similar in meaning). In France the family was known by the name Martin alone. In Canada, the name evolved from Pen Lan to Pènelan. The « n » was then assimilated by the « l », to produce Pellelan. The next step was the syncope or loss of the « e » between the two « l »s. It should be noted that since then the spelling has limited itself to three forms: Pelland, Pellant and Pellan. These three are pronounced identically in French. The first, Pelland, is by far the most widespread . The second is limited to a few families from Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, California and Alberta. It should be noted however, that in the early records of Berthier Pellant is the most prevalent form and as such is the form used in the new on-line version of the PRDH. The last, Pellan, was adopted by the famous Canadian artist, Alfred Pellan, who dropped the « d » circa 1930 to make it look more «plastic». It is also used by a very small branch in Quebec. In earlier days, the family used the name Martin alone or in combination with the nickname Pelland until the turn of the century. Thus, one would find names such as Wilfrid Martin dit Pelland, or Alexis Martin dit Pellant. I have not yet found any families that have kept the Martin name in lieu of Pelland. However, it is possible that such a family exists in northern New York state as there was a branch using the Martin name alone in Clinton county, but I lose track of them around 1850 and have not been able to find their descendants.

The Flag of Brittany

The First Pelland

Yves Martin was born in the village of Péaule, 15 kilometres from  the capital, Vannes, in the department of Morbihan. Son of Julien Martin and Marie Bernard, he bore the same given name as his godfather, Yves Martin, a priest. His parents are said to be from the village of Pontgoudro, which I have been unable to locate. He had an elder sister, Janne, baptized September 4th 1653 in Péaule. Today, Péaule has around nine hundred inhabitants. On April 14th 1673 Yves Martin went to the office of Jean Michelon, a royal notary in La Rochelle. He was hired to go to New France for a period of three years as a day labourer for the Quebec merchant, Arnaud Péré. In return, he received the sum of 60 pounds per annum, 31 pounds of which he received in advance. He is said to be living in the home of Maître Mathieu Bourot, a bailiff, on rue Juifuivye, in the parish of Saint-Barthélemy, La Rochelle. Little is known about Yves' life between his coming to New France in 1673 and his marriage in 1699. Obviously, there is a large gap to fill but it is difficult to pinpoint Yves during this time period. Unfortunately, he does not figure on any of the census records of the period.

The Missing Years

The absence of Yves Martin from the census records of the time is not astounding. Several explanations can be found. First, the census records were not complete and have many gaps. Also, it is possible that Yves was gone to the pays d'en haut or the wilderness. We know that his employer, Arnaud Péré, was condemned by the government's conseil souverain for having sold alcohol to the Amerindians. Was Yves Martin involved in this illicit commerce? This is one possibility. Despite the lack of documentation for this period of his life, some documents have been conserved. On July 19th 1679 Yves was named as godfather to Yves Benoist dit Le Nivernoys, son of Paul Benoist (also a Breton) and Élisabeth Gobinet. The godmother was Catherine Gendron, daughter of Guillaume Gendron. Here, we learn that, Yves was residing in the home of Monsieur (Charles) Le Moyne in Montreal. This house was located at the corner of rue Saint-Paul and rue Saint-Joseph, on the north-west angle. (There is a McDonald`s there now.)

In September of 1682, Yves Martin was accidentally wounded by a sword while trying to break up two quarrelling soldiers. Here is the transaction which resulted. (The translation is mine)

Transaction between René Orieu and Anthoine Jusseaume on the one hand, and Yves Martin on the other, September 30, 1682 Claude Maugue Notary

Were present in person René Orieu, soldier of the Montreal garrison , and Anthoine Jusseaume, also a soldier of the aforementioned garrison, on the first part; and Yves Martin on the other part; Who to put an end to a certain disagreement and disputes between them, be it known that the aforementioned soldiers, who are presently in the gaol of this place for having cut the said Yves Martin with a sword. The soldiers had been fighting each other when Yves Martin, who wanted to separate them, was cut with a sword. Consequently, he is presently being cared for by Sr Forestier. They have asked Sr Dumas to act on their behalf to try to come to terms with Yves Martin, who for his part has asked Sr Forestier to defend his interests in this matter and to try to come to an agreement with them. Further, Yves Martin attests that he bears no grudge against them for the cut he received, he forgives them with a good heart.

