an “Acadian-Métis” Man who “Went West”
267. A Case Study Concerning an “Acadian-Métis” Man who “Went West” in the Late-Eighteenth Century: This folder contains documents concerning an “Acadian-Métis” man who “west West” during the peak of the “fur Trade,” “married” a “Saulteaux” woman, and settled in Québec with his wife and children once he retired from this job.
This man was named “Jean-Baptiste Roy” and he was born on June 04, 1752 on Île Saint-Jean (present day Prince Edward Island) and was baptized on August 06, 1752. Jean-Baptiste’s parents are recorded in his baptismal record as “René Le Roy” (René Roy) and “Marie Josephe Daigre” (Marie-Josephe Daigle).
You’re probably asking, “how can you be certain that this “Jean-Baptiste Roy” is THE Jean-Baptiste that supposedly married a “Saulteaux” woman?” Well, the answer to this lies in Jean-Baptiste and his “Saulteaux” wife’s (who is simply known as “Charlotte”) marriage record.
If we turn to the registers of the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec we find that a “jean-Baptiste Roi” (Jean-Baptiste Roy) of that parish and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) were married there on October 22, 1781. Jean-Baptiste’s mother is recorded in this marriage record as “marie joseph dégle” (Marie Josephe Daigle). It’s important to note that there was a “dispense de publication de bans de mariage” (“dispensation of the publication of marriage banns”) involved in this marriage. It’s also important to note that this marriage record also states that the marriage legitimized Jean-Baptiste and Charlotte’s children, who the record states to be (and their ages):
1. “jean” (Jean) – Approximately age five year old (born circa 1776).
2. “joseph” (Joseph) – Approximately four years old (born circa 1777).
3. “louis” (Louis) – Approximately a year-and-a-half old (Born circa 1780).
Based on this marriage record, we know that this “jean-Baptiste Roi” (Jean-Baptiste Roy) was the son of “marie joseph dégle” (Marie Josephe Daigle).
If we continue to explore the registers of the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec, we find that “jean Baptiste Roi” (Jean-Baptiste Roy) and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) baptized three “enfants naturels” (“natural children”/“illegitimate children”) there on the same day (October 22, 1781). No ages are given for these three children in this baptismal record.
Based on the two records that I’ve just discussed, we can easily conclude that “Jean-Baptiste Roy” and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) were married in a “country marriage” prior to their church sanctioned marriage. I make this conclusion based on the fact that Jean-Baptiste and Charlotte had at least three children “illegitimately” over the course of four years and Jean-Baptiste made the effort to bring Charlotte back to his home parish in Québec to be “formally” married.
Before I move on in my discussion concerning the genealogy of this family, I will first provide a bit of information concerning “la nation des Sauteux” (“The Saulteaux Nation”). According to an online “Wikipedia” article entitled, “Saulteux” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saulteaux):
“… The Saulteaux are a branch of the Ojibwe nations. They are sometimes called the Anihšināpē (Anishinaabe).[citation needed] Saulteaux is a French term meaning "people of the rapids," referring to their former location in the area of Sault Ste. Marie. They were primarily hunters and fishers, and had extensive trading relations with the French, British and later Americans at that post…”
And that:
“… The Saulteaux historically were settled around Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg, principally in the areas of present-day Sault Ste. Marie and northern Michigan. Pressure from European Canadians and Americans gradually pushed the tribe westward to Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, with one community in British Columbia. Today most live in the Interlake District; Swan River, Duck Bay, Camperville, the southern part of Manitoba, and in Saskatchewan (Kamsack and surrounding areas). Because they were forced to move to land ill-suited for European crops, they were able to keep much of their new lands. Generally, the Saulteaux are divided into three major divisions.
Ontario Saulteaux
Eastern Saulteaux, better known as the Ontario Saulteaux, are located about Rainy Lake, and about Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba. Many of the Ontario Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to Treaty 3. Their form of Anishinaabemowin (Anishinaabe language) is sometimes called Northwestern Ojibwa language (ISO 639-3: OJB) or simply Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe). Today English is the first language of many members. The Ontario Saulteaux culture is descended from the Eastern Woodlands culture.
