The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-04-28

residence was ut Catharinestown at the head
of Seneca Lake, as being half breed, who
had been well educated in Canada. Her
reputed father was one of the French Gov
ernors of that Province, and she herself was
a lady of comparative refinement. She was
much caressed in Philadelphia, and mingled
in the best society. She exercised con-
trolling influence among the indians, and,
resided in this quarter, [Tiola point, Brad.
ford county, while they were making their
incursions upon the Wyoming settlements.
1t has been even suspected that she presided
at the bloody sacrifice of the Wyoming
prisoners after the battle but Col. Stone
who is good authority upon the history OF
the Six Nations, utterly discredits the
story"
That the Montours, Roland. John and
Catharine were half-breeds, children of
French Governor OF Canada, is altogether
probable; but that Catharine the sister
of Roland ever was the educated and
refined and caressed lady of the best society
of Philadelphia, is an entire misapprehen-
sion. There is no evidence that Catharne
ever was in Philadelphia. Mr.. Pearce as
serts, Notwithstanding Col. Stones denial,
that Queen Esther" was at the massacre.
If he means by "Queen Esther," Madame
Montour, the French woman, the wife of
Roland Montour he is mistaken hut if he
means Catrina Montour, the sister of Roland
and John, then he may he right The
authority from whom Mr.. bay quotes, has
evidently confounded the two women
Madame Montour and Catharine Montour
were very different persons. The christian
any authority which has come under my OBJ
servation and the person who had her
castle at Tioga Point, and her town at the
head of Seneca Lake was not the wife or
widow of Roland Moutour. She had a
daughter Margaret might not that have
been too, the name of the mother? Between
her and John and Catrina, there seems to
have been no intercourse, at least they are
never mentioned in connection with her nor
named as of her family. John and Catreen
are alleged to have both been at the taking
of Fort Freeland in July l779 and that
John received wound there which proved
fatal, and that he was buried at the paint
ed Post" The probabilities of this story
being true, a.e increased, when we re-
member the number of persons taken
prisoners at that time, and that many of
them returned from captivity, to whom
the facts must have been well known, and
by whom they would be correctly and
graphically related.
In view ofall the evidence now attainable,
it seems possible that Madame Montour may
have been of pure French extraction, and
that Roland and his brother and sister may
have been half-breeds. At any rate Mad
anne is always spoken of rs French ,Doman
and never rs as halfbreed, while Cathar-
inc is always distinguished as half breed,
although the brothers are seldom if ever so
designated
So much it seemed necessary to have said,
that the truth of history might be vindicated
and the confusion or error which the
authorities leave upon the mind be dispelled
that the good reputation of Madame Mon
tour might be as immovable as the rocks that
underle the beautiful Ridge which perpetu-
ates her name and her memory be as green
and grateful as the pines that clothe its sides
and wave over its summit.
JOHN G.. FREEZE.