Father Isaac Jogues
Missionary and Martyr

This page is a timeline of Jogues captivity, torture and eventual death at the hands of the Iroquois. I am using the letter Jogues wrote that is in the Jesuit Relations as my source for the timeline.

Volume 39, Pages 175-225  is the letter Jogues wrote of his initial captivity. Pages 177-237 are written by Father Bressani in 1653, and contain an account of Jogues activity following his captivity.

Please go to My Biographical Page to find a brief biography and additional sites with biographical information about Father Jogues

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs is located where Father Isaac Jogues, and others, were martyred. It has a very good webpage: http://www.martyrshrine.org/

Image of Father Isaac Jogues (http://www.cin.org/kc87-5.html)

EVENT

DATE

August 12, 1642 (According to the math in letter)

Jogues turned himself over: I [...was not] willing to forsake a Frenchman and the Hurons, partially captured without baptism, partly near being the prey of the enemies, who were seeking them in the woods. I therefore stayed alone at the place were the skirmish had occurred, and surrendered myself to the man who was guarding the prisoners, that I might be made their companion in their perils, as I had been in the journey (179).

Guillaume Cousture- would have escaped but returned when he realized Jogues was not with the escaped.

Jogues immediately baptized many of the Hurons, some of whom would die shortly after their baptism. The Frenchmen were all beaten, but the Hurons were left alone.

Captives were forced to run the gauntlet. Beaten and dismembered by Iroquois on 8th Day of Journey into Iroquois territory.

Could have escaped at night, when the Iroquois left the French unbound, but refused to abandon the Huron.

Beaten badly by Iroquois upon entering the village. Also forced to stand upon a stage and receive more torture.

Christian Algonquin Slave, Jeanne, was forced to cut off Jogues thumb

There are four other captured Hurons, all of whom Jogues baptizes.

Paul Onnonhoaraton, a Christian Huron, is killed here. Guillaume is given to a family, and Jogues and Rene Groupil, a fellow Frenchman, are allowed time to recuperate.

Jogues was to be executed the following day because men were believed to have died at war (they had not returned).

The Dutch helped Jogues escape when he passed through a settlement on a fishing journey.

By the time Jogues returned to Canada, peace had been achieved with the Iroquois. He was placed in charge of a mission, "Holy Martyrs." He would travel between Huronia and Iroquoian land three separate times. (235)

Jogues was attacked upon his third trip to Iroquois territory.

"He had foreseen the danger; and had clearly written about it to several friends; but he had gladly exposed himself to it, in order to protest to Heaven and earth that he valued the Faith, which he went to preach, more than his life." (237)

Hist 202 A: Jesuits in New France Website

Mount Saint Mary's University, Emmitsburg MD