Manitoba Saulteaux
Central Saulteaux, better known as Manitoba Saulteaux, are found primarily in eastern and southern Manitoba, extending west into southern Saskatchewan. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, as partners with the Cree in the fur trade, the Saulteaux migrated northwest into the Swan River and Cumberland districts of west-central Manitoba, and into Saskatchewan along the Assiniboine River, as far its confluence with the Souris (Mouse) River. Once established in the area, the Saulteaux adapted some of the cultural traits of their allies, the Plains Cree and Assiniboine.
Consequently, together with the Western Saulteaux, the Manitoba Saulteaux are sometimes called Plains Ojibwe. Many of the Manitoba Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to Treaty 1 and Treaty 2. The Manitoba Saulteaux culture is a transitional one from the Eastern Woodlands culture of their Ontario Saulteaux neighbours and Plains culture of the Western Saulteaux neighbours. Often, the term Bungi or Bungee (from bangii meaning "a little bit") has been used to refer to either the Manitoba Saulteaux (who are a little bit like the Cree) or their Métis population (who are a little bit Anishinaabe). The language of their Métis population is described as the Bungi language.
Western Saulteaux
Western Saulteaux are found primarily in central Saskatchewan, but extend east into southwestern Manitoba and west into central Alberta and eastern British Columbia. They call themselves Nakawē (ᓇᐦᑲᐌ)—an autonym that is a general term for the Saulteaux. The neighbouring Plains Cree call them the Nahkawiyiniw (ᓇᐦᑲᐏᔨᓂᐤ), a word of related etymology. Their form of Anishinaabemowin (Anishinaabe language), known as Nakawēmowin (ᓇᐦᑲᐌᒧᐎᓐ) or Western Ojibwa language (ISO 639-3: OJW), is an Algonquian language. Like most First Nations, most members use English as the first language. Many of the Western Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to Treaty 4 and Treaty 6; Saulteau First Nations in North Eastern British Columbia are a signatory to Treaty 8. The Western Saulteaux culture is that of the Plains culture…”
Unfortunately, we really cannot tell where “Charlotte,” the “Sauteux” (“Saulteaux”) wife of Jean-Baptiste Roy was from based on the previously-discussed parish registers alone because the “nation des Sauteux” (“Saulteaux Nation”) was so widespread, however, an examination of “Voyageur Contracts” would likely provide further details that could be used to find the answer to this. I won’t be examining “Charlotte’s” origins though because this is beyond the scope of the current summary. However, given the fact that the age of Jean-Baptiste and “Charlotte’s” oldest child baptized at the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec on October 22, 1781 was five years old (born circa 1776), it’s only logical to conclude that Jean-Baptiste would have “married” “Charlotte” in their “Country Marriage” at least circa 1775/1776.
I will however, also make note that a twenty four year old (born circa 1757) woman of unknown parentage named “Charlotte” was baptized at the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec on October 21, 1781. What’s important to note about this baptismal record aside from the fact that this “Charlotte” was baptized at twenty four years of age, is that her Godmother was stated to have been “marie joseph daigle” (Marie Josephe Daigle), who we know from the previously-discussed parish registers to have been THE “Jean-Baptiste Roy’s mother. Based on this information, in addition to the fact that this “Charlotte” was baptized two days prior to the October 22, 1781 marriage of “jean-Baptiste Roi” (Jean-Baptiste Roy) of that parish and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”), I believe it more than appropriate to conclude that the two “Charlottes” were the same person.
