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Madeleine-Angèlique[1] (daughter of Unknown Mi'kmaq (abt.1680-)) was potentially born around 1698 in Siknikt, Mi'kma'ki, based on the supposed age of her husband and the location of their family's homestead. Sources are needed to verify the date and place of her birth. She was a Mi'kmaw woman.[1][2][3]
She was allegedly the mother of Thérèse Marie Rousseau (1717) and Françoise Rousseau (~1720–>1785)[4][5] during a first marriage with an unknown Rousseau man. Their parentage is disputed, see Research Notes.
She married Gabriel Giraud (born about 1695 in Normandie, France; son of Francois Giraud and Jacqueline (Decury) Giraud)[citation needed] before 1731[1][6] in Caraquet, Siknikt. Their family had a "dit" name of Saint-Jean. Their children were:
Her family members were among the first permanent settlers of Caraquet, in what is now New Brunswick. They settled at the mouth of the Isabelle Brook (originally Saint-Jean Brook)[8] directly across from Caraquet Island.[9] The site may have held ancestral significance.[8] It is located in the Siknikt district of Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded Mi'kmaq homeland.[10]
From A compendious history of the northern part of the province of New Brunswick, and of the district of Gaspe, in Lower Canada by Robert Cooney, published 1832:[11]
Caraquette, as I have elsewhere observed, is rather an old settlement, the cause, perhaps, why its inhabitants particularly the women, exhibit more of the colour and features of the (Mi'kmaq), than is generally discernable in Acadians. This personal distinction, however, is also observable at Petit Rochè, another French settlement farther up the Bay ; and there is little doubt, that the peculiarity in both cases, is the result of the early settlers having intermarried with the (Mi'kmaq).
In the August 1761 census of Isle de Caraquet, Gabriel Giraud dit St Jean is recorded as the head of a household consisting of two people, himself and one woman.[12]
A translation of the letter from Gabriel Giraud to James Murray (1721-1794), the then-governor of Quebec, 27 Aug 1761:[6]
Gabriel Giraud to Murray
at Karaquet The 27 August 1761.
Monsignor,
I received with humble submission the Reading of the Letter that you were pleased to honor the inhabitants dated July 7 last.
I have The honor to represent to you, Monsignor, that I Am established in Karaquet for more than thirty years, and that the Acadians have been here only for two to three years. Based on this long possession, Monsignor, I take The liberty to ask you to allow me to Stay here with my Family and to be persuaded that I will obey all the orders that you will please send me. It is with this grace that I hope, as someone who daily makes vows to Heaven for your prosperity and preservation and who does not cease to be with all possible Submission and respect.
The mark of Gabriel Giraud
A true Copy
Cramahé
P.A., E425, 172, P.R.O. 239.
Roderick MacKenzie, commander of the 77th Regiment of Foot at Fort Cumberland, wrote the following on 3 Nov 1761 while at the Fort, in a letter to British Commander-in-Chief of North America Jeffrey Amherst (1717-1797):[6]
One hundred and Eighty Seven persons are now here, ready to be Sent to Piziquid, and Sixty three more were embarked in the Small Craft above mentioned. Besides those, there are Sixty Eight Families Inhabiting the different harbours from Gaspee to Bay Vert, of all which please to receive particular Lists, exclusive of the half breed Acadian Indians, whom I dont know which Side to class with, and have therefore let alone.
From A narrative of an extraordinary escape out of the hands of the Indians, in the Gulph of St. Lawrence (by Gamaliel Smethurst.), detailing the author's story of his journey from Nepisiguit to Fort Cumberland in 1761:[13]
THURSDAY, November 5.