The aforementioned Forestier and Dumas, their attorneys have under the good will of Monsieur de Comporte, esquire and prosecutor for our lords the marshals of France in this country, under whose authority the aforementioned Orieu and Jusseaume were imprisoned and knowing their cause for being sent back ... by Monsieur the count of Frontenac governor, made the following agreements: Be it known that the said Dumas, has in their name and with their consent offered Mr Forestier, acting as attorney for Yves Martin, the sum of thirty pounds for damages and interest to Martin, which they will be jointly bound to pay Dr Forestier, and this to allow Martin a full recovery, to the extent that this is possible . They also promise to pay to Mister Foublange for the .... which he did to Martin, without Orieu and Jusseaume being obliged to anything else for the food and surgical work than mentioned above. This being consented to by Forestier as attorney and to which Martin has personally agreed.

Thus, herewith, promising and obliging and renouncing and done and passed in Montreal, in the home of Sr Forestier, where I have gone and in the aforementioned prison, where I have also gone beforehand to take the above declaration. Done this 30th of September 1682, in the presence of Jean Maumanibe, master carpenter and soldier of the garrison, and Sr Abraham Bonas; witnesses who have signed below, along with Sr Forestier, the aforementioned parties, Dumas declared not to know how to sign this undertaking as is required by law. One line and a half stricken and of no value. Not withstanding the solidarity between them, Forestier takes Orieu for the full amount without however prejudicing their solidarity. This is granted by Dumas in the name of Martin.

Signed:

A Forestier    Jean Armand Bona     Maugu

Yves Martin in Berthier

It is unknown what brought Yves Martin to Berthier, but he moved there around 1698. It was here that he would meet the family of Jean Piet dit Trempe , former soldier in the Saurel Company of the Carignan-Salières regiment. Jean and his wife, Marguerite Chemereau or Chambreau, had six children, including Marie Piet (Piette). Marie was born in Sorel on June 23rd 1675 and was baptized the same day. She was therefore about twenty three years old when her future husband, Yves Martin, moved to the area. The couple had a marriage contract drawn up by a Recollect missionary, Father Michel, on March 3rd 1699. Since this contract was drafted privately instead of before a notary as was the custom, it remains impossible to find. To further complicate matters, the parish registers for this time period were destroyed by fire^3. For this reason, the exact marriage date of Yves Martin and Marie Piet, as well as the baptismal dates for their three eldest children remain lost forever . However, the couple was probably married shortly after the date of their contract.

Yves Martin received a concession of land in Berthier on November 25th 1709. This concession was situated along the Bayonne river and measured three arpents⁴ of frontage by forty in depth. The seigniorial rent was due on the feast of Saint Martin, that is, the 11th of November (Remembrance Day in Canada) of each year. Yves had to pay «four pounds and two live capons» in seigniorial rent or «thirty solves for each capon and one sous marqué for tenant rent» of the concession and a further «five pounds for the said commune».5 His neighbours were Antoine Joly and François Boucher.
 

Yves Martin and Marie Piet's Family

Yves and his wife Marie Piet, had at least eight children:

i) Marie born circa 1702, she died June 2nd 1716 at Île Dupas   at the age of 14 years.
ii) Jacques m. Ursule Durand 3 February 1747 in Lanoraie. No children.
iv) Jean-Baptiste died at Berthier aged 75 years February 24th 1779.
v) Marie-Anne Martin was baptized at Île Dupas August 13th 1705 m. Michel Boucher 24 November 1727 in Berthier and died December 24th 1783 at Île Dupas.
vi) Marie Geneviève Martin was baptized at Sorel March 23rd 1709 m. Alexis Boucher 25 February 1732 in Berthier and died in Berthier March 9th 1778.
vii) François Martin was born in Sorel March 4th 1711 m. Thérèse Laporte 10 April 1741 in St-Sulpice and died October 3rd 1783 in Berthier. I have around a thousand descendants for them.
viii) Pierre Martin was baptized in Sorel March 4th 1713 and died 24 February 1715 in Sorel.
ix) Pierre Louis Martin, the youngest of the family was born August 25th 1715 m. Catherine St-Martin 26 January 1739 in Lanoraie and died April 15th 1776.
Most Pellands descend from the youngest son. I have more than 7 600 descendants of this couple.

Yves died in Berthier 3 April 1728

In nomine Patris et Filii Doue d'ho pennigo ennti

Second Generation

The family of François Martin Pelland et Thérèse Laporte:

i) Marie Thérèse born 4 July 1742 St-Sulpice d. 15 July 1742 St-Sulpice Marie Josephe m. Joseph Lambert 13 June 1768 in Berthier
ii) François Martin born 26 May 1743 Île-Dupas m. Geneviève Boucher 15 February 1762 d. October 1778 in hospital at Fiskhill NY. He was a lieutenant in the American revolutionary army.
iii) Jean-Baptiste born 26 July 1751 in Berthier m. Ursule Masse 20 June 1782 in Berthier d. 26 February 1833 in Berthier.
iv) Pierre born 28 June 1753 in Berthier d. 11 July 1753 in Berthier.
v) Rose Marie born 3 December 1754 à Berthier d. 7 September 1759 in Berthier.
vi) Angélique Marie born 12 September 1756 in Berthier d. 28 September 1756 in Berthier.
vii) Joseph m. Marie Fourré-Vadeboncoeur 5 February 1776 in Berthier d. 6 November 1815.
viii) Augustin born 13 September 1757 in Berthier d. 4 August 1758 in Berthier.
ix) Anonymous child born and died 16 May 1759 in Berthier. x) Angélique born 15 August 1760 in Berthier d. 24 August 1760 in Berthier.
xi) Ambroise born 23 April 1762 in Berthier m. Josephte Dandonneau 27 November 1786 Île-Dupas d. 3 November 1818 in Ste-Elisabeth.

Family of Louis Martin Pelland and Catherine St-Martin:

i) Pierre born 1739 m. Thérèse Fagnant 4 February 1765 in Berthier d. 19 September 1823 in Berthier.
ii) Joseph Ambroise born 1746 m. Elisabeth Savoie 1 February 1773 in Berthier d. 22 April 1812 in Berthier.
iii) Catherine born 1749 m. François Lavallée 22 January 1772 in Berthier d. 30 January 1826 in Berthier.
iv) Rose born 1750 m. Joseph Vanasse 8 April 1771 in Berthier 2m. Joseph Bastien Vanasse 10 February 1777 in Maskinongé.
v) Marie Céleste born 26 October 1752 in Berthier died young. vi) Marie Céleste born 26 February 1753 in Berthier d. 8 March 1753 in Berthier.
vii) François Marie born 6 March 1754 m. Geneviève Brisset-Dupas 19 February 1776 in Berthier d. 27 March 1776 in Berthier.
vii) Joachim born 27 May 1756 in Berthier 1m. Anastasie Levron 8 November 1779 in Berthier, 2m. Marie Angélique Plouffe 9 September 1822 in Berthier d. 11 April 1832 in Berthier.
viii) Marie Madeleine born 28 July 1760 in Berthier.
ix) Marie Françoise born 28 July 1760 in Berthier.
x) Françoise born 26 October 1761 in Berthier d. 14 March 1765 in Berthier.

François Martin Pelland

The adventurous spirit that Yves Martin possessed was transmitted to his descendants. For example, François Martin Pelland, his grandson, was a lieutenant in the American army during that country's first civil war, the American Revolution. Initially, he was part of Livingstone's regiment, in the 4th and 8th companies with the rank of second lieutenant. Later, this regiment consolidated with Hazen's regiment, where François was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the 17th company on May 6th 1777. François died in hospital in Fiskhill NY in either October or December of 1778. His widow married Félix Victor Caseneuve, also a soldier in the American army. This marriage was revalidated in Berthier, where François' children born in New York were also baptized. The American government granted land to its former (French-Canadian) soldiers in Clinton county New York along the Chazy river. François' family was entitled to compensation from the American government but never received it. One descendant petitioned the US government, but was refused due to the statute of limitations. François has a fair amount of descendants in the Springfield- Holyoke Massachusetts area and some in Montreal.

