Claude-Mathias Phaneuf

Ancestor of actor Christopher Meloni

Matthias Claude (Farnsworth) Phaneuf is known as the ancestor of all Phaneufs in Canada and the United States.

Born August 1690 in Groton Massachusetts, son of Matthias Farnsworth and Sarah Nutting. Captured at Groton in August 1704 by Amerindians, brought into captivity at Sault-au-Recollet, ransomed by the Sulpicians, baptized on January 10, 1706, at Ville-Marie, under the name of Claude-Mathias Farneth. Sponsor and godmother: Claude de Ramezay, Governor; Elizabeth Souart, wife of Charles Lemoyne, Baron de Longueuil. He was naturalized in May 1710, installed in Riviere-des-Prairies, he married on October 2, 1713 Catherine Charpentier, daughter of Jean Charpentier and Francoise Hunault. They had 12 children. Around 1764, Catherine and Claude-Mathias Fanef came to live in Saint-Antoine, where they lived among many of their children for the remainder of their lives.

http://www.greenerpasture.com/Ancestors/Details/858

Mathias II is born in Lynn in 1649 during his father's first marriage with a woman whose name is still unknown. In 1681, he marries Sara Nutting who bears him at least five children.

Among these, a third Matthias, born in Groton on August 6, 1690. Toward 1700, the family lives in the vicinity of Deerfield (in fact in Groton) Massachusetts. At that place, it is attacked by surprise in one of the numerous Canadian raids against New England villages. On August 11, a teenager is captured by the Indians. This teenager is Matthias III, son and grandson of the Matthias Farnsworth. He doesn't read nor write. Furthermore, he doesn't speak French nor the language of the indian tribe that adopts him. The child's fate seems to arouse the interest of the French who make attempts to purchase his freedom. In doing so, they have two goals: convert him and, if possible, integrate him to their society.

The priests of the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Montreal obtain Matthias's freedom. On January 10, 1706, he is baptized. His godfather is Claude de Ramezay, governor of Montreal, and his godmother is Élisabeth Souart, wife of Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil. To his forename is added his godfather's. The patronyme undergoes its first distortions: Farnsworth becomes Farneth.

In October of the same year, Mathieu-Claude Farneth asks for his letters of naturalization concurrently with "Jean Thomas Charpentier, English; Louis-Marie Strafton, gunsmith; Jean Laha, farmer; Paul Otés, shoemaker; Guillaume James, farmer; André Fray, farmer; Jean Uss, farmer, Jean Making, farmer; Guillaume Straylord, farmer; Jean Ohe, farmer; Thomas Hurt" and others. The documents rescued from oblivion in 1912 by Brother Elie, teacher at Mont Saint-Louis College, as well as researches done by descendants of Matthias-Claude Farnets, show the ancestor being given, on July 19, 1711, a first grant of land by his adoptive Gentlemen of the Seminary and more especially the priest Messire François Vachon of Belmont.

An excerpt of the long document confirms the rights of the young man of twenty one "to procure to the said Claude-Matthias, English of nation, being currently in the service of Gentlemen of the Mission of the Sault-au-Récollet after having been purchased from the Indians that held him in slavery, an advantageous establishment in this country (...) if he settled in this country and live in it as a Christian." This condition is essential, because the land is granted to a man who has not yet received the letters making him a Frenchman. He will only receive them in March 1714.

On July 19 of the same year, Jean Charpentier receives his tract of land. The two men share about six arpents of land previously belonging to Jacques Le Moyne de Sainte-Hélène, along the river Des Prairies on the island of Montreal.

On September 14, 1713, three new arpents are added to the others. On the following September 25th, Mathias signs a marriage contract binding him to Catherine, daughter of Jean Charpentier and Françoise Hunault, his neighbours. Already, the one who is called Matthias Fanef possesses a dwelling, a beautiful land and "three arpents and two perches of frontage by forty arpents of depth (...) besides a cow of four years that will be his own." Catherine brings an important dowry, because her parents, "as reward for works and significant services received from the said daughter", give her "a half arpent of three by forty of depth joining the said dwelling of the future spouse." To this sumptuous gift, they will add, the day of "nuptials, two bulls of eighteen months, a cow of four years, a pig of eighteen months and two sheep for all to enter in said future community as to property." The marriage is celebrated on October 2nd by Robert Gay, priest of the Seminary in the Saint-Joseph de la Rivière des Prairies parish. It is there that are born the four girls and the eight boys that Catherine bears to the new Phaneuf family.

Around 1764, the couple gets settled in Saint-Antoine sur le Richelieu, where Claude Matthias will be buried on August 8, 1773, "at a ripe old age of 83." On June 30, 1777 is buried Catherine Charpentier, deceased "yesternight." She was 88 years old."

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/t/e/Bryan-Stearns-1/WE...

Born Mathias Farnsworth, he was living in Deerfield, Mass when he was captured 11 Aug 1700 at the age of 14 by raiding Iroquois Indians of the Sault-aux-Recollect tribe. They raided the town, killing most of the adults and taking several children as captives. He was taken to Montreal as a prisoner. Raised by the Sulpician Fathers who took charge of him on 11 August 1704, they converted him to Catholicism and he was baptised CLAUDE MATHIAS FARNETH on 10 Jan 1706 at Notre Dame de Montreal. His first name, Claude, was given in honor of his godfather, Claude de Ramesay, Governor of Montreal; his godmother was Elisabeth Squart, wife of Charles Lemoyne of Longueil. In October 1706 Mathieu-Claude Farnet requested his naturalization papers along with Jean Thomas Charpentier, among others. Mathias IV was given a land grant by his adopted family, the Seminarians and particulary by Abbe Francis Vachon of Belmont. His age was 21. The document reads, in part, "to obtain for the named Claude-Mathias, Englishman, who is in the employ of the Brothers of the Sault-au-Recollect Mission, after having been snatched from the hands of the indians who held him as a slave, with the understanding that he would remain in New France and live a Christian life." This condition was necessary because the land was being given to a man who was not a legal citizen of Canada. Mathias IV received title in March 1714. Jean Charpentier received his land grant on 19 July 1711. Each man received 6 arpents (an arpent = .85 acres) which had belonged to Jacques Lemoyne de Saint-Helene. The land bordered the Prairie River on L'Ile de Montreal. On 14 Sep 1713 Mathias IV added 3 more arpents to his holdings, and on 25 Sept 1713 he signed a marriage contract with Catherine, the daughter of his friend Jean Charpentier. At the time of his marriage, Mathias IV Fanef owned a home, land which ran 3 arpents and 2 perches (rods) along the river front and 40 arpents deep, and a 4 year old cow in good health. Catherine's dowry was equally rich because her parents gave her "for the hard work and many services they had received from their daughter" the following items: land - one half arpent (3 by 40 deep) adjoining the land of her future husband; 2 bulls, 18 months of age; a four year old cow; an 18 month old pig; and 2 sheep to supply their clothing needs for the future. Mathias IV and Catherine were married on 2 Oct 1713 by Robert Gay, Seminary priest from St. Joseph de la Rivire-des-Prairies Four daughters and eight sons were born on that homestead. In 1764 the family moved to Saint Antoine-sur-le-Richlieu where he was buried on 8 Aug 1773. Catherine died the night of 29 Jun 1777 and she was buried the next day. The descendents of Mathias IV spread along the Richlieu river and some returned to New England where one, not wanting a French sounding name, assumed the name "Makenine".

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Probably due to the difficulty of pronouncing it, the name FARNSWORTH became FARNETH at his baptism. By 1713, he was known as FANEF; later the name was written as FANEUF, and finally PHANEUF.

Mathias Fanef, Faneuf or Phaneuf is the "frenchified" version of his birth name: Matthias Farnsworth.

Born Matthias Farnsworth August 1690 in Groton Massachusetts, son of Matthias Farnsworth and Sarah Nutting. Groton was captured in August 1704 by Native Americans, brought in captivity to Sault-au-Recollet, acquired by the Sulpicians at the seminary of St-Sulpice. Matthias was baptized 10 January 1706, in Ville-Marie, under the name of Claude-Mathias Farneth. His godparents were Claude de Ramezay Governor; Elizabeth Souart, wife of Charles Lemoyne, Baron de Longueuil. He was naturalized in May 1710 and settled in a home at Riviere-des-Prairies. He married, on October 2, 1713, Catherine Charpentier, the daughter of his friend Jean Charpentier and Francoise Hunault. Claude-Mathias and Catherine had 12 children. In 1764, Catherine and Claude-Mathias Fanef came to Saint-Antoine, in order to be near several of their children and there ended their days.

Claude-Mathias is known as the ancestor of all Phaneufs in Canada and the U.S. This memorial was placed in this cemetery in October 1999 by a reunion of his descendants.

References

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L13L-DN6
• url https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899M-1ZX2 Indexed Information This record has not yet been indexed. View the original document. Citation "Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899M-1ZX2?cc=1321742&w... : 16 July 2014), Montréal > Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-des-Prairies > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1687-1795 > image 65 of 934; Archives Nationales du Quebec (National Archives of Quebec), Montreal.
• https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99M-1CZG. This record has not yet been indexed. View the original document. Citation "Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99M-1CZG?cc=1321742&w... : 16 July 2014), Montréal > Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-des-Prairies > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1687-1795 > image 345 of 934; Archives Nationales du Quebec (National Archives of Quebec), Montreal./ Notes “M. joseph fanef et marie anne peyet L'an de nôtre Seigneur mil Sept cent quarante Six et le quinzieme mars [...] moy pretre curé de la paroiſſe St joseph de la riuiere des prairieſ ſousſigné [...] de joseph fanef, agé d'enuiron 23 ans, fils de mathias fanef, et de catherine charpentier presents, natif de cette paroisſe et de depuis quelques années domicilié à Ste rose de l'ile jesus, d'une part, et de marie anne peyet agée d'enuiron ans, fille de pierre peyet defunt, et de catherine demery presente, natiue de la paroiſſe St françois de l'ile jesus d'autre part [...]“
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113831743/claude-mathias-fanef

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Mathias et Sara ont été pris par les sauvagese 1704.

