Section II., 1911. ; [117] Trans. R. S. C. 
One of the First Recorded Auction Sales at Montreal. 
By R. W. McLACHLAN. 
Presented by W. D. LiGHTHALL, M.A., B.C.L. 
(Read May 16, 1911.) 
Lambert Closse, who came to Montreal with Maisonneuve, in 1642, 
was a man of great force of character,as well as of considerable diver- 
sity of avocations. He proved to be a host in himself in defending 
the infant settlement against the constant raids of the Iroquois. With 
his dog Pilote, so faithfully represented by Hébert on one of the corner 
pieces of the Maisonneuve Monument, he was ever on the alert to ferret 
out the lurking savage lying in wait for the lone townsman who might 
venture beyond the protection of the fort. In February, 1662, he was 
killed, while single handed he faced an overwhelming band to cover 
the retreat of his men. 
Besides serving faithfully as major of militia,' labouring as a tiller 
of the soil and acting as clerk of the court, he practised as a Notary 
Public. Although he discharged all these duties faithfully, it is only 
with the latter we have to do on this occasion. While his notarial 
records are not numerous and a considerable number are missing, those 
that remain are most interesting, containing as they do details of some 
of the earliest business transactions of Montreal as well as the signatures 
of Maisonneuve, Lemoine, Daillebout, Mademoiselle Mance and others 
of its founders. 
This document itemizes the sale of the furniture and other effects 
of Leonard Lucault dit Barbeau, which was conducted by Closse on 
the 21st of Sept., 1651. 
The Leonard Lucault, whose effects were thus sold was born in 
Limousin, in France, in 1626. He must have arrived in Montreal, as 
early as 1646 or 1647, as according to the registers of Notre Dame, he 
married, in Ville Marie, on the 12th of October, 1648, Barbe Poisson ? 
a young girl of fourteen years, who was born at St. Jean de Mortagne 
in Perche, France, in the year 1634. 
1 Mr. Benjamin Sulte claims that Lambert Closse, although always styled 
“The Major” by Dollier de Casson, was probably only Sergeant Major. As the Militia 
of Montreal during the years 1642 to 1660 never exceeded 100 men, they were made 
up into squads only, consequently there were no captains and therefore no need for 
amajor. A Sergeant-major was sufficient. 
2 Maturine Poisson wife of Jacques Aubuchon was a sister of Barbe. Their 
brother Jean Poisson who settled at Three Rivers was the father of the first Seigneur 
of Gentilly, not the seigneur himself as is asserted by Tanguay in Vol. 1, page 492 of 
his Genealogy. 