Now that we’ve briefly explored the possible origins of Jean-Baptiste Roy’s wife, “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”), I will explain why his father, “René Roy” was not mentioned in Jean-Baptiste and “Charlotte’s” marriage record. The explanation for this is rather simple, which is that René had died prior to his family’s arrival at Saint-Ours, Québec after moving to Québec from Île Saint-Jean (present day Prince Edward Island). If we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud in Montmagny, Québec, we find that a “René Leroy” (René Roy), who was from Acadia, was buried there on January 01, 1758 approximately the age of forty six years old (born circa 1712). Unfortunately, no wife is listed for this “René Roy” however, if we turn to Sieur Joseph de la Roque’s 1752 census of Île Saint-Jean, which is properly entitled, “Voyage fait par le Sr De La Roque arpenteur du Roy, par ordre de Monsieur le comte de Raymond..., dans tous les endroits de l'Isle Royale où il y a des habitants, commencé le cinq février 1752,” we find that a 48 year old (born circa 1704) man named “René Roy” and his thirty five year old (born circa 1717) wife, “Marie Joseph Daigre” (Marie Josephe Daigle) were residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean with their four children who were as follows:
1. Jean Baptiste Roy – Three months old (born circa 1752).
2. Marie Joseph – Eight years old (born circa 1744).
3. Margueritte – Four years old (born circa 1748).
4. Anne Magdelaine – Twenty eight months old (born circa 1750).
It’s important to note that “René Roy” and “Marie Joseph Daigre” (Marie Josephe Daigle) are both stated in this enumeration to have been native to Acadia and to have been residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean for two years therefore, they had settled in that area circa 1750.
We know that René Roy and Marie Joseph Daigle arrived in Québec from Île Saint-Jean (present day Prince Edward Island) by January 18, 1757 because this was when they baptized their son, “Paul Roy” at the parish of Notre-Dame-de-Québec. According to this baptismal record, “René Roy” and his wife, “Marie Joseph D’aigle” (Marie Josephe Daigle) were still considered to have been residents of “L’accadie” (Acadia) therefore, they would’ve only recently arrived in that area from Acadia.
Sadly, if we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint Charles-de-Bellechasse, Québec, we find that “René Roy” and “Marie D’Aigle” (Marie Josephe Daigle) buried their seven month old son, “Paul Roy” there on September 09, 1758. Paul is stated in the record to have died on September 08, 1758. This record is however, important, as it demonstrates that René and Marie Josephe had relocated to Saint Charles-de-Bellechasse by early September of 1758.
Given the fact that the “René Leroy” (René Roy) from the recently-mentioned January 01, 1758 burial record from the parish of Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud in Montmagny, Québec gives an approximate birth year of 1712 for this René, and that the recently-mentioned 1752 census of Île Saint-Jean gives an approximate birth year of 1704 for “René Roy,” we can somewhat conclude that these were the same men.
We can however, add to this evidence by examining a burial entry from the registers of the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec dated October 31, 1802 for a woman named “marie josephte Daigle” (Marie Josephe Daigle). According to this burial record, this woman was the widow of “rené roy” (René Roy) and she was approximately eighty eight years old (born circa 1714) when she died. Given the fact that according to this burial record, this “marie josephte Daigle” (Marie Josephe Daigle) was born circa 1714, in addition to the fact that the “Marie Joseph Daigre” (Marie Josephe Daigle) found on the 1752 census of Île Saint-Jean to have been residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean with her four children and her 48 year old (born circa 1704) husband named “René Roy,” I believe it appropriate to conclude that these were in fact the same Marie Josephe Daigle and René Roy whose son, Jean-Baptiste Roy married “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) were married there on October 22, 1781 at the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec.
According to renowned Acadian Genealogist and Historian, Bona Arsenault on page 221 of the 1978 edition of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 1: Histoire des Acadiens,” approximately six hundred “Acadian Refugees” left Île Saint-Jean aboard two sailboats and arrived in Québec by October of 1756. Therefore, it is very likely that René, Marie Josephe, and their children were among these six hundred people. Mr. Arsenault further asserts on this page that in 1758, 1600 more “Acadian Refugees” arrived in Québec from Île Saint-Jean and Miramichi (in present-day New Brunswick) however, of both waves of refugees to Québec, three hundred of these people died of “petite vérole” (“Small Pox”) between November 27, 1757 and March 1, 1758. Therefore, it is very likely that Paul Roy succumbed to Small Pox.
