I remember going to school when I was younger and learning about Radisson and Groseilliers but I forget what I learned. Back then all we wanted was to grade and finish school. But now I am older and a bit wiser because today I know history is very important. That is why I seem to push at everyone to make their mark in history, let people know about your life, your success stories ,about your family.
Anyway I have a book I bought quite a while ago and there is a chapter on Radisson and I would like to share it with you.
First of all imagine trying to contrive a novel about an early New World explorer whose hero might encompass the characteristics and adventures of Cooper’s Hawkeye or the real life of Daniel Boone. Imagine a hero who’s influence would span two continents, whose drive and determination would be the motivation force behind the visionary formation of a mercantile company that would exist for over 300 years. Imagine a hero who’s deeds could actually fill several action movies and seem to be almost larger than life. Our hero was the epitome of the early American frontiersman, he was a Davy Crockett who out crocketted this icon of our heartland. Image an explorer whose exploits would include such things as being the first white man to contact the Great Plains Indians, to see the Mississippi, to lead an expedition to James Bay, to visit the central plains of the US and Canada. He was a hero who’s life would seem almost too be believable. Put all these things together and you still probably could not equal the truth behind the life of Pierre-Esprit Radisson.
He was born in Paris in 1636, he imigrated to New France in 1651. One day he went
Hunting at the age of 15 in 1652 and he was captured by a roving band of Mohawks who took him to their village on Lake Champlain. Adopted into a warrior family and given the nickname Dodcan meaning Little Devil. He quickly learned the Amerindian language and ways. He accompanied the Mohawks on war parties against hostile tribes, in effect becoming a while Indian. While hunting with 3 Mohawks and a captive Algonquin, he and his fellow prisoner escaped by crushing the skulls of their companions. They were both recaptured, the Algonquin being executed on the spot and Radisson was brutally tortured; the soles of his feet were burned with heated irons, a red hot sword was driven through one of his feet and his fingernails were pulled off one at a time then his fingers were dipped into cans of hot coal. Children were beginning to chew his hands before he was rescued by his adopted family. He served as a Mohawk slave until he escaped to Fort Orange in Albany New York in 1653 and served the Dutch trading post as interpreter until he returned to Trois Riviere Quebec. It was there that he became partners with the experienced fur trader Grosseilliers. Grosseilliers had married Radisson’s half sister while Radisson was captive. In 1657 Radisson returned to Iroquois Country with missionaries and in 1658 again he escaped from Indian treachery. In 1659 he was the first white man to make contact with the Sioux, first white man to make contact with the Cree and the first to negotiate treaties with them, and first to penetrate into the great North Canadian forests. The story goes on and on. To be noted is that Radisson was a coureur de bois not to be mistaken for the more common voyageurs and he along with Grosselliers were among the earliest and most successful of fur traders. Radisson was later captured by Dutch pirates, he met the King of England, married two or three times, and he died in London in 1710.
I am sure you can read a lot more about this famous coureur de bois and his escapades, this bit of reading I found to be more interesting than what I learned in school. I hope you enjoyed today’s blog. I added a few products from my store at
http://www.zazzle.com/allicor* hope you will stop by and do some looking.
Have a great day
Chow for now
Allicor
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