As we sailed all night, got down to Caraquet, twelve leagues, by morning. It was a very cold disagreeable night. Old Saint Jean condoled with me upon the occasion, but would not buy anything I had, to raise a little money; unless (12) I would sell them for a quarter their value—Sold him nine shirts, and some silver lace for a trifle. This man is a native of Old France—married an Indian, and has lived here near fifty years. His son, who is half Indian, called Jean Baptist, has married an Indian also. I have traded considerably with him—got him to procure two Indians to go with me to Fort Cumberland in a canoe—He did so, and we agreed for 140 livres, (provided we could get the consent of their tribe)—I thought, if possible to get to Mirimichi, (the last French settlement); if not, to Fort Cumberland before the frosts sets in—Left my large trunk with Jean Baptist.
It is said Madeleine-Angèlique and her husband did "the best they could" to help Gamaliel on his journey, and helped provide him protection.[1] The Mi'kmaw mother and her two sons that assisted Gamaliel after this visit were associated with the Pokemouche band of the Mi'kmaq.[13] One can assume Madeleine-Angèlique and her family were as well.
She potentially died after 1786 in Bas-Caraquet.[citation needed] A burial site next to her family settlement was uncovered due to beach erosion circa 1850-1860 where several First Nation birch bark burials as well as a European male burial with a gold crucifix believed to be her husbands were unearthed.[8] The bodies were moved to the church near Bas-Caraquet.[9] It is possible she was among those buried on these grounds.
Events that happened in Mi'kma'ki in the years leading up to and succeeding her lifetime, from the following source:[14]
1676 – Father Chrestien Le Clercq began his work in Gaspasia. He was the first to use hieroglyphic characters to teach Mi’kmaq
1713 – The “Submission and Agreement of the Eastern Indians” including those of the St. John River and eastward was signed at Portsmouth
1716 – Gaulin established a mission at Antigonish in order to induce the Mi’kmaq to settle and farm the land
1717 – A Church was approved for the Mi’kmaq of Antigonish
1722 – The Indian War began in 1722 and lasted until 1726. Gaulin established a mission at Bras d'Or Lake. Phillips banned the sale of arms and ammunition to the Indians
1725 – Treaty with the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet signed in Boston. It was the first of several treaties to be signed between the British and the Mi’kmaq to establish a peaceful alliance
1726 – The 1725 Treaty was ratified and confirmed by all the Mi’kmaw tribes in Nova Scotia during talks at Port Royal
1735 – Pierre Maillard arrived at Louisbourg and began work on Mi’kmaw grammar
1744 – Mascarene requested that Gorham’s Rangers keep the Mi’kmaq under control
1749 – Edward Cornwallis was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia. He was followed by over 2000 settlers who founded the settlement of Halifax. Treaty signed with the Indians at Chebucto and Saint John renewing the Treaty of 1725. In the continuing campaign in Chignecto, Cornwallis’s instructions include a reward of ten guineas for the scalps of Mi’kmaw men, women, and children. The Lords of Trade disagreed with this “extermination” policy. The Mi’kmaw military began to decline after they lost the support of the French.
1752 – Treaty between Peregrine Thomas Hopson, Governor of the Province of Nova Scotia and Jean Baptiste Cope, Chief Sachem of the Mi’kmaq, was signed in Halifax. Grand chief Cope was assured that Britain intended to make peace, provide trading posts, and protect the land and the way of life of the Mi’kmaw people. This treaty designated October 1st as the date on which the Mi’kmaq would receive gifts from the British to “renew their friendship and submissions”.
