The Whittler’s Inheritance: A 1987 Journey into the Voyageur Spirit

In the autumn of 1987, my wife and I set out on a pilgrimage through Eastern Canada. For me, it was a return to the "alluring lakes" that had called to my ancestors for centuries; for her, it was an introduction to the haunting call of the loon and the distant howl of the wolf that define the Algonquin wilderness.

Among the roadside antique stalls and small, charming museums of Quebec and Ontario, I found something that spoke to me: a primitive folk art carving of a canoe filled with Indigenous paddlers. It wasn't a "masterpiece" in the classical sense, but it possessed the raw, functional honesty of a world where your survival depended on what you could craft with your own two hands.

The "Cordonnier" in My Fingers

When I returned home, armed only with a photograph and a chunk of basswood, I felt the pull of a dormant family trait. I had never carved before, but as I picked up my tools, I was—perhaps unknowingly—tapping into the spirit of Jacques Marié dit Lemarié, my 9th great-grandfather.

Jacques was a Maître Cordonnier (Master Shoemaker) in 17th-century Montreal. He spent his life shaping raw "boeuf" (cowhide) into the Souliers de Boeuf that protected the feet of the voyageurs. He understood the grain of the leather just as I was learning the grain of the wood.

From Artifact to Heirloom

My first attempt at carving resulted in my own "museum treasure." It is primitive, yes, but it carries the weight of that 1987 trip and the centuries of history I have since uncovered.

Today, that little basswood canoe sits on my fireplace mantel. It shares space with the work of master carvers like Barry Lysaght, but it holds a special place of honor. It is a reminder that while the North West Company is gone and the Traite de Tadoussac is a memory, the "Code of the Pines"—that quiet competence and the ability to "make your own"—lives on.

The voyageurs didn't just buy their lives; they carved them out of the wilderness. In my own small way, with a Dremel tool and a piece of wood, I was finally joining the brigade.

Thank you to Gemini for the enhanced details.

Dowry of a Fille du Roi

 

The Filles du Roi (King's Daughters) were approximately 800 young French women recruited between 1663 and 1673 to immigrate to New France (modern-day Quebec) to balance the colony's male-heavy population. To incentivize this move, King Louis XIV acted as their "father," providing a royal dowry and a trousseau of essential goods. 

The phrase "dowry including trade linens" specifically refers to the practical goods provided to these women to establish households in the wilderness. 

Components of the Dowry & Trousseau

While the term "trade linens" specifically highlights textiles, the women received a comprehensive package of both financial and material goods: 

• Trade Linens & Sewing Supplies: Each woman received a hope chest containing cloth fine enough for handkerchiefs, collars, and sleeves. Crucially, they were provided with a sewing kit featuring 100 needles, thread (white and grey), a thimble, scissors, and many pins.
• Clothing & Personal Items: The trousseau included a comb, two coiffes (hoods), a belt, hose, shoes, gloves, a bonnet, and shoelaces.
• Monetary Grant: Most received a cash dowry of 50 livres (pounds), though some women of higher social standing received up to 100 or 200 livres.
• Household Provisions: Upon marriage, couples often received additional "in-kind" dowries to start a farm, including an ox, a cow, two pigs, a pair of chickens, and barrels of salted meat. 

Context of the "Trade Linens"

The inclusion of linens and sewing tools was vital because such items were nearly impossible to obtain on the shores of the St. Lawrence River at the time. These materials were considered "trade" goods because they were high-value essentials that enabled the women to fulfill their expected roles of clothing their families and maintaining a household in a remote colony. 

Historical Significance

• Success of the Colony: Within a decade of their arrival, the population of New France doubled.
• Ancestry: It is estimated that two-thirds of all French Canadians today can trace their ancestry back to at least one Fille du Roi.
• Standardization: Because they came from various regions of France and were often educated in charitable institutions, they played a key role in standardizing the French language in Canada. 

What other items were in the hope chests of the Filles du Roi?

In addition to trade linens, the hope chests (or trousseaus) of the Filles du Roi contained a highly standardized set of practical and personal items necessary for survival and domestic life in New France. These items were often referred to as "casquettes" or "trousseaus" and were provided at the King's expense. 

The chest's contents typically included:

Sewing and Household Tools

Crucial for making and mending clothing in a colony where such supplies were scarce: 

• Sewing Kit: Included approximately 100 needles, a thimble, a needle case, and a large quantity of white and grey thread.
• Pins: Each chest contained about 1,000 pins.
• Cutting Tools: A pair of scissors and two knives.
• Textiles: Fine cloth for making handkerchiefs, collars, wimples, and pleated sleeves. 

