John Gyles
Encyclopedia
John Gyles was an interpreter and soldier, most known for his account of his experiences with the Malecite tribes of the Saint John River.
In 1689, when he was nine years of age, he was living with his family at Fort Charles. On 2 August, while labouring with his father Thomas near the new fort, he was taken prisoner by Malecites in the raid of that year. His father was killed and only one brother escaped. John was conveyed up the Penobscot River
, across portage
s to the Chiputneticook Lakes
, and on to the confluence of the Médoctec River with the Saint John, ten miles below present-day Woodstock, New Brunswick
For six years Gyles was a slave to the Malecites. He was forced to serve as drudge
to one of the many small hunting parties which moved as far north as Gaspésie and endured harsh treatment.
His fortunes greatly improved in the summer of 1695 when he was sold to Louis Damours de Chauffours, who had a seigneury
at Jemseg
. John hunted and traded for Damours and worked in his store. In October 1696, the English came up the Saint John River to attack Governor Joseph Robineau de Villebon
’s fort at the Nashwaak River
. Damours was in France at the time, but Gyles helped to save his master’s house from destruction. He posted on the door a statement, written by Damours’ wife, that English captives had been treated kindly there. After the Treaty of Ryswick
, Gyles was delivered to the captain of an English vessel at the mouth of the Saint John and sailed for Boston, where he arrived on 19 June 1698.
Gyles’ knowledge of and fluency in the Indian dialects of Acadia made him invaluable to the governing authorities of New England when war broke out again in 1701. He served as an interpreter under many flags of truce, sailed with Major Benjamin Church
in 1704, and fought with Colonel John March
at Port-Royal
in 1707. Most of his later life was given to military service and liaison with the Indians. In 1715 he helped construct Fort George
at Brunswick
; he remained to command the fort until 1725. He finished his military career as commander of the New England garrison on St. George's River.
He married his first wife, Ruth True, in 1703 and his second, Hannah Heath in 1722.
In 1736 Gyles published his memoirs of his adventures.
, William Gilmore Simms
, and Robert Montgomery Bird
.
His name has also been attached to the dubious John Gyles Education Award.
A play was produced about his life called John Gyles: an Indian Experience by Theatre New Brunswick
's Young Company in 1978.
In 1689, when he was nine years of age, he was living with his family at Fort Charles. On 2 August, while labouring with his father Thomas near the new fort, he was taken prisoner by Malecites in the raid of that year. His father was killed and only one brother escaped. John was conveyed up the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
, across portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
s to the Chiputneticook Lakes
Chiputneticook Lakes
The Chipnuneticook Lakes are a group of several lakes along the International Boundary between Maine and New Brunswick.They are East Grand Lake, North Lake, Mud Lake, Spednic Lake, and Palfrey Lake.This lake system forms the head waters of the St...
, and on to the confluence of the Médoctec River with the Saint John, ten miles below present-day Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
For six years Gyles was a slave to the Malecites. He was forced to serve as drudge
Drudge
A drudge is a person who does tedious, menial, or unpleasant work; it can also refer to the work itself, known as drudgery.Drudge can also refer to:* Matt Drudge, an American Internet journalist.** Drudge Report, Matt Drudge's website....
to one of the many small hunting parties which moved as far north as Gaspésie and endured harsh treatment.
His fortunes greatly improved in the summer of 1695 when he was sold to Louis Damours de Chauffours, who had a seigneury
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
at Jemseg
Jemseg, New Brunswick
Jemseg is a Canadian rural community in Queens County, New Brunswick. It is located on the east bank of the Jemseg River along its short run from Grand Lake to the Saint John River...
. John hunted and traded for Damours and worked in his store. In October 1696, the English came up the Saint John River to attack Governor Joseph Robineau de Villebon
Joseph Robineau de Villebon
Joseph Robineau de Villebon , a governor of Acadia, was born in New France and received much of his education and military experience in France....
’s fort at the Nashwaak River
Nashwaak River
The Nashwaak River located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada; is a tributary of the Saint John River. It is 113 kilometres long. The river rises from Nashwaak Lake and flows south and east through uninhabited land and rapids to the village of Stanley...
. Damours was in France at the time, but Gyles helped to save his master’s house from destruction. He posted on the door a statement, written by Damours’ wife, that English captives had been treated kindly there. After the Treaty of Ryswick
Treaty of Ryswick
The Treaty of Ryswick or Ryswyck was signed on 20 September 1697 and named after Ryswick in the Dutch Republic. The treaty settled the Nine Years' War, which pitted France against the Grand Alliance of England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the United Provinces.Negotiations started in May...
, Gyles was delivered to the captain of an English vessel at the mouth of the Saint John and sailed for Boston, where he arrived on 19 June 1698.
Gyles’ knowledge of and fluency in the Indian dialects of Acadia made him invaluable to the governing authorities of New England when war broke out again in 1701. He served as an interpreter under many flags of truce, sailed with Major Benjamin Church
Benjamin Church
Dr. Benjamin Church was effectively the first Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, serving as the "Chief Physician & Director General" of the Medical Service of the Continental Army from July 27, 1775 to October 17, 1775. He was also active in Boston's Sons of Liberty movement in the years before the...
in 1704, and fought with Colonel John March
John March
John March was in a variety of businesses in Newbury, Massachusetts. He was a colonel in the Massachusetts Bay militia and, in that position, was active in a number of military operations against the French and Indians by the English in King William's War and Queen Anne's War.March was in charge...
at Port-Royal
Port Royal, Nova Scotia
Port Royal was the capital of Acadia from 1605 to 1710 and is now a town called Annapolis Royal in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Initially Port Royal was located on the north shore of the Annapolis Basin, Nova Scotia, at the site of the present reconstruction of the...
in 1707. Most of his later life was given to military service and liaison with the Indians. In 1715 he helped construct Fort George
Fort George (Maine)
Fort George was a colonial era fort, erected in 1715, that was located in Brunswick, when Maine was under jurisdiction of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.-History:...
at Brunswick
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
; he remained to command the fort until 1725. He finished his military career as commander of the New England garrison on St. George's River.
He married his first wife, Ruth True, in 1703 and his second, Hannah Heath in 1722.
In 1736 Gyles published his memoirs of his adventures.
Legacy
His memoirs are regarded as a precursor to the frontier romances of James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
, William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms was a poet, novelist and historian from the American South. His writings achieved great prominence during the 19th century, with Edgar Allan Poe pronouncing him the best novelist America had ever produced...
, and Robert Montgomery Bird
Robert Montgomery Bird
Robert Montgomery Bird was an American novelist, playwright, and physician.-Background:Bird was born in New Castle, Delaware on February 5, 1806. After attending the New Castle Academy and Germantown Academy, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1824...
.
His name has also been attached to the dubious John Gyles Education Award.
A play was produced about his life called John Gyles: an Indian Experience by Theatre New Brunswick
Theatre New Brunswick
Theatre New Brunswick is the only professional theatre company in New Brunswick Canada. It began operation in 1968, and has been successfully operating since that time.-Artistic directors:*Walter Learning *Malcolm Black...
's Young Company in 1978.