Jesuit missionary; born in
France in 1658.
In the fall of. 1689 he went to
Quebec, and was first stationed as a missionary among the
Abenake Indians, near the
Falls of the
Chaudiere.
Then he was sent to the
Illinois country, and as early as 1695 he established a mission among the Abenakes at
Norridgewock, on the
Kennebec River.
He acquired great influence over the Indians, accompanying them on their
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hunting and fishing excursions.
The
English accused him of instigating savage forays on the
New England frontiers, and a price was set upon his head.
They burned his mission church in 1705.
It was rebuilt, and in 1722
Rale's cabin and church were plundered by
New England soldiers, who carried away his
Dictionary of the Abenake language, which is preserved in manuscript in the library of Harvard University.
It has been printed (1833) by the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
On Aug. 12, 1724,
Father Rale was shot at the mission cross,
Norridgewock, Me., by some New-Englanders with a number of
Indians.
In August, 1833,
Bishop Fenwick (R. C.) erected a monument to his memory.
