Claude THOMAS
Biography

French (rough English translation below):

Fils de Jean Thomas et Anna Lega de Douvres, Angleterre (René Jetté)

En juin 1689 (Cochecho Massacre) il est pris par les Abénaquis à Dover, New Hampshire. Ils l'ammènent à Sorel ou il est adopté par une Abénaquise appelée Bigaouette. Elle l'a élévé comme son propre fils.

Plus tard il est échangé contre un rançon par les français.

Quelques générations plus tard les descendants de Claude Thomas prennent le nom Bigaouette.

Protestant, Il doit abjurer lors qu'il est libéré des Abénaquis.

(ct 14 Genaple) avec Marie-Anne Villeneuve.

Selon Jacques Roy dans le livre "les Anglos" de Louisa Blair "Ses parents étaient originaires de Douvres dans le comté de Kent en Angleterre. Ils ont immigré en Nouvelle Angleterre vers le milieu du XVII siècle et fondé la ville de Dover au New Hampshire..".

L'acte de mariage de 1706 dit: ".. entre Claude Thomas, fils de Jean Thomas et d'Anne Lega ses père et mère habitant de Douvre en la nouvelle Angleterre d'une part..."[2]

soucrces (René Jetté, dictionnaire des origines à 1730, Louisa Blair - Les Anglos - la face cahcée de Québec, tome 1 1608-1850, Acte de mariage 1706 à Charlesbourg)

Inh: 23 novembre, âgée de 84 ans, mort d'hier

Rough English translation:

Son of Jean Thomas and Anna Lega of Dover, England (René Jetté)

In June 1689 (Cochecho Massacre) he was captured by the Abenakis at Dover, New Hampshire. They take him to Sorel where he is adopted by an Abenaki woman called Bigaouette. She raised him like her own son.

Later he was exchanged for ransom by the French.

A few generations later the descendants of Claude Thomas took the name Bigaouette.

Protestant, he must recant when he is freed from the Abenakis.

(ct 14 Genaple) with Marie-Anne Villeneuve.

According to Jacques Roy in the book "Anglos" by Louisa Blair "His parents were originally from Dover in the county of Kent in England. They immigrated to New England around the middle of the 17th century and founded the town of Dover in New Hampshire. .".

The marriage certificate of 1706 says: ".. between Claude Thomas, son of Jean Thomas and Anne Lega, his father and mother living in Dover in New England on the one hand..."[2]

sources (René Jetté, dictionary of origins to 1730, Louisa Blair - The Anglos - the hidden face of Quebec, volume 1 1608-1850, Marriage certificate 1706 in Charlesbourg)

Inh: November 23, aged 84, died yesterday


Abenaqui Indian Line Claude was born about 1680 in of Dover, N. H. (Concheco in 1680). He died in Nov 1761 in Charlesbourg, P. Q.. He was buried on 23 Nov 1761 in Charlesbourg, P. Q. (Tanguay page 308. ) Claude Thomas-Bigaouette was born Claude Thomas. Claude and his mother Ann Lera or Lara were abducted from their home in Concheco, N. H., now Dover, N. H. in 1689 during an Abenaqui indian attack This event is referred to as the Concheco Massacre of 1689. For a more detailed version of this event, see the notes under Richard Sr. Otis on this site. About 30 residents were brutally murdered and approximately 30 more were taken captive. Claude must have been separated from his mother as he was adopted and cared for, and raised by an Abinaqui squaw for about 10 years before being "Purchased" or "Ransomed" by a French family. After obtaining his freedom Claude adopted the Catholic faith and chose to keep the name of the squaw who cared for him. Her name was Bigaouette. Claude was employed as a "domestique" in the home of Mr. Paul de St. Simon an important person in Quebec at that time. Claude Thomas-Bigaouette and his wife Marie-Anne Villeneuve had at least 14 children all born at Charlesbourg between 1709 & 1731 Parents: John THOMAS and Ann LERA. He was married to Marie-Anne VILLENEUVE on 15 Nov 1706 in Charlesbourg, P. Q.. Children were: Paul THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE , Marie-Marguerite THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Jacques THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Marie-Anne #1 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE , Marie-Anne # 2 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Helene THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Joseph #1 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE , Marie-Anne #3 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Jean-Charles THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Marie-Francoise THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Marie-Anne #4 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE , Marie-Jeanne THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Joseph #2 THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE, Marie-Charlotte THOMAS-BIGAOUETTE .




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