Personal Accessories and Clothing

These items were difficult to find on the shores of the St. Lawrence River:

• Headwear: One bonnet and two coiffes (hoods)—one made of taffeta and the other of gauze.
• Footwear: A pair of shoes, shoelaces, and a pair of hose (stockings).
• Personal Care: A comb and a pair of gloves.
• Finishing Touches: A belt, a taffeta handkerchief, shoe ribbons, and four sets of laces or lace braids. 

Monetary and Additional Provisions

• Travel Funds: A small amount of cash, often 2 livres in silver money, for use during the journey or upon arrival.
• Climate Adaptation: Upon arrival in Quebec, the Sovereign Council often provided additional clothing suitable for the harsh Canadian climate and basic food provisions from the King’s storehouses. 

Once a Fille du Roi married, the couple typically received a larger "settlement dowry" to establish a farm, which included livestock (an ox, a cow, two pigs, and chickens) and barrels of salted meat. 

What challenges did the Filles du Roi face in New France?

A: The Filles du Roi faced significant challenges upon arriving in New France, including a difficult sea voyage, harsh environmental conditions, difficult agricultural labor, the pressure to marry quickly, and the general dangers of life in a frontier colony. 

Physical and Environmental Challenges

• Perilous Journey: The transatlantic voyage itself was dangerous, with cramped, unsanitary conditions, the risk of sickness, and potential death during the weeks at sea.
• Harsh Climate: The women, many of whom came from the urban areas of Paris and Rouen, were largely unprepared for the extreme cold of the Canadian winters. They were often ill-equipped in terms of proper clothing for survival.
• Difficult Labor: Most Filles du Roi were from cities and unaccustomed to manual farm work. They had to adapt quickly to the demanding physical labor required to establish and run a household and farm in the wilderness.
• Isolation and Danger: The settlements were isolated, and colonists lived with the constant fear of Iroquois raids, which were a significant threat to life and safety. 

Social and Personal Challenges

• Pressure to Marry: The primary purpose of their recruitment was to balance the gender ratio and populate the colony. They were housed by nuns or established families until they married, and while they had the right to refuse suitors, there was intense pressure to find a husband quickly.
• Limited Agency: Though given a choice of husband, their lives were largely orchestrated by the state as instruments of imperial policy. After marriage, they fell under their husbands' legal authority, with few options like divorce if the marriage failed.
• Slander: The program generated controversy, and the women were sometimes slandered as being of questionable moral standing or even prostitutes by critics of the program, a historical myth that has since been debunked.
• Childbirth: The women were expected to have many children to boost the colony's population and faced the risks of frequent childbirth in the 17th century, a time with limited medical care. 

A few Filles du Roi in our Family Tree:

Madeleine Carbonnet (8 ggm) m. Étienne Sédilot dit Desnoyers, Aug. 11, 1664

Marie-Reine Charpentier m. 1) Louis Prinseau Jul. 28, 1672; m. 2) Étienne Domingo dit Carabi, Aug. 26, 1681

Louise Charrier (8 ggm) m. Guillaume Baret Nov. 19, 1663

Jeanne Denot (9 ggm) m. 1) André Robidou Jun. 7, 1667; m. 2) Jacques Surprenant dit Sanssoucy Aug. 16, 1678

Anne LeBer (Leper) (7 ggm) m. François Pinsonnault dit Lafleur, 1673

Jacquette Michel (8 ggm) m. Andre Mignier dit Lagacé Oct. 23, 1668

Anne Pineau dit LaVieville (8 ggm) m. Gilles Gaudreau Oct. 15, 1671

Georgette Richer (8 ggm) m. François Dupuis Oct. 6, 1670

Anne Roy (9 ggm) m. Jean Rodrigue Oct. 28, 1671

Marguerite Ténard (9 ggm) m. Charles Boyer Nov. 23, 1666

Thank you to Gemini AI for the above conversation and answers.

Chief Nissowaquet: Odawa Leader and War Chief

 

Chief Nissowaquet (also spelled Nosawaguet, Sosawaket, or known by his French name La Fourche, meaning "Fork")(1715-1797) (brother-in-law of our 7th great-granduncle Daniel Amiot) was a campprominent Odawa (Ottawa) leader and war chief during the 18th century, renowned for his strategic alliances with colonial powers, military prowess, and efforts to protect his people's interests amid shifting European control in the Great Lakes region. His life exemplified the complex navigation of Indigenous diplomacy during the French and Indian War, Pontiac's War, and the American Revolution. Below is a structured overview of his life, drawn from historical accounts.