1753 – Thomas Wood started work on a Mi’kmaw grammar dictionary and bible. Up until 1756, Lawrence issued a proclamation ordering hostilities to be committed on the Mi’kmaq
1755 – A Mi’kmaw by the name of Paul Laurent requested hunting lands for the Mi’kmaw people
1758 – Louisbourg fell to the British for the last time – a vital turning point in Mi’kmaw resistance to the British presence. Lawrence issued a proclamation inviting immigrants to Nova Scotia and promising them land grants with no rents for 10 years
1760-61 – Mi’kmaw Chiefs discussed terms of peace with the British
1761 – Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed on Governor Belcher’s farm. The “Burying of the Hatchet Ceremony” celebrated the successful conclusion of the treaties. Royal Instructions were issued to Governors, instructing them to enter into treaties with the various tribes; the said treaties were to be honoured and enforced without exception
1762 – Belcher’s Proclamation stated that His Majesty was determined to maintain the just rights of the Indians to all lands reserved or claimed by them
1763 – The Royal Proclamation brought the management of Indian Affairs under central direction. It was an attempt to prevent the illegal seizure of native lands by the incoming British settlers
1764 – A plan for future management of Indian affairs was created
1776 – Treaty signed between Americans and delegates of St. John’s and Mi’kmaw tribes. This treaty, signed at Watertown, stated that the Mi’kmaw Nation and America would help one another against any enemy. Most of the Mi’kmaq did not agree with this arrangement; therefore this treaty did not last
1779 – The final treaty between the Mi’kmaq and the British was signed. The Mi’kmaq ceased to be a military threat
1782 – Loyalist refugees from New York fled to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The Mi’kmaw population was now outnumbered and no longer considered to be a threat to the British. They were placed on reservations
1783 – The Colonial Government of Nova Scotia granted licenses of occupations to several Mi’kmaw Bands which were merely confirmation of the existence of settlements already established
1786 – Charles Morris was commissioned to carry out an extensive survey of lands assigned to the Mi’kmaq
1789 – Schools for Mi’kmaw children were started
1794 – The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain was signed. The Mi’kmaw people were allowed to cross the international boundary without any hindrance
1800 – A committee was formed to study the plight of the Mi’kmaq
It seems as if Denis Rousseau may be confused with Jean Rousseau, and may be the father of the First Nation children attributed to Jean and Madeleine-Angèlique:[15]
There may be some confusion between these men, as they lived in the same area and shared similar names. Further research is needed.
Angélique and Jean-Baptiste Giraud had a sister or half-sister who was the first spouse of Pierre (Le) Vicaire, Françoise Rousseau.[15]
No entry in White for this Rousseau couple or parents. No entry for LeVicaire or Vicaire. Landry has Jean Rousseau and an unknown Amerindienne for this couple, married about 1720.
Madeleine-Angèlique's mother, Unknown Mi'kmaq (abt.1680-), would be the earliest known carrier on her branch of the MtDNA Haplogroup A2. As of now, it seems like there may be conflicting information on the parentage of the first two children attributed to Madeleine-Angèlique. DNA tests of descendants from both sets of her alleged children return A2, with minor mutations. It seems like the two sets of children attributed to Madeleine-Angèlique could be siblings, or potentially cousins from the same maternal line. Further research is needed.
See the following source:[16]
Complex genealogical cases clarified by mtDNA
Baie des Chaleurs straddles two provincial territories, and this political as well as administrative reality has not favored the study of cross-provincial genealogical relationships whose complexity remained unaddressed, by Québec’s RPQA notably. For example, this database indicates that Marie LeVicaire, studied in Table 3, is the daughter of the "French" Françoise Rousseau. This reconstruction, however, does not correspond to what is known about this family from Caraquet on the Bay’s south shore in New Brunswick. Following the death of Marie LeVicaire, François Gionet remarries Marie Albert. To do so, the couple had to obtain a 3rd-degree affinity dispensation. This means that Marie Albert was Marie LeVicaire's 3rd cousin, and that these two women are in fact descended from the same Indigenous great-grandmother, whose mtDNA signature is in fact found in their descendants.
