Marie-Angélique Memmie Le Blanc
Encyclopedia
Marie-Angélique Memmie Le Blanc (1712 – 15 December 1775), also known as the Wild Child of Champagne, The Maid of Châlons, and Wild Child of Songy, was a feral child
. She was born in Wisconsin
—at the time a French colony—into the Native American
Fox Tribe (La Nation des Renards in French).
Her story is known through separate accounts by Julia Douthwaite and French surgeon Serge Aroles, who unearthed hundreds of documents concerning her, and published 30 of them in a 2004 biography.
She survived outside of society for ten years between November, 1721 and September, 1731—longer than any other confirmed feral child, perhaps owing to her age. After her entrance into society she succeeded in learning to read and write, also unique among feral children.
While the primary sources for this case are in French, many factual errors circulated in English, German, and Spanish publications, such as that she was an Eskimo
or Inuit
, that she was 10 years old when discovered, and that she died "poor at the age of thirty".
Following a battle in 1716 between the French and the Amerindians which took place one hundred miles west of Chicago in which her tribe was defeated, she and many children were sold as servants, and she ended up in Canada. In 1718 she was purchased by Madame de Courtemanche—described by Aroles as a "lady of quality", who loved her as her own daughter and brought her to Labrador
.
Following the battle between the Eskimos (Inuit) and the fragile French colony in Labrador, the family embarked on the vessel "L'Aventurier", which sailed for France on the 11th of September.
Upon arriving at Marseille on October 20, Western Europe was enduring a plague which claimed the lives of half of Marseille's population. Marie-Angelique was held in quarantine for a year. She escaped into the woods of Provence
, in November 1721 and was captured ten years later in village of Songy
at the age of 19 years. She died in Paris at the age of 63 (15 December 1775), then a pensioner of the queen of France.
Feral child
A feral child is a human child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has no experience of human care, loving or social behavior, and, crucially, of human language...
. She was born in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
—at the time a French colony—into the Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Fox Tribe (La Nation des Renards in French).
Her story is known through separate accounts by Julia Douthwaite and French surgeon Serge Aroles, who unearthed hundreds of documents concerning her, and published 30 of them in a 2004 biography.
She survived outside of society for ten years between November, 1721 and September, 1731—longer than any other confirmed feral child, perhaps owing to her age. After her entrance into society she succeeded in learning to read and write, also unique among feral children.
While the primary sources for this case are in French, many factual errors circulated in English, German, and Spanish publications, such as that she was an Eskimo
Eskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
or Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, that she was 10 years old when discovered, and that she died "poor at the age of thirty".
Following a battle in 1716 between the French and the Amerindians which took place one hundred miles west of Chicago in which her tribe was defeated, she and many children were sold as servants, and she ended up in Canada. In 1718 she was purchased by Madame de Courtemanche—described by Aroles as a "lady of quality", who loved her as her own daughter and brought her to Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
.
Following the battle between the Eskimos (Inuit) and the fragile French colony in Labrador, the family embarked on the vessel "L'Aventurier", which sailed for France on the 11th of September.
Upon arriving at Marseille on October 20, Western Europe was enduring a plague which claimed the lives of half of Marseille's population. Marie-Angelique was held in quarantine for a year. She escaped into the woods of Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, in November 1721 and was captured ten years later in village of Songy
Songy
Songy is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.In September, 1731 Marie Angélique, called the "wild girl of Songi" or the "wild girl of Champagne", was captured at Songy. Then, she spent some months in the castle of the Viscount d'Epinoy....
at the age of 19 years. She died in Paris at the age of 63 (15 December 1775), then a pensioner of the queen of France.