That being said, it’s time to investigate the parentage of both René Roy and Marie Josephe Daigle. According to page 240 of the 1978 edition of Bona Arsenault’s book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 1: Histoire des Acadiens,” René Roy was the son of “Jean et de Marie Aubois” (“Jean and of Marie Aubois” – “Jean Roy dit Laliberté” and of “Marie Aubois”).
Bona Arsenault makes the same conclusion concerning René Roy’s parentage on page 1433 of the 1978 edition of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 4: Pisiguit (Windsor, Nouvelle-Écosse), Cobequid (Truro, Nouvelle-Écosse), Chipoudy et Petitcoudiac (Hopewell Hill et Hillsborough, N.-B.), Cap-de-Sable et Pobomcoup (Cap-de-Sable et Pubnico, Nouvelle-Écosse), Rivière Saint-Jean (Nouveau-Brunswick), Ristigouche (au Québec)” and he adds that René married Marie Josephe Daigle circa 1734 and that Marie Josephe was the daughter of “Joseph Daigle” and “Marguerite Gautrot.” I must note however, that this is an error on part of Mr. Arsenault, as Marie Josephe’s mother was actually “Madeleine Gautreau,” which he corrects on page 1172 of the 1978 edition of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 3: Beaubassin (Amherst, Nouvelle-Écosse), Grand-Pré (Nouvelle-Écosse).”
It is on page 1434 of the 1978 edition of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 4: Pisiguit (Windsor, Nouvelle-Écosse), Cobequid (Truro, Nouvelle-Écosse), Chipoudy et Petitcoudiac (Hopewell Hill et Hillsborough, N.-B.), Cap-de-Sable et Pobomcoup (Cap-de-Sable et Pubnico, Nouvelle-Écosse), Rivière Saint-Jean (Nouveau-Brunswick), Ristigouche (au Québec)” however, that Bona Arsenault asserts that this René Roy and Marie Josephe Daigle were the parents of the “Jean-Baptiste Roy” who married “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”).
To resume our discussion concerning the parentage of René Roy, we will now turn to the registers of the parish of Saint Jean-Baptiste at Port Royal, Acadia. It is in these registers that we find that on August 31, 1708 a “Jean Roye” (Jean Roy dit Laliberté) and a “Marie Aubois,” who were legitimately married, baptized a son named “Renaud Roye” (René Roy) who was born on August 29, 1708. Given the fact that the previously-discussed records concerning René Roy, the husband of Marie Josephe Daigle give us an approximate birth year ranging from 1704 to 1712, and we know that he was born in Acadia, I believe it appropriate to conclude that these two males were in fact “one-in-the-same.” Therefore, the Jean-Baptiste Roy who married “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) on October 22, 1781 at the parish of Immaculée-Conception in Saint-Ours, Québec’s paternal grandmother was “Marie Aubois.”
So what is the significance of the fact that Jean-Baptiste Roy’s paternal grandmother was “Marie Aubois”? Well, if continue to examine registers of the parish of the parish of Saint Jean-Baptiste at Port Royal, Acadia, we find that “Renaud Roye’s” (René Roy) sister, “Anne Roye” (Anne Roy) had her marriage to a “Jean Clemençeau dit Beaulieu” re-validated at Port Royal on March 03, 1706. The original marriage occurred in Boston. It’s especially important to note that Anne’s mother, Marie, is stated in this marriage record to have been “Marie, Sauvagesse de l’Acadie (“Marie, Savage woman, or First Nations woman, of Acadia), which demonstrates that René and Anne’s mother, Marie was a First Nations woman. Therefore, this is evidence to support my prior assertion that the “Jean-Baptiste Roy” who married “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) was an “Acadian-Métis” man who “west West” during the peak of the “fur Trade.”
Before I move on with my discussion, I’ll first discuss a couple of documents that provide us with approximate birth years for Jean Roy dit Laliberté and Marie Aubois, as well as other important information.
To begin with, I’ll discuss the 1686 census of Acadia. Jean Roy dit Laliberté and Marie Aubois do not appear to have married by this point however, Jean is enumerated as being a resident of the Cape Sable, Acadia region. Unfortunately, no age is provided for Jean on this census and he is referred to as “La Liberté Le neigre,” which is likely a reference to him being a resident of Cap Nègre, which is present day Cape Negro, Nova Scotia.
We next find a forty year old (born circa 1753) “La Liberté” (Jean Roy dit Laliberté) and his thirty five year old (born circa 1658) wife, “Christine” (Marie Aubois) enumerated on the 1693 census of Acadia as residents of the Cape Sable region. This enumeration is important because it provides an alternate name for Marie, which is “Christine” therefore, we can also refer to her as “Marie Christine Aubois.” It’s also important to note that according to this enumeration, Jean and Marie had four children by this point.
One final record that I’ve chosen to discuss concerning Jean Roy dit Laliberté and Marie Aubois is the 1698 census of Acadia. According to this census, Jean and Marie had moved to the Port Royal, Acadia region by 1698, as this is where they were enumerated with their four children. “Jean Roy” (Jean Roy dit Laliberté) is recorded on this census as having been fifty year old (born circa 1648) and “Marie” (Marie Aubois) is recorded as having been thirty three years old (born circa 1665). Jean and Marie’s four children enumerated on this census are as follows:
1. “Anne” – Thirteen years old (Born circa 1685).
2. “Marie” – Eleven years old (born circa 1687).
3. “Jean” – Nine years old (born circa 1689).
4. “francois” (François) – Six years old (born circa 1692).
Now that we’ve finished our discussion concerning “Jean-Baptiste Roy,” husband of “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”), it’s my hope that you’re left wondering “Was this Jean-Baptiste’s only source of First Nations blood?” The answer to this question is simply “no, it wasn’t.” I state this because Jean-Baptiste’s mother, Marie Josephe Daigle was also of First Nations descent.
To demonstrate this ancestry we must return to the previously-discussed facts that Marie Josephe Daigle was stated to have been born circa 1717 on the 1752 census of Île Saint-Jean and is stated in her 1802 burial record to have been born circa 1714. Therefore, Marie Josephe was born approximately between 1714 and 1717. If we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint Charles-des-Mines at Grand-Pré, Acadia, we find that on April 17, 1718, a “Joseph Daigre” (Joseph Daigle) and his wife, “Magdeleine Gautreau” (Madeleine Gautreau) baptized a daughter named “Marie Joseph Daigre” (Marie Josephe Daigle) there. This Marie Josephe was born on December 28, 1716. Therefore, this birth date accords perfectly with the approximate birth year of between 1714 and 1717 that we’ve discovered for the “Marie Josephe Daigle” who was married to René Roy. Therefore, I believe it appropriate to conclude that these two “Marie Josephe Daigles” were in fact “one-in-the-same.”
To add to this evidence to support the parentage of Marie Joseph Daigle, the wife of René Roy, we will now return to the enumeration of the residents of Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean on the 1752 census of Île Saint-Jean. We find also residing at Anse-au-Matelost on this enumeration, a man named “Joseph Daigre” (Joseph Daigle), aged fifty six years old (born circa 1696), his fifty three year old (born circa 1699) wife, “Magdelaine Gautrot” (Madeleine Gautreau) and their five children. These children are as follows:
1. allain Daigre (Allain Daigle) – Twenty eight years old (born circa 1724).
2. JeanBaptiste (Jean-Baptiste) – Nineteen years old (born circa 1733).
3. Simon Joseph – Thirteen years old (born circa 1739).
4. Margueritte (Marguerite) – Twenty six years old (born circa 1726).
5. Annastazie (Anastasie) – Seventeen years old (born circa 1735).
I must add that “Joseph Daigre” (Joseph Daigle) and “Magdelaine Gautrot” (Madeleine Gautreau) were both stated in this enumeration to have been natives of “L’acadie” (Acadia) and this family had been residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean for two years by the time the 1752 census was enumerated therefore, they moved there from Acadia circa 1750.
