Father Pierre du Jaunay: a Jesuit missionary in North America 4

In 1765 Father Pierre du Jaunay was recalled and the mission closed. After celebrating his last baptism at the Straits on 3 July 1765, he packed up the sacred vessels of the mission and took them to Detroit. At Quebec he was appointed spiritual director of the Ursuline Order there on 2 August 1767. He maintained his interest in western affairs, however. In 1769 he briefly became embroiled in the events stirred up by the court martial of Robert Rogers. When Joseph-Louis Ainsse of Michilimackinac, a prosecution witness, was himself charged with theft, Du Jaunay travelled to Montreal to testify to Ainsse's good character. Despite the turmoil of the American revolution the old priest continued his work at Quebec until his death on 16 July 1780. At Michilimackinac and at L'Arbre Croche his memory lingered. As late as 1824 the Ottawa were still pointing out the spot 'where Du Jaunay used to walk up and down, saying his office.'

In the 1773 Supression of Jesuits Fr Pierre was one of twelve Jesuits allowed to stay in Quebec and he was not imprisoned. He was allowed to stay because of his missionary work with the Indians.

Fr Pierre was buried in the Jesuit seminary grounds in Old Quebec City. The old seminary still exists, but the Museum of Civilization now occupies the site of the former burial ground. Even if the burial ground did survive it is unlikely we would find the grave site as no markers were placed on the graves and no grave yard plans were kept due to the Supression. Adapted by Graham Jaunay from an article by David A Armour, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol IV 1771 to 1800.

Supplemented by research by Graham Jaunay & Michelle LaBrosse-Purcell of London Ontario with assistance from Fr Robert Toupin SJ of Monteal.

Note: Father Toupin's records give the date of birth for Pierre as 11 August 1704 in Vannes, France. Unfortuately the Arhives of Morbihan which hold these records in France will not undertake a search. These records should reveal Fr Pierre's parents but a local professional researcher will have to be engaged to undertake this work.

This article was published: The Jaunay Journal No 24 Jan 1998 and No 25 Jul 1998

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