Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About My Ancestor's Roots in Longueuil, Chambly, Quebec, Canada

I have been very interested in learning about the areas of Canada where my ancestors were born and lived - many of them were from Quebec. Today I'm learning on-line about the Longueuil, Chambly, Quebec, area of Canada, where three of my ancestors were from as far back as the 1720's . . .

The history of the Longueuil and Chambly regions in Quebec from 1720 to the present is a narrative of military strategy, trade evolution, industrialization, and suburban growth. Both areas, located on Montreal’s South Shore, shifted from crucial French colonial military outposts to vital hubs of modern Canadian transport, aerospace, and culture. 

The Late French Regime (1720–1760)
By 1720, the foundations of both settlements were deeply tied to the seigniorial system and the defense of New France. 

Chambly: The iconic stone Fort Chambly was completed just before this era (1711) to guard the Richelieu River rapids against British invasion. Up until 1760, it served as a primary military warehouse, supply base, and tactical route hub. 
Longueuil: The territory was governed under the unique Barony of Longueuil (the only Canadian hereditary title surviving today). Longueuil was dominated by the massive stone Fort Longueuil (built 1685–1690), serving as a fortified seigniorial estate and agricultural core protecting the southern approaches to Montreal. 

This era ended abruptly with the Seven Years' War; Fort Chambly surrendered to British forces on September 1, 1760, marking the transition to British rule.

The British Era and Armed Conflicts (1760–1840)
The region became a central stage for North American conflicts due to its strategic geography:

The American Revolution (1775–1776): During the American invasion of Canada, Continental Rebels marched up the Richelieu River and captured Fort Chambly in October 1775. American troops also occupied Fort Longueuil. The Americans burned parts of Fort Chambly before retreating to Ticonderoga in 1776, allowing the British to regain control and utilize the forts as prisons for captured Americans. 
The War of 1812: Fort Chambly was transformed into a major British military base, housing equipment, thousands of soldiers, and serving as the launching point for the 1814 British offensive into New York. Meanwhile, a poorly maintained Fort Longueuil was demolished in 1810. 
The Rebellions of 1837–1838: During the Lower Canada Rebellion, British forces utilized Fort Chambly to deploy troops to crush the Patriote rebels in nearby battles like Saint-Charles. After the rebellions, the old seigniorial land system gradually began to dismantle. 

Industrialization and the Transport Revolution (1840–1950)
The mid-19th century shifted the region from a military zone into an industrial and transport corridor. 

The Chambly Canal (1843): The completion of the 12-mile Chambly Canal bypasses the Richelieu rapids, opening a massive trade route for log rafts and commercial cargo traveling between Montreal and New York City. It brought significant industrial wealth to Chambly. 
The Railway Expansion: Longueuil transitioned into an official municipality in 1845. The arrival of the railway in the late 19th century connected Longueuil directly to wider markets, turning it into a thriving industrial and residential town. 
The Commuter Boom (1930): Longueuil was incorporated as a city in 1920. The opening of the Jacques Cartier Bridge in 1930 fundamentally changed Longueuil's identity, transforming it from a riverside town into a major commuter suburb of Montreal. 

Post-War Expansion to the Present Day (1950–Now)
The latter half of the 20th century cemented the modern layouts of both municipalities:

Infrastructure and Aerospace: Longueuil grew exponentially through post-war suburban single-family developments and corporate expansions. Today, it is recognized as a major Canadian aerospace manufacturing powerhouse. The expansion of the Montreal Metro subway system to the Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke station explicitly anchored it to Montreal's transit core. 
The Demise and Rebirth of the Canal: Commercial shipping on the Chambly Canal dried up after WWI as rail and roads took over. However, the area successfully reinvented itself through heritage tourism. 
Current Status:
• Longueuil has grown into Quebec's fifth-largest city, with a population hovering around 255,000. It features a modern urban economy blended with the historic Old Longueuil heritage district.
• Chambly, now a city of roughly 32,000 people, is highly celebrated for its scenic beauty, the Parks Canada-restored Fort Chambly National Historic Site, recreational boating along the old canal, and its thriving craft food and beer culture (such as the annual Festival Bières et Saveurs de Chambly).

I think it is very interesting to learn about where we are from and apparently quite a few of my ancestors were from the Montreal area of Canada - including the Longueuil and Chambly areas. You are able to learn more about these areas at this link and this link.