Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin (abt. 1652 - bef. 1707)

Born about 1652 in Saint-Castin, Béarn, France [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 30 Jun 1707 before about age 55 in Pau, Béarn, France

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Cindy Cooper [send private message] and Acadians Project WikiTree [send private message]

Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin is an Acadian. Join: Acadians Project Discuss: ACADIA

Biography

NOTICE: this profile is protected by the Acadians Project because he is an historically important person. Please contact the Acadian Project before making any substantive changes. Thanks for helping make WikiTree the best site for accurate information.

Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin is Notable.

Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin migrated from France to Acadia.

Jean Vincent d'Abbadie, Baron de Saint-Castin, was born and died in France, but spent most of his life as a French militia officer in Acadia and as an adviser to Abenaki/Penobscot Chief Madokawando.^[1]

Jean Vincent was born about 1652 in a well-established noble family of Béarn (today Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the Pyrénées near the French-Spanish border. His parents were Jean Jacques D'Abbadie and Isabeau DeBearn Bonasse. While the precise location of Jean Vincent's birth remains unknown, it was most likely at the location of his father's ancestral home, which was at Escout near Oloron - or alternatively nearby at the family's barony at Saint-Castin, which was just outside of Pau. [See Research Note below, re location of birth.] ^[2][3][4][5]

Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin
was a member of Carignan-Salières Regiment 1665-1668

In 1665, having also lost his father, 13 year old Jean Vincent was an ensign of the Carignan-Salières regiment in Chambly's company^[6], which set sail for Nouvelle-France. His military exploits are described in detail by Cerbelaud Salagnac. In brief, he likely fought against the Iroquois in 1666.

Jean Vincent était officier des troupes de la Marine

In 1670, after the Treaty of Breda restored Acadia to France, he went with the new Acadian Governor de Grandfontaine, as a member of a Marine Company^[6], to retake the fort at Penobscot Bay. Jean Vincent established himself at Pentagouet on the Penobscot River. He was entrusted with several missions which enabled him to study the men and the country.^[4]

Jean Vincent chose as his wife the daughter of Madokawando, the great chief of the Penobscot/Abenaqui. Her Algonquin name was Pidianske, and her Christian name may have been Marie-Mathilde.^[2][4] They were married about 1670.^[7]

From about 1671 to the late 1690s, the couple had ten children: Claire, Cecile, Brigitte, Anastasie, Bernard, Bernard Anselme, Jean Pierre, Ursuline, Joseph, and Barenos. Jean Vincent also fathered two daughters with Marie Mathilde's sister^[8] Marie Pidiwammiskwa; one daughter's name was known (Thérèse).^[2]

In 1674, Jean Vincent was taken prisoner by Dutch pirates who were allied with the Bostonians. After being tortured, he escaped to Québec. His orders from the governor were to urge the Abenakis and other nations throughout Acadia to adopt the interests of the French king. Jean Vincent's identity and role evolved over this time period.^[4]

Saint-Castin was entirely an Abenaki, to the extent of making the interests of his new compatriots his own. If he engaged in the fur trade, if he maintained close business relations with Boston, in defiance of the rules of the French administration, it was precisely because being more Abenaki than French he no longer considered himself affected by them. But as the French needed an alliance with the Abenakis, the court, the governors-general of Novelle-France, and the governors of Acadia always dealt tactfully with the baron and treated him with the consideration due his rank. Officially, moreover, this rank remained a modest one, for Saint-Castin avoided ostentation in everything. Until his death in 1698, Madokawando was the sole great chief of the Penobscots; he had his lieutenants who were in command of the warriors, led expeditions, and parleyed with the enemy when truces were made. But it was known everywhere that nothing was done without his son-in-law’s advice, and that the latter had only to express a wish for it to be instantly complied with.^[4]

Upon the death of his brother in 1674, Jean Vincent became the third baron of Saint-Castin. However, his focus lay elsewhere:

From that time on Saint-Castin, who seems to have been no longer subject to any official authority, appears to have divested himself almost entirely of his position as a French officer. He divided his time between a Penobscot tribe, which finally adopted him, and his dwelling at Pentagouet, a mere pied-à-terre which must have comprised a factory and a storehouse for merchandise, for he also began to engage in trade.^[4]

In 1686, at Pentagouet, Le sieur de ST CASTIN was living with several servants. No land or livestock was listed. Pentagouet was a fort.^[9]

He must have known other Acadians, however few there were in the area. In 1686, Jean Serreau, Sieur de Saint-Aubin was living in Pesmaquady (Passamaquoddy) on the Rivière Saint-Croix - and Saint-Castin lived at Pentagouet (the only family at the fort).^[10]

During 1692 when the British Governor of Massachusetts Phips hired men to murder Saint-Castin, Jean Serreau, Sieur de Saint-Aubin (one of the most influential men in those early days) and Jacques Petitpas (Serreau's son in law) thwarted the plan.^[4][11]

He returned to Pentagouet and lived there with his Indian wife and one child in 1693. (See research note concerning number of children).^[12] However, the number in an earlier 1693 census document appears to be 7^[13] He was not found there in 1698.

Jean Vincent returned to France around 1701 to settle his legal and personal affairs. In 1703 he accepted an obligation of 24,000 pounds of money owed to him.^[14]

It's possible that he owned ao lot that was appropriated for the fort at Port Royal.^[15]

There were several disputes to his inheritance and he never did return to Acadia. "Exhausted by quibbling and chicanery," he died in 1707 at Pau, France.^[2][4] The exact date of his death is not known. It is rumored that he died on 3 February 1707,^[16] but no burial record has been found.^[17]

What is known for sure is that he died before 30 June 1707. On that day, Pontchartrain wrote to Monsieur de Vaudreuil, and noted the loss of this man "who had great credit among the savages."^[17][18]

Timeline

1652 birth, in Béarn, France (Escout or Saint-Castin)

1665 arrival, Nouvelle-France, soldier Carignan-Salières Regiment

1670 arrival, Pentagouet with Governor General Grandfontaine

c1670 marriage to Pidianske/Marie-Mathilde

c1671 birth, daughter Claire

???? birth, Cécile

???? birth, Brigitte

???? birth, Anastasie

1686 residence, Pentaguouet

1687 pillaging of dwelling at Pentagouet by Andros

c1688 birth, son Bernard

c1689 birth, son Bernard-Anselme

c1692 birth, son Jean-Pierre

c1696 birth, daughter Ursuline

1??? birth, son Joseph

1??? birth, son Barenos

1??? birth, daughter (mother sister of Marie-Mathilde

1??? birth, daughter Thérèse (mother sister of Marie-Mathilde)

1693 residence, Pentaguouet

1698 death, father-in-law, Chief Madokawando

1701 sail to France to settle affairs

1707 death, in Pau France

Research Notes

Note Regarding Location of Birth:

The precise birth location for Jean Vincent in Béarn is not known because his baptismal record has not been recovered. Both White's DGFA and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography suggested Saint-Castin (near Pau), where his father had a barony.^[2][4]

However, a 1999 publication dedicated to Jean Vincent, entitled Saint-Castin - baron français chef amérindien 1652-1707, by Marjolaine Saint-Pierre, reviewed the evidence and concluded that Jean Vincent, like his siblings, was more likely born at Escout (near Oloron), which was the original home of his father. The findings by Marjolaine Saint-Pierre are thus consistent with earlier conclusions that were recorded in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada.^[3][5]

Note Regarding Marriages:
There is controversy about whether the Baron married just one Indian wife or two, the second being her sister. Stephen A White concludes it was two, and that the second wife had two children with him.

One of the sources used by White says this about his marriage: (translated from the French)

It should be remembered that Judge Labaig himself did not dispute the reality of the marriage of St-Castin, which cannot be questioned.

Bernard-Anselme de Saint-Castin, his son, produced, on this subject, certificates emanating from missionaries, the principal inhabitants of Acadia, the Bishop of Canada and attestations from people who attended the ceremony.

Historians are unanimous in asserting that the baron married the daughter of an important chief, but the identification of this interesting princess is uncertain, given that she would have received from missionaries, either the first name of Mathilde, or that of Marie Melchide and that she should have the patronymic name of Pidiwamiska, according to some, to that of Mataconando, according to others. There certainly existed an Indian chief bearing a name similar to the latter, because in 1694, Sebastien de Villieu, sent on a mission to the savages of Acadia, reported a Mataquando who had acquired a great reputation for bravery during the previous wars against the English, but was then animated by peaceful intentions, having sold part of his land to the British and made a treaty with which led him to dissuade his compatriots from taking part in an expedition against New England.^[19]

and "The judge learned that, according to his expression, the baron had had "A public business with a savage" (1) and that from this association, two daughters had come out. That was not all: after having set up a household with a sister of his partner, Saint-Castin had married his second concubine, who had given him ten children, two natural and eight legitimate (2)."^[18]

Removed 1684 marriage date and location (Île Panawanske (Indian Island, Old Town, Maine)) that was possibly for the second marriage (which was not a marriage). Source needed for both. (Bourque-573 13:30, 3 August 2022 (UTC))

Note regarding number of children in 1693 census:
In the Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes, p. 7, the 1693 census is noted: "Rc Pentagouët 1693: femme amérindienne, 7 enfants". In the original census record, p. 3 of 3 the number seems like a 7. In the transcriptions, it is the number 1 that is used.

Considering the ages of the children and those who were still single in 1693, based on the information in DGFA, it is possible that there were 7 children in the household.

1. Claire born around 1671, married around 1700.
2. Cécile married around 1695
3. Brigitte married around 1703
4. Anastasie married in 1707
5. Bernard born in 1688. Entered at the Seminary in Quebec in 1696.
6. Bernard-Anselme born around 1689, married 1707
7. Jean-Pierre born around 1692, entered at the Seminary in Quebec in 1701

Notes regarding his death:
An alternate version of his death, attributed to oral tradition, is that he died in Acadie, alongside his daughter Therese.^[20]. This discovery of the bodies and materials is attributed to Frank Hamilton Cushing. ^[21][22][23]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Stephen A. White, Patrice Gallant, and Hector-J Hébert, Dictionnaire Généalogique Des Familles Acadiennes (Moncton, N.-B.: Centre D'études Acadiennes, Université De Moncton, 1999) pp. 5, 6,7.

   p 5:
   c. Jean-Vincent n (selon R. LeBlant) Saint-Castin v 1652 (Rc Pentagouet 1693 37a [sic]);m v 1670 (réhav 1684) Mathilde (Madakawando & -----); d (selon R. LeBlant) Pau -- ---- 1707.

   p. 6
   Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie (Jean Jacques & Isabeau de Béarn de Bonasse) n (selon R. LeBlant) Saint-Castin v 1652; 3rd baron de Saint-Castin 1674; m v 1670 (réhab 1684); d (selon R. LeBlant) Pau -- ---- 1707. M Mathilde (Madokawando chef des Anénaquis). 10 children

   p 7
   nm Marie Pidiwammiskwa (dit soeur de Mathilde). v 1685. Two children

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada, Vol. 1 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Royal Society of Canada, May 1895) pp. 86-87 La Societé Royale du Canada - La Maison d'Abbadie
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9} Georges Cerbelaud Salagnac, ABBADIE DE SAINT-CASTIN, JEAN-VINCENT D’, Baron de Saint-Castin in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 2, (University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003), accessed 26 Nov 2021.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Saint-Castin - baron français chef amérindien 1652-1707. Saint-Pierre, Marjolaine. Septentrion. Sillery, Québec. 1999. pp 14-31; Saint-Castin baron français chef amérindien
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Migrations: Compagnie de Chambly
7. ↑ Harald E. L. Prins, Bunny McBride, Asticou's Island Domain: Wabanaki People at Mount Desert Island, 1500–2000, (PDF, 2007), Acadia National Park Ethnographic Overview and Assessment 1. Boston: National Park Service. pp. xvii. "[Castin] marries two of Madockawando’s daughters and has many Métis children."
8. ↑ Rev. Father Clarence d'Entremont, "French Canadian and Acadian Genealogie Review, Vol III, No 1, spring 1971, pp. 9-28

   p. 10 Footnote 5
   Although the story with regard to his having married two indian women has been proven to be false, the contention of his having children from two sisters is collaborated already in 1687 by de Menneval, sucessor of Perrot, as Goveernor of Acadia, when he writes, December 1st,, of the Sieur de St-Castin as "havin with him two daughters of the chief of (the) savages by whom he has many children". (Hon John E. Godfrey,"Jean Vincent, Baron de Saint Castin", in Coll. of the Maine Historical Society, 1st Series, Vol II, (1876), p. 55, footnote

9. ↑ Tim Hebert; Transcription of the 1686 Acadian Census, at Port-Royal, Acadie 1686 Census Transcribed. The original census can be found at Acadian Census microfilm C-2572 of the Library and Archives Canada “Acadie Recensements 1671 – 1752,” Images 15-60;

   at Pentagouet: Le sieur de ST CASTIN and several servants. In the original 1686 census at Pentagouet, Jean Vincent Abbadie de Saint-Castin was listed as Le sieur de St. Castin and transcribed as Le sieur de ST CASTIN.

10. ↑ Tim Hebert, "Transcription of the 1686 Acadian Census, at Port-Royal, Acadie," 1686 Census Transcribed. The original census can be found at Acadian Census microfilm C-2572 of the National Archives of Canada “Acadie Recensements 1671 – 1752,” Images 15-60;

    at Pesmonquady or Riviere St Croix: Le Sr. de ST AUBIN and his wife; his older and younger sons and a few servants. DESORCIS who also lives at this river.

11. ↑ Clarence J. d’Entremont, “SERREAU DE SAINT-AUBIN, JEAN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 2, (University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–), accessed September 20, 2020, Description of the Plot Against Saint Castin.
12. ↑ Tim Hebert, Transcription of the 1693 Acadian Census at Port-Royal, Acadie 1693 Census Transcribed. The original census can be found at Acadian Census microfilm C-2572 of the National Archives of Canada “Acadie Recensements 1671 – 1752”, Images 62-108

    Sr. ST. CASTIN 37, Indian wife, 1 child

13. ↑ 1693 census see page 3
14. ↑ Royal Society of Canada, "Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada: Délibérations de la Société Royale du Canada," Jean-Vincent p. 87;

    [English translation]: In 1703 he accepted an obligation of 24,000 pounds of money owed to him of 20 sols tournois piece, from Mr. M. Jean de Labaig, advisor to the king, his lieutenant-general an senechal d'Orleon, his brother-in-law, and Jean Vincent de Labaig, lawyer at the Court, eldest son of the latter, in representation of the sums owed to him by noble Jacques de Bearn, sier de Bonasse, his uncle, and by nobleman Jean de Florence, abbe de Lescun and d'Arette, purchaser of the property of the said Sieur de Bonasse, by virtue of the marriage contract of Messire Jean Jacques de Saint Castin with the late Isabeau de Bearn-Bonasse, father and mother of said Sieur de Saint Castin.
    In this same act, the baron of Saint Casin acquitted the said sieur de Labaig "of any claim he could have on the legitimates of deceased nobles Jean de Saint-Castin-Escout, cure of Arette, and Jean Pierre de Saint-Castin -Escout, archpriest of Galan, his uncles, and on the goods left by them. This act bears, finally, receipt of the said Sieur de Labaig in favor of the Baron de Saint Castin "of the supplies and advances he made for him, during his absence outside the kingdom, as his attorney, for twenty-two years or so, in various affairs of the said Sieur de Saint Castin, until now.... " -- Jean Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint Castin died before February 3, 1717.

