Simon Le Moyne

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Father Simon Le Moyne

Hurons and Iroquois in the Americas. Le Moyne had acquired sixteen years of education and experience through priesthood in France before his arrival in New France in 1638. During that same year, he headed out to his mission in Huron country. The destruction of the Huron nation by the Iroquois brought him back east to what is modern day Quebec
in 1650.

He then undertook numerous missions to the Iroquois at great risk to his personal safety, and lived within Onondaga and Mohawk territory. He is most notable in Canadian history for his work as an ambassador of peace to the Iroquois. Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York is named for him.

Biography

Simon Le Moyne was born at

Francesco Giuseppe Bressani. Second only to Chaumonot in his mastery of the Huron-Iroquois language, he was unequaled in the knowledge of the character of the Indigenous people, their customs, and traditions. This made him well-suited to serve as ambassador in difficult matters.[1]

Around 1653, Le Moyne set out on an

Mohawks.[2]

Le Moyne was the first explorer from Europe to discover the Salt Springs of Onondaga, near what is today Syracuse, New York.[3][4] It is here where he set up his mission, Sainte Marie de Gannentaha.

Le Moyne made a number of journeys into Mohawk territory in an effort to further peace negotiations. During 1657-1658 he journeyed from

Fort Orange (Albany, N.Y.). Le Moyne was cordially received by Pastor Megapolensis, and arrived back in Quebec on 21 May 1658.[6]

On 21 July 1661, Father Le Moyne went again to Iroquois territory to seek the release of French captives. He returned to Montreal on the 31st of August 1662 with nineteen freed captives.[6] He died of fever in 1665 at Cap de la Madeleine, near Three Rivers.[2]

Legacy

Le Moyne College is a Jesuit college located in Syracuse, New York and named after Simon Le Moyne. The Le Moyne College seal includes downturned arrowheads which symbolize his work on behalf of diplomacy and peace. It also depicts flowing waters, to symbolize both the ritual of baptism and Father Le Moyne's discovery of the value of the Onondaga salt springs.

Since 1968 Le Moyne College has honored local and national figures with the "Simon Le Moyne Award" for outstanding leadership to the benefit of society.[7]

References

  1. ^ Lindsay, Lionel. "Simon Le Moyne." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Jun. 2014
  2. ^ a b Corrigan, Michael. "Register of the Clergy Laboring in the Archdiocese of New York", Historical Records and Studies, Vol. 1, United States Catholic Historical Society, 1899 p. 22
  3. ^ "Early History of Syracuse". Shades of Oakwood, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  4. The Syracuse Standard
    . Syracuse, New York. January 19, 1878.
  5. ^ "Ecclesiastical Records", Documents of the Senate of the State of New York, Vol. 14, New York (State). Legislature. Senate, E. Croswell, 1902, p. 404Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ a b Pouliot, Léon. “Le Moyne, Simon", Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 1, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003, accessed June 11, 2014
  7. ^ Le Moyne College
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