Passenger Testimonies

Madame Isabelle Planteau Talon

My name is Jean-Baptiste and I am here to give you my mother’s account of the La Salle expedition:

My husband was a carpenter on the expedition, and my five children and I went along on the colonizing trip to the New World. I hoped to find a place for my children in the New World. My oldest son was eleven and I was eight months pregnant when the voyage began.

We had many fellow travelers, including: 100 French soldiers, 7 priests, 2 surgeons, 8 merchants, and a variety of artisans such as masons, carpenters, and toolmakers. Only one other family joined our group. There were several single women among us who hoped to find husbands on the expedition. Some did marry. One of these single women who married had a child at Fort St. Louis and she claimed to have the first French child born in the new land. My baby was born on board ship during the voyage so I believed he was the first born.

 

The King would reward the first born child, so she and I argued bitterly over the position.

I worked hard to pack supplies but I did not know where we were going. Everything that I packed had to meet two purposes: first we needed to feed ourselves on the long sea voyage across the ocean but I also had to pack supplies that we needed to begin our new lives. Because space was limited, I found it difficult to pack our provisions.

We lost many men, including my husband. Because so many men died, the women and children learned to defend ourselves. By Christmas 1687 oru situation became desparate and La Salle left to seek help.

My mother was killed by an arrow during an Indian attack at Fort St. Louis.