Pierre Meloche – A Detroit Settler and Ally of Pontiac

Pierre Meloche lived a fascinating life as an early Detroit settler and a close friend of Odawa chief Pontiac. I have a couple of connections to the Meloche family through my mother — in fact, my third great-grandmother was a Meloche. Whether you’re a relative or simply curious about the family’s role in Detroit, join me as I explore Pierre Meloche’s unique story.

Early Life

Pierre Meloche was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1701 to François Meloche and Marie Mouflet. His father immigrated from France, while his mother was the daughter of Anne Dodin, a filles du roi, and another French immigrant.

Pierre was the eldest of 10 siblings. His siblings included Jean Baptiste Meloche, Marie Josephe Meloche, Marianne Meloche, Joseph Marie Meloche, François Meloche, Dominique Meloche, Antoine Meloche, Simon Meloche and Jacques Meloche.

Pierre Meloche’s Life in Detroit

While Meloche’s family stayed in Quebec, Pierre moved to Detroit in late 1729 or 1730. In August 1729, he married Jeanne Caron in Montreal, and less than a year later, in June 1730, they had their first son, Pierre Meloche Jr. in Detroit. They went on to have 11 more children there: Thérèse Meloche, François Meloche, Marie Magdalene Meloche, Marie Catherine Meloche, Marie Josephine Meloche, Jean Baptiste Meloche, Jeanne Meloche, Antoine-Jean Meloche, Antoine Simon Meloche, Simon Pierre Meloche and Catherine Meloche. 

Meloche became a prominent figure in the Detroit community. He was a skilled carpenter who established a sawmill on the south shore by 1754 and later became a building contractor, supplying materials and labour for local construction. Father Pierre Potier, a missionary priest serving the Huron Mission, relied on Meloche for lumber to build many of his buildings, including St. Anne’s Church and the Huron Mission. Meloche also supplied lumber for the fort and nearby farmhouses.

Friendship with Pontiac

Pierre Meloche was known for having a close relationship with Obwandiyag, better known as Pontiac, the Odawa chief who famously led Pontiac’s War against British rule from 1763 to 1766. Pontiac’s village was located next to Pierre’s property.

After Pierre died in 1760, his son Jean Baptiste Meloche maintained a close relationship with Pontiac and played a direct role in Pontiac’s War. His farm, formerly his father’s, became a basecamp for Pontiac and his warriors during the siege of Fort Detroit. When Pontiac prepared for the Battle of Bloody Run, he ordered supplies from local settlers to be stored at Meloche’s house near Parent’s Creek. Jean Baptiste played a key role in this effort, collecting and distributing provisions to Pontiac’s forces.

During the battle, Pontiac’s warriors ambushed the British, killing many of their soldiers. Parent’s Creek turned red with their blood, earning it the nickname Bloody Run. 

The Name “Hannongianchiak”

Genealogists suspect that Pierre Meloche was either adopted by an Indigenous Nation or of mixed birth, which may explain his name, Hannongianchiak. Interestingly, in the 1740s Huron village census at Bois Blanc (Bob-Lo Island), Meloche was officially recorded as an Odawa Indian.

After reviewing my family tree, it seems unlikely that Pierre had Indigenous ancestry. Instead, it’s more likely that he was adopted at some point, especially given his close relationship with Pontiac.

My Connection to Pierre Meloche

I have multiple connections to Pierre Meloche in my family tree. My third great-grandmother, Olive Meloche, is a direct descendant, and she’s in the photo below. She’s the older woman seated in the chair, with her daughter (my second great-grandmother), Catherine Barron, standing on one side, and her granddaughter (my great-grandmother), Mary Zoe Renaud, on the other. The little boy is Mary Zoe’s eldest son, George Higgins, who was my grandmother Mary Catherine’s older brother.

This photo was taken around George’s first birthday in April or May of 1908. My grandmother was born on December 28, 1908, so Mary Zoe was pregnant with her in this photo. 

First Lineage

1. Pierre Meloche (1701 – 1760) and Jeanne Caron (1709 – 1757)
2. Thérèse Meloche (1732 – abt. 1805) and François Eustache Janis (1713 – 1771)
3. Genevieve Janis (1751 – aft. 1790) and Claude Thomas Reaume (1743 – 1827)
4. Laurent Reaume I (1771 – 1820) and Josephe Marie Villers (1782 – 1834)
5. Genevieve Reaume (1804 – 1848) and Edouard Bondy (1801 – 1850)
6. Eli Bondy (1827 – 1894) and Marguerite Baron (1832 – 1898) 
7. Joseph Edward Eli Bondy (1858 – 1944) and Amelia Isabella Brush (1864 – 1935)
8. Pearl Leafy Bondy (1885 – 1966) and Edward Walter Grondin (1886 – 1973) 
9. Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998) and Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983)
10. Martha Grondin (Born 1950) and Gary Willis (Born 1946) – my parents

Second Lineage 

1. Pierre Meloche (1701 – 1760) and Jeanne Caron (1709 – 1757)
2. Pierre Meloche (1730 – 1805) and Marie Catherine Guignard (1736 – 1805)
3. Etienne Meloche (1764 – 1814) and Marie Anne Reaume (1780 – 1816) 
4. Etienne Meloche (1799 – 1839) and Florence Pouget (1804 – 1857) 
5. Olive Meloche (1828 – 1916) and Patrice Barron (1822 – 1898)
6. Catherine Barron (1854 – 1939) and Antoine Solomon Renaud (1853 – 1926)
7. Mary Zoé Renaud (1878 – 1935) and Abraham Joseph Higgins (1875 – 1950) 
8. Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983) and Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998)
9. Martha Grondin (born 1950) and Gary Willis (born 1946) – my parents

Are you related to Pierre Meloche? Let me know!

Want to learn more about Detroit’s earliest French settlers? Check out Detroit’s Original French Canadian Settlers & Their Fascinating Stories.