15. ↑ White, Stephen A. English Supplement to the Dictionnaire Généalogique Des Familles Acadiennes ,Part I 1636 to 1714; Moncton, N.-B.: Centre D'études Acadiennes, Université De Moncton, 2000, Print. P. 2

    2 Dec 1705: Expropriation of a lot, "adjoining the side of the old fort," and belonging to Martin Aucoin, or to Sr. de Saint-Castin, for the extension of the fort at Port-Royal.

16. ↑ BNF Data accessed on 27 June 2022 at https://data.bnf.fr/en/13543829/jean-vincent_d__abbadie_de_saint-castin/
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Marjolaine Saint-Pierre, Saint-Castin: Baron français, chef amérindien, 1652–1707, (Sillery, Quebec: Septentrion, 1999) p. 205
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Robert LeBlant, Une Figure légendaire de l'histoire acadienne: Le Baron de St-Castin, (Dax. 1934) pp. 49, 50, 91 accessed at Digital Collections, University of Calgary book
19. ↑ Stephen A. White, Patrice Gallant, and Hector-J Hébert, Dictionnaire Généalogique Des Familles Acadiennes, (Moncton, N.-B.: Centre D'études Acadiennes, Université De Moncton, 1999) p. 7 (citing Robert LeBlant, Une Figure légendaire de l'histoire acadienne: Le Baron de St-Castin, (Dax. 1934) found at the University of Calgary book p. 53 and 54.
20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com: accessed 20 April 2020), memorial page for Elder Jean Vincent “Baron of Castin” d'Abbadie de St Castin (1652–1707), Find A Grave: Memorial #200173763; Maintained by The Prince Orono (contributor 48817425) Lost at War, who reports a Died during the Attack on Port Royal in 1707, alongside his Daughter "Princess Theresa." An extensive biography of the oral tradition is included there.
21. ↑ See the Online Archive of California, "Finding aid to the Frank Hamilton Cushing Collection MS.6" Biographical Note)

    Cushing died 1900 April 10 while he was planning his new expedition to Maine,

    though no evidence of findings is presented list of publications here
22. ↑ WJ McGee, William H Holmes, J.W. Powell, Alice C Fletcher, Washington Matthews, Stewart Culin and Joseph D McGuire, "In Memorian: Frank Hamilton Cushing" Memorials by professional colleagues of the Anthropological Society of Washington and list of publications with no reference to findings in Maine.
23. ↑ Repatriation Act of the United States Congress, "Penobscot Nation; Return for Interment." In this Report items are listed, but none specific to those that might have been found with D'Abbadie or his wife. No other list found yet.

See also:

• Peace, Thomas. "Two Conquests: Aboriginal Experiences of the Fall of New France and Acadie", A dissertation, York University, Toronto, Ontario, September 2011, pp. 133-138 Dissertation
• Munson, Gorham. ST. CASTIN: A LEGEND REVISED. St. Castin: A Legend Revised
• https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/saint-castin-french-baron-drove-english-from-maine/
• Frank T. Siebert. “The First Maine Indian War: Incident at Machias (1676).” Actes Du Quatorzieme Congres des Algonquinistes, pp. 137-156. William Cowan, ed. Ottawa: Carleton University.
• Daviault, Pierre,, Le Baron de Saint-Castin [...], Montréal, Editions de l'A.C.F., 1939, 1 ressource en ligne (219 p.) : carte, Collections de BAnQ. (Accessed 27 Oct 2022) https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2561515
• This letter is incorrectly attributed to Jean Pierre who became Baron after Jean Pierre's death.Letter from son Bernard-Anselme
• https://michelinewalker.com/2015/09/11/jean-vincent-dabbadie-baron-de-saint-castin/
• https://www.thechamberlainstory.com/2017/07/07/spencers-indian-mother-winona/ Includes nice timeline of early Acadian history.