The source goes on to make the case for the following ancestry:
1. LEVICAIRE Marie [1] + GIONET François, v. 1762, Caraquet NB
2. UNKNOWN with Indigenous mtDNA A2 [2] + LEVICAIRE Pierre (likely)
3. UNKNOWN with Indigenous mtDNA A2 [3] + INCONNU
4. UNKNOWN with Indigenous mtDNA A2 (also spouse of GIRAUD dit SAINT-JEAN Gabriel) + INCONNU
5. UNKNOWN with Indigenous mtDNA A2 + UNKNOWN
This at least now proves a connection between the Rousseau children and the Giraud children of Madeleine-Angèlique. Marie LeVicaire was daughter of Françoise Rousseau, and Marie Albert was granddaughter of Angèlique Giraud, and they were cousins according to the 3rd-degree affinity dispensation. And they are all descendants of Unknown Mi'kmaq (abt.1680-).
Though her name may be in question, she and her daughter Françoise Rousseau seem to have passed an A2 haplogroup, indicating First Nation origins. These results can be found here, and here.[17]
That she was a native is supported by the DNA of her daughter, the daughter is presumed to have a French father, Jean Rousseau, thus her mother would be First Nation, but which tribe is not found in any records so far.[7] Some researchers say her first name and last name are Unknown, a source is needed for her name.
Two Rousseau tests from the Mothers of Acadia Project on FamilyTreeDNA.[18][19]
See also from FamilyTreeDNA.[20] It seems as if there is at least one mtDNA A2 test from this study pointing towards Madeleine-Angèlique as their direct maternal ancestor, with Gabriel Giraud as the father.
Another test from FamilyTreeDNA, by the mother of Dan Berger, pointing towards the A2 haplogroup.[21]
Unsourced family trees, and previous versions of this profile point to a connection with Anli-Maopeltoog (Mi'kmaq) Membertou (abt.1507-1611) as her grandfather, as well as a potential connection to Madockawando Abenaki (abt.1630-abt.1698).
While this seems speculative at this time, Madockawando Abenaki (abt.1630-abt.1698) had a daughter Marie Mathilde (Penobscot) Pidianske (bef.1658-abt.1720) who seemed to also carry the MtDNA Haplogroup A2, with matching mtDNA results with the above four tests.[22] Further research is needed.
Happily the site of Saint Jean’s residence has been preserved for us by tradition; it was on the eastern side of Ruisseau Isabel, which was formerly called after him (and the name should be restored) Ruisseau Saint Jean. This place seems to have been an early centre of settlement of some importance, for an ancient burial ground is known on the western side, as marked on the map. Some fifty years ago the bodies, which included those of some Indians wrapped in birch bark, and of Europeans, including a person of distinction with whom a large gold crucifix had been buried, were removed to the burial ground near the church.
Translation: However, the recent discovery of an archival document informs us about a certain Denis Rousseau. It is an act of notoriety stating that this Denis Rousseau, a "merchant," was absent for about a year to "go to his business towards Gaspé" and had left his wife, Angélique de Villeray, in the parish of Saint-Nicolas in Quebec. Now, this Angélique Hyacinthe de Rouer de Villeray (in her full name) and Denis Rousseau married (in Quebec on July 7, 1736) very late in their lives; she was born in the 1690s and he in the 1680s. And this Denis Rousseau, as we have seen, had as a sister-in-law the daughter of the late Jacques Cochu, lord of Grande-Rivière and husband of Marie Morin. And the document implies that Denis Rousseau was not new to moving around the region.
Since we do not know of any other Rousseau who ventured into the area in those years and since Denis Rousseau had prominent connections there, we are entitled to suppose that he had something to do with the birth of Françoise Rousseau and Marie Agnès. A reevaluation of this case leads us to the conclusion that Denis Rousseau is probably the father of these two sisters.
