Fort Michillimackinac

Mackinac Baptism Records 1780-1789

August 13, 1781, was privately baptized Domitille, legitimate daughter of Sieur Charles Gautier and Madelaine Pascal, his lawful Wife, born the same Day at Noon. John Coates, Notary Public. I certify you that, according to the due and prescribed order of the Church, at noon on this day and at the above place, before divers Witnesses, I baptized this Child Charlotte Claves. Patt. Sinclair, Lt. Governor, & Justice of the Peace. Witnesses signed: William Grant; John L Macnamaa; Geo. Mc Beath; D. Mc Crae; George Meldrum. John Coates, Notary Public. July 15, 1786, I, the undersigned Priest, supplied the ceremonies … Read more

Mackinac Baptism Records 1750-1754

March 17, 1750, I administered holy baptism to Basile, born this month, son of Marianne, a slave of Sieur Bourassa, voyageur, whom she declared to belong to Sieur Jasmin, also a voyageur. The godfather was the said Sieur Bourassa; and the godmother Mde Langlade. *** P. du Jaunay, miss. of the society of Jesus. Bourassa. March 24, 1750, I administered holy baptism to Ignace François Xavier, son of Agathe Villeneuve Amiot, daughter of Sieur Amiot, born this day, whom she declared to belong to Sieur Ignace Bourassa dit la Ronde, son of Sieur René Bourassa now wintering at la Grande … Read more

Early Mackinac Marriage Records 1725-1749

The old register at Mackinac is still preserved in the parish church of the island. It consists of one large volume, with the records of marriages entered at one end, and those of baptisms at the other. The record of interments is meagre. This volume extends in time from 1741-1821, and we here publish the portion comprising the marriages. That for the baptisms and interments will be given in the succeeding volume of our Collections. We are indebted to the Hon. Edward Osgood Brown of Chicago for an admirable transcription of this interesting document, which we follow in the present … Read more

Fort Michillimackinac and Fort Holmes

Fort Michillimackinac and Staten Park, Mackinac Island, Michigan

Fort Michillimackinac, with over three centuries of history, began at Saint Ignace due to the efforts of Father Marquette and the Sieur de la Salle, representing the Church and State, respectively. Established among the Ottawas by Marquette, it was fortified by La Salle, who also lost the Griffon, the first Great Lakes sailing vessel. Lauded by local tribes, Michillimackinac’s name means Great Turtle. Despite fortifications by notable figures like La Motte Cadillac, the fort waned with Detroit’s rise and eventually relocated to Mackinaw City. It saw bloody conflict when Indians, aligned with Pontiac, massacred the English garrison in 1763. The site changed hands between British and American control through wars until being garrisoned for the last time in 1895. Now restored and maintained by Michigan’s park commission, the revered fort remains a historical tourist destination.

Registers of the Parish of Michilimackinac

Entry in Mackinac Registry 28 July 1768

The records from the register at Michilimackinac are here provided as they were translated by Edward O. Brown back in 1889. His translation came from a transcript of the original, which latter is kept in the parish church of Ste. Anne, at Mackinac. Annotated throughout are Mr. Brown’s biographical knowledge of the events of Michilimackinac and the people within. Don’t pass over the footnotes for the record, you may find a biographical reference hidden there!

Mackinac Baptism Records 1760-1769

March 2 [1760], I privately baptized a young girl Savage called Kioueiatchiouenoukoue, to whom I gave the name of Charlotte. She is about 14 or 15 years old. Since she has been with Antoine la Fortune she has always been very assiduous at catechism. She seems to be in danger of death from an abscess in the side. May 22, I supplied the ceremonies of baptism to and baptized conditionally Charlotte, born at Sault Ste. Marie at the beginning of last October, legitimate daughter of Jean Baptists Cadot and of Athanasi, her father and mother. The godfather was Mr. Janise; … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1770-1779

July 28, 1773, I, the undersigned Vicar-General of Illinois received the mutual marriage consent of Sieur Hyacinthe Amelin, trader; and of Marie Joseph Maingans, and gave them the nuptial Benediction according to the form prescribed by the Holy Roman Church and in the presence of Sieurs Louis Cardin and Charles Chaboiller, friends of the husband; and of Sieurs Charles Mudox and Amable Roy, and of Therese Campion wife of Sieur Du Bois, friends of the wife, who signed with us these presents duly read. Gibault. H[y]ast Hamelin; Charles Maddox; Cardin; Amable Roy ; Therese Campion Dubois; Chaboillez. June 23, 1775, … Read more

Mackinac Baptism Records 1770-1779

I, the Undersigned Royal Notary, the Justice of the peace at Michilimakina, Certify that, in the absence Of the Missionary of the said post, the daughter of Charles Sanguinet and of Veronique Cardin, Born on the twenty-seventh of September of this year, was privately Baptized by Sieur Pierre Chaboille. In testimony whereof we have signed these presents on the day and in the year aforesaid at michilimakina September 27, 1770. Cabdin. Chle. Sanguined. June 27, 1775, by us, missionary Priest, the Ceremonies Of holy Baptism were supplied to Laurent, born June 8, 1771, Of the Lawful marriage of Joseph Laurent … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1760-1769

January 7, 1760, I, * * * received the mutual consent of and gave the nuptial benediction to Michel Boier and to Josette Margueritte de Lignon, after the publication of three bans – in the presence of the undersigned witnesses and of others in attendance. M. L. Lefranc, Miss, of the society of Jesus. Mi. Lamarque; Michelle Boyer; Jean Romain dit Sanscrainte; Sejourne; Bourassa; Farly; Langlade; La Faintessie; René Bourassa, fils; Bourassa Langlade; Amable Chaboillez; René Bourassa, petit-fils. In the presence of the undersigned witnesses, I received the mutual consent of Pierre Duprés and of Marie Joseph Carignan at Michilimakinak … Read more

Mackinac Baptism Records 1755-1759

January 18, 1755, I, the undersigned, solemnly baptized Charle Louis Bourassa, legitimate son of René Bourassa and of Anne Charlotte Veronique Chevalier, his father and mother. The godfather was Mr. The Chevalier de Repentigni, the Officer Commanding for the King at the Sault; and the godmother Mde de L’anglade. *** M. L. Lefranc, Miss. of the society of Jesus. Louis Le Gardeur, Chevalier Repentigny; Bourassa D’anglade March 30, 1755, I, the undersigned priest, missionary of the society of Jesus, solemnly administered holy Baptism to two adults: one about twelve or thirteen years old, called Piere François, a panis [slave] belonging … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1790-1799

January 21, 1792, I, the undervsigned Justice of the Peace, received the mutual Marriage Consent of Jean Baptiste La Borde dit Sans regret, and of marguerite Machar Chevalier, In the presence of the undersigned witnesses * * * Adhemar St Martin J. P. Alexis Laframboise; J. B. Barthe; C. Gaultier; Joseph Laframboise; J. B. la Borde Di Sanregret; Ezechiel Solomon; John Kirby; Louis Chevalier, + His Mark; Madme Gaultier, + Her Mark. March 19, 1792, I the Undersigned, Commandant of this Post, received the Mutual Marriage Consent of Alexis Laframboise, Esquire, and of Josette Adhemar, in the presence of the … Read more

Miscellaneous Notes In The Mackinac Registers

In the original Mackinac Register these are scattered through the register, in the neighborhood of entries on other subjects. They are here brought together under one head. July 22, 1787, after invoking the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost, we, the undersigned, elected by a majority of votes, as church wardens of the church of Ste. Anne de Michilimakina, messieurs Ch. Chaboillé and Daniel Bourassa, who formally promised and undertook to care for the interests of the Said Church as their own and on their soul and conscience. In testimony whereof they have signed with us. Payet, missionary priest. Chles Chaboillez; … Read more

