St.-Henri de Lauzon, 15 April 1854

Sir,

Permit me to speak to you of my family, so that you might judge them worthy of putting them in your and registers. On May 22, 1668, there arrived at Riviere-Ouelle the General Miville, Chevalier de Chene, who died a little time after. I mention to you of that which I have seen in the papers of my late father, and of that which was said of father to son, that our family was in France a good family: that he had for a bride an unmarried woman from Bacqueville. He left upon his death three sons, one is self made and very honorable in New Orleans, the other two being very poor in Canada. You are able to see the diary of Frechette of 1851, the arrival of that General, and within the Bibliotheque Canadienne of 1825-26 and other Gazettes of New Orleans and America (The Bibliotecque Canadienne contains the following notes: “The son of the Marquis de Miville, we have meant to say, who commanded an army corps under Louis XIII, King of France, was made Chevalier de Chene for having won a battle after a plan which he had made within a hollow oak. Before its execution, the monarch had seen the plan, and said to its author that if he achieved victory after his plan, he would be made Chevalier de Chene, and would be the first who carried the name of that forest where it took place”). I would like, sir, if you would find it good enough to see our family more acquainted with our descent; for the Chevalier was in the service of Louis 13 (I believe), King of France, who was made Chevalier after a plan where he won a battle with great bravery, this plan being made in a great oak, and a descendant of the brave Roman Chevaliers, and son of a Marquis. His sons had received for their services a part of land within the seigneurie of St.-Roch des Aulnaies, who supported as well the coat de Chene. Here is that which I have seen and learned from my father and papers and Gazettes.

Excuse me if you please towards all of these reports, and most towards my education and my age, which does not oppose me to be voracious, and the truth with sincerity and good faith – with respect

Rev. J.B.A. Ferland, Quebec

Your devoted servent, Miville-de-Chene, Major