Mackinaw Mission School

The Mackinaw Mission, a boarding school for Metis children on Mackinac Island was started in 1823 by William Ferry and his wife Amanda.

The following list of students was taken from Battle for the Soul by Keith R. Widder. He compiled the list from the Annual Reports of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions: "Children at Mackinaw," "Catalogue Gils' School Mackinaw", and "Catalogue Boys' School Mackinaw." There were also children who lived on Mackinac Island with family or friends, but not at the boarding school. Their names are not on this list. Some children were sponsored and are listed under the sponsors surname instead of their own.

BOYS

Alfred Aiken, age 9, from Fond du Lac, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1832
John Aiken, age 6, from Fond du Lac, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1832
Augustus Ambler, age 8, from Point St Ignace, 3/4 Ottawa, 1824-1825
Louisa Ambler, age 6, Point St Ignace, 3/4 Ottawa, 1824-1825
Samuel Anderson, age 4, Drummond Island, no tribe given, 1825-1827
Edward Ashman, age 7, from Lac du Flambeau, 1/4 Chippewa, 1831
Charles Ball, age 6, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa
James/Joseph Barrette, age 12, from Prairie du Chien, 1/4 Sioux, 1827-1830
John Beatie, age 8, from Prairie du Chien, 1/2 Sioux, 1827-
Clement Beaulieu, age 14, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1828
Paul Beauliue, age 6, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Josiah Bissell, age 7 (or 10), from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-, not real surname
Henry Blatchford, age 10 from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824 or 1826-
Richard Boardman, no age, from Rand River, Ottawa, no dates
Louis Bourasaw, age 11, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-
James/Joseph Cadotte, age 16, from Lake Superior, 3/4 Chippewa, 1824-
David Caldwell, age 10, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1828
Duncan Cameron, age 12, from Red River, 1/2 Assinaboil, 1825-1827/28
Randall Cameron, age 14, Red River, 1/2 Assinaboil, 1825-1827/28
Hiram Campbell, age 10 from Mackinaw, 1/4 or 1/2 Ottawa, 1825-
James Campbell, age 8,  from Sault Ste Marie, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippwa, 1825-
John Campbell, age 6, from Mackinaw, 1/4 or 1/2 Ottawa, 1825-
Robert Campbell, age 8, Mackinaw, 14/ or 1/2 Ottawa, 1825-
Samuel Campbell, age 12, from Mackinaw, 1/4 or 1/2 Ottawa, 1825-
William Campbell, age 3, Mackinaw, 1/4 or 1/2 Ottawa, 1825
John Chester, age 6 from Fort Gratiot, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1831
William Chester, age 10, from Sault Ste. Marie, 1/3 Chippewa, 1827-
John Christie, age 4, from Riviere Au Sable or Coutera, 1824-died in 1827
John Clement, no age, place or tribe, 1830-
Alexa Corbin, age 15, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1829
Gordon Corning, age 16, from Fort Gratiot, Chippewa, 1824-25, not real surname