Voyageurs

Several Pellands were enlisted as voyageurs or employees of the Hudson Bay and North-West Companies. Some have descendants in the American North-West. Here is the contract of a certain François Martin dit Pelland. (Again, the translation is mine)

Before the Notaries resident in the city of Montreal in the Province of Lower Canada, Undersigned;

WERE PRESENT François Martin Pelland, Residing with Jean-Baptiste Pellant in Berthier , who, has voluntarily enlisted himself by this document to M^essrs Josiah Bleakey, Geo. Gillespie, et T. Pothier, Agents of the Company of Michilimackinac. T. Pothier here present and accepting, that on their first request, Pelland leave this city with the position of Middle in one of their Canoes or Boats, to make the trip, and to spend two winters in the dependencies of Saint-Joseph Island,, Michilimackinac, Mississippi and Missouri & return at the end of the said two years and to take good and due care of the Merchandise, Provisions, Furs, Utensils and all other things necessary for the trip, while travelling or in the aforementioned places, to serve, obey and faithfully execute all that the Merchants and their representatives or people to which this agreement could apply, who will command him lawfully and honestly, make their profit, avoid damaging them, advise them if he is aware of damage and generally do everything a good engagé is obliged to do, without being able to make any particular trades, leave or quit his service, under penalty of Law, and lose his wages. This enlistment being done, for the sum of five hundred pounds or shillings, former currency in this Province, (per annum) which they promise to and are obliged to pay to the engagé one month after his return to this city, and at his departure, one three stitch Blanket, three years worth of cotton, one pair of shoes and a collar. He has received an advance of forty eight pounds, he will receive twenty four pounds currency. He is obliged to contribute one per cent of his wages to the voyageur fund; The afore-mentioned bourgeois merchants will be held to nourish the engagé, in which ever place possible during the present enlistment, with corn or other food which they usually get from the Natives. Thus and promising and obliging and renouncing and done and passed in Montreal, in my Study, in the year one thousand eight hundred eleven, the eleventh of January, in the afternoon; and have signed, with the exception of the aforementioned engagé who has declared not knowing how to sign this undertaking, has made his ordinary mark after the document was read.

Signed:

T Pothier L Chaboillez
 

The Pelland Name and Geography

In Canada, there are two Pelland lakes in northern Quebec and some roads named Pelland in villages where the family was one of the pioneer families: Ste-Élisabeth and Ste-Emélie-de-l'Énergie for example. The lakes are named in honour of Joseph Alfred Pelland, a publicist with the Quebec government in the ministry of colonization among other things.

Again, Alfred Pellan, the artist has several streets named after him in: Quebec City, Chambly, Jonquière, Lévis, Brossard, and Kanata. He also has at least one school in Laval named in his honour. There is also a brook named ruisseau Pellan around Matane. Many Pellands went to the American West and Mid-West. In the United States there are four places which bear witness to the pioneer spirit of the Pelland family.

Pelland, Minnesota          483122N 1064810W
Pelland Creek, Oregon    432448N 1230922W
Pelland Mine, Colorado  391140N 1064810W
Pelland Spring, Oregon   423637N 1211442W

The name Pelland is the 26 190th most popular surname in the US, while the name Pellant ranks 69 224th. Presently, I have more than 3 500 Pellands-Pellants-Pellans in my database who descend from our common ancestor, Yves Martin. These families are mostly concentrated in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and New England. Smaller groups can be found in Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas.

I have also found a Pelland family in Sweden. It is a very small family and changed its name in the '50s to Pelland from Andersson. They take their name from a village in Sweden. I also contacted a Pellant in the Czech Rebublic. He believes his family to be of Huguenot ancestry. There are also Pellans in the US who are of Polish-Lithuanian descent.

 
 

The Petition of Louis Martin dit Pellan

Louis was accused of murder and convicted of manslaughter. Most Minnesota, Arizona and Upper peninsula Michigan Pellands descend from him. I apologize for the delay in translating this.

A French Pellan gives more info on the etymology of the Pellan surname. (In French)

1. The word dit is from the French word dire to say. It is pronounced «dee» and means called or also known as. 2. Pierre Pellan, from St-Malo, came to Quebec at the beginning of this century. I have found one small branch in Quebec that does use the Pellan spelling. The famous artist, Alfred Pellan, was born Pelland and descends from Yves Martin. 3. General Murrray ordered the burning of the village of Sorel on the night of 22nd August 1759. 4. An arpent is an old form of linear measurement equal to 58.47 metres or 191.835 feet. 5. Contract of land concession to Yves Martin dit Penelan 25 November 1709, Daniel Normandin, notary.

©1997-2000 Jean-Richard Pelland