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The French had lost the war. But the population had determined that they would not live their lives as a conquered people. Under the English regime, as in fact true to the history of Cazeau and Casault, several members of our families played their roles in building what was to become Canada and, of course, Quebec. The progress of the Casault and Cazeau families is reminiscent of several prominent stages of our history. The Militia In New France, as in New England, the population was enrolled in militias to defend frontiers too vast for a regular army. In 1775, until American independence, Quebec was besieged by new belligerents, this time, by the Americans. The battlefields were not the Plains of Abraham, but various nerve centers of the city. Residences of Jean Cazeau and Hélène Cazeau were situated in the middle of the battlefields, which obliged their proprietors to flee to Chateau-Richer. At the very same time, Chateau-Richer militiamen were stationned on the site of Montmorency Falls to prevent access by the enemy to Quebec City from the East side. The population and militiamen were not enthousiastic supporting any side (English government or Americans). The invasion having failed, the English goverment launched an inquiry regarding militia officers who had cooporated with the enemy. Officers were revoked and to replace them, new officers were appointed. It is from that time we start seeing Cazeaus at the head of militia units. In 1776, Joseph Cazeau was appointed captain militia of Chateau-Richer followed later by Louis Casault at Montmagny, the son of pionneer Jean-Baptiste Casault. The captain of militia was a figure
of importance in the parish. They trained, educated and directed the activities
of the militiamen. Observers accord the place of the captain of militia
on the same level as that of the priest and the seigneur. The influence
of the captain goes far. Louis Cazeau, for example, a farmer of Château-Richer,
led a brilliant career that went far beyond the parish. He became lieutenant-colonel
of all the militia units on the Beaupré Coast, involved himself in
school issues and was appointed churchwarden in Château-Richer. Each
of our families would number their captains in this prestigious position.
A call to arms was always possible because the colony was always at risk
from potential invaders. In 1812, an American invasion threatened the colony
again and Francois-Régis Cazeau volunteered into a militia unit to
repel invaders.  Lady Elmire Pangman, wife of Judge Louis-Napoléon Casault. Source : Quebec National Archives in Quebec City  Colonel Louis-Adolphe Casault (1833-1876) by Livernois. Source : Quebec National Archives in Quebec City |
 Charles-Félix Cazeau (1807-1881) by Livernois. Source : Quebec National Archives in Quebec City  Louis-Jacques Casault (1808-1862), founder of Laval University. Source : Quebec National Archives in Quebec City  Judge Louis-Napoléon Casault (1822-1908). Source : Quebec National Archives in Quebec City
1837 : The Patriots Rebellion In 1832, more than 10 000 persons in Quebec were afflicted as a cholera epidemic swept through the city. The population revolted in protest against the inept sanitary precautions that surrounded the the arrival at the Port of Quebec of thousands of new immigrants. In the years following, agricultural output suffered and gave rise to a political turn against the British Government resulting in what is known as the Patriots Rebellion. Turmoil burst forth in the area of Montreal. Jean-Baptiste Casault of St-Hyacinthe was deeply involved in this conflict. The Quebec City Region was alive with agitation. Jean-Baptiste Cazeau, member of the Legislature in Quebec City joined the Papineau party. Charles Cazeau is believed during this time to have manufactured the ammunition for the insurrection as tension mounted. At the house Casault of Montmagny, then the property of Charles Faucher, spouse of Geneviève Casault, a great banquet was held in honor of the chief rebels. The revolt was, however, crushed. Prisoners were hung, others exiled. Several, including Charles Cazeau, fled to the United States. 1867 : Confederation The project to unite the colonies into a confederation rested upon a variety of concerns and circumstances. There was fear of the Americans. Where would their expansionism stop? Would their ideals about liberty undermine the influence of Catholic authorities on their believers? The British also wished to be relieved of the defense of inland Canada and an important part of confederation was the transfer of Hudson Bay Company land holdings to the dominion government. Thus the Confederation of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia came into being, and, further, it signalled the expansion into the Canadian West during the remainder of the century. At that time, Charles-Felix Cazeau was trying to persuade Catholics in New Brunswick that the confederate pact, despite its shortcomings, would ultimately be a good thing. And elsewhere, the three Casault brothers---Francois-Louis, Louis-Joseph, and Napoleon---were becoming involved with parliamentary government in Toronto and Ottawa.
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