Builders of New France: Settlers, Captives, and Legacies
Colonial Foundations: Habitants, Soldiers, and Voyageurs
New France’s population grew through the contributions of…
Captives as Builders: The Untold Stories
Beyond voluntary settlers, New France’s population expanded through the assimilation of Anglo-American captives taken in raids like the 1704 Deerfield Massacre. These individuals, often children, were adopted into French or Indigenous families and became integral to colonial society.
Case Study: Elizabeth Corse (Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse)
- Capture: Taken at age 8 during the Deerfield Massacre (February 29, 1704). [Deerfield Captives List]
- Catlin Family & the Deerfield Massacre [ManyRoads]
- Adoption: Raised by Pierre Roy and Catherine Ducharme in La Prairie, Québec. [Adoption Record]
- Integration: Baptized at Notre-Dame de Montréal (1705). Married Jean-Baptiste Dumontet dit Lagrandeur in 1712. [Baptismal Record]
- Legacy: Descendants include fur traders, politicians, and figures like Louis-Joseph Papineau. [PRDH Genealogy]
Indigenous and French Kinship Networks
Captives like Elizabeth blurred cultural boundaries. For example:
- Elizabeth’s cousin, Marthe French, married Jacques Roy (son of her adoptive parents).
- Moïse Dupuis, a sexton in La Prairie, married Marie Anne Louise Christiansen—a captive from Schenectady. [Dupuis Family]
Researching New France Families: Key Tools
| Resource | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| PRDH | Demographic database of Quebec families (1621–1849). | Jean-Baptiste Dumontet’s burial (PRDH No. 19404) |
| BAnQ | Digitized notarial records, censuses, and parish registers. | Elizabeth Corse’s 1712 marriage contract |
| FamilySearch | Collaborative family trees with Deerfield captives. | Corse Family Tree |
The Deerfield-La Prairie Connection
Many Deerfield captives resettled in La Prairie, Québec, creating enduring ties between New England and New France. Key families include:
- Roy-Ducharme: Fostered multiple captives. [Habitant.org Article]
- Dumontet-Dupuis: Linked through land records and burials. [1712 Elizabeth Catlin Deed]
Sources
- Primary: Williams, J. (1707). The Redeemed Captive
- Secondary: Haefeli, E. & Sweeney, K. (2003). Captors and Captives
- Genealogical: Find a Grave: Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse