Rale, Sébastien (missionary in Norridgewock, Maine)

Rale, Sébastien (missionary in Norridgewock, Maine)

To start, Sébastien Rale was the one to found the mission to Abenakis at Norridgewock on the Kennebec River in 1694. It is stated that one main reason as to why the Abenaki peoples had closer ties to the French was through the Roman Catholic faith. Therefore, Rale’s role in Norridgewock would be very important especially when it came to Indigenous-French relations during this time. In the War of Spanish Succession, Abenakis were not neutral and sided with the French to which Rale then solidified the Abenakis’ loyalty to the French. As Rale’s influence grew, the more desperate the English were to seize him. Despite the Abenakis’ pleas for Father Rale to leave Norridgewock (out of concern for his safety), Rale continued to stay as he took on the responsibility of keeping the faith of the Abenaki people and that it was his purpose. Consequently, the multiple raids sent to seize Sébastien led to the Abenakis attacking English settlements. These events led to a war known by several names: Dummer's, Lovewell's, Father Rale's, or the Three Years' War. During this time, one raid would succeed in killing Father Rale and ending his missionary work in Norridgewock.

1694-1724

Person

Norridgewock (Narantsouak, today Old Point, South Madison, Maine), Modern day America

Thomas Charland, “RALE, SÉBASTIEN,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 2, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/rale_sebastien_2E.html.

1657

Pontarlier, Diocese of Besançon (France)

1724

Norridgewock (Narantsouak, today Old Point, South Madison, Maine), Modern day America

Priest; Jesuit; Missionary to the Abenakis

French; the Abenaki language

Born in 1657, Sébastien Rale would later become a valuable ally to the French, a dangerous enemy to the English, and a respectable Father to the Abenakis of Norridgewock. Beginning his religious path, he joined the Society of Jesus at Dole in 1675 and he was later sent to his first mission at which he learned to speak the Abenaki language. Throughout his work in Norridgewock, from 1694 to his death, Rale dedicated and endangered his life to preserving the Roman Catholic faith within the Abenaki people of the area. Furthermore, as a French missionary, his duties would become entwined with the political and social conflicts between the English and the French. He influenced many decisions when it came to the English ruling of Abenaki land which made him a constant target for raids. In the end, the English would succeed in killing Rale with much hardship. Many have conflicting opinions on Sébastien Rale, but his presence was indubitably significant to the inhabitants of Norridgewock.

N/A

Conflict and Change in Early Canadian History (Carleton HIST 1301)

Ashely Fong