THE OHIO VALLEY-GREAT LAKES ETHNOHISTORY ARCHIVES: THE MIAMI COLLECTION
It is noted that the following work from the Miami Archives should be read and considered within the historical context in which it was composed and printed. The opinions expressed and the language used do not reflect the opinions or standards of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, but are, rather, indicative of thought in that historical moment during which the document was published.

The St. Joseph Baptismal Register

(Due to length divided here into five parts)

Paré, Rev. George and Quaife, Milo M., eds. in:
The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,
vol. 18, pp. 201-239.

(page 228)

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty six the twenty first of the month of january of the same year I Baptized joseph dumay legitimate son of jaques dumay and of marie Magdelaine chevaillier his lawful wife. he had for godfather joseph Porlier de Benac and for godmother the porlier woman. in testimony thereof the godfather signed with me the present entry the same day and year as above

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five I the undersigned Baptized according to the ceremonies of the Church our Good mother, marie magdelaine St francois daughter of antoine St francois residing in this post and of charlotte Larche his wife. she had for godfather jean Baptiste joutras and for godmother Magdelaine Roy wife of nicolas le febvre who signed with me this thirteenth of november of the same year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty six I the undersigned Baptized conditionally angelique Lamarche legitimate daughter of jaques Lamarche and of esther larchevesque married. the said child five months old had for godfather Toussaints picard and for godmother Magdelaine Larchevesque. when asked the godmother said she could not sign and the godfather signed with me this 11th of july one thousand seven hundred and fifty six

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty six the fourth of july of the same year I the undersigned supplied the ceremonies of Holy baptism to marie joseph lamarche legitimate daughter of jaques lamarche and of esther larchevesque married. she had for godfather joseph proust residing in this post and for godmother anne larchevesque who both declared they could not sign when asked but made a cross below my seal. the child is three years old

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven I the under signed jean Bapt Lamorinie Missionary of the society of jesus at the post of the river St joseph, Baptized according to the customs and the forms (page 229) of our Holy mother the church catholic apostolic and roman, marie Magdelaine St germain daughter of pierre St germain residing in this post and of felicite javillon his lawful wife. she had for godfather Sieur porlier de Beynak and Magdelaine Roy wife of Sieur nicolas lefebvre farmer of this post. in testimony thereof I signed the present entry the same year as above the eighteenth of march. the said child was three days old

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven the 19th of march I the undersigned baptized marie joseph dumay legitimate daughter of jaques dumay and of marie magdelaine chevallier his wife both residing in this post. she had for godfather jean Bap. le febvre and for godmother madelaine roy wife of nicolas le febvre. in testimony thereof I signed at St joseph the day and year as above and signed with me Jaques dumay father of the child and the godfather jean le febvre. the godmother could not sign for the child was not entered on the register till after her departure

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven I the undersigned baptized pierre louis girardin born this morning the tenth of july of the same year legitimate son of michel girardin and of marie hypolite lavoie his wife. he had for godfather louis deshetres and for godmother anne larchevesque wife of augustin gibault residing in this post. in testimony thereof I signed at St joseph the day and year as above

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight the twenty sixth of may I jean Baptiste Lamorinie missionary at the river St joseph Baptized geneviesve chevallier daughter of paschal chevallier and of Magdelaine larche her parents married, born the twenty fifth of the same month. she had for godfather jean Baptiste joutras and for godmother Magdelaine reaume widow of larche deceased and at present wife of (page 230) louis chevallier who signed with me at the river St joseph this twenty sixth of may 1758

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight I jean Baptiste lamorinie missionary at the river St joseph baptized margerite daughter of charlot slave of bourassa and of marie panise belonging to the same bourassa, married together. she had for godfather pierre boucher and for godmother marguerite boslon. the child is about three months old. the godparents declared they could not sign but they made a cross in the presence of witnesses this 26 of may of the said year 1758

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight the first of october of the same year I the undersigned supplied the ceremonies of Holy baptism to louis gibault whom I had baptized for sufficient reasons the fourteenth of september of the same year, legitimate son of augustin gibault and of marie anne larche married. he had for godfather louis chevallier merchant in this post and for godmother angelique larche wife of Charles chevallier dit Lhullic. in testimony thereof I signed this first of october and has signed with me the godfather. the godmother has made her usual mark not knowing how to sign when asked

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight I the undersigned supplied the ceremonies of Holy baptism according to the usual customs of our Holy mother the church to archange Lhuilic daughter of Charles Lhuillic and of angelique larchevesque married, born the fifth of november of the said year and baptized because of danger 3 days after her birth that is to say the eighth. she had for godfather louis urtubise farmer of this post and for godmother amable Larchevesque daughter of larchevesque deceased and marie reaume. in testimony thereof I signed the present entry at St joseph this 26 of november of the year 1758 the godfather signed with me and the godmother not knowing how to sign when asked made her usual mark

(page 231)

In the year 1758 the 3rd december of the same Year I the undersigned supplied the ceremonies of Holy baptism according to the rite and forms of our Holy mother the church to Elizabeth dumay born the 31 of october of the said year and baptized the same day by because of the danger, daughter of jacques dumay and of marie magdelaine chevallier his lawful wife. she had for godfather Louis deshetres and for godmother Magdelaine Larche wife of paschal chevallier. in testimony thereof I signed and signed with me jaques dumay father of the child. the godparents when asked declared they could not sign

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine I the undersigned Baptized according to the rules of our Holy mother the church felicite St germain legitimate daughter of pierre St germain at present a resident of this post and of felicite javillon his wife. she had for godfather francois Longval and for godmother susanne boslon. the said child born the 17 of january of the said year 1759. in testimony thereof I signed today the 21 of january of the present year 1759 at St joseph

__________________________

in the chapel of St joseph today the 26th of august 1757 having twice published the Banns according to the orders of our Holy mother the church and having judged it reasonable to dispense from the third publication we received the mutual consent of charles Lhulic dit chevaillier and angelique larchevesque and gave them the nuptial blessing according to all the ceremonies prescribed by our Holy mother the church in presence of the undersigned witnesses to wit: nicolas le fevvre paschal chevailler Louison chavailler, jan charles francois La'houssoye and other witnesses

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine I the undersigned Baptized francois girardin legitimate son of michel girardin and of charlotte marie hypolite lavoie. he had for godfather francois Longval parish of three rivers and for godmother magdelaine Larchevesque wife of paschal chevallier. in testimony thereof I signed at St joseph this 6 (page 232) of february birth day of the said child and of the same abovementioned year 1759

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty I the undersigned baptized according to the rite of our Holy mother the church francois natural son of lizette and of a man named pigeon⁴⁶ according to the declaration made by the mother when questioned. he had for godfather francois longval and for godmother catherine Larchevesque wife of jutras. in testimony thereof I signed the 9th of may of the said year the day after the birth of the said child and have signed with me the godparents

__________________________

Since I am here I have failed to enter in the register all the indian children whom I have Baptized but all are dead as well as the other indians of more advanced age with the exception of the old maynard and the son of patchi paost which I shall forthwith enter       1750 month of may came here 1752⁴⁷

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty the twenty fourth of june I the undersigned Baptized according to the rite of Holy mother the church jan Baptiste girardin son of michel girardin and of charlotte marie hypolite lavoie his lawful wife. he had for godfather augustin gibault and for godmother amable Larchevesque in testimony thereof I signed the day and year as above and the godfather signed after me. the godmother declared when requested that she could not sign and made her Mark below. at St joseph this 24 of june 1760 feast of St jan the Baptist

(page 233)

In the year one thousand seven hundred ( ) the 2nd of april of the same year I Baptized according to the rite and form of our Holy mother the church Catherine Lhuilic daughter of charles Lhuillic and of angelique Larchevesque his lawful wife. her father and mother   she had for godfather louis juillet and for godmother catherine jutras. in testimony thereof I signed the day and year as above and the godmother and the father of the child signed with me

__________________________

In the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one, the eighth of january I the undersigned certify having baptized jean Baptiste born yesterday about eleven o'clock in the morning son of jean Baptiste jutras and of catherine L'arche her father and mother in lawful wedlock: The godfather was Pascal chevalier and the godmother Marie Magdelaine L'arche who signed with me

__________________________

In the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one, The twenty fifth of january I the undersigned certify having baptized Marie Magdelaine chevalier born yesterday about three o'clock in the afternoon: daughter of Louis Pascal chevalier and of Magdelaine L'arche her father and mother in lawful wedlock: The Godfather was Louis chevalier and the godmother Marie amable L'arche who declared they could neither write nor sign

Pierre Potier jesuit Miss of the hurons

__________________________

In the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one the twelfth of june I the undersigned certify having baptized conditionally Marie charlotte Lonval born the 9th of april of the same year daughter of jean Baptiste francois Lonval and of amable L'arche her father and (page 234) mother in lawful wedlock. The godfather was claude Caron⁴⁹ and the godmother Marie Reaume who signed with me

