GODEFROY DE VIEUXPONT, JACQUES, fur-trader and interpreter, son of Jean Godefroy de Lintot; baptized on 6 March 1641 at Trois-Rivières; d. in 1661 to the north of that town.

In the spring of 1661, while “on a fur-trading expedition,” he left Trois-Rivières with one Frenchman and some 30 Attikamegue Indians. On the way the group was attacked by a band of 80 Iroquois. The fight was bitter and lasted 48 hours. According to the Relation, had it not been for an unfortunate dissension between two chiefs, the courage of the Indians and of the two white men would have assured them of victory. Jacques Godefroy displayed admirable coolness and boldness; but finally, with several bullets in his body, he died in the arms of his companions. One lone Attikamegue survived to bring the news to Trois-Rivières. Twenty-four Iroquois had perished in the skirmish.

André Vachon

JR (Thwaites), XLVI, 208–10. P.-G. Roy, La famille Godefroy de Tonnancour (Lévis, 1904).

Revisions based on:
Bibliothèque et Arch. Nationales du Québec, Centre d’arch. de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec (Trois-Rivières, Québec), CE401-S48, 6 mars 1641.

Cite This Article

André Vachon, “GODEFROY DE VIEUXPONT, JACQUES,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed November 6, 2024, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/godefroy_de_vieuxpont_jacques_1E.html.

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Permalink:   https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/godefroy_de_vieuxpont_jacques_1E.html
Author of Article:   André Vachon
Title of Article:   GODEFROY DE VIEUXPONT, JACQUES
Publication Name:   Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1
Publisher:   University of Toronto/Université Laval
Year of publication:   1966
Year of revision:   2016
Access Date:   November 6, 2024