Given the approximate birth years of these five children of “Joseph Daigre” (Joseph Daigle) and of “Magdelaine Gautrot” (Madeleine Gautreau) range from 1724 to 1739, the fact that Joseph and Madeleine were residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean when “René Roy” and “Marie Joseph Daigre” (Marie Josephe Daigle) were residing there, and the fact that Joseph and Madeleine had settled in the area circa 1750, which is when René and Marie Josephe also settled there, all support the conclusion that Marie Josephe was Joseph and Madeleine’s daughter.
Now that we’ve concluded that Marie Josephe Daigle, wife of René Roy was the daughter of Joseph Daigle and Madeleine Gautreau, we can begin to trace her maternal lineage. If we turn to the registers of the parish of Saint Charles-de-Bellechasse, Québec, we find that a “Joseph Daigle,” husband of “Madgélene Gautrot” (Madeleine Gautreau) was buried there on December 08, 1757. Joseph died on December 07, 1757 at the age of approximately fifty years old therefore, he was born circa 1707. Given the fact that this family was relatively new to Québec, it is expected that there would be some variation in approximate birth year of this “Joseph Daigle” and the “Joseph Daigle” who was residing at Anse-au-Matelost, Île Saint-Jean with his wife, “Madeleine Gautrot” only five years prior. Therefore, I firmly believe that these two “Joseph Daigles” are the same person.
To add to this evidence, we can continue to examine the registers of the parish of Saint Charles-de-Bellechasse, Québec. It is in these registers that we find the record of the February 11, 1758 burial of a woman named “magdelene Boudrot” (Madeleine Boudreau). This Madeleine is stated in the burial record to have been the wife of “joseph Daigle” (Joseph Daigle) and to have died on February 10, 1758 at approximately the age of fifty years old (born circa 1708). Given the previously-discussed information concerning OUR “Madeleine Gautreau” and “Joseph Daigle,” I believe it appropriate to conclude that the Priest had recorded the wrong surname for this “magdelene Boudrot” (Madeleine Boudreau) and that she was actually named “Madeleine Gautreau.”
Now let’s continue with our investigation of the maternal ancestry of “Jean-Baptiste Roy,” who was husband of “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”). To do so we must first summarize what we know about Jean-Baptiste’s maternal grandmother, Madeleine Gautreau. We know based on documentation previously discussed in this summary that she was born between 1699 and 1708, that she was born in Acadia, and that she was at one point a parishioner of the parish of Saint Charles-des-Mines at Grand-Pré, Acadia. If we return to the registers of the parish of Saint Charles-des-Mines, we find that a woman named “Françoise gautrot née Rimbaud” (“Françoise Gautreau, born Rimbault”) was buried there on May 28, 1712 and that she died on May 27, 1712. Françoise is stated in the burial record to have been the wife of a “Charles gotrot” (Charles Gautreau). Therefore, it is highly probably that these are in fact Madeleine Gautreau’s parents.
To further support this conclusion we must remember that as previously stated, Bona Arsenault asserts on page 1172 of the 1978 edition of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 3: Beaubassin (Amherst, Nouvelle-Écosse), Grand-Pré (Nouvelle-Écosse)” that “Madeleine Gauterot” (Madeleine Gautreau), wife of “Joseph Daigle,” was the daughter of “Charles Gauterot” (Charles Gautreau) and “Françoise Rimbault” and that she was born circa 1699.