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight the seventeenth of april by me Vicar general of the Illinois was baptized conditionally Joseph born the fifteenth of april one thousand seven hundred and sixty three of the lawful marriage of jean joutra and marie Catherine L'arche his wife. The godfather was Louis Lhuillier dit Chevalier and the godmother marianne Viger wife of Sieur antoine Beauvais who all signed

__________________________

In the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight the Seventeenth of august by us the undersigned Vicar general of the Illinois was baptized marie joseph born the twenty ninth of July of the present year of the lawful marriage of Jean Joutra and Catherine L'arche his wife. The godfather was sieur Louis Chevalier in this post and the godmother magdeleine Larche who all signed with me

__________________________

The Nineteenth of August one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight by us Vicar General of the Illinois was baptized therese archange born The Day previous of the lawful marriage of Sieur timote Boucher De montbrun Esquire and of Miss therese archange Gibault his wife. The godfather was Sieur Louis Chevallier merchant in this post and the god- (page 235) mother Miss marie Catherine Larche wife of Jean Joutra who as well as the father all signed with me

__________________________

The Nineteenth of august one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight by us Vicar General of the Illinois was baptized Louis born the thirtieth of march one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven of the lawful marriage of Louis pascal Chevallier and Of marie Magdeleine Larche his wife. The godfather was Jean Baptiste La Douceur and the godmother ( ) Gibault who both declared they could not sign. The father and mother present signed with us

__________________________

The Nineteenth of august one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight by us the undersigned Vicar general of the Illinois was baptized conditionally Charlotte born in the course of the month of may one thousand seven hundred and sixty two of the Lawful marriage of pierre St.Germain and of felicite Chavignon his wife. The godfather was Jean Bte La Douceur and the godmother anne St Germain who both as well as the mother declared they could not sign. The father present signed with us.

__________________________

The Nineteenth of august one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight by us the undersigned Vicar general of the Illinois was baptized conditionally maguerite born the fifth of January one thousand seven hundred and sixty four of the Lawful marriage of pierre St Germain and of felicite Chavignon his wife. The godfather was Joseph Cecile merchant and the godmother marie magdeleine Larche wife of paschal Chevalier who together with the father present signed with me. the mother declared she could not sign

__________________________

The Nineteenth of august one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight by us the undersigned Vicar general of the Illinois was baptized conditionally Louis born the fifth of february one thousand seven hundred
_________________________________________

⁴⁶ This may have been Aloysius Deshêtres dit Pigeon, son of Anthony Deshêtres and Charlotte Chevalier dit Chesne, who was born in 1738 and who served as interpreter at St. Joseph. On Feb. 18, 1760, he married at Detroit Mary Teresa Damours, who was born at Montreal, Sept. 2, 1746. They had children born at Detroit in March, 1762, and July, 1763. See Denissen, op. cit.

⁴⁷ This entry has been crowded in at the top of the page on which occurs the one which follows. George Paré.

⁴⁸ Pierre Potier was born at Blandain in Flanders, April 2, 1708, and entered the Jesuit order in October, 1729. He came out to Canada in 1743 and to the Huron mission on Bois Blanc Island below Detroit in 1746. In this service he continued until his death, the mission being removed, meanwhile, to the site of modern Sandwich. Potier died July 16, 1781, and was buried beneath the church of the Hurons at Sandwich.

⁴⁹ Claude Caron was a trader at Mackinac and the adjacent region as early as 1730. In this year a natural son, also nmed Claude, was baptized at Mackinac. Caron, the Menominee chief of the Revolutionary period and earlier, was apparently a half-breed son of the elder Claude Caron. Several of his sons were chiefs, the best-known being Tomah, who figured in the War of 1812.

⁵⁰ Pierre Gibault was born at Montreal, April 7, 1737. He became a priest in March, 1768, and almost immediately thereafter set out for the western country, as this entry discloses his presence at St. Joseph in April. He was at Mackinac in July, but his destination was Cahokia, in the Illinois. Instead of settling there, however, he located at Kaskaskia, from which center he traveled far and wide over the western country. His share in winning the Northwest for the colonists in the Revolution is well known. He was at Cahokia as late as 1791, subsequently withdrawing to New Madrid on the Spanish side of the river. Gibault served under the authority of the Bishop of Quebec, with the title of Vicar General of the Illinois.

Return to TOC, p. 8
Continue to next part of Miami Collection
[return to Miami Collection Menu]
[return to Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications]
[return to Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology Home]

Last updated: 11 March 1999
URL: http://www.gbl.indiana.edu/home.html
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1996, Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University