148 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



P.L., who wrought several objects here. The ateher of François 

 Ranvoyzé is represented by domestic spoons and forks. 



An object of interest in Lorette parish is a silver ostensorium by 

 François Ranvoyzé whose son became a priest of this parish. 



As the population and prosperity of Quebec grew in number 

 and volume in the 17th and 18th centuries, the demand was created for 

 silver plate and personal ornaments of gold and silver, as well as other 

 luxuries of a modest character. The risk of loss of precious objects 

 in the long sea passage from Old to New France and other circumstances 

 combined to convince enterprising and prosperous parents of the 

 desirability of sending their sons to Paris to be apprenticed to gold- 

 smiths and jewellers. Before recording the history of one Quebec boy 

 who was apprenticed to a Paris goldsmith, a brief account of French 

 silversmiths, who had settled in Quebec, may not be inacceptable. 



As early as the first decade of the 18th century one Michel Levas- 

 seur, practised the craft of the silversmith in Quebec, where he appar- 

 ently enjoyed the privilege of being the only silversmith in 1708. 

 According to a deed of 2nd May in that year he had made a declaration 

 to teach his craft to his only apprentice, Pierre Gauvreau by name, 

 and to no one else. But Michel Levasseur was relieved of this contract 

 by the Intendant, Raudot, and was allowed to take another apprentice, 

 one Jacques Page dit Carey. This second apprectice was a clock- 

 maker, meaning in this instance, nothing more than a repairer of 

 clocks and watches, as well as a practical silversmith, and established 

 an atelier on Mountain Hill in the City of Quebec. 



A little later appear the names in the census for 1744 of the 

 following silversmiths in the City of Quebec: 



Jean Baptiste Deschevery dit Maisonbasse, described as a 

 marchand-orfevre, in Sous-le-Fort Street. 



Michel Cotton, whose workshop was in Buade Street. 



The fifth silversmith, Paul Lambert, worked in Sault-au-Matelot 

 Street in Lower Town, where also was another goldsmith, Joseph 

 Mailloux. 



The address of the seventh craftsman, Francois Landron, was 

 Notre Dame Street, Lower Town, and that of the eighth silversmith, 

 Francis Lefebvre, under the French regime in Quebec, was in De 

 Meules Street. 



There was another silversmith, one of the most conspicuous 

 craftsmen in the history of that craft in Quebec, who worked there 

 both under the French and the English. This was François Renvoizé, 

 or Ranvoyzé, many of whose works have already been mentioned, 

 who was born in that city on 26th December, 1739, the grandson of 

 Pierre Ranvoyzé and his wife, Marie Goupel, emigrants from Caen, 



