Odanak Families

Dauphine

Last updated 10-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: French [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Dauphinais
Probable Native Name: N/A
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: N/A
Other Notes: Medard Dauphine appears to be the first of this family name at Odanak. He was probably a frenchman as there are no males with this surname on any of the tribal census lists. Medard m. 1812, Agnes de Gonzague. Their known children were Stanislas, Louis, Joseph, Catherine, and Medard. Catherine m. 1840 Joachim Denis. Stanislas m. 1837 Marie Louise Pktalomogus. We have record of 5 daughters born to this couple, 4 m. Abenaki men, nothing is known of the 5th. [NL 98]

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De Gonzague

Last updated 23-Apr-02

Possible Family Origin: Probably Missisquoi [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Degonzague, Consack
Probable Native Name: dagôza
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Chaudiere River
Other Notes: Believed to be a branch of the Obomsawin family. [DAY 1981] In 1808 Louis De Gonzague is listed as war chief. In 1819 Louis Consack is head chief. Pierre Michel de Gonzague appears on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844. Louis b. abt 1798 was Grand Chief from 1840-70. Joseph b. 1864 became a Monseigneur in the Catholic Church
In 1803 Louis Watso is called Louis Degonzague. We have yet to determine any connection between the Watso and de Gonzague families of that time period.
'De Gonzague' is a dit name used by members of the Giguere family, many of whom reside in the Odanak region. It is possible the Abenaki de Gonzague family is connected to the Giguere family at some place in time.
see also Obomsawin
Mathilda (Benedict) de Gonzague - photo

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Denis and Paul

Last updated 17-Aug-04

Possible Family Origin: Unknown [Day 1981] - possibly Androscoggin or Kennebec, related to Pierre Paul (Perepole) of Sandy River/Farmington Area late 1700's? [NL 97]. Denis is Maliseet [1880's Odanak documents]
Other Possibly Spellings: Dennis, Deny, Pol, probably Dana
Probable Native Name: N/A
Period Family Name Recorded at Odanak: 1812 to 1900's
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Durham, St. Jean, Drummondville, and possibly Sorel (as Paul family) PQ Canada, Missisquoi area of Vermont, Adirondacks, and a common family name appearing in many places and associated with several Wabanaki bands.
Other Notes: P. Dennis appears on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844. Michel Paul Denis was at Durham in 1830. Paul and Pierre are very common given names in this family.
Gordon Day speculated that the family might be related to Pierre Paul of the Sandy River, as members of this family were often referred to as "the Pauls". His speculation is strengthened by the fact that three females of the Denis surname are married and living in Farmington ME in the late 1800's and by local tradition in Farmington that descendants of Pial Pol visited the area from St. Francis [NL 97]. We also have Pierre Paul's 1812 petition which states his relatives live in Canada.
The family of Maurice Paul Denis were well known basket makers in upstate NY.
Charles, Joseph, Menon, and Paul Paul are listed abt. 1755 with the Canadian Company of Sorel and may be related to this family [NL 97].
Biography - Mrs. Anne (Denis) Fuller
see also Mouscouoisseau
See the biography of Pierre Paul for more information.

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Etienne & Stevens

Last updated 10-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: Perhaps Algonquin of Trois-Rivieres [Day 1981], probably Eastern Abenaki [NL 2000]
Other Possibly Spellings: Attaine, Attean, Stephen
Western Abenaki pronunciation: Atian
Probable Native Name: N/A
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: Bécancour, Three Rivers, Quebec, Penobscot, possibly Missisquoi
Other Notes: J. Etienne appears on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844. He could be Joseph who is in Three Rivers census 1850-52. Etienne is the French version of the English name Stephen. It is common in many Wabanaki groups. Attean is an old family name at Indian Island. Stevens is common in Passamaquoddy and Maliseet groups.

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Gamelin

Last updated 10-Jul-00

Possible Family Origin: French [Day 1981], likely an old Metis family [NL 2000]
Other Possibly Spellings: Gumlaw (in U.S.)
Western Abenaki pronunciation: Gamlah
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: VT and NY ususally as Gumlaw
Other Notes: In 1768 Joseph Gamelin married Catherine Antoine Annance d/o Gabriel Annance. A. Gamelin appears on the Odanak roster of 1812 veterans with heirs in 1844.
This family name appears in St. Francis church records from the early 1700's. They used the dit names Launiere & Chateauvieux. One Gamelin m. a Brisebois in 1724. Suzanne Gamelin m. 1763 Joseph Louis Magwawidobait Gill (of English bloodline) who was a chief at Odanak. Charles Gumlaw b. 1830 in VT was a basket maker. There are no males of this surname found in tribal census records.
"Joseph Gamlin was the man who lived at the ferry on the opposite side of the river in 1812, and earlier. His wife was Catherine Annance, sister to Capt. Francis Annance. - Simon Annance." [HP1869]

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Gill

Last updated 02-Sep-00

Possible Family Origin: English [Day 1981]
Other Possibly Spellings: Guil, Guille
Probable Native Name: N/A
Period Family Name Recorded at Odanak: 1697 to 1900's
Other Places Where Family Name Appears: N/A
Other Notes: The Gill family originates with Samuel Gill who was taken captive at the age of 9 from Salisbury MA in 1697. He married Rosalie James?, another captive. Some of their children m. into French families and some into Abenaki families. One son, Joseph-Louis Gill, became a chief at Odanak and was known by the Abenaki name "Magwáwidõbait". The family remained prominent at Odanak and a great deal of material on the family has been collected.
Rosalie James has always been thought to be another English captive taken in New England. One researcher believes she was a Durrell rather than James. You will find the details of this theory on the link listed below. Other recent research has opened up the possibility that she was taken in a raid on the lower Mississippi.
See the 1805 Durham Land Grant Families for more information on Romain WASAMIMET/GILL -- Robert GILL -- Antoine Marie GILL
see also Pabomnolette
Members of the family attended Moor's Charity School & Dartmouth College
Who Was Rosalie James?

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