Jean-Baptiste Roy and Charlotte, (Saulteaux) by Chris Boudreau, August 2018

Jean-Baptiste Roy and Charlotte, (Saulteaux) By Chris Boudreau, August 2018 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.

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