Another John Winslow

One day I was reading Francis Parkman's The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century and found some fascinating references to my ancestor John Winslow (1597-1674), who befriended Fr. Gabriel Dreuillette, a French Jesuit missionary, when they were on the French-English frontier in Maine.  This John was the brother of Gov. Edward Winslow of Plymouth, and was married to Mayflower passenger Mary Chilton. Edward's great-grandson, also named John Winslow (1703–1774), was the Deporter of the Acadians (and he would be my second cousin, ten times removed).

When, after a prosperous hunt, the party returned to the English trading-house, John Winslow, the agent in charge again received the missionary with a kindness which showed no trace of jealousy or religious prejudice. ... [The friendship with Winslow would prove useful, when it became necessary for Druilletes to meet with the Puritan leaders as an envoy of the French.]

The time seemed inauspicious for a Jesuit visit to Boston; for not only had it been announced as foremost among the objects in colonizing New England, "to raise a bulwark against the kingdom of Antichrist, which the Jesuits labor to rear up in all places of the world," but, three years before, the Legislature of Massachusetts had enacted, that Jesuits entering the colony should be expelled, and if they returned, hanged.

Nevertheless, on the first of September, Druilletes set forth from Quebec with a Christian chief of Sillery, crossed forests, mountains, and torrents, and reached Norridgewock, the highest Abenaqui settlement on the Kennebec.  Thence he descended to the English trading-house at Augusta, where his fast friend, the Puritan Winslow, gave him a warm welcome, entertained him hospitably, and promised to forward the object of his mission.  He went with him, at great personal inconvenience, to Merrymeeting Bay, where Druilletes embarked in an English vessel for Boston.  The passage was stormy, and the wind ahead.  He was forced to land at Cape Ann, or, as he calls it, Kepane, whence, partly on foot, partly in boats along the shore, he made his way to Boston.  The three-hilled city of the Puritans lay chill and dreary under a December sky, as the priest crossed in a boat from the neighboring peninsula of Charlestown.

Winslow was agent for the merchant, Edward Gibbons, a personage of note, whose life presents curious phases,--a reveller of Merry Mount, a bold sailor, a member of the church, an adventurous trader, an associate of buccaneers, a magistrate of the commonwealth, and a major-general. The Jesuit, with credentials from the Governor of Canada and letters from Winslow, met a reception widely different from that which the law enjoined against persons of his profession. Gibbons welcomed him heartily, prayed him to accept no other lodging than his house while he remained in Boston, and gave him the key of a chamber, in order that he might pray after his own fashion, without fear of disturbance.  An accurate Catholic writer thinks it likely that he brought with him the means of celebrating the Mass.  [ J. G. Shea, in Boston Pilot. ]  If so, the house of the Puritan was, no doubt, desecrated by that Popish abomination; but be this as it may, Massachusetts, in the person of her magistrate, became the gracious host of one of those whom, next to the Devil and an Anglican bishop, she most abhorred.

I did some further digging, and found Parkman's sources in The Jesuit Relations [vols. 31, 36, 38] which were the firsthand accounts by the French Jesuits about their missions among the Indians of North America.

The period covered is roughly 1647-1651. John was in charge of Plymouth's trading post of Cushnoc on the Kennebec River in Maine (where Augusta is presently). The Jesuit mission to the Abenakis was not far upriver at Norridgewock.

They had great difficulty getting John's name right; he first appears as "sieur Hoinsland," then as "Winslau," and sometimes as "Winslow." But the context gives no doubt who is meant. Volume 31 tells of the initial contact between Winslow and Dreuillette.

After having refreshed himself some time with these good Fathers, he [Fr. Dreuillette] reënters his bark boat and returns to the English settlements which he had visited on the way. Sieur Chaste gives him provisions in abundance [page 187] for his voyage, and letters for the Englishman who Commanded at Kinibeki; in which he declared that he had observed nothing in the Father which was not most praiseworthy; that he was not at all inclined to trade; that the Savages rendered him this testimony; that he thought only of their instruction, and came to procure their salvation at the expense of his own life,—in a word, that he admired his courage .

That Captain. having received these letters, and taken a copy of the Father's credentials, showed him all the courtesies that he could think of; and, some time after, went away to Pleimot [Plymouth], and thence to Boston,—these are two towns of new England. The Father went a league higher up than Kinibeki, where the Savages assembled to the number of fifteen great cabins: they built him a little Chapel of boards, made in their manner. It was here that the Father, having sufficient command of their language, [181] efficiently instructed them; he enabled them to understand the object which kept him with them, and the importance of acknowledging him who created them and who will punish them or bless them, according to their works. Seeing that a great part of them showed a liking for the good news of the Gospel, he asks them three things in token of their good-will, and their desire to receive the Faith of Jesus Christ. ...

