In 1626, the Jesuits received the seigniory of Notre-Dame-des-Anges on the edge of the Beauport River. The congregation soon held significant land power in the area, which, according to the 1666 census, had 112 inhabitants. To meet the needs of the estate, the priests diversified their activities with, among other things, the Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours farm and the construction of a mill in 1696.