When reading the deed of January 20^th 1707 whereby Sébastien Cholet bought his land bordering on Lake Saint-Louis above “La Chine” (Lachine now, but written in two words then because it was thought that China had been reached), it is difficult to locate this land exactly on a map of the island of Montreal. But there exists fortunately a map titled “Isle de Montréal 1702) drawn up by the sulpician priest Vachon de Belmont. The names of the owners of the different lands or concessions are indicated but that of Sébastien Cholet is obviously absent. Luckily, the deed of January 20^th 1707 indicates the names of the immediate neighbours, Mathurin Chartier dit Lamarche on one side and Dubois on the other. These two names appear on the map of 1702 and enable us to locate precisely the land of Sébastien Cholet between those of Chartier and Dubois. The name of Jean Reynier does not appear on the map either but rather that of La Faye who was then the owner. The deed in question mentions the fact that Reynier had bought the land from La Faye.  

       The above information was transmitted in November 1984 to the Toponymy Commission of the Quebec Government so that some geographical entity, if possible, be designated “Sébastien Cholet” in memory of our ancestor. After studying the facts the Commission was in a position to act. Its president, François Beaudin, in his letter of January 29^th 1985 to Gaston Cholette, then president of the Commission for the Protection of the French Language, wrote as follows :

 

     “In the course of the month of November 1984, you transmitted a request to the Toponymy Commission to the effect that a tribute be paid to your ancestor Sébastien Cholette dit Laviolette. At their meeting of January 17^th 1985 the commissioners have made official the toponym “Anse Sébastien Cholet”. (The word “anse” means a “small bay”). This hydrographic entity is located in Dorval, east of Valois Bay.

 

     As it was your desire we have accepted the idea of honouring this personage, having in mind the location of his land on the island of Montreal, at the city limits of Pointe-Claire and Dorval.  (See the topographic map in annex).

 

     Hoping that this homage to your ancestor is up to your expectations, I beg you, sir, to accept the expression of my best wishes”.

 

       The map mentioned above is that reproduced here. By comparing it to the map of Montreal for 1702  it can be seen that Sébastien Cholet’s land, on the present map, is located between the Bay of Valois and the small bay indicated as “Anse Sébastien Cholet”, more precisely at the place shown as “Pointe de Valois”.