Tags
Aaron Squire, Anah Bessac, Anah Nichols, Baptiste, Barte, Bertrand, Canadian French, Canadian Indians, Captain Aaron Squire, Chenango River, Chenango Valley, George Park, Jersy City, Lost at Sea, Martel, New York Harbor, Protestant, Quercy, Tories
John Bessac, prior to his move to the banks of the Chenango River, had sent letters to France. He received letters from his friend Barte and his brothers Bertrand and Baptiste. John even received a nice letter from his father inquiring about his well-being and informing John that he should come home.
John had not, to this point, told anyone about his marriage and his children. Probably with good reason; he was not sure how his family would accept his wife Anah, a Protestant, into the family. John decided that at fifty years old it was about time to face up to this difficult problem.
John sat down and wrote a letter updating the family about everything that had happened since his brother Baptiste had departed America. Included in this short history were his businesses as a merchant in Jersey City, the raids of the Tories, his movement to Hudson, New York and his circuit trading with the Canadian French and the Indians of Niagara. He informed them that he was now living as a farmer in the Chenango Valley.
John saved the news of his marriage and children until the bottom of his letter. He told them of his wonderful wife Anah, about her father Colonel Nichols, and of course his eight children. He informed his father that although he had married a Protestant he would remain a true and faithful servant to the church.
All communications from his relatives in France ceased after that. John was puzzled because his father had, in previous communications, assured John that he was dearly missed at home. John continued to write Baptiste and Bertrand but without results.
John was afraid that his mother had died. He was sure that if she were alive she would prevail upon his father and brothers to respond to his letters. His only thoughts were that she had passed from this earth and that his father forbade his brothers from writing to him because he had “united his destiny with a heretic.”
Finally, in 1822, he tried one more time. The letters were given to his son-in-law, George Park, for delivery. George, a meticulous diarist, made note of the date and addresses on the two envelopes.
For France.
Messieurs Jean & Baptiste Bessac
en Quercy. Martel
For France.
A Monsier le Cure on autre PasteurEcclesiastic de la Parousse de Montvalant.
en Quercy. Martel.
The two letters were entrusted to Captain Aaron Squire of Norwalk, Connecticut. Captain Squire was the master of a vessel headed for Nantz, France. He was instructed to place them in the post office upon his arrival. The ship, the crew and Captain Squire were never heard from again after leaving the New York Harbor. They had been lost at sea.
John’s immediate family was all he had remaining. His wonderful wife Anah and the eight children gave him great joy.
And, of course, the mountains and river that he had come to so dearly love.
waldotomosky 