Saturday, February 09, 2008

Louis RIEL (1844-1885) hanged for High Treason

Louis RIEL was born 1844-10-22 in the Red River Settlement of Rupert's Land, now known as the province of MANITOBA. He was the eldest of 11 Metis children. He was hanged in 1885-11-16 for High Treason against the Queen of England and the Dominion of Canada for having led the Northwest Revolution against the government.
Although sincere in his life-long efforts for the rights of the Metis people, he was misunderstood by the clergy of the Roman Catholic church, said to have been mentally deranged, and was feared by the Canadian governments for his influence among the half-breeds and the Metis of Rupert's Land.
He married in the state of MONTANA where he was living in exile for fear of his life. His wife, Marguerite MONET dite BELLEHUMEUR was a Cree woman. They had 3 children, all having died young. The eldest, Jean, married Laura CASAULT in March 1908 in Québec City, QC where Jean had studied to become an engineer. Wanting to return to western Canada, Jean found a job with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway where he worked on a construction site 12 miles from his home in Saint-Vital, MB. One day, on his way home from work, his cart overturned and some ribs were fratured. Although the accident was not considered serious, Jean died from his injuries in July of 1908. He and his wife had no children; therefore, LOUIS RIEL has no direct descendants.
RIEL
(1)
Jean-Baptiste RIE dit L’IRLANDE
Louise LAFONTAINE
Limerick, IRELAND
(2)
Jean-Baptiste RIEL dit L’IRLANDE
Louise COTTU
1704-01-21
Sorel, Richelieu County, QC
(3)
Jacques Michel RIEL dit L’IRLANDE
Élisabeth DEGANNE
1730.05.08
Saint-Sulpice, l’Assomption County, QC
(4)
Jean-Baptiste RIE dit L’IRLANDE
Charlotte SYLVESTRE
1755-01-27
St-Antoine-de-Lavaltrie, Berthier County, QC
(5)
Jean-Baptiste RIEL
Marie-Antoinette HÉNAULT dite DELORME
1783-01-20
Ste-Geneviève-de-Berthier, Berthier County, QC
(6)
Jean-Baptiste RIEL dit l’IRLANDE
Marguerite BOUCHER
1812
Île à la Crosse, SK
(7)
Jean-Louis RIEL
Julie LAGIMODIÈRE
1844-01-21
St-Boniface, MB
(8)
Louis RIEL
Marguerite MONET dite BELLEHUMEUR
1882-03-09
Montana, USA
(9)
Jean RIEL (1882-1908)
Marie-Angélique RIEL (1883-1897)
Male RIEL (1885-1885)
For more information about LOUIS RIEL,
click on the title above.