Ideas New details on Canada's first documented 'demon possession'
Oct 21, 2025
Mary Cowan, a historian from the University of Toronto Mississauga, shares her expertise on Canada’s first documented demonic possession in the 1660s. She reveals fascinating details about Quebec City's atmosphere, including eerie apparitions and witchcraft accusations. Scott Bertholet, a historian from Queen's University, delves into the Indigenous and colonial dynamics that influenced the events. Together, they discuss chilling exorcism methods and the social implications of this haunting story, all while navigating the delicate interplay of belief and power.
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Small Colony, Big Anxieties
- Quebec City in 1661 was a tiny, fragile settlement of about 700 people under constant threat and uncertainty.
- Interpreting events like possessions reveals settlers' fears and the colonial mindset more than literal supernatural truth.
Arrival That Sparked The Story
- The Allée family arrived in June 1659 and included a girl, Barb, about 13, whose strange experiences drew attention.
- Marie de l'Incarnation's letters recorded these events, giving historians more detail than usual for settlers.
Microhistory Reveals Bigger Context
- Microhistory uses tiny, well-documented episodes to illuminate broader social realities.
- Mary Cowan uses Barb's case to reconstruct daily life and religious culture in New France.
