Wilmont Kreis

July 15, 2017: Birth of Jeanne Langlois. In spite of the wild and frigid environment, birth rates, number of births per woman and general health along with longevity were far superior in the wilds of Québec than back home in good old France. Scholars attribute this to the lack of pollution and relative abundance of healthy food. At this time in Canada there were only a few sage-femmes (midwives) but they were aided by a number of talented natives. Young Jeanne presented in a breech position, but the skill of Félicity-Angel and help of young Marie-Nicole Langlois. Read More 

July 7, 2017: Françoise Ordeal. With the help and care of Françoise’s Indian friend along with Sister Marie-Forestier, a French Augustinian nursing nun who Françoise befriended when the first nuns arrived in Québec, she begins to improve with the use of poultices, wound lancing and potions. She has no memory of the attack, but learns there were other similar problems nearby. Read More 

June 30, 2017: Now it begins. As the story opens, Françoise awakes confused, her leg hurts badly and she does not have her bearings. Félicity-Angel enters her dark room and explains that she has been shot by an Iroquois and has been delirious and fighting for her life. But her native friend tells her she is likely to survive with care and rest. Read More 

I think it’s time to move on to Book Fourteen, The Beaver Wars. We have seen how Champlain and later Montmagny have urged the fledgling population of New France in fits and starts, struggling against the wilderness, hostile natives, and a disinterested French government. In spite of their valiant efforts, Québec lacks sorely for citizens, especially women. In The Beaver Wars, we will watch the colony began to grow with more immigrants, better government, some French interest, and an odd woman from France who will bring new women to become the mothers of Canada. Hang onto your hats! It starts now. Read More 

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. Read More 

Birth of Montréal:

In November of 1641, a late arrival from France contained an odd and historically important group. Paul Chomedey Sieur de Maisonneuve and Montréal arrived to settle the town of Ville-Marie on the large island of Montréal many miles upstream of current civilization. He arrived with an odd group of 35 men, 10 women, a few nuns and the very rich Jean Mance. They would winter in Sillery to the north of Québec city making plans to move upstream in the spring. This odd group did not have full support of the Québec government who felt it a foolhardy venture, but it would turn out to be one of the most important ventures in all of early Canada. Read More 

Return of Guy:

April has arrived without its usual vengeance and the Québécoise are taking full advantage of the uncharacteristic glorious spring. Noël and Jacques-Henri have taken Noël’s brother and the two oldest boys to hunt. The girls have gone with Nicole Boucher to a birthday party leaving Françoise alone with the infant Jean-Paul. Deciding to take advantage of the wonderful day for spring house cleaning, Nicole puts the baby in his crib and begins to work. When she returns from the loft, she is shocked by a man standing in the door way. Her worst nightmare is realized as she realizes the man with the eye patch and severely scared half-face is real—and it is none other than Guy! He threatens the baby with his evil knife and while offering Françoise the baby’s life if she will submit to him… But I suppose you should read the rest in the book, 1634-Return to the New World. Read More 

Françoise and Noël’s fifth child and second son, Jean-Paul, was baptized by Father Lalement on 2-24-1641 at the Jesuit Chapel of Québec. On the very same day, unknown to the people of Québec, another group of French citizens met at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. They had named themselves l’Association de Montréal. Inspired by the report of Dauversiere and Fanchamp, they had chosen Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve as their Governor, and before the altar of the Virgin, consecrated their proposed, Ville-Marie de Montréal with plans to send a founding company when the weather broke. Read More 

In 1640 Noël’s younger brother, Jean Langlois, appears. As a boy, Jean had run away to sea working his way up to captain of ocean ships. He stays with his brother during which time he tells him of two rich and powerful men who accompanied him on the voyage to Québec. The rich and devout Jerome Dauversiere and his companion, the equally rich and possibly less devout Baron de Fanchamp represented a company planning to bring French citizens and clergy to settle the island 200 miles upriver of Québec which Jacques Cartier had named Montréal 100 years before. Although the espoused goal was religious, Jean Langlois had realized these men were also interested in controlling the fur trade. They had asked Jean to have his brother take them to the island as secretively as possible. Read More 

No Historical Fiction Novel set in early Canada is complete without some native characters, and here it is Jacques-Henri. He and his kind are instrumental in teaching the early French Canadians about life and survival in the New World. One iconic item is the bow and arrow. Although this weapon does not possess the power and awe of the French musket, as Jacques-Henri teaches, it does have the advantages of portability, ability to rapid fire (relatively speaking), portability and ability to be resupplied with ammunition in the wilderness. These characteristics are demonstrated throughout this book as well as in the sequel, The Beaver Wars. Now available at Amazon.com Read More