After some length of sojourn on the shores of this lake, these good people came down [192] to Kinibeki; they brought thither their Patriarch, whom they tenderly loved. The Captain of that English settlement received him the second time with the same good-will which he had already shown him; relating to him how he had spent the Winter at Pleymot and at Boston; that he had communicated his credentials and the letter from sieur Chate to twenty-four of the foremost persons in new England, among whom had happened to be four of their most famous Ministers: and that all had unanimously approved his design, frankly saying that it was a good, laudable, and generous action to instruct the Savages, and that God should be blessed for it.

"Messieurs of the Company of Kinibeki have given me commission," said that Captain, named sieur Hoinsland, " to convey word to you that, if you wish to bring hither some French and build a house on the river of Kinibeki, they will permit you to, very gladly; and that you would not be in any way molested in your functions. If you were here," he added, " several Englishmen would come to visit you, "—intimating that there were some Catholics among [193] the English of those regions. The Father having no order with reference to this proposition, answered that Captain that he would write to him again in due season, if the matter were judged feasible. He left that settlement about the twentieth of .May, and went to visit all the places whither the Savages retired; the sick—baptized, and cured against all hope—confessed; there was neither small [page 205] nor great who did not betoken regret at their Father's departure. "Thou afflictest our minds" said some, "when thou speakest to us of thy departure and of the uncertainty of thy return." "we will say," said others, "that Father Gabriel does not love us and does not care that we die, since he abandons us." About thirty accompanied him even to Kebec, where he arrived on the fifteenth of June, full of health,—contrary to the expectation of those who knew not what to think of his delay. [page 207]

Volume 36 relates how in September, 1650, Winslow arranged for Fr. Gabriel Dreuillette to visit Plymouth and Massachusetts.

I arrived at Narantsouat, which is the settlement of the Abnaquiois Savages farthest up the river of Kennebec,—fifteen or sixteen leagues from the highest settlement of the English on that river, which is sixteen leagues distant from its mouth.

I arrived on Michaelmas eve at this highest settlement of the English—which, alike by the English and Savages, is called Coussinoc; and on the following day, the festival of him whom [3] we took for patron and guide on our journey, Noel and I conversed with the Agent of that settlement, accompanied [page 83] by the Abnaquiois, to whom we had spoken on the way. Noel, speaking with his present of a bundle of Beaver skins, said to him: " Monsieur the Governor of the river Saint Lawrence, through the father who is here, speaks to those of your nation; and I, as an ally, join my word to his, not to speak to thee alone, but rather to tell thee to embark my word,"—that is to say, " my present,"—" in order to convey it to the governor of Plimout." The Agent informed them that he would do with reference to the governor and the magistrates all that could be expected from a good friend; whereupon Noel and the Abnaquiois [4] requested that I go with him, in order to present in person the Sieur governor's letters,—to explain his intentions, according to the letter of credentials that he had; and to convey the message of the Christians of Scillery, and of the Catechumens of the Kenebec river. The Agent, named John Winslau, a merchant and a citizen of the Plimouth colony, who has a very kindly disposition, as we shall relate hereinafter, answered: love and respect the patriarch," this is the name they use on this river, and on all the coast of Acadia, in speaking of me; "I will lodge him at my house, and will treat him as my own brother; for I know very well the good that he does among you, and the life which he there leads." This he said because he has a special zeal [5] for the Conversion of the Savages, as also has his brother Edward Winslow,—agent for this New England before the parliament of old England,—who is trying to institute a brotherhood to train and instruct the Savages, just as is practiced with the poor b) the charity of London. Other details are in the letters which I wrote both to [page 85] the Sieur governor at Quebecq, and to my Superior, on the fifteenth of November.

I left Coussinoc by land, with that agent, since the frigate which was to convey us had had some occasion to delay, in order to await the Savages, and not be surprised by the ice; we were therefore obliged to go ten leagues, to embark by [6] sea at Maremiten, which the Savages call Natsouac. That road was difficult, especially to the Agent, who is already growing old, and who assured me that he would never have undertaken it if he had not given his word to Noel.

On the twenty-fifth, we set sail; and on the way we found at Temeriscau some English fishermen, some of whom complained to the Agent because he was conducting a Frenchman along that coast, who was a spy to serve the French, who were likely to ravage their settlements.

Contrary winds prevented us from reaching Kepane, which forms the Cape of the great bay of Boston, until the fifth of December; for the same reason. we were compelled to go partly by land and [7] partly by boat, in order to cross over the great bay to Charleston; we there crossed the river which separates it from Boston, where we arrived on the eighth. The principal men of Charleston, knowing that I came on behalf of the Sieur governor, went ahead to give notice to Major-General Gebin, so that he might be present at my entrance into his abodes

His agent, John Winslow,—whom I shall henceforth call my pereira, on account of the friendliness which he ever showed me, —having made his report to Sieur Gebin regarding the occasion of my journey, he received me as a veritable ambassador on the part [page 87] of the Sieur governor. He also gave me a key to an apartment in his house, where I could with complete liberty offer my prayer, and perform [8] my religious exercises; and begged me to take no other lodgings while I should sojourn at Boston.

