Esther Brandeau
Encyclopedia
Esther Brandeau, was the first Jewish girl to set foot in Canada
, or New France
, in 1738. She was born c. 1718, probably at Saint-Esprit
(near Bayonne
), in the diocese of Dax.
Around that time, Canada
was the only colony of the New World
never reported to have been visited by a Jew. As she was dressed up as a boy she got arrested on false accusation of robbery and believed to be an orphan was sent by force to settle in New France.
Brandeau named herself Jacques La Fargue and was on a ship bound for the port
of Quebec
. She came to New France
upon a ship called the St-Michel and stayed only a year. After a brief masquerade, Esther's religion and gender were both discovered. As a non-Catholic in a legally Catholic country
, Intendant Hocquart
of New France
had her arrested and taken to the Hôpital Général in Quebec City.
Hocquart initially became under the impression that Brandeau was desirous of converting to Catholicism and remain in the colony. However later he wrote to the minister in France that attempts to have her convert to the Roman Catholic faith had failed. She resisted, desiring to live as a Jew. The government decided on deportation, and after correspondence with authorities in France
, she was sent back to her home in France on a ship named Comte de Matignon at the expense of the State.
There is a fictional book by Sharon McKay, a Canadian author, written on Esther.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, or New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
, in 1738. She was born c. 1718, probably at Saint-Esprit
Saint-Esprit
Saint-Esprit is a commune in the French overseas department of Martinique.-External links:*...
(near Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
), in the diocese of Dax.
Around that time, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was the only colony of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
never reported to have been visited by a Jew. As she was dressed up as a boy she got arrested on false accusation of robbery and believed to be an orphan was sent by force to settle in New France.
Brandeau named herself Jacques La Fargue and was on a ship bound for the port
Port of Quebec
The Port of Quebec is an inland port located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is the oldest port in Canada, and the second largest in Quebec after the Port of Montreal.-History:...
of Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. She came to New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
upon a ship called the St-Michel and stayed only a year. After a brief masquerade, Esther's religion and gender were both discovered. As a non-Catholic in a legally Catholic country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
, Intendant Hocquart
Gilles Hocquart
Gilles Hocquart was from France and minor nobility. The family were successful administrators and financiers.Hocquart was chosen to replace Claude-Thomas Dupuy as Intendant of New France because of his background and because he was deemed to be a more compatible choice to work with Governor...
of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
had her arrested and taken to the Hôpital Général in Quebec City.
Hocquart initially became under the impression that Brandeau was desirous of converting to Catholicism and remain in the colony. However later he wrote to the minister in France that attempts to have her convert to the Roman Catholic faith had failed. She resisted, desiring to live as a Jew. The government decided on deportation, and after correspondence with authorities in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, she was sent back to her home in France on a ship named Comte de Matignon at the expense of the State.
There is a fictional book by Sharon McKay, a Canadian author, written on Esther.