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.
Part of
The St. Joseph Baptismal Register
Par, Rev. George and Quaife, Milo M., eds. in:
The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,
vol. 18, pp. 201-239.
the Soc. of Jesus Missionary at the mission of the River St. Joseph, baptized the son, born the day and year as above, of Claude Collet serving in the troops of the marine detachment and of Marguerite Faucher married, to whom was given the name Charles-Ange. The godfather was Sieur Charles Artel cadet in the marine detachment, son of Sieur Jacques Artal5 esquire from the parish of trois Rivieres, (and the godmother) Marie-anne ferron wife of Albert Bonne voyageur from the parish of point Claire who signed with me
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chambly |
J. St. P S.J.S. |
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marie anne feront |
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__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty two I baptized in the course of the summer 4 Potawatami children who were at the point of death. They died the same day or shortly after
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J. C. Guymonneau |
__________________________
I also baptized a Miami child ( )
a child of papissa ( )
another potawatami ( )6
__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and 22 the thirtieth of the month of august I, priest of the society of jesus missionary at the river St. Joseph, supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Marie Joseph. daughter of albert bonne and of Mariane Ferron married in the eyes of the church.7 she was born the 19th of this month and baptized the 21st of the same month on account of the danger she was in. the Godfather was Sieur (page 208) Estienne de Villedene8 captain of a company of the marine detachment and at present commandant of the said post of the river St. Joseph. the godmother was Marguerite Kouk wife of Sieur Michel Mass voyageur from the parish of Ste Marie in Canada who declared she could not sign
|
|
De Ville donne |
J. C. Guymonneau9 S.J. |
__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and 22 the thirtieth of the month of august I the undersigned priest of the society of jesus missionary at the river St Joseph baptized the son of la Verrue, Abnakis living at the river St Joseph, about two years old. the Godfather was Jacques Du tremble from Champlain and the godmother Marguerite Kouk
|
|
Jaque du tramble |
J. C. Guymonneau S.J. |
__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and 22 the thirtieth of the month of august I the undersigned priest of the Society of jesus missionary of the river St Joseph baptized the son of an abnaxis from the ( ) ( ) aubry called Des Gayobs he was named ( ) (the) godfather was Pierre St Ange son of Mr St (Ange) ( ) in the marine regiment the godmother ( ) ( ) Chorel wife of Mr St Ange
|
|
|
J. C. Guymonneau S.J. |
__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and 22 this 18th of october I priest of the society of jesus missionary at the river St. Joseph baptized the son of the widow miche8ace8e about six months old. the godfather was Jean baptiste faucher and the godmother Marguerite Kouk. the child was named Jean baptiste
|
|
Jean Faucher |
J. C. Guymonneau |
Item the child of a saxis women who died a few days later
__________________________
In the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty three this second (page 209) of may I priest of the society of jesus missionary at the river St Joseph baptized Marie joseph daughter of Sieur Estienne De Villedonne captain of a company of the marine detachment and at present commanding for the king in the said post of the river St Joseph and of Dame Francoise Roussel native of Kebec. the godparents were Pierre Estienne De Ville donne and Marguerite Kouk wife of Sieur Masse who declared they could not sign
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De Villedonne |
J. C. Guymonneau |
__________________________
in September 1724 I baptized on the 29th a little girl from the lodge10 of Donakantape saki who died a few days after and
named her at baptism Joseph Michel
item at the end of October or the beginning of november a little boy from the
lodge of chibanagonpu who died soon after 1724
item in 1724 a little child son of meskak named charles
item in december on the day of St Thomas11 the
apostle ( ) ( ) ( ) named thomas at baptism and died soon after
item the 13th of may 1725 I baptized a son of Keia named Jos.(at his) baptism
who died soon after being only 5 or 6 months old12
__________________________
In the year 1725 this 26th of august I, C M Mesaiger13 Priest of the society of Jesus and missionary at the french fort of the river St Joseph, baptized marie magdelaine daughter of claude collet soldier in a company of the marine detachment and of marguerite faucher married in the eyes of the church, born this same day. The godfather was Sieur nicolas antoine coulon14 son of Mr de Villiers commandant and the godmother
________________________________
5 The original manuscript has both Artel and Artal, as here printed. The word ecuyer has been translated throughout as "esquire." George Par.
