The Sorel Mini Tourist Guide

A brief History of Sorel Quebec

The Company of Sorel

The Company of Sorel "Compagnie de Sorel" was originally a company of the "Régiment de Carignan-Salières", named after the two generals who commanded: Thomas-François de Carignan, and Henri de Chastelard, sire of Salières. The Regiment was decorated with glory in the wars against the Turks. A regular regiment of the French army, it was disbanded on its return to France; the sire of Salières was soon requested to reconstruct it and lead it to the Canadian colonies.₁ The Carignan-Salières regiment was one of the first to wear a uniform in the French army.

The Carignan-Salières regiment had been sent to Canada in 1665 to pacify the Iroquois who were constantly terrorizing the colony. After a successful campaign in 1665, the regiment was returned to France in 1668. Many soldiers and officers (more than 400) settled permanently in Canada as civilians and were given very advantageous conditions. Four skeleton companies were kept on duty in Canada, with that of Captain Pierre de Saurel amongst them.₁

During the Seven Years War the Company of Sorel was used in regular warfare and guerilla style warfare, the latter being more natural to this group of fur traders and voyagers. Nearly all of the soldiers were from the Seigneurie de Sorel at the junction of the Richelieu river and St-Lawrence river, and from the adjoining settlement of "Chenal du Moine".₂

Among the Company of Sorel are the first Sorel citizens: Sire Ranin, Ensign of the troups, Jean Darbois, sergeant, Christophe Luarent, Guillaume Le Breton, Jean Robin, Claude Pastourel, Dufresne, Pierre Vallet, Nicolas Moyé, Jean Le Vannois, Pierre Enaud, Nicolas Pion, Antoine Béthune, Gabriel Gibaud, Antoine Adhémar, St-André, La Rose, André Poutré, Gilles Couturier, Pierre Villoing, Jean Dominique, Jean Piette, Claude Salois, Antoine Chaudillon, Julien Allard, Du Vemis, La Chesnaye, Jean Pâtissier, Marin Moreau, Claude Coignac, Pierre Letendre, Jean Olivier.₁