The Key Role Played by Patriot Women
In 1837, within the framework of the effort to create an economy appropriate to the young republic and end its economic subjugation to Great Britain, women initiated a boycott of British goods and trade. They began to weave clothes from the country's own yarn and during the people's assemblies young women pledged to save their hearts for those who dared to clothe themselves in Canadian cloth. At mealtimes, they used maple syrup instead of sugar from the West Indies and served cider instead of wine. Historian Micheline Lachance informs that more than 250 women from the Parish of Saint-Antoine organized a sumptuous dinner where all imported products were formally banned. On August 13, 1837, the Central and Permanent Committee of the Patriots received a petition from Marie-Louise Félix, wife of Patriot notary Jean-Joseph Girouard, requesting the creation of the Association of Patriotic Women of the County of Two Mountains. During the same period, at patriot assemblies the banner "Honour to Patriot Women" was raised. Marie-Louise and her sister Marie-Victoire who was married to the patriot merchant Jean-Baptiste Dumouchel, settled in Saint-Benoît and records show that both were active in the Patriot cause, as were their three children: Vital-Léandre, Camille and Hercule. Besides having participated in the founding of the Association of Patriotic Women, Marie-Victoire was also known for having made the Patriot Flag of Two Mountains, representing a golden muskellunge enveloped in a pine branch with the letters C for Canada and J-Bte, for Jean-Baptiste, the symbol of the habitants of Lower Canada during that period. That same flag was raised during the Battle of Saint-Eustache.
To crush the rebels and the aspirations of the people of Lower Canada to rid themselves of the yoke of the British Empire, the British army responded with fire and sword. Records show that, at that time, women and families connected in any way to the Patriot movement were abandoned to raise their children and care for the elderly, and made to suffer the worst humiliations. But they courageously faced the violence of the British military. When their homes were pillaged or burned, the women had only themselves to rely on and the solidarity of their compatriots to survive. They were forced to take to the road with their families over long miles in search of shelter. Some, such as the sister of Doctor Chénier, crossed village after village to inquire about and give news of the patriots on the battlefield. Émilie Boileau, living in Chambly, organized Patriot assemblies from her home. She was armed at all times and Patriot Robert-Shore-Milnes Bouchette wrote in his memoirs, "We had hardly entered the room when we saw people at the back of the room respectfully make room to allow a woman to pass, who came towards us in a calm and dignified manner. In her right hand she held a gun, its barrel resting on her left arm."[1] Others, such as the young Labrie and Berthelot women, melted lead to make bullets and made powder ammunition rounds. They were never far from the battlefield, ready to care for the wounded. Women did not hesitate to offer refuge to patriots on the run, even at the risk of their own lives. In a letter dated March 9, 1838 intended for his wife, the Patriot notary Girouard related, "If you see Mrs. Mongrain, do not forget to express to her my deep gratitude for her concern when I was kept by the brave patriot women in the cellar of the de Payen house ... What a spectacle it was! It is always in my thoughts. If ever I return to St-Benoît, and have the means to do so, I will assemble all those generous women amongst us that promises, money, fear failed in having them betray any of their compatriots. I would like an opportunity to thank them, to express to them my recognition and admiration for their patriotism."[2] The British power offered only prison, exile and death in response to the will of the people to establish a Republic of Lower Canada, but women did not submit to humiliation and fear and continued to defend the Patriot movement. They visited and provided care to prisoners, interceded with the authorities in defence of the just cause of their spouse, brother, son and demanded their release. Euphrosine Lamontagne-Perrault, who lost two sons in the Rebellion -- one killed, the other in exile -- exemplified the spirit of the women at the time: "if it was to do all over again and my children wanted to act as they had, I would not try to stop them as in no way were they driven by ambition, but by love of their country and hate against the injustices they were made to suffer." Notes1. Mémoires de Robert-S.-M. Bouchette (1804-1840), collected by his son Errol Bouchette, with notes by A.-D. Decelles. 2. Jean-Joseph
Girouard
(1795-1855),
"Lettre addressée à son épouse Marie Louise
Félix (1780-1846)
from the Montreal prison March 9, 1838." (Sources: La Canadienne pendant les troubles de 1837-1838, Marcelle Reeves-Morache, Revue d'histoire de l'Amérique française; www.1837.qc.ca; www.unites.uqam.ca.)
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In 1837-38, the role played by
patriot women was second
to
none. They stood in the front ranks in the mobilization and
organization of the people of Lower Canada to combat the British
colonialists and affirm the Republic of Lower Canada. Their
ingenuity and sacrifices for the success of the republican cause
are legendary.
