A permanent settlement on the Island of Montreal is created in 1642 by a French tax collector and Jesuit named Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière, whom with the Parisian priest Jean-Jacques Olier had formed the idea of establishing at Montreal several communities: one of priests to convert the natives, one of nuns to nurse the sick, and one of nuns to teach the local children of the natives.

Olier has involved some of his wealthy penitents, while Dauversière has found support from the Baron de Fanchamp.

Others have joined in, one being Angélique Bullion, and six persons had formed the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal.

They have raised between them seventy-five thousand livres.

Le Royer de la Dauversière, through Charles Lallemant, had in 1639 obtained the Seigneurial title to the Island of Montreal in the name of the Société de Notre-Dame de Montréal to establish a Roman Catholic mission for evangelizing natives.

He also recruits Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance to engage in the undertaking.

Maisonneuve is the first governor of Ville-Marie, the original name for the settlement that is later to become Montreal.