Catherine Blanshan DuBois was 34 years old and living with her family on the frontier of southeastern New York in the mid 1600’s. She was born in France and several years after her marriage to Louis DuBois, this Huguenot family moved to the New World, probably arriving at New Amsterdam (New York) in 1661. They soon settled in the community of “New Village”, which was on the Hudson River near present day Kingston, N.Y. The region, at this time, was still wilderness and the settlers gathered together in communities or forts for their protection against the Indians. There had been some negotiations with the Indians of the area, but a dispute arose at the building of “New Village”, a community near the first settlement nearby, “Wiltwyck.” The Indians claimed that the land on which the new community was being built had not been a part of previous negotiations concerning settlement of the area. For this and other reasons, tensions between the settlers and the Indians began to mount.
So, late one morning in June of 1663, when most of the men and some of the women of these communities were out in the fields working the land, a group of Indians attacked both the New Village and the older fort at Wiltwyck nearby. According to accounts all the dwellings of the New Village were burned. Three men who were able to return quickly to ward off the attack were killed. Eight women and 25 children were taken prisoner from New Village, including Catherine DuBois. Houses at Wiltwyck were also burned and additional prisoners taken captive, bringing the total number of those captive to 45.
At least a month passed before an organized group of English and Dutch soldiers, under the command of Capt. Martin Kregier, was formed to go after the attackers. One of the captured women had escaped and was willing to lead this force to the Indian fort where the captives had been taken. But, when Kregier’s group arrived at this location, about 30 miles to the southwest of Wiltwyck, the Indians had moved. Frustrated, Krieger’s, men set fire to the Indian fort, fields, and stored corn.
Another month passed and then news came from an Indian informant about the location of a new fort being built by the Indian group who had the captives. Kregier put another force together and they were able to mount a successful surprise attack and rescue the prisoners.
Most of the story I’ve just related is fairly well documented by historical sources. The part that I tell next, about Catherine DuBois is what many might consider legend, as there are no historic sources that confirm it as absolute truth. This legend has been recorded in a number of books about that region and was probably passed on from generation to generation, perhaps with some storyteller’s embellishments.
About ten weeks after the early June attack and capture, the Indians decided to burn some of their captives, including Catherine DuBois and her young baby Sarah. They gathered a pile of wood and placed Catherine and baby Sarah on top, but just as they were about to torch the pile, Catherine began to sing, from the Huguenot Psalter, Psalm 137. This Psalm is set during the time of the capture of the Jews by the Babylonians, and foretells of the coming destruction of Babylon.
Alongside Babylon's rivers we sat on the banks;
we cried and cried, remembering the good old days in Zion.
Alongside the quaking aspens we stacked our unplayed harps;
That's where our captors demanded songs, sarcastic and mocking:
"Sing us a happy Zion song!"
Oh, how could we ever sing God's song in this wasteland?
If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my fingers wither and fall off like leaves.
Let my tongue swell and turn black if I fail to remember you,
If I fail, O dear Jerusalem, to honor you as my greatest.
The Indians held the fire so that they could listen to Catherine’s beautiful song. When she finished they demanded that she continue to sing, which she did. It was at this time that Kregier’s force staged their surprise attack, surrounding the Indians and their captives. Catherine’s beautiful hymn singing had saved her life!!
Historians have discounted this legend of Catherine’s hymn singing, citing that there is no mention of it in Capt. Kregier’s official report. Kregier’s journal indicates that the Indians were busy constructing their fort when his forces surprised them, not preparing to burn captives. And, historians also note that it was uncharacteristic of Indians of that region to burn their captives, especially women.
Believe what you will. Maybe there is some truth to the story. Perhaps Catherine and the other women did sing beloved Psalms from the Huguenot Psalter to pass away their time in captivity. The Huguenot Psalter was an attempt, by those during the Reformation, to translate the Psalms into the common language of the people. They were set to simple melodies, often-French folk songs. The captured women probably knew them all by heart and singing them would have likely brought them great comfort.
Well, I like the story, whether it is absolutely true or not, and so I think I’ll download “Psaume 137” from the collection “Psaumes De La Reforme”, and contemplate Catherine’s experience. I suppose it is a tale that is meant to illustrate the power and strength of faith. And, I believe, that even if the story had ended with her singing as the flames surrounded her in death, the message would not have been diminished. Faith brings a healing power despite the outcome of our mortal selves. Maybe the experience of faith, felt by singing a beloved hymn, could save your life!
-Mary
Catherine DuBois was my 9th great grandmother and I’m actually a descendant of two of her grandsons. It is also likely that Joost Vanmeter, her future son-in-law (my 8th great grandfather), was among the children taken captive.
(Catherine Blanshan-Sarah DuBois-Isaac VanMeter-Rebecca VanMeter- Capt. Isaac Hite-Jacob Hite-Robert Hite-Eleanor Hite-Goslee Geiger-Thomas Geiger-Elizabeth Geiger- me)
or
(Catherine Blanshan- Sarah DuBois- John VanMeter-Jacob VanMeter-Elizabeth VanMeter-Letitia Swan- William Fairleigh-James Fairleigh-David Fairleigh-Abram Fairleigh-Emma Fairleigh-Elizabeth Geiger)
