André Migner

André Migner, or Migné, who after his own lifetime was called Lagacé (born 1640 in Saint-Martin, Île de Ré, La Rochelle, Aunis, France died November 20, 1727 in La Pocatière, Quebec) was a soldier of the French and Indian Wars.

He is claimed as the principal ancestor of the Lagacé, Legacy, Lagasse, and LaGasa families, and of others.

Early life
Migner was the son of Michel Migner by his marriage to Catherine Masson and was born in Saint-Martin-de-Ré on the Île de Ré, an island near La Rochelle, France.

Sent to Quebec
He was a French soldier attached to the Berthier (L'Allier) regiment of the Carignan-Salières Regiment, a private army which was sent to Quebec, arriving on June 30, 1665, to protect settlers from marauding Iroquois.

When the fighting ended in 1667, part of the regiment was allowed to remain in the New World and settled on land granted by King Louis XIV.

Marriage
Migner married Jacquette Michaud, a widow and one of the King's Daughters, on October 23, 1668 in Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral. He was about twenty-eight and she was 31. His land was located in Charlesbourg, Quebec City, Quebec. In 1672, he purchased 15 acre additional for the price of a chicken and a rent of 15 sol en argent and 3 deniers to be paid once a year on St. Martin's Day.

In 1685, he and his family moved to Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec. They had six children, all of whom married and produced offspring. The first and last were boys. The first son (born October 4, 1669 in St Joseph's parish at Charlesbourg) was given the same name as his father and sired thirteen children, his second son ten.

Death
Migner died in 1727 in La Pocatière, Quebec.

Source of nickname
The name Lagacé is probably related to the French word "gâchette", meaning trigger or sharpshooter, in which case it was a military sobriquet.