PICHET, Jean

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers

Jean married LEBLANC, Marie-Madeleine in 1666 in Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Marie-Madeleine (daughter of LEBLANC, Jean and NICOLET, Ephrosine Marie-Madeleine) was born on 15 Jul 1652 in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada; died on 28 Dec 1708 in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, L'Île-d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers

Jean married NICOLET, Ephrosine Marie-Madeleine on 18 Oct 1643 in Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. Ephrosine (daughter of NICOLET, Sieur de Belleborne Jean and NIPISSING, Unknown) was born in 1626 in Nipissing, Ontario, Canada; died on 30 Sep 1689 in Hotel-de-Dieu, Quebec City, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: 1/2 Native American - Algonquin tribe, Names on monument of first French Ile d' Orleans settlers

Notes:

In the wilderness of New France, around 1628, Euphrosine-Madeleine Nicolet was born, daughter of the French explorer and interpreter Jean Nicolet and a Nipissing woman whose name has been lost to history.

As one of the first known French-Canadian Métis, Euphrosine-Madeleine's early years were likely spent in the Nipissing territory, immersed in her mother's traditions. However, her father, recognizing the importance of education in the burgeoning colony, brought her to Quebec while she was still young. There, at the Jesuit mission in Sillery, she was introduced to Christianity and the French way of life, beginning a lifelong journey of navigating between two worlds.

At the age of fifteen, Euphrosine-Madeleine married Jean LeBlanc, a French settler. Over the next two decades, she bore five children, experiencing both the joys of motherhood and the heartbreak of losing two infants. Tragedy struck again in 1662 when her husband was killed by the Iroquois, leaving her a widow with three surviving children.

In 1663, she married Elie Dussault dit Lafleur, a sailor. Together, they had four sons, expanding her already diverse family.

Throughout her life, Euphrosine-Madeleine was an integral part of the Quebec City community. Her mixed heritage, while presenting challenges in a society grappling with cultural differences, also positioned her as a living bridge between the Indigenous and French worlds. She likely faced prejudices, but her successful marriages and large family suggest a level of acceptance within the colonial society.

On September 30, 1689, Euphrosine-Madeleine's remarkable life came to an end in Quebec City. She left behind a legacy that speaks to the complex social dynamics of 17th-century New France and the pivotal role played by Métis individuals in shaping early Canadian society.

Living + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Among the first 17 families that settled Quebec City (New France); contemporaries and acquaintances of Samuel Champlain; French North American explorer who was the first known European to discover Lake Michigan and what is now the state of Wisconsin.

Notes:

HIGHLIGHTS:

As an interpreter, Jean Nicolet lived among the Algonquins on Allumette Island in the Ottawa River. His natural aptitude for languages and cultural adaptation then led him to spend nine years with the Nipissing tribe near Lake Nipissing. During this time, he not only learned their language but also ran a trading post, becoming deeply integrated into their way of life.

Nicollet fathered a daughter, Euphrosine-Madeleine, born between 1628 and 1633 with a woman from the Nipissing nation whose identity is unknown.

When Nicollet later returned to the French colony, he brought Euphrosine-Madeleine with him and educated her among the French children; she learned to both read and write, a rarity at that time She later married a French man.

In 1634, Nicollet embarked on his most famous expedition. Setting out from Huronia, he traveled through the Straits of Mackinac and became one of the first Europeans to enter Lake Michigan. Recent scholarship suggests that Nicollet may have ventured even further, possibly discovering Lake Superior,

Nicollet's journey took him to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he encountered the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) people.

Nicollet played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining peaceful relations between the French and various Native American tribes. His ability to navigate different cultural contexts made him an invaluable asset to the French colonial enterprise.

CONNECTIONS:

Jim is descended from Jean Nicolet's Native American daughter Euphrosine-Madeleine. Jean is his 9th GGF on the Vermette line.

LIFE STORY:

Jean Nicollet, born around 1598 in Cherbourg, Normandy, was destined for a life of adventure and cultural bridging. The son of Thomas Nicollet, a king's postal courier, and Marie de Lamer, Jean grew up in an environment that likely instilled in him a sense of duty and an interest in communication.

In 1618, at the age of 20, Nicollet embarked on his New World adventure at the request of Samuel de Champlain. He joined the Compagnie des Marchands as a clerk and interpreter, embodying Champlain's strategy of immersing young Frenchmen in Native American cultures to facilitate trade and exploration.

Nicollet's journey of linguistic and cultural immersion began on Allumette Island in the Ottawa River, where he lived among the Algonquins. His natural aptitude for languages and cultural adaptation then led him to spend nine years with the Nipissing tribe near Lake Nipissing. During this time, he not only learned their language but also ran a trading post, becoming deeply integrated into their way of life.

It was during his time with the Nipissing that Nicollet fathered a daughter, Euphrosine-Madeleine, born between 1628 and 1633. While little is known about Euphrosine-Madeleine's mother, a woman from the Nipissing nation, this relationship exemplifies the complex personal and cultural connections forged in the early days of contact between Europeans and Indigenous peoples. Notably, when Nicollet later returned to the French colony, he brought Euphrosine-Madeleine with him, demonstrating a commitment to his child that bridged two worlds. Euphrosine-Madeleine was taught to both read and write,a high level of education for the times.

In 1634, Nicollet embarked on his most famous expedition. Setting out from Huronia, he traveled through the Straits of Mackinac and became one of the first Europeans to enter Lake Michigan. Recent scholarship suggests that Nicollet may have ventured even further, possibly discovering Lake Superior, surpassing the previous explorations of Étienne Brûlé.

Nicollet's journey took him to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he encountered the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) people. His diplomatic skills came to the fore as he negotiated and established relationships with various Indigenous groups, laying the groundwork for future French trade and alliances in the region.

Throughout his career, Nicollet played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining peaceful relations between the French and various Native American tribes. His ability to navigate different cultural contexts made him an invaluable asset to the French colonial enterprise.

After his return to Quebec, Nicollet married Marguerite Couillard, goddaughter of Champlain, and settled in Trois-Rivières. He continued to serve as an interpreter and mediator between the French and Native Americans, earning respect from both communities.

Tragically, Nicollet's life was cut short on November 1, 1642, when his boat capsized during a storm on the St. Lawrence River near Sillery, Quebec. He was on a mission to save an Iroquois prisoner from being tortured by Algonquin allies of the French, a final act that exemplified his lifelong role as a bridge between cultures.

Jean Nicollet's legacy as an explorer, linguist, and diplomat was crucial in the early French exploration and settlement of North America. His discoveries, interactions with Native American tribes, and the personal connections he forged - including his relationship with his daughter Euphrosine-Madeleine - provide a nuanced picture of the cultural exchanges and personal stories that shaped the early years of New France. Nicollet's life story embodies the complexities of the colonial encounter, highlighting both the collaborative and challenging aspects of European-Indigenous relations in 17th century North America.

Died:
Jean Nicolet drowned after his boat capsized during a storm while traveling.

Jean married NIPISSING, Unknown in 1623 (1625?) in North Bay, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. Unknown (daughter of Living and Living) was born about 1602 in near Lac Nipissing or on the Allumette Island, located in the Ottawa River, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; died in 1636 in Sillery, Quebec (Urban Agglomeration), Quebec, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: Jim's 9th GGM Native American
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipissing_First_Nation
• Web Address: https://kids.kiddle.co/Indigenous_peoples_in_Canada
• Web Address: https://nfn.ca/

Notes:

In the early 17th century, a Nipissing woman, whose name is not recorded in historical documents, became the mother of Euphrosine-Madeleine Nicolet, born around 1628. This woman was a member of the Anishinaabe people, specifically the Nipissing, who inhabited the area around Lake Nipissing in what is now northern Ontario.

As a Nipissing woman, she would have been an integral part of her community. Her daily life likely involved gathering food, preparing meals, and crafting clothing from animal hides. The Nipissing were known for their extensive trade networks and their strategic location between the Ottawa River and the Great Lakes.

Her relationship with the French explorer and interpreter Jean Nicolet resulted in the birth of Euphrosine-Madeleine. This union occurred during a period of increasing contact between the Nipissing people and European settlers, particularly French traders and explorers.

Jean Nicolet's decision to bring Euphrosine-Madeleine back to Quebec occurred around 1633 or 1634, when he returned to the French settlements after his extended stay with the Nipissing and other Indigenous peoples. Nicolet had spent many years living among various Indigenous groups, learning their languages and customs, which made him a valuable interpreter and diplomat for the French. When he was recalled to Quebec by Samuel de Champlain to assist in colonial affairs, Nicolet chose to bring his young daughter with him. This decision was likely influenced by several factors, including his own cultural background, the colonial policies of the time that encouraged the assimilation of Indigenous children, and possibly a desire to provide his daughter with opportunities within French society.

The decision for Euphrosine-Madeleine to be raised and educated in Quebec among the French settlers raises questions about the mother's perspective and wishes. While we cannot know her thoughts with certainty, it's important to consider the complex factors that might have influenced this decision:

Cultural values: The Nipissing people placed great importance on their traditions, language, and community life. Education within the Nipissing community would have focused on traditional skills, spiritual practices, and oral histories.

Maternal concerns: The separation from her daughter and the potential loss of Nipissing cultural identity through French education may have been significant worries for the mother.

Pragmatic considerations: Despite potential concerns, she might have recognized the opportunities that a French education could provide, including economic prospects and the ability to navigate both French and Indigenous societies.

Safety and stability: Given the conflicts of the time, including the Beaver Wars and Iroquois attacks, the French settlement might have been seen as a safer environment for her daughter.

The arrival of French settlers brought significant changes to the Nipissing way of life, including intensified participation in the fur trade, exposure to new goods and technologies, and pressures of cultural assimilation. Epidemics introduced by Europeans also had devastating effects on the Nipissing population.

While her name may be unknown, the story of Euphrosine-Madeleine's mother provides insight into the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and adaptation in early colonial North America. Her experience reflects the challenges faced by Indigenous women during this period of significant social and cultural change.