Were are the Algonquins!!

A lot of Algonquins didn't settle on reserves in Ontario and are not federally recognized. It's very hard to trace their records. I know, my ancestors came from, Lake of the Two Mountains(Oka)in Quebec and settle in the Sharbot Lake area in Ontario. I am starting to finds records for them. I don't how long they were in Oka. The Sulpician Mission contain records of births, deaths and marriages. Some of the Algonquins originate from Trois-Rivieres in Quebec. There may be Church records on them also. Going further back, there may be records from the Ottawa Valley in Ontario. So, in my case, starting from Oka. To see how far I can go back. I can take my search to Trois Rivieres or the Ottawa Vallery. I will have to use church records. I hear some records are in France. wish me luck.

This is a nice place to live!!

Before, the settlement at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Lets go back on how they finally settle at the Bay of Quinte. The Mohawks were originate at the Mohawk River in New York. The Mohawk village was called Tionondoroge or Fort Hunter. The Europeans called the village, Lower Mohawk Castle. The situation, for the Mohawks worsen. Because the Mohawks sided with the British during the American Revolution. So, the Mohawks fled to Lachine, Quebec, which is on the Island of Monteal in 1777. The Mohawk from Tionondoroge stay at Lachine, Quebec for seven years. During that time, the Mohawks from both the Upper and Lower Castles loss their homelands to the Americans. For their faithful service for the British. The Mohawks and the rest of the Six Nations were given land in Upper Canada(Ontario). Most of them wanted to settle at Grand River. But, the Mohawks of Tionondoroge, led by Chief John Deserontyon wanted to settle at the Bay of Quinte. Why, because it is believe to be the birth place of Tekanawita(the Peacemaker). The individual who brought the original five nations together. The Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca. After years of wars between them to form the Iroguois Nation. A document, dated Jan. 21, 1784. Gave a census of the village at Lachine. It give the population as such: Mohawks - men - 36; women - 41; children - 37 for total of 114 Delawares - men - 4; women - 3; children - 4 for total of 11 The community, arrive at the Bay of Quinte by canoe of 20 families on May 22, 1784. The community have been there ever since that time. There is alot of researchers, trying to find out, who are the names of the 125 people. Details of births, marriages and deaths records at Lachine, Quebec. Between 1777 and 1784. So we can make the connections from the Mohawk village of Tionondoroge to Lachine, Quebec and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory(The Bay of Quinte Mohawks).

There are royals in my family!!

I am the descendant of Catherine Marie Baillon. Who was the daughter of Alphonse de Baillon and Louise de Marle. Her parents were members of the minor French nobility. Catherine Baillon came to New France(Quebec, Canada) in 1669 as a King's daughter. To marry a settler, the settler was Jacques Miville. Going further back in her lineage, you will find connections to the major French and European royal houses. I like to thank others, who did the research from Catherine Marie Baillon on back. For there time to publish the research so that family researchers like me can add the information to their family trees. I am for ever grateful. For my part, I have to prove, I am a descendant of Catherine Marie Baillon. I have most of the marriage and birth documention and the census records to claim a descendant. It was through the Cotas, Bedards, Chevaliers, Lizots, Miville to Catherine Baillon.

What's in a surname

When picking a surname for themself and their family. Sometimes by the head of their church, chiefs, indian agents or their non-native friends. It was a great honour by the first nations people to chose your surname. For the Mohawks it was the German surnames and for the Algonquins the French surnames.

Why Oka is important to me

Oka, or what I refer to as Lake of the Two Mountains is located northwest of Montreal, Quebec. For thousands of years it was a meeting place and hunting ground for a number of First Nations. Huron, Algonquin, Iroquois, Nipissings, Pawnee, Fox and Sioux. In 1721 a Roman Catholic mission by the Sulpician Order was setup. It was next to a Mohawk settlement and a number of Algonquins settle there also at Oka. The mission lasted more than one hundred years. Doing Baptisms, marriages and burials. For both the Algonquin and Mohawk communities. My direct ancestors both Algonquin and Mohawk were baptize, married and buried there. On my father side which was Algonquin and my Mother side which is Mohawk.

What's in a name!!

First Nations could have many names in their life time. One at birth like, for son of or daughter of, At a certain age, the young men and women were given a name sometimes for life or change their name later in life. It was only one name, there wasn't any surnames in First Nations. When the Europeans came and baptism the First Nations people. They baptism them with a first name, like John, Jacob, Joseph or Margaret, Mary and Susan. Then their First Nations name example: Margaret Kviethentha, Abraham Onagsakearet and Jacob Quincbas. Later they took surnames. One famous example is John Yodeserontyon or John Deseronto, chief of the Bay of Quinte Mohawks. His father was Chief Warrior of Tionondoroge, Thomas Ganughsiddishe. Yodeserontyon, means (The Lightning has Struck). When he was baptism, he took John as his first name. Also, took John as his surname, his descendants surnames are also name John.

Algonquin women in France

To further the relations between First Nations people and New France(Quebec). The policy of the government was to ship a number of Algonquin women to France and to educate them on the French language and the French way of life. Some stay in France, married French men and had children in France. Some of the children came to New France to been with their people. Most, were educated, brought back to New France and serve as agents for their Algonquin Nations. One of them was Francoise Grenier.