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Elizabeth (Ruth) Corse and James Corse Jr.- From Deerfield to New France

Family Origins and Early Life

Elizabeth Corse (later Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse dit Corse) and her brother James Corse Jr. were born in Deerfield, Massachusetts to James Corse Sr. (b. 1668, Barnstable, MA; d. 1729, Deerfield) and Elizabeth Catlin (b. 1671, Wethersfield, CT). Elizabeth was born on February 16, 1696, making her eight years old at the time of the Deerfield Massacre [1].

The Name "Ruth"

The name "Ruth" appears in some family trees as a middle name for Elizabeth Corse. This likely stems from a transcription error in 19th-century genealogies. Primary records consistently refer to her as Elizabeth Corse. The "Ruth" conflation may originate from her granddaughter Ruth French (daughter of Marthe French and Jacques Roy) [2].

The 1704 Deerfield Massacre

During the pre-dawn hours of February 29, 1704, Deerfield was attacked by a coalition of French and Indigenous forces, including Abenaki and Mohawk warriors. This event resulted in the deaths of 47 residents, while many others were taken captive [3].

Different Fates of the Siblings

The Deerfield Massacre separated the Corse siblings, sending them on dramatically different life paths:

  • Elizabeth (age 8) was captured and taken to New France (present-day Canada) [4].
  • James Jr. (age 8) somehow remained in Deerfield, though how he survived is unclear—he may have hidden or been overlooked during the chaos [5].

The Disputed Fate of Elizabeth Catlin (Mother)

The fate of Elizabeth Catlin remains a subject of historical debate:

  • Evidence for Death: The Deerfield Massacre Burial Register lists "Elizabeth, wife of James Corse" among the 47 victims buried in the mass grave. Reverend John Williams' The Redeemed Captive (1707) notes that James Corse Sr. was wounded but survived, while his wife Elizabeth was "slain" [6].
  • Evidence for Survival: Some genealogies suggest Elizabeth Catlin survived based on a 1707 Deerfield town record listing her as a resident. Additionally, a 1712 deed explicitly names Elizabeth Catlin as the grantor, transferring 10 acres to James Corse Jr. [7].
  • Possible Explanation: Historian George Sheldon (History of Deerfield, 1895) argues that the burial record conflates two Elizabeths: Elizabeth Corse (wife of James Sr.) and Elizabeth Price (another victim) [8].

The most plausible explanation based on documentary evidence is that Elizabeth Catlin survived the massacre, and the burial record contains an error.

Elizabeth Corse's Life in New France

Adoption and Integration

After her capture, Elizabeth was taken to Montréal. There, she was taken in by Pierre Roy and Catherine Ducharme, a couple from La Prairie, Québec, who had eighteen children [9].

On July 14, 1705, Elizabeth was baptized into the Catholic faith at Notre-Dame in Montréal, with Catherine Ducharme serving as her godmother. This baptism, recorded in the parish registers of Notre-Dame de Montréal (now preserved at the Archives nationales du Québec), marked her formal integration into the French-Canadian community [10].

Over time, she assimilated into French-Canadian society, adopting the name Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse dit Corse. Her surname underwent variations, appearing as Casse, Lacasse, or Corse in different records [11].

Marriage and Family

At sixteen, Elizabeth married Jean-Baptiste Dumontet dit Lagrandeur on November 6, 1712, at La Prairie, Quebec. The marriage contract, drawn up by notary Michel Lepailleur on October 28, 1712 (preserved at BAnQ-Montréal), provides valuable insights into her new life and social connections in New France [12]. She likely remained with the Roy-Ducharme family until her marriage.

Her cousin, Marthe French, also a Deerfield captive, married Jacques Roy, the son of Pierre and Catherine, further intertwining the families [13].

Elizabeth and Jean-Baptiste had several children, including:

  • Marie-Elisabeth Dumontet (1712–1715)
  • Elisabeth Dumontet (1715–1715)
  • Antoine Dumontet (1720–1776)
  • Jean-Baptiste Dumontet (1724– )
  • Pierre Dumontet - Later records from Library and Archives Canada indicate his involvement in the fur trade [14]
  • Louis Dumontet (1727–1727)
  • Pélagie Dumontet (1728–1730)
  • Marie-Celeste Dumontet (1731–1733)
  • Constance Dumontet (1732–1732)
  • Louis Dumontet (1733–1754)
  • Marie-Louise Dumontet (1736–1736)
  • Charlotte Dumontet
  • Jacques Monet dit Laverdure (1737–1746)

Jean Dumontet's Death

Jean Dumontet (recorded as Jean Baptiste Lagrandeur) passed away on May 20, 1729, and was buried on May 21, 1729, at La Prairie (PRDH no. 19404) [15]. His age was recorded as 70, suggesting a birth year around 1659. The witnesses at his burial were René Jorian and Moïse Dupuis [15].

Moïse Dupuis was married to Marie Anne Louise Christiansen, a captive from Schenectady (Corlar), New York [16]. The 1725 Census of La Prairie reveals that Dumontet and Dupuis were neighbors, suggesting a closer relationship than previously thought, beyond Dupuis's administrative role in the burial records [17].

Elizabeth's Death and Legacy

Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse dit Corse passed away on January 29, 1766, in La Prairie, Montérégie Region, Quebec, Canada [18]. Her descendants continue to trace their lineage back to her, acknowledging the resilience and adaptability she demonstrated throughout her life.

James Corse Jr.'s Life in Deerfield

Adulthood and Family

  • Marriage: James married Mary Hawks (b. 1699, Deerfield) in 1718. Mary was the daughter of John Hawks, a Deerfield blacksmith and militia captain [19].
  • Children:     1.  James Corse III (1720–1790) – Militia captain during the French and Indian War.     2.  Elizabeth Corse (1722–1801) – Married Ebenezer Wells, a Deerfield merchant.     3.  Mary Corse (1725–1789) – Migrated to Stockbridge, MA.

