John de Lamberville - A Stan Klos Biography
LAMBERVILLE, John de, French missionary, born in
France; died there in 1699. He belonged to the Jesuit order, came to Canada
probably in 1668, and was sent to labor among the Onondagas in 1671.
In 1681 he warned Frontenac of the intrigues that
Governor Thomas Dongan was carrying on among the Iroquois, and induced some of
that tribe to consent to treat with the French governor at Catarocony (Fort
Frontenac), but the latter insisted that the Iroquois deputies should come to
Montreal, and the negotiation was abandoned. The missionary kept Frontenac and
his successor, De la Barre, constantly informed of the feelings and plans of the
Iroquois, but his advice was seldom heeded.
In 1686 he endeavored, unsuccessfully, to prevent the
Iroquois chiefs from meeting Dongan at Albany. He set out for Quebec to inform
Denonville, who had succeeded De la Barre, of the condition of affairs, having
meanwhile obtained a promise from the Onondaga sachems that they would not
undertake any enterprise during his absence. He was immediately sent back by the
governor, loaded with presents for the Onondaga chiefs.
The governor of New York had been so successful in his
negotiations with the Iroquois that Lamberville, on his arrival, found a part of
their warriors ready to march against the French settlements. But by his suavity
of manner, which had first gained their affection, and by a prudent distribution
of presents, Lamberville dispelled their suspicions and induced them to make
peace with the French.
Toward the end of September he went again to Quebec to
report that while the Onondagas had restored their prisoners according to
treaty, the Senecas refused to do so. The governor prepared to take the field
against the Senecas, and, to cover his design of treacherously seizing some of
the lroquois chiefs, sent Lamberville back to Onondaga. By order of Denonville,
the missionary induced several of the Iroquois to assemble at Catarocony in
1687.
The treacherous seizure of these chiefs by Denonville
put the life of Lamberville, who remained among the Onondagas, in jeopardy. But
the sachems of the tribe were convinced that he had no knowledge of the act.
They insisted that he should depart, and gave him guides and a guard to save him
from the vengeance of the young braves who would hold him responsible. He
escaped to Catarocony, and shortly afterward persuaded the Onondagas to spare
the lives of some prisoners they had taken near the fort.
After the war that ensued, Denonville attributed the
safety of the colony to Father de Lamberville. Shortly afterward Lamberville
returned to France. In 1698 the Iroquois begged the governor to recall him,
saying that he was better fitted than any one else to maintain a good
understanding between the two nations.
--His younger brother, James de Lamberville,
French missionary, born in France; died in Sault Saint Louis, Canada, about
1706. He was a member of the Society of Jesus, and was sent to Canada, but at
what time is unknown. He founded a mission at Gandaouague, in the Mohawk valley,
in 1675, and baptized the niece of an Iroquois chief the same year.
Governor Dongan, having discovered, in 1686. that
Lamberville's influence among the Iroquois was an obstacle to his plans,
summoned the Onondaga cantons to deliver the missionary to him, but met with a
refusal. Lamberville was recalled to Quebec the same year, and his brother sent
in his place. In 1702 he was ordered to return to the Onondaga tribe. He
restored the mission, and, through his influence, the Iroquois remained neutral
for a time, although England and France were at war.
In 1709 he was waited on by Colonel Peter Schuyler (q.
v.), who won his confidence and persuaded him to visit Canada in order to confer
with the governor with a view to peace. After his departure the Indians
plundered the church and house, and set them on fire, and the Onondaga mission
was finally broken up.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
LAMBERVILLE, John de, French missionary, born in France; died there in 1699. He belonged to the Jesuit order, came to Canada probably in 1668, and was sent to labor among the Onondagas in 1671. In 1681 he warned Frontenac of the intrigues that Governor Thomas Dongan was carrying on among the Iroquois, and induced some of that tribe to consent to treat with the French governor at Catarocony (Fort Frontenac), but the latter insisted that the h'oquois deputies should come to Montreal, and the negotiation was abandoned. The missionary kept Frontenac and his successor, De la Barre, constantly informed of the feelings and plans of the Iroquois, but his advice was seldom heeded. In 1686 he endeavored, unsuccessfully, to prevent the Iroquois chiefs from meeting Dongan at Albany. He set out for Quebec to inform Denonville, who had succeeded De la Barre, of the condition of affairs, having meanwhile obtained a promise from the Onondaga sachems that they would not undertake any enterprise during his absence. He was immediately sent back by the governor, loaded with presents for the Onondaga chiefs. The governor of New York had been so successful in his negotiations with the Iroquois that Lamberville, on his arrival, found a part of their warriors ready to march against the French settlements. But by his suavity of manner, which had first gained their affection, and by a prudent distribution of presents, Lamberville dispelled their suspicions and induced them to make peace with the French. Toward the end of September he went again to Quebec to report that while the Onondagas had restored their prisoners according to treaty, the Senecas refused to do so. The governor prepared to take the field against the Senecas, and, to cover his design of treacherously seizing some of the lroquois chiefs, sent Lamberville back to Onondaga. By order of Denonville, the missionary induced several of the Iroquois to assemble at Catarocony in 1687. The treacherous seizure of these chiefs by Denonville put the life of Lamberville, who remained among the Ononda-gas, in jeopardy. But the sachems of the tribe were convinced that he had no knowledge of the act. They insisted that he should depart, and gave him guides and a guard to save him from the vengeance of the young braves who would hold him responsible. He escaped to Catarocony, and shortly afterward persuaded the Onondagas to spare the lives of some prisoners they had taken near the fort. After the war that ensued, Denonville attributed the safety of the colony to Father de Lamberville. Shortly afterward Lamberville returned to France. In 1698 the Iroquois begged the governor to recall him, saying that he was better fitted than any one else to maintain a good understanding between the two nations.--His younger brother, James, French missionary, born in France; died in Sault Saint Louis, Canada, about 1706. He was a member of the Society of Jesus, and was sent to Canada, but at what time is unknown. He founded a mission at Gandaouague, in the Mohawk valley, in 1675, and baptized the niece of an Iroquois chief the same year. Governor Dongan, having discovered, in 1686. that Lamberville's influence among the Iroquois was an obstacle to his plans, summoned the Onondaga cantons to deliver the missionary to him, but met with a refusal. Lamberville was recalled to Quebec the same year, and his brother sent in his place. In 1702 he was ordered to return to the Onondaga tribe. He restored the mission, and, through his influence, the Iroquois remained neutral for a time, although England and France were at war. In 1709 he was waited on by Colonel Peter Schuyler (q. v.), who won his confidence and persuaded him to visit Canada in order to confer with the governor with a view to peace. After his departure the Indians plundered the church and house, and set them on fire, and the Onondaga mission was finally broken up.