Early Life and Background

Nissowaquet was born around 1715 into the Nassauaketon band of the Odawa people, one of four main Odawa bands whose name derives from "Nassauaketon," meaning "forked river."  The band originally resided in a village adjacent to Fort Michilimackinac (present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan), a key French trading post at the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan. By 1741, soil depletion from intensive corn cultivation prompted the band's relocation about 20 miles southwest to L’Arbre Croche (now Cross Village, Michigan), along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.  This seasonal settlement supported around 180 warriors and focused on agriculture (corn for subsistence and trade with the French), fur hunting in winter along rivers like the St. Joseph, and maple sugar production in spring.  Nissowaquet came from a lineage of warriors dedicated to defending Odawa lands, and he rose to become the most powerful Odawa chief of his era. 

Family and Personal Connections

Little is documented about Nissowaquet's immediate family, but he had significant ties through his sister, Domitilde Oukabé (also known as Kapiouapnokoué or Nepveuouikabe dit La Fourche, born around 1690 and died 1782). Domitilde, an Odawa woman, married French voyageur Daniel Joseph Amiot dit Villeneuve in 1709 in Montréal, with whom she had at least 10 children, establishing early Métis lines in the Great Lakes region. After Amiot's death around 1725, she partnered with French trader Augustin Mouet de Langlade around 1728, giving birth to their son, Charles-Michel Mouet de Langlade (1729–1801), Nissowaquet's nephew.  This nephew, a Métis fur trader and military leader educated by Jesuits, became a key ally in Nissowaquet's campaigns, fighting alongside him for the French and later the British. Nissowaquet's close bond with Charles fostered strong relationships with French settlers and officials, influencing his diplomatic strategies.  No direct descendants are detailed in primary sources, though his influence extended through family-integrated fur trade networks. Nissowaquet's father reportedly established a fur trading post in present-day Wisconsin, hinting at a family legacy in commerce. 

Leadership Roles and Key Historical Events

Nissowaquet emerged as a war chief in the 1730s, leading raids and expeditions while adapting to European technologies like rifles and the fur trade's economic shifts.  His career was marked by pragmatic alliances, first with the French and later the British, to safeguard Odawa autonomy.

• Alliance with the French (1730s–1750s): In 1739, at around age 24, Nissowaquet served as a war chief in a French expedition against the Chickasaw in the lower Mississippi Valley, led by Pierre-Joseph Céloron de Blainville.  Inspired by a dream foretelling victory if he brought his 10-year-old nephew Charles along, the party succeeded where previous efforts had failed, marking the start of Charles's military path and cementing Nissowaquet's reputation as a mentor and visionary leader.  During the 1740s, amid unrest in the pays d’en haut (upper country), he and his band remained loyal to the French, reportedly alerting commander Paul-Joseph Le Moyne de Longueuil to a potential western Indian uprising in 1744.  In the 1750s, during the French and Indian War (1754–1763), he allied Odawa and Ojibwe (Ojibwa) forces with the French against the British. In August 1757, he led 70 warriors to assist Louis-Joseph de Montcalm in capturing Fort William Henry (near Lake George, New York).  Tragically, returning warriors spread smallpox, devastating L’Arbre Croche—lodges were abandoned, and many families perished, adhering to Odawa customs of leaving sites of death. 
• Transition to British Alliance (1760s): After the British occupied Fort Michilimackinac in 1761 following France's defeat, Nissowaquet and his band, including nephew Charles, pragmatically accepted the new regime.  During Pontiac's War in June 1763, when Ojibwe leader Minweweh captured the fort in a surprise attack (disguised as a Baggatiway/lacrosse game), Nissowaquet's Odawa band rescued most surviving British soldiers and traders.  They sheltered them at L’Arbre Croche for over a month, ransomed captives from the Ojibwe using trade goods (including a personal slave for Nissowaquet), and escorted refugees to Montréal, assuring General Thomas Gage of ongoing friendship.  In 1764, at Sir William Johnson’s peace conference near Niagara (Youngstown, New York), Nissowaquet pledged allegiance to the British, receiving a chief’s commission, a medal, and later gifts like rum, tobacco, clothing, and tool repairs from commandants such as Robert Rogers.  Indian agent Benjamin Roberts described him as “the richest Indian I ever Saw” in the mid-1760s.  However, a 1767 house fire destroyed his wealth, commission, and a wampum belt from Gage; he promptly sought replacements.  In winter 1767–1768, while on the Grand River (Michigan), rumors suggested he might aid the imprisoned Rogers (charged with treason), but upon returning with 40 warriors, he expressed concerns peacefully and departed.  At an August 1768 conference, titled “Great Chief of the Ottawas,” he promised to protect the British garrison and report threats from other nations. 
• Later Years and American Revolution (1770s–1790s): During the American Revolution (1775–1783), Nissowaquet sided with the British, dispatching his warriors on expeditions while maintaining control over fur trade routes.  By the 1780s, his active military role diminished, earning him the Odawa title "akiwaz" (one long on the earth), reflecting his longevity and wisdom.  He remained the preeminent chief at L’Arbre Croche, visiting Michilimackinac annually (1791–1793) for British presents, blacksmith services, and diplomatic engagements. 

Death and Legacy

Nissowaquet died in 1797 at L’Arbre Croche, around age 82.  His legacy endures as a defender of Odawa sovereignty, skillfully balancing alliances to mitigate colonial impacts. He adapted to European influences—incorporating new tools, controlling trade, and fostering mixed-heritage families—while preserving cultural practices like dream-guided decisions.  Through his sister Domitilde's marriages, his family intertwined with French colonial society, contributing to Métis communities in Michigan and beyond. Historical markers, such as one in Cross Village, commemorate his role as a warrior, brother, and leader.  Primary sources include the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, colonial archives (e.g., Thomas Gage papers), and Odawa oral histories.

Essay courtesy of Grok xAI. Thank you.

Updated Vielle (Viel) dit Cossé Family History

 

Our history on the Vielle dit Cossé family is already detailed and well-sourced from voyageur contracts and biographical notes on figures like Alexander Mackenzie. Based on recent searches (as of December 22, 2025), there isn't a wealth of entirely new primary documentation on Joseph or Michel Vielle dit Cossé beyond the contracts and speculations already noted—much of the online content echoes our own blog posts and family research shared in genealogy forums.  However, some additional context can be incorporated to flesh out earlier generations, clarify roles in the fur trade, and provide minor refinements (e.g., exact contract dates and canoe positions for related family members). The speculated link to David Thompson in 1797 remains unconfirmed in historical records—no direct evidence ties Joseph to Thompson's surveying expedition, though it's plausible given NWC activities that year.  I've reorganized the outline for clarity, using an indented generational structure similar to previous responses, and highlighted new additions in bold for easy reference.

Generation 1: Origins in France

• Pierre Viel (Vielle) dit Cossé (ca. 1690–?) and Renée Dudouet (ca. 1695–?) (6th great-grandparents)
• Limited details; resided in Cossé, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France. Pierre was likely an artisan or laborer; the "dit Cossé" surname originates from this locale.

Generation 2: Immigration to New France

• Michel Vielle dit Cossé (1724–1805) (5th great-grandfather)
• Son of Pierre Viel dit Cossé and Renée Dudouet.
• Birth: ~1724, Cossé, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France.
• Death: 1805, Québec (exact location unclear; buried in Chambly or nearby).
• Marriage: 6 February 1758 in Chambly, Québec, to Marie Elisabeth Marier (1740–1785), daughter of Jacques Marié (Marier, Lemarié) dit Cordonnier (1687–1742) and Marie-Angélique Desroches (Desrochers) (1700–1784).
• Military Service: Served as a soldier in the Régiment de la Reine (Queen's Regiment), a French colonial infantry unit active in New France during the mid-18th century, likely involved in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). This service may have influenced his sons' adventurous paths in the fur trade. It remains unknown if he was left-handed, a minor detail speculated in some family lore.
• Occupation: Settler and farmer in Chambly; supported family during British transition post-Conquest.
• Children: At least 10, including Joseph (1767–?), Michel (1771–1810), and Marie-Louise (1780–1813).
• Spouse: Marie Elisabeth Marier (1740–1785) (5th great-grandmother)
• Birth: 9 February 1740 (baptized same day), Pointe-aux-Trembles, Montréal, Québec.
• Death: 1785, Chambly, Québec.
• Role: Managed household in a frontier setting; her family's local ties (Marier and Desroches lines) anchored the Vielle dit Cossé descendants in the Richelieu Valley.

