Saturday 23 August 2014

Story of Abigail Nims

I am the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Abigail Nims.

Here is her remarkable story in brief:

Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, as governor-general of New-France ordered the 1704 raid against Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville led the party made up of French and Native people from several communities.

Abigail Nims was one of over a hundred men, women and children taken at Deerfield in the winter of 1704. She survived the 300-mile trek through the snow to Montreal.

Abigail was adopted by Haronhiateka, chief of the bear clan of Sault-au Récollet. Abigail lived in Ganastarsis' longhouse. Abigail was given the name T'atog'ach.

In June 1704, she was re-baptized Marie Elisabeth Nims.

Abigail Nims remained in New-France for the rest of her life.

In 1715, Abigail married fellow captive Josiah Rising, dit Shoentak'ani, re-baptized Ignace Raizenne.

Of their eight children, one became a priest and two daughters became nuns.  One of these daughters taught Mohawk for 50 years and only spoke Mohawk by the end of her life.

Abigail died in 1747, at the age of 46, in Deux Montagnes, Québec.

The house that Abigail and Josiah Rising (Raizenne) built in 1721, still stands outside of Oka, Québec.