André MIGNIER (DIT) LAGACÉ [Parents] [scrapbook]-1024 was born on 11 Apr 1640 in Le Bois-Plage-en-Re, Charente-Maritime, Ile-de-Ré, France. He died on 21 Nov 1727 in Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere, Kamouraska, Quebec, Lower Canada. André married Jacquette MICHEL-612 on 23 Oct 1668 in Quebec City, Quebec, Lower Canada.
Andre was a soldier in the Regiment de Carignan-Salieres (L'allier), companie de Berthier, arriving, by ship, in the New World, June 30 1665. André was 24 years old when he came to Canada. In the army he was called by his "dit" or nickname, La Gachette, which means "someone who can shoot with abilities", or "sharpshooter", presumably because he was a good shooter with the flintlock rifles of that time.
La Gachette eventually became Lagacé, which in turn, eventually became Legassie.The regiment was charged with defending the colonies against marauding bands of Iroquois present in the area although they never quite got into any battles with the Iroquois as they were devastated by small pox and instead chose to enter into a peace treaty with the French.
Andre was discharged from the army in 1668, and was encouraged to settle in the area to increase the population. He was given a piece of land, by a local widow's daughter, in Charlesbourg, on which to settle, marry and raise a family. In 1685, Andre moved his family to Riviere-Ouelle.
