Andre Migner dit Lagace

Andre Migner dit Lagace (born 1640 in St. Martin, Île de Ré, La Rochelle, Aunis, France d: November 20, 1727 in La Pocatière, Quebec) was a soldier in the French and Indian Wars and the principal ancestor of the Lagace/Legacy/Lagasse/LaGasa families, as well as many others.

Early life
He was born to Michel Migner and Catherine Masson in Saint-Martin-de-Ré on Île de Ré, an island near La Rochelle, France.

Sent to fight
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 decided to stay behind and settle on land granted by Louis XIV.

Settling down
He married the widow Jacquette Michaud (one of the King's Daughters ) on October 23, 1668 in Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral. He was 17 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 male. His first son sired 13 children, his second son ten.

Death
He died on 1727 in La Pocatière, Quebec.

Name Confusion
His first son (born October 4, 1669 in St. Joseph de Charlesbourg) was given the same name.

Source of name
The name Lagace is likely related to the French word "gâchette", meaning trigger or sharpshooter. It was likely a military sobriquet.