The next day, the eighth, Sieur Gebin, accompanied by [blank space] conducted me [blank space] from Boston to a village named Rogsbray, where at that time was Sieur Dudley? Governor of Boston, to whom I presented my credentials on the part of the Sieur governor,—which, having opened, he commanded an interpreter to translate from French into English.

He was told that this man came to speak on behalf of Noël and the Christians of Scillery, as also of the Abnaquiois Catechumens, who had made me their ambassador to him. He then appointed a day to hear me,—on the following Tuesday, [92] the thirteenth of December,—giving orders that the magistrates should be notified to betake themselves to Boston on that day.

On the thirteenth, the Sieur Governor of Boston and the Magistrates invited me to dine, and, at the close, gave me audience. Besides the Magistrates and the Secretary, there was present a man deputed by the people, whom they call a '; representative."

I made a special entreaty on behalf of the Abnaquiois who had been killed by the Iroquois,—this is in the letter written to father Lejeune, in the eighth clause,—after which I was told to withdraw. Later, I was invited to supper, after which they gave me the answer which is in the other letter, in the clause before mentioned.

In regard to the character which I assumed of ambassador for my Catechumens [10] of the Kenebec, [page 89] they told me that Boston took no interest therein, and that I must address myself to Plimouth.

I left Boston on the twenty-first of that month, December, for Plimouth, where I arrived on the morrow, with my [blank space] who lodged me with one of the five farmers of Koussinoc, named padis. The governor of the place, named John Brentford, received me with courtesy, and appointed me an audience for the next day; and he invited me to a dinner of fish, which he prepared on my account, knowing that it was Friday. I found considerable favor in this settlement, for the farmers—and among others the captain, Thomas Willets—spoke to the governor in advocacy of my negotiation; and afterward we had discussions, [11] which are contained in the letter, in the [blank space] clause.

24th. I left on the twenty-fourth, and returned to Boston by land, in company with the son and the nephew of my [blank space], who paid for me during the journey. I arrived at Rosqbray, where the minister, named Master heliot, who was teaching some savages, received me at his house, because night was overtaking me; he treated me with respect and kindness, and begged me to spend the winter with him.

The next day, the twenty-ninth, I arrived at Boston, and proceeded to the Sieur major-general guebin's.

On the thirtieth of the said month, I spoke to Sieur Ebens, one of the magistrates, who assured me that he was very glad that the governor of Plimout was willing to grant aid against [12] the Iroquois. He said that it was very reasonable to succor one's Christian brethren, even if of another religion,—and especially against a pagan persecutor of the [page 91] Chris tians. He presented to me the answer of the Sieur governor of Boston and of the magistrates, to those of monsieur the governor.

On the last of the said month, I returned to Rosquebray to ask permission from Sieur Dudley, the Governor, that safe-conduct might be inserted in the letter for the passage of the French who might wish to go through Boston against the Iroquois; and, grasping my hand, he said to me: " Assure Monsieur your governor that we wish to be his good friends and servants, whatever war there may be between the crowns. I am very glad that the governor of [l3] Plimout is willing to further the assistance that you desire against the Iroquois: I will aid him with all my power."

On the first of January, I wrote a franked letter to father Le Jeune,—by an English ship which was to sail on the eighth day of the same month,—concerning the whole state of affairs; monsieur Guebins wrote to Monsieur de Latour, and addressed the whole to [blank space] to Sieur Rosee. I begged father Lejeune to send an answer, both to Boston and to Monsieur our governor, by the fishermen of Gaspey,—the tenor of which is in the letter, in the [blank space] article.

I wrote also to Sieur Edward Winslow, at the request of Monsieur his brother, begging him to write in favor of our business to the Magistrates of New England.

[14] Some time after, I wrote to Sieur Wintrop,—son of the late Sieur Wintrop, the former governor of Boston,—who is one of the principal Magistrates of the colony of Renetigout, a very good friend, as is said, of the French and Savages. [page 93]

On the third of the same month, I spoke to Sieur Gebin, who told me that he would do what he could in favor of aid against the Iroquois, but that he believed that the people of Boston would not take any part therein; that, nevertheless, he believed that there would be means to humble the Iroquois. Perhaps he directs his purpose to a new discovery which he has begun, toward new Sweden.

On the fifth, Sieur Guebin conducted me to the harbor, and very particularly commended me to Thomas Yau, [15] master of a bark which was sailing for Kenebec.

On the ninth of the same month, the bad weather detained us at Morbletz, where there are many persons; the minister, named William Walter, received me with great kindness. In his company I went to Salem, to converse with Sieur Indicott, who speaks and understands French well; he is a good friend to our nation, and desirous that his children should continue in this friendship. Seeing that I had no money, he paid my expenses, and had me eat with the Magistrates, who during eight days gave audience to every one. I left with him, in the form of a letter, a power of attorney which he asked front me, in order to act efficiently during the general Court of Boston, which was to) be held on the [16] thirteenth of May. He assured me that he would do his utmost to obtain consent from the colony of Boston, which served as a standard for the others,—telling me that the governor of Plimout had good reason for seeking to obtain that from the colonies. At my departure, he told me that he had carefully read what I had left in writing on behalf of Monsieur our governor, and of my Catechumens, and that he perfectly understood [page 95] it; that he would despatch a man to carry me a letter at Kennebec; and that he would tell me, as soon as he could, what he should have done in this matter, and obtained from the Magistrates.

Volume 38 relates how Winslow responded when some spoke ill of Dreuillette :

If any one not well-disposed toward our faith let fall some word against the Patriarch, he was immediately checked. Here is an example, which is very remarkable for Savages. When the Father was in a village quite near the English settlements, an Englishman's servant chanced to be present one day in a cabin where the Father was instructing his good Catechumens This man—either from malice, or because he did not understand the language of the country well—reported to his master afterward that the [103] Father had spoken against the English, which was not true. These worthy Neophytes, learning that this master was offended at that, [page 29] repaired to his house and addressed him as follows: "We understand our language better than thy servant does. we were near the Patriarch when he was speaking; we listened attentively, and all his words came directly into our ears. Be assured, he has never said any ill of you people. He teaches us that he who made all things hates and condemns and punishes lying; and as we wish to receive his law, and render him obedience, take these thoughts to thy heart,—those people yonder do not lie. And, furthermore, it is well for you to know that the Father is now one of our nation; that we have adopted him for our fellow-countryman; that we pay him consideration and love, as the wisest of our Captains, and respect him as the Ambassador of Jesus, to whom we wish to give ourselves entirely; and, consequently, whoever attacks him, attacks all the Abnaquiois." The Captain who delivered this little harangue uttered it so emphatically that the [104] principal Englishmen dwelling on the river Kenebek, having heard him, had the Father come to them, and begged him—through the mouth of an Englishman recently arrived from Boston, who spoke very good French—to forget all that had passed, assuring him that they gave no further credence to the false reports of a thoughtless servant. They added that they clearly saw that all the Savages loved him, and had great respect for him; that they themselves honored him as a Minister of the holy Gospel; and that the confidence which these people had in him would foster a good understanding between the French, the English, and the Savages of those regions. And thereupon appeared bottles and cups, and the Father's health was generously drunk; and, as they were from different [page 31] places, each one begged the Father to pay him a visit at his settlement, assuring him that he would always be received there with honor. Indeed, whenever the Father, in his journeys on the Kenebec river, where they dwell, went to greet them, they received him with marks of cordial good-will; and, since that time, they have always spoken of him to the Savages in very complimentary terms.

In 1652 the Abenakis resolved to bring a complaint to Winslow,

Let us go this moment and find the Deputy of the English, and speak to him as follows: 'Thou Deputy of Plummet and Boston, paint our words on paper, and send them to those on whom thou art dependent; and say to them that all the allied Savages dwelling on the river Kenebek hate fire-water,'" or brandy, "'as much as they hate the Hiroquois; and that if they have any more of it [page 35] brought hither to sell to the Savages, the latter will believe that the English wish to exterminate them. Paint these words; and our Patriarch will act as our Ambassador, and will carry them to your Governors, accompanied by our chief men; and, after that prohibition, if any one gets drunk in secret, he shall be punished according as our Father shall decree.' ...

The Abenakis begged Dreuillette to stay with them:

"Take heart, then, and stay with us, since we are ready to obey thee. Thou art our fellow-countryman; we are of the same nation. Thou art our master; we are thy disciples. Thou art our father, and we thy children; do not abandon us to the fury of the Demons. Think not that they have gone far away; they will come and cut our throats as soon as thou leavest us. Deliver thyself, and us too, from the trouble of so many journeys, which are so long and so difficult that one can carry nothing with him—which often exposes us to the danger of dying from hunger. We are witnesses that the principal Englishmen of these regions respect thee. The Patriarchs of Acadia have told us that they had written thee that thou couldst return to our country whenever thou shouldst choose. What will become of those that shall die without baptism [110] or without confession, in thine absence?" "I confess to you," says the Father, "they touched me; and if I had not believed that God was recalling me to Kebec by the voice of my Superior who was summoning me, the most frightful labors would never have torn me from the country of those whom I love more than myself."