When you were growing up did anyone in your family talk about that "Indian Princess" that was supposed to be among your ancestors?If you are of Acadian or French-Canadian descent you most likely did.
My grandmother and then my mother talked about this connection quite often. Strange thing: when I researched my mother's Levesque side of the family I never found one Native connection. When I researched my father's side of the family I found one I had never expected to find.
A researcher by the name of Frank Binette at the American-Canadian Genealogical Society in Manchester, New Hampshire used to say "if they are there they will show up and you will find them". Everyone doesn't agree with that but I have always believed Frank who was taught how to do genealogical research by his mother starting him off when he was only nine or ten years old. You can see why I trust what he says.
Anyhow it is true that today everyone hopes to find a Native connection. Often for ulterior motives which is quite unfortunate. I have always believed that if we are not after the truth/facts when we do our family research and history, then what is the sense? I want to know who I am through my heritage and not who I "might" be through want or desire. That just doesn't work for me.
Today some people read the very old records and give them their own twist and interpretation totally out of touch with what life was like back in the 1600-1700's. I call that "heritage by desire/want". Why not leave the interpretation of these very old documents to the experts. As a rule the experts are open to the truth and the facts and do not hide or fabricate or move away from what the facts tell them/us. To believe they do hide the facts and the truth from us is quite ludicrous.
The Acadian Ancestral Home contains my lineage to Marie Aubois who married Jean Roy dit Laliberte. Marie's mother was Native and I assume Mi'kmaq though that part cannot be proven. Remember, the proof is in the pudding so I simply say she was "Native". The fact that her name was "Aubois" at the time of her marriage to Jean one has to believe she was Métis meaning that her Native mother had married a European.
In addition to posting my lineage to Marie Aubois I also posted the following information regarding Native Americans:
Abenaki History, Acadian/Native Marriages, Maliseet History, Metis History, Mi'kmaq History, Mi'kmaq Marriages, Montagnais History (Michel Hache dit Gallant's mother is said to have been Montagnaise), My Native Am. Lineage, Native Languages and Native Spirituality.
Following the above you will find the "Jesuit Relations".
All of this information can be accessed at the Acadian Ancestral Home. Come on by...
Love,
You cousin,
8 comments:
Lucie, mightn't it be possible that Marie was given the surname "Aubois" because she was "of the woods" - i.e., Native?
We'll never know, of course - but when I've read her name, that's the conclusion I have leapt to... (dangerous, yes, I know...)
:-)
Hi Joan,
Thank you for your post.
Her mother had married an Aubois/Dubois..but of course there is no record.
Census: Cap-Sable 1693 Christine 35 [sic], Port-Royal 1698 Marie 33; 1701 36
According to the act of marriage revalidation of her daughter Anne, written in the register for Port-Royal on 3 March 1706, Marie Aubois was a Native.
Official documents: Port-Royal Registers
Source: Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Acadiennes by Stephen A. White, page 37
At the marriage of her daughter, she is referred to as Marie Mikmak - since she had the family name of Aubois, this means she was Métisse.
RG 1 Vol. 26 p.279 Register
Prêtre Justinien Durand Priest
Date d'enregistrement 3 March 1703 Registration date
Événement Marriage Event
Marié Jean Clemenceau
native of Bordeaux, married at Boston, the date should read 1706 Groom
Père Martin Clemenceau Father
Mère Anne Duranteau Mother
Mariée Anne Roye
born in Acadia Bride
Père Jean Roy
native of St. Malo Father
Mère Marie Mikmak
native of Acadia
Lucie
I agree with your view of "heritage by desire." When people say that it would be "neat" to have this or that kind of ancestor, my reply is: "The truth always turns out to be more interesting."
Hi Greta,
Thank you for your message.
...and the truth really does always turn out to be more interesting!
Lucie
Hi Lucie:
I've always found it interesting that these legends are very common - in our family it's the "three brothers" story! ;)
I really enjoy reading your blogs - especially the histories. Thanks for blogging! :)
Jenn
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for your kind words.
There is certainly lots of family lore out there. No one should believe it unless they prove it lol
Best,
Lucie
Hello Lucie,
I am also descended from Marie Aubois. From Anne Lavigne who married Louis Blaquiere. I thought when the French baptised the natives they gave them French surnames?
Thanks,
Tom
Hi Tom,
All Natives were not baptized. Even if they were, often the priest did not write a name but instead wrote the first name then "Sauvagesse" or "Sauvage" if male.
How does Anne Lavigne descend from Marie Christine Aubois? It interests me to know this.
Thank you.
Lucie
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