Edward Cowles, age 13, from Mackinaw, 1/4 Ottawa, 1824-

William H. Cross, age 6, from Sault Ste Marie or Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-
John Crow, age 6, from St. Josephs, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-1825/6
William Dingley, age 5, from Lac du Flambeau, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-
James Eels/Eells, age 15/17, from L'Arbre Croche, 1/2 Chippewa or Ottawa, 1829-
George Ermatinger, age 9, from Sult Ste. marie, 1/8 Shawnee, 1828-
David Farabualt, age 12, from St. Peters, 1/3 Sioux, 1827-29
Oliva Farabault, age 14, St. Peters, 1/4 Sioux, 1827-1829
Antonio Findley, age 8, from Prairie du Chien, 1/4 Sioux, 1827-
Samuel Findley, age 9, from Paririe du Chien, 1/4 Sioux, 1827-
John Folsom, age 12, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-, not real surname
Jacob Fonda, age 10, from Drummond Island, 1/2 Sioux, 1826-
Joseph Galais, age 8, from Point St. Ignace, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-1830
Louis Generoux, age 6, from Grand River, 1/2 Winnebago, 1824-1826
Ralph Greenly/Gurley, age 6, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1831
William Hall, age 8, from Fort Gratiot, Chippewa, 1824-1825
Charles S. Hastings, age 14, from Fort Gratiot, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1831, not real surname
William Holliday, age 19, from Lake Superior/Aunce, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1826
Alvan Hyde, age 16, from Fort Gratiot, Chippewa or 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1825
Samuel C. Jackson, age 13, from Sault Ste. Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1831-
John G. Johnson, age 5, from Lake Superior, 3/4 Chippewa, 1832-
Luther Johnson, age 13, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1828
William Johnson, age 8, from Lake Superior, 3/4 Chippewa, 1832-
Theophilus La Chappelle, age 16, from Prairie du Chien, 1/4 Sioux, 1829-1831
Samuel Lasley, age 4, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1826-died 1827
Harvey Lavette, age 8, from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa or 1/2 Ottawa, 1827-died
Benjamin Louisignau, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1823-
Paul Louisignau, age 6, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1823-
Joseph Lyman, age 12, from Lake Superior, 3/4 Chippewa, 1824-died 1826
Charles McBean/McBane, age 8, from La Cloche, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1827
Patrick McMunas/McMurray, age 6, from Red River, 1/2 Assinaboil, 1826-1828
Samuel McMunas/McMurray, age 8, from Lake Athabasca, 1/2 Assinaboil, 1826-1828
William McMurray, age 8, from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1824-1829
John McNinch, age 5 or 8, from Salt Ste. Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-
Henry Martin, age 8, from Sault Ste. Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1827
John Maynard, age 10, from Prairie du Chien, 1/2 Sioux, 1827-
Isaac Miller, age 10, from Cheboygan, Ottawa, 1826-died 1827
William Morrison, age 6, from Lake Superior, 1/2 or 1/4 Chippewa, 1825-1826
Joshua/John Mozes/Moze, age 8, from Fort Churchill, 1/4 Knistenaux, 1827-
Asahel Nettleton, age 6, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-
David W. Northrup, age 10, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Frederick Oliver, age 13, from Prairie du Chien, 1/4 Winnebago, 1827-1830
Moses Partridge, age 10, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 or 1/4 Chippewa, 1825-
Henry Peck, age 8, from La Cloch, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-1830, not real surname
Alexander Pelotte, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-1829
William Pelotte, age 12, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-1829
Norman Pick, age 8, from La Cloche, 1/4 Chippewa, 1828- not real surname
Provinsalle, Antonio, age 13, from St. Peters, 1/2 Sioux, 1827-1830
Provinsalle, Louis, age 13, from St. Peters, 1/2 Sioux, 1826-1830
Pyant, Loius, age 7, from Mackinaw, 1/4 Ottawa, 1824-died 1828
Pyant, Peter, age 5, from mackinaw, 1/4 Ottawa, 1828-died 1829
Thomas Rawson, no age, place, tribe or dates
James Reed, age 10, from St. Josephs, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-1826
Thomas Robinson, age 6, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Sioux, 1826-
Louis Rock, age 12, from Prairie du Chien, 1/2 Sioux, 1826-1830
Daniel Rodd, no age, from Fort Gratiot, 1/2 Chippewa, 1832-
Rewand K. Rogers/Rodgers, ge 8, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1829
John B. Romeyn, age 6, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-
Thomas Robinson, age 6, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Sioux, 1826-
Solomon Rotterdam, age 4, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-
Edward Sayre, age 10, from Red River, 3/4 Chippewa, 1825-1829
John Sayre, age 8 or 12, from Red River, 3/4 Chippewa, 1825-died 1829
Robert Sayre, age 6, from Red River, 3/4 Chippewa, 1825-died 1829
John F. Schermerhorn, 19, from Grand River, 1/2 Ottawa, 1829-
Fayette Shepherd/Shepard, age 6, from Fort Churchill, 1/4 Knistenaux, 1827-
Thomas Shepperd/Shepard, age 7, from Bois Blanc, 3/4 Ottawa, 1824-
Reuben Smith, age 14, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Joseph Trambley/Trambla, age 10, from La Cloche, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Stephen Van Ranssaliar, age 6, from La Cloche, 1/4 Chippewa, 1828-
Isaac Waite, age 5, from Point Au Sable, Ottawa, 1823-1824
Edward/Fisk Warren, age 7, from La Point/Lake Superior, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1829/30-1832
George/Parsons Warren, age 7, from La Point/Lake Superiour, 1/2 Chippewa, 1829/30-1832
James Warren, age 5, from La Point/Lake Superiour, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-
John Warren, age 4, from La Point/Lake Superiour, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Wm. Warren, age 6, from La Point/Lake Superiour, 1/2 Chippewa, 1831-32
Milton H. Wells, 1/2 or 3/4 Chippewa, 1826-1830
George Whitefield, no age, place, tribe or dates
Elisha Yale, age 18, from  L'Arbre Croche, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-1828
Andrew Yates, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-


GIRLS

Matilda Aitkin, age 5, from Fond du Lac, 1/2 Chippewa 1825/29 - 30/32
Nancy Aitkin, age 5 or 8, from Fond du Lac, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1832
Jane Anderson, 14 or 15, from St. Peters, 1/4 or 1/2 Sioux, 1828-1831
Sarah Barrett, age 8, from Bois Blanc, 1/2 Chippewa, 1823-died 1824
Sarah Barrett, age 6, from Point St. Ignace, 1/2 Chippewa or 3/4 Ottawa/Chippewa, 1824-
Lucy Beaubin, age 5, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1828
Elizabeth Beaulieu, age 11, from Lac du Flambeau/Lake Superior, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1832
Julia Beauliue, age 13, from Lac du Flambeau/Lake Superior, 1/4 Chippewa, 1826-1831
Mary Beauliue/Beabin, age 9, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1833
Sophia Beaulieu, age 9, from Lac du Flambeau/Lake Superior, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-1832
Susan Bennett, age 7, from Montreal, 1/4 or 1/2 Knistenaux, 1826-
Catharine Bissell, age 7 or 14, from Fort Williams, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1824, not real surname
Angelique Blance/Blaunce, age 8, Sault Ste. Marie, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-1829
Charleotte Bradley, age 5, from Chicago, 1/2 Potawatomi, 1826-
Nancy Collins, age 3, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Chippewa 1826/27-
Hester Crooks, age 8, from Drummond Island/Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-
Helen Curtiss, age 3, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-
Charlotte Deverney/Devorney, age 16, from Lake Superiour, Chippewa, 1828-died 1828/9
Anna M. Ermatinger, no age, from Ohio, 1/16 Shawnee, 1828-
Eliza Ermatinger, no age, from Mackinaw/Sault Ste. Marie, 1/8 or 1/16 Shawnee, 1828-1832
Therisa Ermatinger, no age, Mackinaw, 1/8 or 1/16 Shawnee, 1828-1832
Christina Evarts, age 5 or 8, from Grand River, 1/2 Chippewa or 1/2 Ottawa, 1828-1832
Mary Evarts, age 5, from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1832-
Elizabeth Farling, age 10, from Drummond Island, 1/4 Chippewa, 1827-
Nancy Farling, age 7, from Drummond Island, 1/4 Chippewa, 1827-
Nancy Fessenden, age 8, from Fort Gratiot, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-
Glorian/Glorianne Folsom, age 6, from Wisconsin, 1/4 Chippewa, 1827-, not real surname
Cornelia Fonda, age 14, no birthplace, 1/2 African or 1/2 Ottawa, 1824-
Mary Lyon Grant, no age, from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1829-died 1830, not real surname
Electa O. Hastings, age 15 from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1826-died 1827, not real surname
Electa O. Hastings, age 23, from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1827-1832, not real surname
Elizabeth C. Hastings, age 9, from Fort Gratiot, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1831, not real surname
Frances A. Hastings, age 12, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Chippewa, 1827-1832, not real surname
Jane J. Holiday, age 4, from Aunce/Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826-
Mary Hollyday/Holiday, age 12, from Aunce/Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1829
Nancy Hollyday/Holiday, age 9, from Aunce/Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1831
Marcia L. James, age 13, from Montreal, 1/4 Chippewa, 1826/7-1832, not real surname
Virginia Lafayette, age 10 from L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1831-
Angelick, Longe, age 11, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Knisteneaux, 1827-
Mary Louisnaw/Louisgnon, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1823-24
Roselle Louisnaw/Louisgnon, age 12, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1823-24
Magdalene Lowndes/Lownds, age 13 or 14, from Grand River, 3/4 Ottawa, 1828-
Josette McBain/McBean, age 5, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Knisteneaux, 1826-1827
Peggy McBain/McBean, age 7, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Knisteneaux, 1826-1827
Polly McBain/McBean, age 12, from Fort Williams, 1/4 Knisteneaux, 1826-1827
Nancy McKinsa/McKenzie, age 15, from Fort Williams. 1/4 Knisteneaux, 1825-1827
Esther McMurray, age 10, from Montreal or Prairie du Chien, 1/4 or 1/2 Knisteneaux
Isabella McNinch, age 12, from Sault Ste Marie, 1/4 or 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-1832
Julia Mattan, age 4, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Chippewa, 1824-1831
Harriet Moody, no age, L'Arbre Croche, Ottawa, 1827-
Eliza Oakes, age 5, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1831-
Sophia Oakes, age 7, from Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1831-
Vrylina Paspatte, age 6, from Grand River, 3/4 Ottawa, 1825-
Mary Pierreish?, age 15, from Fort Williams, 1/2 Knisteneaux, 1831-
Josette/Mary J. Pyant, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/4 Chippewa, 1825-
Caroline Rogers/Rodgers, age 15, from La Point/Lake Superior, 1/2 Chippewa, 1825-
Harriet Romeyn, age 5, from Fort Williams, 1/4 or 1/2 Knisteneaux, 1826-
Catharine Rowland, age 5, from Mackinaw, 1/4 Chippewa, 1825-, not real surname
Margaret Sayre, age 8, Sault Ste Marie, 3/4 Chippewa, 1825-died 1829
Emily B. Smith, age 13, from Grand River, 3/4 Ottawa, 1826-
Jessy Solomon, age 10, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824
Roselle Solomon, age 8, from Mackinaw, 1/2 Ottawa, 1824
Catherine Spencer, age 9, from Lake Superior, 3/4 Chippewa, 1824-1832, not real surname
Ann/Eliza Start, age 14, from Fort Williams, 1/2 Chippewa, 1827-1832
Angelique/Angelick Thompson, age 24, from St. Josephs, 1/4 Chippewa, 1828-1830
Eliza Warner, age 6 or 8, from Fort Gratiot, Chippewa, 1824-died 1829
Mary Ann Willard, no age, from Fort Williams, 1/2 Chippewa, 1826 or 1827, not real surname.



William Ferry resigned in 1834, officially attributed to a nervous breakdown. However when Rev. Peter Doughtery investigated, speaking to Jane Johnson Schoolcraft, wife of Indian agent Henry Schoolcraft. "If Jane Schoolcraft's account is correct, Ferry's abuse of young girls and his rigid disciplinary code for boys undoubtedly united the entire native community, regardless of gender, against the mission."  [

[Countering Colonization, Native American Women and Great Lakes Missions, 1630-1900, by Carol Devens.]




Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson