archaeological and textual records - eCommons@Cornell - Cornell ...

1673 (July): Garnier baptized 43 children -- 29 of them die, leaving 14 survivors. He
also baptized 12 adults – 9 dead, leaving 3 survivors. (57:195). By the end of the year,
it is recorded that Garnier baptized 55 people at the St. Jacques mission. Raffeix
baptized 38 at La Conception for a total of 93 people between the two priests (57:14).
1674 (Summer): Raffeix wrote a letter describing an older man who desires to move
with his wife and two children to Quebec or la Prairie de la Magdeleine so they may
live in the community of other Christians (58: 239). Raffeix also reported that he
baptized 14 children, all of whom died shortly thereafter. (58: 241)
1675-1676: No direct communications from the Seneca missions. (60:173) In a letter
relayed by Father Dablon to Reverend Father Pierre de Verthamont states that in the
wake of an influenza epidemic, Garnier baptized 40 children and 14 adults, all of
whom die, and Raffeix baptizing 60 children, who also all die (JR 60:175).
1677-1678: No direct communications from Seneca missions. In a letter relayed by
Father Dablon to Reverend Father Pierre de Verthamont, he relays via Jean de
Lamberville that Raffeix and Garnier baptized 212 people, including 70 children who
die (61:19).
1680s: No direct communications from the Seneca missions. However, Volume 62
contains a letter dated October 21, 1683, written by Thierry Beschefer, the Jesuit
Mission Superior in Quebec to the Reverend Father Provincial. Beschefer states:
“Father Jean de Lamberville, the superior of those missions, wrote me some time ago
that hardly any one died at Sonnontouan, where Father Julien Garnier is, without
having previously received baptism, — although they, with those of Goiogouen, are
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