6 Three half-lines of this entry are illegible. George Par.
7 The original manuscript reads, maries en face d'eglise. Many of the entries record merely the supplying of the ceremonies of baptism. This is a technical term in the Catholic church. According to the discipline of the time, if a child were baptized outside the church building, especially if this were done by a layman, merely the pouring of the water took place and the other ceremonies which make up the liturgical rite were gone through only when the child could be brought to church, and the baptism, being considered valid, was not repeated. In French, the word ondoyer is employed, instead of baptizer, for these extra-liturgical baptisms. Wherever it occurs in the present manuscript it has been translated baptized, for lack of a more precise English equivalent. George Par.
8 Etienne de Villedonn was born in Paris about the year 1663 and migrated to Canada about the year 1685. In 1689 he joined an expedition against the Iroquois and, being captured, was a captive in their hands for three years. In 1692 he effected his escape, and by way of recompense for his captivity Governor Frontenac made him an ensign on half pay. He subsequently rose to the rank of captain in June, 1713. In March, 1722, then fifty-nine years of age, he was sent to command St. Joseph. He was succeeded by de Villiers in 1724. He died at Quebec, May 12, 1726. See Le Bulletin des Recherches Historiques, XXVIII, 353-54.
9 Jean Charles Guymonneau was born at Rouen, March 14, 1684, and entered the Jesuit order in October, 1703. He came to Canada in 1715 and died on the Illinois mission, Feb. 6, 1736.
10 The word employed in the original manuscript is cabane. George Par.
11 The feast of St. Thomas is December 31.
12 Although this entry is unsigned, the handwriting is that of Father Mesaiger. George Par.
13 Charles Michel Mesaiger was born at Paris, March 7, 1689 (the date 1690 is also given). He entered the Jesuit order in September, 1706, and came to Canada in 1720. From 1721 to 1733 he was stationed at Mackinac, from which place he accompanied La Verendrye on his search for the western sea. He was back at Montreal in the spring of 1733, and from 1736 to 1741 was teaching at Quebec. In 1749 he returned to France, and died at Rouen, Aug. 7, 1766.
14 Nicolas Antoine Coulon de Villiers came from France to Canada as a youth, prior to the end of the year 1700. He entered the army, being promoted lieutenant in 1715 and captain in 1733. He assumed command of St. Joseph in 1724, and in the summer of 1730 engineered the notable defeat of the Foxes, southwest of Chicago. For this exploit he was given his captaincy and thereupon sent to command the post at Green Bay. Upon his arrival he became embroiled with the Sauk tribe and by them was slain, Sept. 16, 1733.
Villiers married, about the end of 1705, Anglique Jarret de Verchres. She survived her husband about a year, dying at Montreal in 1734. They had a large family of children, several of whom are notable in the history of New France. See Amde Gosselin, Notes Sur La Famille Coulon de Villiers (Levis, 1906).
Nicolas Antoine Coulon de Villiers, the godfather of the present document, was the eldest son of the foregoing and was born June 25, 1708. Apparently his military career began at St. Joseph, as a mere boy, while his father was commandant of that post. In 1730 on the defeat of the Foxes by forces under his father's command, the latter selected him to convey the news of the victory to Canada. He accompanied his father to Green Bay in 1733, and after the latter was killed there, he rallied a force which pursued the Sauk and fought a battle with them at the place still known as Buttes des Morts. He succeeded to the command at Green Bay. He was again at St. Joseph, this time as commandant, from 1740-42. Prior to the autumn of 1743 he returned to Quebec, where on Oct. 7, he married Marie Anne Tarieu de la Prade, widow of Sieur Ttu de la Richarderie. He resided at Quebec until the summer of 1746, when he joined an expedition to Acadia, and in February, 1747, led the brilliant attack upon a superior English force at Grand Pr, which resulted in its capitulation. In this affair de Villiers was severely wounded, and in the hope of promoting his recovery he journeyed to France, where he remained two years. For his exploit at Grant Pr he was made major of Three Rivers and chevalier of Saint Louis. Returning from Europe, he served as major of Three Rivers until his death in the spring of 1750. He was buried at Quebec, April 4 of this year. Information adapted from Gosselin, op. cit.
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