Jacques Frémin
Encyclopedia
Jacques Frémin was a French Jesuit missionary to Canada.
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At the invitation of a Cayuga chieftain he set out, in 1666, for Lake Tiohero, near the present Cayuga, but his stay there was of short duration. The next year he was sent to revive the mission founded by Father Jogues among the Mohawk Nation
and, on his way, instituted the first Catholic settlement in Vermont
, on Isle La Motte. Arriving at Tinnontoguen, the Mohawk capital, he acquired the language and won respect. His chief work seems to have been to attend to the Huron captives who were already Christianized.
In October, 1668, Frémin proceeded to the Seneca Indian country, but the war then being waged with the Ottawa
and the Susquehanna
prevented many conversions. In August, 1669, he left for Onondaga to preside at a general meeting of the missionary priests, but shortly returned to Gannougare to resume his work among the captive Huron.
The high repute he had gained among the various tribes was responsible for his recall, in 1670, to take charge of La Prairie
, the Christian settlement near Montreal
where the converted Indians had been gathered, and it was he who placed this refuge on a solid footing and eliminated the liquor traffic. From that time on, with the exception of several voyages to France in the interest of the mission, he devoted himself exclusively to the work of preserving in the Catholic faith those Indians who had been baptized.
Life
He entered the Society of Jesus in 1646 and in 1655 set out for the Onondaga mission in Canada. He devoted the rest of his life to evangelizationEvangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
.
At the invitation of a Cayuga chieftain he set out, in 1666, for Lake Tiohero, near the present Cayuga, but his stay there was of short duration. The next year he was sent to revive the mission founded by Father Jogues among the Mohawk Nation
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
and, on his way, instituted the first Catholic settlement in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, on Isle La Motte. Arriving at Tinnontoguen, the Mohawk capital, he acquired the language and won respect. His chief work seems to have been to attend to the Huron captives who were already Christianized.
In October, 1668, Frémin proceeded to the Seneca Indian country, but the war then being waged with the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and the Susquehanna
Susquehanna
-In Pennsylvania:*Susquehannock tribe, Native American tribe of Pennsylvania*Susquehanna Bank*Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania*Susquehanna Depot, Pennsylvania, a borough in Susquehanna County...
prevented many conversions. In August, 1669, he left for Onondaga to preside at a general meeting of the missionary priests, but shortly returned to Gannougare to resume his work among the captive Huron.
The high repute he had gained among the various tribes was responsible for his recall, in 1670, to take charge of La Prairie
La Prairie
La Prairie may refer to a number of places in North America.Canada*La Prairie, Quebec*La Prairie United States*La Prairie, Illinois*La Prairie, Minnesota*La Prairie Township, Clearwater County, Minnesota...
, the Christian settlement near Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where the converted Indians had been gathered, and it was he who placed this refuge on a solid footing and eliminated the liquor traffic. From that time on, with the exception of several voyages to France in the interest of the mission, he devoted himself exclusively to the work of preserving in the Catholic faith those Indians who had been baptized.