mtDNA Results for Marcia Elaine Watson
Maternal Ancestor: Unknown Spouse of ------ Rousseau
Test Result: Haplogroup A - Native
Marcia's Matrilineal line starting with her grandparents:
8. Eugenie Margaret Boucher and William Paul Clark
7. Marie LeBlanc and Denis Ambroise Boucher
6. Prudente Chiasson and Guillaume LeBlanc
5. Marie Colette Duguay and Nicolas Chiasson
4. Marie Doiron and Francois Duguay
3. Marie Anne Vicaire and Zacharie Amable Doiron
2. Francoise Rousseau and Pierre LeVicaire
1. Unknown Spouse and ------ Rousseau
Kit Number: 116361
Maternal Ancestor Name: Françoise Rousseau
Country: Canada
Haplogroup: A2
HVR1 Mutations: C16111T, A16129G, T16187C, C16189T, G16230A, T16278C, C16290T, C16311T, G16319A, T16325C, T16362C
HVR2 Mutations: C64T, G94A, C152T, A153G, C195T, A235G, A247G, 315.1C
Kit Number: IN127267
Maternal Ancestor Name: Françoise Rousseau
Country: Canada
Haplogroup: A2
HVR1 Mutations: C16111T, A16129G, T16187C, C16189T, G16230A, T16278C, C16290T, C16311T, G16319A, T16325C, T16362C
HVR2 Mutations: C64T, G94A, C152T, A153G, C195T, A235G, A247G, 315.1C
Kit Number: IN42697
Maternal Ancestor Name: Amérindienne (m. Gabriel GIRAUD/ST-JEAN, v1720)
Country: Canada (First Nations)
Haplogroup: A2
HVR1 Mutations: C16111T, A16129G, T16187C, C16189T, G16230A, T16278C, C16290T, C16311T, G16319A, T16325C, T16362C
HVR2 Mutations: C64T, G94A, C152T, A153G, C195T, A235G, A247G, 315.1C
Kit Number: 1015485
Maternal Ancestor Name: Madeleine-Angèlique
Haplogroup: A2
HVR1 Mutations: C16111T, A16129G, T16187C, C16189T, G16230A, T16278C, C16290T, C16311T, G16319A, T16325C, T16362C
HVR2 Mutations: C64T, G71d, G94A, C152T, A153G, C195T, A235G, A247G, 315.1C
Kit Number: B944498
Maternal Ancestor Name: Mathilde Madockawando, b. 1660 and d. 1720
Country: Canada (First Nations)
Haplogroup: A2
HVR1 Mutations: C16111T, A16129G, T16187C, C16189T, G16230A, T16278C, C16290T, C16311T, G16319A, T16325C, T16362C
HVR2 Mutations: C64T, G94A, C152T, A153G, C195T, A235G, A247G, 315.1C
See also (family trees):
Madeleine Membertou
French: rousseau, membertou
Also Known As: "possible grand daughter of membertou chef micmac"
Birthdate: estimated between 1654 and 1714
Birthplace: Canada
Death: Canada
Immediate Family:
Daughter of (No Name) and amekmite Mitcsamegke).
Wife of Jean Rousseau and Gabriel Giraud dit St. Jean
Mother of agnes therese rousseau; Jean-Baptiste Giraud and Angélique Giraud-St-Jean
Acadian heritage connections: Madeleine-Angèlique is 15 degrees from Beyoncé Knowles, 13 degrees from Jean Béliveau, 13 degrees from Madonna Ciccone, 13 degrees from Rhéal Cormier, 12 degrees from Joseph Drouin, 10 degrees from Jack Kerouac, 12 degrees from Anne Murray, 13 degrees from Matt LeBlanc, 12 degrees from Roméo LeBlanc, 11 degrees from Azilda Marchand, 7 degrees from Mary Travers and 12 degrees from Clarence White on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
M > Mi'kmaq | G > Giraud > Madeleine Angèlique (Mi'kmaq) Giraud
Categories: Abenaki | Mi'kmaq | First Peoples Canada | First Peoples Canada, Needs Research | MtDNA Haplogroup A2
Also the children birth dates have them coming in between the husbands, not sequentially. Perhaps your source could straighten that out, as the Rousseau children should both be born before the Giraud children. Thanks, Cindy
edited by Cindy (Bourque) Cooper