Joseph-François Hertel de la Fresnière
Encyclopedia
Joseph-François Hertel de la Fresnière (baptised 3 July 1642 - buried 22 May 1722) was a military officer of New France
. Born in Trois-Rivières
when it was a small frontier town, he grew up with the constant threat of military action against the Iroquois
. Captured by the Iroquois in 1661, he was adopted by an old Iroquois woman, and spent as long as two years among them, learning their language and ways. He managed to escape and make his way home, where his family had thought him dead.
He participated in numerous expeditions against the Iroquois
, and assisted in the construction of Fort Frontenac
. He was briefly imprisoned by French authorities on allegations of illegal fur trade in 1678. Upon the outbreak of King William's War
in 1689, he was chosen by Governor Frontenac to lead an expedition in 1690 that successfully raided
Salmon Falls on the Maine-New Hampshire border, and then contributed to the successful destruction of a settlement
on Falmouth Neck (site of present-day Portland, Maine
). Upon his return to Canada, he participated in the defense of Quebec
when it was attacked
by New England colonists under Sir William Phips
.
He married in 1664, and had many children. Some of his sons, most famously Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville
, followed him into military service, and the name Hertel became notorious in the English colonies because of their exploits. In 1716, after many years of requests by New France's governors on his behalf, he was elevated to local nobility.
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. Born in Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
when it was a small frontier town, he grew up with the constant threat of military action against the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. Captured by the Iroquois in 1661, he was adopted by an old Iroquois woman, and spent as long as two years among them, learning their language and ways. He managed to escape and make his way home, where his family had thought him dead.
He participated in numerous expeditions against the Iroquois
Beaver Wars
The Beaver Wars, also sometimes called the Iroquois Wars or the French and Iroquois Wars, commonly refers to a series of conflicts fought in the mid-17th century in eastern North America...
, and assisted in the construction of Fort Frontenac
Fort Frontenac
Fort Frontenac was a French trading post and military fort built in 1673 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It was positioned at the mouth of the Cataraqui River where the St. Lawrence River leaves Lake Ontario , in a location traditionally known as Cataraqui...
. He was briefly imprisoned by French authorities on allegations of illegal fur trade in 1678. Upon the outbreak of King William's War
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
in 1689, he was chosen by Governor Frontenac to lead an expedition in 1690 that successfully raided
Raid on Salmon Falls
The Raid on Salmon Falls was a French and Indian attack on the community of Salmon Falls during King William's War. The village was destroyed, and most of its residents were killed or taken prisoner for transport back to Canada...
Salmon Falls on the Maine-New Hampshire border, and then contributed to the successful destruction of a settlement
Battle of Fort Loyal
The Battle of Fort Loyal was the capture and destruction of an English settlement on the Falmouth neck , then part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. After two days of siege, the settlement's fort, called Fort Loyal , surrendered...
on Falmouth Neck (site of present-day Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
). Upon his return to Canada, he participated in the defense of Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
when it was attacked
Battle of Quebec (1690)
The Battle of Quebec was fought in October 1690 between the colonies of New France and Massachusetts Bay, then ruled by the kingdoms of France and England, respectively. It was the first time Quebec's defences were tested....
by New England colonists under Sir William Phips
William Phips
Sir William Phips was a shipwright, ship's captain, treasure hunter, military leader, and the first royally-appointed governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay....
.
He married in 1664, and had many children. Some of his sons, most famously Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville
Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville
Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville was a colonial military officer of New France. He is best known in North America for leading the raid on Deerfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay against English settlers on 29 February 1704...
, followed him into military service, and the name Hertel became notorious in the English colonies because of their exploits. In 1716, after many years of requests by New France's governors on his behalf, he was elevated to local nobility.