Thankfull Stebbins was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts on September 5, 1691 to John and Dorothy (Alexander) Stebbins. She grew up in a village under constant attack by Indians sent from "New France" (Québec) to terrorize English colonists.
On 11 March 1703/4 The French (some 200 Canadian and 140 Indian soldiers), under Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked Deerfield. 40% of the Village was destroyed, and 44 people slaughtered (10 men, 9 women and 25 children). Thankfull and her family, including that of her sister Abigail (married to Jacques Denoyon, a French Canadian living in Deerfield) were captured and taken north to Canada, a 300 mile journey. Once in Canada, the Indians transfered most of the captives over to French authorities, many of the rest were secured later. Of her family only her parents and brother John went back home to Deerfield.
On April 23, 1707, 15 year old Thankful was baptized into The Roman Catholic church, and from then on became known as "Thérèse Stebenne". She married 4 years later to Adrien Charles Legrain dit Lavallée at Boucherville. She was well liked and respected by the community of Chambly, where she and her husband lived and had 11 children. One week after the birth of her last child, on the 11 July 1729, young Thankful died, most likely from complications. She was not buried in the parish church cemetery of St-Joseph-de-Chambly, but rather from Saint Louis, at The Fort Pontchartrain (Fort Chambly). This was a fortunate thing for those of us who descend from her, as her monument (a wooden placque) was still visible, and photographed by historian Charlotte Baker in 1889. It is the old custom in French Canada (originating in Europe) to bury the dead in the church cemetery. After a period of time, if donations stop coming from the family, the stone is removed to make room for a new burial. This is why you will almost never see a headstone older than 100 years in Québec, unless it was from a non-catholic denomination.
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On 11 March 1703/4 The French (some 200 Canadian and 140 Indian soldiers), under Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked Deerfield. 40% of the Village was destroyed, and 44 people slaughtered (10 men, 9 women and 25 children). Thankfull and her family, including that of her sister Abigail (married to Jacques Denoyon, a French Canadian living in Deerfield) were captured and taken north to Canada, a 300 mile journey. Once in Canada, the Indians transfered most of the captives over to French authorities, many of the rest were secured later. Of her family only her parents and brother John went back home to Deerfield.
On April 23, 1707, 15 year old Thankful was baptized into The Roman Catholic church, and from then on became known as "Thérèse Stebenne". She married 4 years later to Adrien Charles Legrain dit Lavallée at Boucherville. She was well liked and respected by the community of Chambly, where she and her husband lived and had 11 children. One week after the birth of her last child, on the 11 July 1729, young Thankful died, most likely from complications. She was not buried in the parish church cemetery of St-Joseph-de-Chambly, but rather from Saint Louis, at The Fort Pontchartrain (Fort Chambly). This was a fortunate thing for those of us who descend from her, as her monument (a wooden placque) was still visible, and photographed by historian Charlotte Baker in 1889. It is the old custom in French Canada (originating in Europe) to bury the dead in the church cemetery. After a period of time, if donations stop coming from the family, the stone is removed to make room for a new burial. This is why you will almost never see a headstone older than 100 years in Québec, unless it was from a non-catholic denomination.
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Thankfull Stebbins was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts on September 5, 1691 to John and Dorothy (Alexander) Stebbins. She grew up in a village under constant attack by Indians sent from "New France" (Québec) to terrorize English colonists.
On 11 March 1703/4 The French (some 200 Canadian and 140 Indian soldiers), under Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked Deerfield. 40% of the Village was destroyed, and 44 people slaughtered (10 men, 9 women and 25 children). Thankfull and her family, including that of her sister Abigail (married to Jacques Denoyon, a French Canadian living in Deerfield) were captured and taken north to Canada, a 300 mile journey. Once in Canada, the Indians transfered most of the captives over to French authorities, many of the rest were secured later. Of her family only her parents and brother John went back home to Deerfield.
On April 23, 1707, 15 year old Thankful was baptized into The Roman Catholic church, and from then on became known as "Thérèse Stebenne". She married 4 years later to Adrien Charles Legrain dit Lavallée at Boucherville. She was well liked and respected by the community of Chambly, where she and her husband lived and had 11 children. One week after the birth of her last child, on the 11 July 1729, young Thankful died, most likely from complications. She was not buried in the parish church cemetery of St-Joseph-de-Chambly, but rather from Saint Louis, at The Fort Pontchartrain (Fort Chambly). This was a fortunate thing for those of us who descend from her, as her monument (a wooden placque) was still visible, and photographed by historian Charlotte Baker in 1889. It is the old custom in French Canada (originating in Europe) to bury the dead in the church cemetery. After a period of time, if donations stop coming from the family, the stone is removed to make room for a new burial. This is why you will almost never see a headstone older than 100 years in Québec, unless it was from a non-catholic denomination.
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On 11 March 1703/4 The French (some 200 Canadian and 140 Indian soldiers), under Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked Deerfield. 40% of the Village was destroyed, and 44 people slaughtered (10 men, 9 women and 25 children). Thankfull and her family, including that of her sister Abigail (married to Jacques Denoyon, a French Canadian living in Deerfield) were captured and taken north to Canada, a 300 mile journey. Once in Canada, the Indians transfered most of the captives over to French authorities, many of the rest were secured later. Of her family only her parents and brother John went back home to Deerfield.
On April 23, 1707, 15 year old Thankful was baptized into The Roman Catholic church, and from then on became known as "Thérèse Stebenne". She married 4 years later to Adrien Charles Legrain dit Lavallée at Boucherville. She was well liked and respected by the community of Chambly, where she and her husband lived and had 11 children. One week after the birth of her last child, on the 11 July 1729, young Thankful died, most likely from complications. She was not buried in the parish church cemetery of St-Joseph-de-Chambly, but rather from Saint Louis, at The Fort Pontchartrain (Fort Chambly). This was a fortunate thing for those of us who descend from her, as her monument (a wooden placque) was still visible, and photographed by historian Charlotte Baker in 1889. It is the old custom in French Canada (originating in Europe) to bury the dead in the church cemetery. After a period of time, if donations stop coming from the family, the stone is removed to make room for a new burial. This is why you will almost never see a headstone older than 100 years in Québec, unless it was from a non-catholic denomination.
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