Many stories have been handed down through families. Some true, some stretched or exaggerated, and others grow in the telling. Yet, many have a basis in truth.
What stories are in your family?
In the Lanteigne family they were told they had Eskimo ancestors. It had been handed down for 10 Generations! Some believed, some questioned, and others doubted. After all, what are the chances!
Only after about seven years of, part time, research were we able to make the breakthrough.
An ancestor, Michel Hache Dit Gallant.
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography accurately states that
Michel Haché-Gallant’s origins are obscure. He is probably the son of Pierre Larché (Read More)
Michel’s baptismal record, in Trois Riviere, Quebec states that he was baptized on April 24, 1668, and that his Father was a Frenchman from Acadie and his mother was an Eskimo.
It is hotly debated, by some, that His mother could not have been an Eskimo. Some say she was Mi’gmaw, others that she was a Martinez, known as flat nosed Indians. They say the Eskimo didn’t come south of the frost line in those times.
Perhaps the Eskimo didn’t come South of the Frost Line. That doesn’t mean Michel’s mother wasn’t an Eskimo! Pierre, his father, was the right hand man of Nicolas Denny
Nicolas is known to have travelled France, Acadie including Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec. Think he may have gone North? It is certainly possible. Was Pierre with him? Again possible! Did Pierre take an Eskimo wife?
According to the Priest who completed the information on Michel’s christening record. Yes!
Why is it that people sit, 500 years after the fact, and try to decide that the information recorded isn’t accurate? Were they there?
Sadly, even when the record is there, there are those who dispute it!
That said, I’ve began writing “Historical Fiction” on MediumMedium and I also write on Substack. This allows me to put some stories out there that aren’t necessarily recognized or confirmed to be accurate by genealogical standards.
I do a lot of Family History and Genealogy, but sometimes I like to embrace my creativity, and I think in sharing our stories we might just find more than we’re looking for! Perhaps it’ll be exactly what we need to see!