Me. :Is the abbreviation for Maître, a title used for French notaries. It has no English equivalent; QC (Queen's Counsel) is probably the nearest equivalent, but that is misleading. Lawyers, because their awful reputation in France, were not allowed to practice in French Canada; notaries prepared and witnessed such documents as wills and deeds. Lawyers were not introduced until the English came, and then they created all sorts of problems by encouraging lawsuits to the ruin of the clients and benefit of the lawyers. Some people say some things have not changed.

Piastre: I have retained the French words for currency -- livres, sols, chelins, piastres because I am not sure of the English equivalents, even though literal translations can be made. When Thomas Handfield bought his house in Québec, one piastre equalled six pounds, but what was a sol or a chelin worth? Or for that matter, what was a pound worth in today's money? It is important to remember, at that time currency from France, England and Spain was in use, depending upon who was buying furs and other goods, such as Maple syrup, which was a highly valued commodity.

Verchères is on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Across the river, on the north shore, is St. Sulpice. Between them is Bouchard Island. St. Sulpice is about 50 km from Montréal on the way to Trois Rivères.