Register of Interments in the Parish of Michilimackinac

The register of interments was evidently not as carefully kept as those of marriages and baptisms. The following first four entries have been abstracted from the baptismal register, being entered after the records of baptisms on the death of the child previously baptized. The record kept by Father Le Franc, beginning in 1754 and continuing through 1760, is continuous, and entered in one portion of the register, headed “Registre des morts depuis le ler aoust 1754” . The remaining entries were scattered miscellaneously among the marriages and baptisms, but have here been assembled in chronological order. Died August 10, 1743 … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1821

August 11, 1821, William McGulpin, son of age of Patrick McGulpin, and Madeleine Bourassa, daughter of age of Daniel Bourassa and of Marguerite Bertrand, both residents of this parish, having shown us a certificate from a justice of the peace, Samuel Abbot, by which it appears that they contracted marriage on August 21, 1815, and asked us to validate their marriage before the church. Accordingly on the same day and in the year aforesaid, we received their mutual marriage consent and gave them the nuptial Benediction in accordance with the ceremonies of the Roman Church, in the presence of Eloy … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1800-1804

January 19, 1800, I, the Undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace of the United States, received The mutual Marriage consent of Louis hamelin and of Marie Louise of the Sauteux nation. In the presence of the Undersigned witnesses, at McKinac on the day and in the year aforesaid. Adhemar St. Martin J. P. Alexis Laframbois; L Hamelin; Genevieve Plaiseé; J. Giasson. April 20, 1800, I, the undersigned, one of the justices of the peace of the United States, received The mutual Marriage consent of Jacques Chauvin and of Angelique of the Sauteux nation, In the presence of the … Read more

Mackinac Baptism Records 1790-1799

September 29, 1792, was born and privately baptized by me, the undersigned, on the Thirtieth, Michel, son of Mr. Daniel Bourassa and of Dame Marguerite Bertrand his father and mother, born in lawful marriage. *** C. Gauthier. October 21, 1792, by me the undersigned, was privately baptized Therese Victoire, born this day, of the lawful Marriage of Mr. Jean Baptiste Barthe and of Dame Genevieve Beaubien. *** Adhemar St Martin. February 7, 1793, I, the Undersigned, privately baptized Etienne, son of a woman savage called Veronique, belonging td Mde. J. Bte. Barthe. The said child was born this day. *** … Read more

Mackinac Marriage Records 1780-1789

April 19, 1781, the Marriage Ceremony was solemnized between Thomas Stone and Margaret Paterson, daughter to Geo. Paterson, soldier in the 8th Regiment, by their mutual consent and before the undersigned witnesses. In testimony whereof the said Parties have also affixed their names – the Ceremony performed by Patrick Sinclair Esq., Governor of the Post. Tho Stone Witnesses: John Coates, Notary Public. July 20, 1786, I, the undersigned priest, having granted dispensation of bans between Sieur Charles Viarville dit Gauthier son of Sieur Claude Germain Viarville and of Therese Villeneuve, his father and mother, of this parish, of the one … Read more

A Short History of Michilimakinak

No more colorful settlement existed in the Middle West than the mission and fort at the Straits of Mackinac, for the French early realized its importance and directed their westward explorations from this base. The concentration point for the fur trade of the Middle West, Mackinac held an important place for many years, both during the British and American regimes.

Mackinac Baptism Records 1810-1821

No baptisms are entered in the register between 1804 and 1821, possibly because no priest visited the island in that long interval; although the entry in Wisconsin Historical Collections, xviii, p. 512, would indicate the presence of a priest at Mackinac in 1818. When the British retired from Mackinac in 1815, after the conclusion of the Treaty of Ghent, their commandant was ordered to establish a post as near Mackinac as possible, in order to keep control of the Indian trade. Accordingly the post was built on Drummond Island, opposite the strait of Detour, now a part of the state … Read more