Generation 3: Voyageurs in the Fur Trade Era

This generation highlights the family's shift to the fur trade, with multiple siblings engaging as voyageurs for the North West Company (NWC), a Montréal-based rival to the Hudson's Bay Company. The NWC, controlled by firms like McTavish, Frobisher & Company, dominated western routes in the 1790s. Voyageurs like the Vielle brothers were essential for transporting goods via canoe, enduring harsh conditions for wages around 600–1,000 livres per contract.

• Joseph Vielle dit Cossé (1767–?) (5th great-uncle)
• Birth: 26 January 1767, St-Joseph, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Québec.
• Death: Unknown (no records post-1797; possibly died in the Northwest or returned unrecorded).
• Unmarried; no known children.
• Occupation: Voyageur (bowman/avant—front guide in the canoe, responsible for navigation and spotting hazards).
• Key Events:
• 14 February 1797: Signed a 3-year contract with McTavish, Frobisher & Company (NWC), represented by Alexander Mackenzie, to travel to the Northwest, Nipigon, and Lake Superior. Likely accompanied Mackenzie to Grand Portage (now Minnesota), a key NWC depot for rendezvous and trade.
• Contract Details: Engaged as an "avant" for routes potentially extending beyond Grand Portage, given the 3-year term. While unconfirmed, his timing aligns with NWC expeditions, including possible involvement in boundary surveys post-Jay Treaty (1794), though no direct link to David Thompson's 1797 Mississippi River headwaters trip is documented.
• Legacy: Represents the family's expansion into the pays d'en haut (upper country); his disappearance from records after 1797 is common for voyageurs lost to the frontier.

• Michel Vielle dit Cossé (1771–1810) (5th great-uncle)
• Birth: 17 September 1771, St-Joseph, Chambly, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Québec.
• Death: 21 June 1810, La Prairie de la Madeleine, Québec (buried locally; cause unknown, possibly trade-related hardships).
• Unmarried; no known children.
• Occupation: Voyageur (bowman/avant, similar to his brother).
• Key Events:
• 18 March 1793: Signed a multi-year contract with McTavish, Frobisher & Company (NWC) to venture into the far Northwest (dans le Nord-Ouest du Canada), likely involving Athabasca or Red River routes.
• Returned to Québec by 1810, where he died young, perhaps from exhaustion or illness common among voyageurs.
• Legacy: His earlier contract (at age 22) shows the family's early involvement in NWC operations, predating Joseph's.
• Marie-Louise Vielle dit Cossé (1780–1813) (4th great-grandmother)
• Birth: 1780, Chambly, Québec.
• Death: 1813, Québec (exact location unclear).
• Marriage: 1802 in Chambly, Québec, to Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1770–1807), son of Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1733–1799).
• Role: Connected two voyageur families; managed household after Gabriel's early death.
• Children: Included descendants linking to your line.

Related Family: Pinsonneau (Pinsono) Connections

The marriage of Marie-Louise to Gabriel intertwined the Vielle dit Cossé with another fur trade family from La Prairie, Québec.

• Joseph Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1733–1799) (5th great-grandfather)
• Birth: 10 April 1733, La Prairie, Québec (baptized same day).
• Death: 8 August 1799, La Prairie, Québec (buried 9 August).
• Marriage: 21 February 1757 in La Prairie, Québec, to Marie-Anne Dupuis (1738–1797).
• Fur Trade Legacy: Early voyageur and trader in the upper Great Lakes; his sons, including Gabriel, continued this path, emphasizing the intergenerational nature of the trade in the region.
• Children: At least 12, including Gabriel (1770–1807).
• Gabriel Pinsonneau (Pinsono) (1770–1807) (4th great-grandfather)
• Birth: 1770, La Prairie, Québec.
• Death: 1807, Québec (possibly trade-related; young age suggests frontier risks).
• Marriage: 1802 to Marie-Louise Vielle dit Cossé.
• Occupation: Voyageur (milieu—middle paddler in the canoe brigade, handling rhythm and cargo balance).
• Key Events:
• 11 August 1797: Signed a contract to travel to Michigan (likely Detroit or Mackinac areas) for the trading company of brothers Jacques and François Laselle (sometimes spelled Lasselle), French-Canadian merchants based in Detroit who dealt in furs, provisions, and Indigenous trade networks post-American Revolution. The Laselle brothers operated independently but aligned with British interests until the Jay Treaty shifted borders.
• Legacy: His Michigan route complemented the Vielle brothers' northwestern paths, illustrating diverse fur trade networks from Québec.

Thank you to Grok xAI for enhancements and editing.