Mathias venait de l'Angleterre

Voir tome 111 historique Phanef

GEDCOM Note

Lorsquil ouvre les yeux ce matin du 11 aot 1704, le jeune Matthias Farnsworth, 14 ans, ignore que sa vie va basculer. Comme dhabitude, il va travailler dans lun des champs qui entourent le village de Groton, tout prs de Boston. Ce sera cependant sa dernire journe dans largion. Ses voisins et sa famille ne le reverront plus jamais.

Durant ce mois, les Amrindiens de la nation Abnakis vont attaquer plusieurs petits villages de la Nouvelle-Angleterre, dont celui de Groton.Cette attaque-surprise du 11 aot fait partie dun plan orchestr par les Franais dont les Abnakis sont alors les allis.

Dans les griffes des Abnakis

Fait prisonnier, le jeune Matthias est amen dans un tout petit villagefortifi de 250 habitants situ au nord de lle de Montral, sur lebord de la Rivire des Prairies. Dans la quarantaine de cabanes de Sault-au-Rcollet vivent des Amrindiens domicilis que des religieux cherchent transformer en bons paysans catholiques.

Le sort que rservaient les Amrindiens leurs prisonniers tait souvent horrible. Bon nombre taient torturs. Il tait aussi courant de rduire les prisonniers au rang desclaves.

Avec larrive des Europens, ces derniers devinrent lobjet duntrafic lucratif. En Nouvelle-France, il arrivait que des seigneurs, des marchands et mme des religieux sachtent des esclaves. De 1680 1830, il y aurait eu dans la colonie prs de 4 200 esclaves. Les deux tiers furent des Amrindiens.

Pendant quelques mois, le jeune Matthias Farnsworth agit comme domestique.

On ne sait trop comment il a t trait au quotidien, mais dans les faits, son statut est celui desclave.

Les recherches minutieuses menes par son descendant, Jean-Marc Phaneuf(avec le concours de Guy Letellier), ne font tat daucuns svices particuliers.

Ntant ni Noir, ni Amrindiens, les religieux de Sault-au-Rcollet le remarquent rapidement et le prennent sous leur aile. Comme la coloniemanque dhommes, on voit en lui un futur habitant. Les Sulpiciens dcident donc dacheter le jeune homme en vue den faire un bon catholique.

De Farnsworth Phaneuf

Et ils ne seront pas dus ! Le 10 janvier 1706, Matthias, parrain parClaude de Ramezay, le gouverneur de Montral, est officiellement baptis sous le nom de Claude-Mathias Farneth. Le 30 octobre suivant, il est naturalis , lquivalent de la citoyennet daujourdhui, etsigne Farnet. Aprs avoir travaill quelques annes pour la congrgation religieuse des Sulpiciens, on lui concde une terre tout prs de Sault-au-Rcollet, sur les rives de la Rivire des Prairies. Le 2 octobre 1713, il pouse Catherine Charpentier. Sur le contrat de mariage, Claude-Mathias signe dsormais Fanef.

Le couple aura dix enfants, la norme de cette poque. Leur an, Claude, se mariera deux fois et aura, lui seul... 20 enfants ! De son vivant, lanctre des Phaneuf connatra 109 des 114 petits-enfants mis au monde par ses propres enfants. On imagine les dernires ftes de Nol.

Fermier et marguiller

Petit-fils dun puritain du Massachusetts originaire de Manchester enAngleterre, Claude-Mathias, qui signe Fanef lors de son mariage, puis Phaneffe et Faneuf sur des contrats lgaux dats de 1735 et 1740, sintgre parfaitement sa communaut.

En 1724, il est mme lu marguiller de sa paroisse et gre les affairesde la fabrique.

En 1751, Claude-Mathias franchit le cap de la soixantaine, un ge vnrable pour lpoque. Il cde sa proprit ses fils, Pierre et Paul, et dmnage avec sa femme Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu o il steint, le 7 aot 1773.

Cest dans le cimetire de lglise de cette jolie municipalit de la valle du Richelieu que sera rig, en 1999, un monument la mmoire de cet anctre exemplaire qui aurait pu connatre un destin bien diffrent.