Wilmont Kreis

Maisonneuve and his followers spent the winter of 1641-2 in Sillery preparing for their trip upstream in the spring. On May 8, 1642 he loaded his entourage onto three boats. These 45 souls Including Jeanne Mance, Madame de la Peltrie, three sisters of Saint-Joseph, seven other women and a cadre if men. Ten days later, they landed on the scenic bank of the large island where a stream ran through an idyllic site to the Saint-Laurent. He named his settlement Ville-Marie. In spite of the peaceful setting, it would be anything but peaceful for a long while. But for that, you must turn to the next book, THE BEAVER WARS. More about that next week.