Karole Dumont-Beckett

Metis Genealogist, Historian, Canadian Historical Novels Author

1498 Roberval Ave., Orleans, Ont. K4A 2C4

karoled@live.ca

Jeanne (Indian) Onaus-Onout-Nounau-Aunois

I searched for valid records for her and found only a few "official" ones.

I would argue that priests did not make errors in Latin since they learned it extensively. Not all

priests used the word “sauvage” in their records, but the fact that the priest did not write

AUNOIX but a completely different word tells me that this was an Indian name - for which I

hope to eventually find the meaning. The fact that she and Pierre lived with other mixed married

people is also strong indication of her ancestry.

Because the handwriting is uniform on the records and the words photocopies is present on the

left hand margin, it is likely that the records in this document are copies of originals, which may

be kept in vaults or available only at the archives.

It would appear that the person transcribing the original church records into these ones has

changed Jeanne’s last name from Ouaut to Naunau then to Aunoix - for whatever reason, without

reason or proof. The change occurs between 1651 and 1656. Note: I have not found the baptism

for Michel Lefebvre (b. abt 1654).

Based on the following evidences, I am convinced that Jeanne was an Indian and that her name

was Jeanne Ouaut.

Evidence # 1: 1651 (in latin) baptism record for a young Indian girl named Perrine for whom

Jeanne is the godmother and listed as "Joanna Ouaut, wife of Pierre Lefebvre" (Godfather:

Pierre Couc-Lafleur of Cognac. He hadn't married Marie Mite8amig8k8é yet.)

Evidence # 2: On their son Jacques’s baptism, (1647) Jeanne’s surnname is replaced with the

words “nounau(may not be right spelling) gallis” (Unknown origin?)

Evidence # 3: On the baptism of their daughter Catherine (1648) Jeanne’s surnname is absent

but the words “nounau efus” (may not be right spelling) are added after her first name”

Evidence # 4: On the baptism of their daughter Elizabeth (1651) Jeanne’s surnname is now

“nounau” (may not be right spelling)

Evidence # 5: On the baptism of their son Ignace (1656) Jeanne’s surnname appears to have

been erased and replaced by the name Aunois. This is the first appearance of that name in any of

Jeanne’s records.

Evidence #6: On the baptism of their daughter Ange (1658) Jeanne’s surname is overwritten by

the word Aunois. It is not possibble to ascertain what was weritten under it, but likely Ouaut

Evidence # 7: On the baptism of their son son Pierre (1661) Jeanne’s surname is again

overwritten by the word Aunois.

Evidence # 8: Pierre Lefebvre-Descoteaux and Jeanne married early 1640s in Trois Rivieres.

They lived among other mixed-married couples (see the chart attached.) and close to the fief

Pachirini, (Chief Charles Pachirini was witness for Marie Mite8amig8k8e's marriage to Pierre

Couc,) Bertrand Fafard, and many other white men who married Indian women. (an early Metis

settlement in fact)

Note: Jeanne is not listed on any ships, filles a marier, or even les filles du Roi. If she was a

white woman she would have been listed as such because white women in 1640 in Trois Rivieres

did not go unoticed. The is no marriage record found for them. If she were White there would be

a record since all white women were married in church.

Jeanne was known under many names. Jeanne Ouaut-Onaus-Onout-Nounau-Aunois-Aunoix

I recognize her as an Indian woman, likely Huron or Algonquin by the name spelling found so

far.

K.D. Beckett

MFC files – 2015

-----------------------------------

Evidence # 1: Baptism of Perrine (Indian baby girl)

Evidence # 2 : Jacques Lefebvre

Evidence # 3: Catherine Lefebvre

Evidence # 4 : Elizabeth Lefebvre

Evidence # 5 : Ignace Lefebvre

Evidence # 6 : Ange Lefebvre

Evidence # 7 : Pierre Lefebvre

Evidence # 8:

TANGUAY - Jeanne’s name is now Aunois