Now that we’ve established the parentage of Madeleine Gautreau, it’s time to concentrate on her mother, Françoise Rimbault’s maternal ancestry. We unfortunately, have very little to go on in terms of primary source documentation to solidly link Madeleine to Françoise and there are no census records known to me that provide the names of any of her children born during the same time period when Madeleine was born, nor does Madeleine’s baptismal record exist. We do however, find on the 1686 census of Acadia that residing in the Port Royal area was a twenty five year old (born circa 1761) “Charles Gotro” (Charles Gautreau), his twenty year old (born circa 1766) wife named “francoise Rimbault” (Françoise Rimbault), and their seven month old son (born circa 1686) named “François” (Françoise Gautreau). This document is important because it provides us with an approximate birth year of 1666 for Françoise.
Given the fact that we have an approximate birth year of 1699 to 1707 for her daughter, Madeleine Gautreau, and that we have an approximate birth year of 1666 for her, this would place Françoise Rimbault within the first generation of the mixed-blooded “Rimbault” family, who’s maternal ancestress was a First Nations woman (at least maternally) named “Anne-Marie” (no surname given). I won’t go into detail concerning Anne-Marie, whose second husband was René Rimbault (her first husband was an “Unknown Pinet”) because I’ve discussed Anne-Marie and her First Nations roots many, many times throughout this collection. I will however, remind you that mtDNA testing of Anne-Marie’s direct female descendants produced a haplogroup of “A2f1a,” which is “Native American.”
If we turn to the 1671 census of Acadia, this conclusion is supported by the fact that included in the family of the fifty five year old (born circa 1616) René Rimbault and his wife, the forty year old (born circa 1631) “Anne-Marie” (no surname given), we find a five year old (born circa 1666) daughter named “francoise” (Françoise Rimbault). Therefore, it is appropriate to conclude that Françoise Rimbault, the wife of Charles Gautreau was in fact the daughter of René Rimbault and “Anne-Marie” (no surname given).
This conclusion is further supported by Bona Arsenault’s assertion that circa 1685, “Charles Gauterot” (Charles Gautreau), son of “François Gauterot” (François Gautreau) and “Edmée Lejeune” married “Françoise Rimbault,” daughter of “René Rimbault” and they were the parents of “Madeleine Gauterot” (Madeleine Gautreau), who was born circa 1699. This information can be found on pages 1170 and 1172 of his book entitled, “Histoire et Généalogie des Acadiens 3: Beaubassin (Amherst, Nouvelle-Écosse), Grand-Pré (Nouvelle-Écosse).”
In conclusion, although the documentation found in this folder isn’t “ground-breaking” by any means, it does however, demonstrate that contrary to what many “Experts” may argue, there were in fact “Acadian-Métis” men who “west West” during the peak of the “fur Trade” and married First Nations women.
The information discussed throughout the current summary indicates that Jean-Baptiste Roy, husband of “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”) had two sources of First Nations ancestry. The first being found in his direct paternal lineage, which traces to “Marie Aubois,” who was of First Nations descent, and the second source of First Nations blood stemming from Jean-Baptiste’s direct maternal lineage, which traces to “Anne-Marie” (no surname given), who was also of First Nations descent.
The First Nations Ancestry of Jean-Baptiste Roy:
Jean-Baptiste Roy to Marie-Christine Aubois, “Sauvagesse de l’Acadie” (“Savage/First Natrions Woman of Acadia”):
1. Jean-Baptiste Roy and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”)
Son of
2. René (dit Renaud) Roy and Marie Josephe Daigle
Son of
3. Jean Roy dit Laliberté and Marie-Christine Aubois (“Sauvagesse de l’Acadie” (“Savage/First Nations Woman of Acadia”))
Jean-Baptiste Roy to Anne-Marie (Unknown Surname) (mtDNA haplogroup “A2f1a” (“Native American”)):
1. Jean-Baptiste Roy and “Charlotte de la nation des Sauteux” (“Charlotte of the Saulteaux Nation”)
Son of
2. René (dit Renaud) Roy and Marie Josephe Daigle
Daughter of
3. Joseph Daigle and Madeleine Gautreau
Daughter of
4. Charles Gautreau and Françoise Rimbault
Daughter of
5. René Rimbault and Anne-Marie (Unknown Surname) (mtDNA haplogroup “A2f1a” (“Native American”))