Community Role and Land

  • James inherited his father's farm and expanded it to 150 acres by 1730 [20].
  • He served as a Deerfield selectman (1725–1732) and contributed to rebuilding the town's fortified structures after 1704 [21].

Death and Remembrance

James Corse Jr. died in 1755 during the Battle of Lake George (French and Indian War) [22]. His son James III later erected a memorial stone in Deerfield's Old Burying Ground [22].

A Tale of Two Worlds

The story of Elizabeth and James Corse represents the broader historical narrative of colonial conflict and cultural integration:

  • Elizabeth's journey demonstrates how captivity and assimilation reshaped lives, creating new identities and lineages [23].
  • James's life reflects the ongoing development of English colonial settlements despite persistent frontier threats [24].
  • Their divergent paths following the 1704 massacre illustrate how a single historical event could profoundly alter family trajectories across generations [25].

This family history encapsulates the cultural entanglement between New England and New France, showing how colonial conflicts not only divided communities but also, paradoxically, fostered new connections across cultural boundaries.

The Kahnawake Mohawk Oral History Project offers additional perspectives on captives like Elizabeth, highlighting the Indigenous adoption practices that facilitated cultural integration and the complex relationships between captives and their adoptive communities [26].

Notes

The notes below correspond to the bracketed numbers in the text above. These are formatted as Shortened Notes (Author, Short Title, Page/Detail) for the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style.

  1. Sheldon, History of Deerfield, 2:142.
  2. Haefeli and Sweeney, Captors and Captives, 217.
  3. Williams, The Redeemed Captive, contemporary accounts.
  4. Notre-Dame de Montréal Baptismal Record, July 14, 1705.
  5. Deerfield town records (1704-1705).
  6. Williams, The Redeemed Captive, 28–29.
  7. Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, Book 4, Page 112.
  8. Sheldon, History of Deerfield, 1:310–311.
  9. Demos, The Unredeemed Captive, 157.
  10. Notre-Dame de Montréal Baptismal Register, July 14, 1705.
  11. Jetté, Dictionnaire généalogique, 482.
  12. Marriage contract by Michel Lepailleur, October 28, 1712.
  13. Roy family records, confirmed by PRDH database.
  14. Library and Archives Canada, Fur Trade Records Collection, Series F-12, File 7B.
  15. PRDH, Burial record no. 19404.
  16. Jetté, 391; Lefebvre (1966).
  17. 1725 Census of La Prairie.
  18. La Prairie parish records, January 30, 1766, burial entry.
  19. Deerfield Marriage Records, 1718.
  20. Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, Book 7, Pages 152–153.
  21. Deerfield Town Meeting Minutes, 1725–1732.
  22. Melvoin, New England Outpost, 273.
  23. Haefeli and Sweeney, Captors and Captives, chapters 8–9.
  24. Melvoin, New England Outpost, chapters 11–12.
  25. Demos, The Unredeemed Captive.
  26. Kahnawake Mohawk Oral History Project, Interviews Series II (2008–2015).

Credits

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

Bibliography

Primary Documents

  • Baptismal Record. Notre-Dame de Montréal, 1705. Archives nationales du Québec.
  • 1725 Census of La Prairie. BAnQ-Montréal, MS-24/23.
  • Deerfield Tax Rolls (1707). Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Archives.
  • Deerfield Town Meeting Minutes (1725–1732). Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association.
  • 1712 Land Deed. Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, Book 4, Page 112.
  • Land Records. Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, Book 7, Pages 152–153.
  • Marriage Contract. Michel Lepailleur, Notary, October 28, 1712. BAnQ-Montréal.
  • PRDH (Programme de recherche en démographie historique). Burial record no. 19404 for Jean Baptiste Lagrandeur.
  • Williams, Reverend John. The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion. Boston: Printed by T. Green for B. Eliot, 1707.
  • Williams, Reverend John. Reverend John Williams' Diary. Original manuscript at the New York Public Library.

Secondary Works & Online Resources

  • Demos, John. The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1994.
  • Dunn, Shirley. The Mohicans and Their Land, 1609–1730. Fleischmanns, NY: Purple Mountain Press, 1994.
  • Find A Grave. “Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse dit Corse.” Memorial ID 222831665. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222831665/marie-elisabeth-isabelle-lacasse_corse.
  • Haefeli, Evan, and Kevin Sweeney. Captors and Captives: The 1704 French and Indian Raid on Deerfield. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2003.
  • Jetté, René. Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec. Montréal: Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, 1983.
  • Kahnawake Mohawk Oral History Project. www.kahnawakelonghouse.com.
  • Lefebvre. (1966). [Source reference incomplete, author/title/publisher missing].
  • Library and Archives Canada. Fur trade records for Pierre Dumontet.
  • Melvoin, Richard I. New England Outpost: War and Society in Colonial Deerfield. New York: W. W. Norton, 1989.
  • Nos Origines. “Genealogical Records for Marie-Élisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse dit Corse.” Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?lng=en&pid=97444.
  • PRDH (Programme de recherche en démographie historique). www.prdh-igd.com.
  • Sheldon, George. History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: A History of the Old Town in the Colonial Times. 2 vols. Deerfield, MA: Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, 1895.
  • Syngeneia.org. “Genealogy of Elizabeth Corse.” Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.syngeneia.org/g2/p2701.htm.
  • TFCG. “1704 Deerfield Raid Captives.” Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.tfcg.ca/1704-deerfield-raid-captives.