Jean Baptiste Rousseau, St. John

A Canadian Interpreter and Trader

Jean Baptiste Rousseau was a man who interacted in the multi-lingual world of late eighteen century North America; the world of French-Canada, of the Mississauga, of the Iroquois (Haudonosonee), and the English. Fluent in French, English, Ojibwa, and Iroquoian, Rousseau acted as an interpreter for the British authorities in the era following the conquest of Quebec.

Read More  

 

The Legacy of Vanished Trails

The Archaeology, History, and Location of Portages in South-central Ontario

The ancient Indigenous trails north of Lake Ontario date back to a prehistoric era and have left their mark on our colonial history, as well as on our modern-day roads. Over one hundred years ago, the European fascination with ancient trails was encouraged by David Boyle, a transplanted Scotsman. From Boyle’s time down to the present, the same interest has driven many others to find the original routes of the trails.

Read More  

 

Scugog Carrying Place

A Frontier Pathway

This ancient aboriginal trail connects Lake Ontario with Lakes Scugog, Simcoe and the Kawartha lakes. The book provides background on local archaeological sites; and introduces the intrepid early surveyors, fur traders, missionaries, colourful characters, and entrepreneurial immigrant settlers from both the newly formed United States and the United Kingdom.

Read More  

 

From the Apsyrtides Islands to the New World

Mariners and Shipbuilders from Lošinj in the Americas

Numerous mariners ventured out from Lošinj, a small Adriatic port to settle in North and South America. They established several thriving communities in this new land where their descendants are found today. These mariners founded numerous ship-building enterprises that spanned over 200 years. It begins with the arrival of a group of Lošinj sailors and officers to the Gulf of Mexico in 1748. Their legacy continues as some of the ships continue to ply the seven seas today.

Read More