Wilmont Kreis

October 6, 2017
Double names: I have had an increasing number of readers wondering why I use so many double names, i.e. Agnes-Anne in my last two books. They ask, for example, “My ancestor is Anne Langlois b. Sept. 2 1637. However you call her Agnes-Anne. I can’t find this name anywhere else. What’s up?” Well, gentle reader, you are correct! ‘Agnes’ is my addition. In previous books I have received concerns from readers that there were too many François, etc. to keep straight and sometimes families have two children with the same name. This is merely my way of keeping the various Annes and François straight. Keep the questions coming. I love them! Read More 

Governors in early Canada. I thought it might be useful to explain a little about the various Governors. Not only does Canada itself have a Governor appointed by the King of France, for example: Montmagny (who served longest) but also Maisonneuve, Ailleboust, de Lauson, de Voyer, Davougour, de Mézy, de Tracy and de Courcelles. But there are also Governors of certain areas, such as, Maisonneuve in Montreal (who was also once Governor of all Canada) and Guillemont, and of course the famous Pierre Boucher in Trois Rivieres. I don’t know if this avoids any confusion, but at least you know how confusing it is (was). Read More 

Le Cid: This French pièce de théâtre seems out of place in 17th century Québec. First performed in Paris ten years earlier, it was in fact brought to Canada by Governor Montmagny who saw it and met the author years ago in Paris. It is the story of two families where the marriage between two families is threatened by a fight between the two fathers. Only when cooler heads prevail, is the bloodshed avoided. Françoise thought it resembled the ongoing beaver wars between the Iroquois and Huron tribes, and only cooler heads from Canada could quell the disaster. Read More 

Time for a break:
I will be off working on my next book during the month of September. The blog will return for more about THE BEAVER WARS on my return. Read More 

Notre-Dame de la Paix
In 1634-Return to the New World, the church, Notre-Dame de la Recouvrance burned to the ground. It took several years to rebuild it in stone and not until Christmas day 1646 was the new structure, Notre-Dame de la Paix open. Unseasonably mild weather made it a perfect day for the populous to celebrate the first mass in the new Church. Read More 

Robert Langlois:
Several Langlois appear in the early records of Québec. It is a common name in Normand France and as many as 36 Langlois can be found in various early Québec records and genealogies. There is great discussion as to the accuracy of much of this and questions such as: were some natives who took the name? Are some multiples of the same person? And are some totally false. I have chosen to use five: Two men: Francois hero of the two books and his odd brother, Jean the sea captain who appears periodically. Three women: Marguerite married to the ship’s captain, Abraham Martin, Francoise married to Pierre Desportes and Marie Langlois married to Jean Juchereau, financier of the enterprise. Read More 

August 11, 2017
Along with the many tales told by Benoît and Berniet, I could not resist the odd story of Anne de Noue. This elderly priest, a son of a nobleman came to Québec in 1626. He traveled about Canada studying native language and preaching to the natives. In January 1643, the elderly and likely senile prelate set out in poor weather from Trois-Rivières to preach to a native community. When he failed to arrive or return, it was thought he had been captured by Iroquois. Days later his frozen body was found lying on his back with his arms crosses, his eyes frozen open looking at the sky. Although his death was eventually called accidental, there was still a fear he had fallen afoul of the Iroquois, raising the fear of native attacks. Read More 

Benoît and Berniet: Those of you who have read 1634: Return to the New World have already met these two loveable backwoods voyageurs and philosophers. In The Beaver Wars they take on a larger role, exploring the wilderness, dealing with all tribes and returning periodically to the Lower Town pub, the Terre Sauvage, to drink to excess and report to the residents of Québec, intelligence from the wilderness, what the natives are planning, and how it could be handled. Read More 

In response to Montmagny’s release of Iroquois prisoners, the tall and handsome Iroquois Chief, Kiotsaton, appears at the docks of Trois-Rivières. Commandant Champfleur hurries to the dock where he greets the great chief who turns out to be a man difficult to best in negotiation. They do settle on a temporary truce and to meet later to negotiate prisoner exchange and terms. As the Iroquois leave Trois-Rivières Champfleur hopes for good things to come. Unfortunately it will not be as easy as he hopes. Read More 

July 22, 2017: Indian hostilities. In early spring 1645, an Algonquin brave named Piskaret took six braves and canoed boldly down the Richelieu River where they ambushed a group of Iroquois fishermen, killing some and taking prisoners to Sillery near Québec. Here he put them in the protection of Governor Montmagny to negotiate a prisoner exchange with the Iroquois for Algonquin prisoners. The Governor hoped he could use this to negotiate a peace in the emerging hostilities between the two tribes. He could not have been more wrong. Read More