Vendremur, Corneille de. Ch Clerk, returns to France, 209.
Ventadour, Henri de Lévy, Duc de (1595-1651). Viceroy of Canada, 1625-1627. Served for a time in the army, and is said to have taken holy orders. In any event took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of Canada, and after acquiring the viceroyalty instrumental in sending out the first Jesuit missionaries in 1625. In 1627, on the formation of the Company of New France by Richelieu, purchased the viceroyalty from De Ventadour. Pointe Lévy, or Lévis, opposite Quebec, was named after him. Index: F Lieutenant-general of New France, 17. Ch Appointed viceroy of New France, 151; resigns, 168. Bib.: Parkman, Pioneers of France.
Verchères, Marie-Madeleine Jarret. Born in 1678 in the fort on her father's seigniory on the St. Lawrence River, twenty miles below Montreal. In 1692 she heroically defended this fort, with the assistance of her two young brothers, two soldiers, and an old man of eighty. When the settlers were working in the fields, a band of Iroquois suddenly appeared and began their work of slaughter. Madeleine had barely time to reach the fort. She found everyone, including the two soldiers, demoralized, and, taking command, she ordered the little band to keep up constant firing. The Iroquois beseiged the fort for two days, but finally retired discomfited; and relief came from Montreal in another week. In 1706 she married Thomas Tarien de la Naudière; and in 1722 De la Perrade. In her later years she received a pension for life. The date of her death is not known. Index: F Defends fort against Iroquois, 319. Bib.: Parkman, Frontenac; Richard, Supplement to Report on Canadian Archives, 1899.
Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Count de (1717-1787). Born in Dijon. Educated there at the Jesuit College. In 1740 entered the diplomatic service, being sent to Lisbon. In 1741 took part in the negotiations that resulted in the election to the empire of the elector of Bavaria, Charles VII. In 1752 attended the Congress of Hanover. From 1754 to 1768 ambassador at Constantinople. In 1771-1774, when minister at the court of Sweden, supported the revolution in favour of Gustavus III. In 1774 appointed by the king of France, secretary of foreign affairs. Secretly aided the American Revolution with funds, arms, and stores, and arranged the treaty of alliance between the United States and France, 1778. Index: Dr His letter in regard to Asgill, 199. Bib.: Cyc. Am. Biog.
Vergor, Duchambon de. In command of Fort Beauséjour, 1745. A confederate of the intendant Bigot; used his opportunities to plunder both the people and the government. Betrayed by Thomas Pichon and compelled to surrender the fort to Monckton. Returned to Quebec and censured for his actions. In command at Le Foulon, near Quebec, at the siege by Wolfe, 1759; surprised, and his command cut to pieces. Index: WM Placed by Bougainville in charge of Le Foulon, 178, 184; previously censured for giving up Fort Beauséjour, 178; roused from sleep by Wolfe's soldiers, 181; wounded, 181. Bib.: Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe; Murdoch, History of Nova Scotia; Selections from the Public Documents of Nova Scotia, ed. by Akins; Doughty, Siege of Quebec. See also Siege of Quebec, 1759.
Vermont. Dr People of, anxious for canal communication with St. Lawrence, 230; their aversion to entering American union, 244, 245; annoy British outposts, 285; anxious to bring about war for commercial reasons, 299; Hd Inhabitants of, claim separation from New York, 197-199; efforts to bring them back to their allegiance to Great Britain, 199-216; Washington's alleged threat, 205; exchange of prisoners with, 206; intention of inhabitants to join British in event of their success, 208; duplicity of their policy, 210; trade carried on with Canada, 216; received into Union as fourteenth state, 217; emissaries of, reappear as Loyalists, 266.
Verrazano, Giovanni du. Born near Florence, Italy, in 1470. Entered French marine service, 1495. Credited with visiting the coast of America, 1508. In 1523 sent by Francis I to explore to the westward. The following year arrived with La Dauphine off the coast of North America, and explored from Florida to Newfoundland, taking possession of the latter island in the name of the king of France. Landed at a point near Cape Fear, and discovered the bays of Narragansett and New York. Nothing is known of his latter years, beyond the fact that he was in Paris, at least as late as Dec. 24, 1527, fitting out an expedition of five ships to sail the following March. Verrazano's claim to the discovery of the mouth of the Hudson, questioned by Murphy, has been re-established by the discovery in Rome of a hitherto unknown version of the explorer's report of his voyage. See Bacchiani's article, with facsimile, in the Bollettiano of the Italian Geographical Society, November, 1909. Index: Ch His discovery of the coast of North America, 211. Bib.: Murphy, Voyage of Verrazano; De Costa, Verrazano, the Explorer.
Verreau, Hospice-Anthelme Jean Baptiste (1828-1901). Born at L'Islet, Quebec. Educated at Quebec Seminary, and a teacher there in 1847-1848. In 1848-1856 principal of Ste. Thérèse College. In 1851 ordained priest. In 1857 first principal of the Jacques Cartier Normal School in Montreal. Sent by the Quebec provincial government in 1873 to Europe to make investigations respecting Canadian history, the results of which were published in 1875. In 1887 appointed to the chair of Canadian history in Laval University. A fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; a member of the Société des Antiquaires de Normandie; and a member of the Société des Arcadem of Rome. Index: L On educational work of Marguerite Bourgeoys, 127. F On attempt to civilize the Indians, 168; on character of Frontenac, 360. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men.
Versailles, Treaty of. Signed between Great Britain and the rebellious thirteen colonies, 1783. Acknowledged the independence of the thirteen colonies; settled the boundaries between the latter and British North America; dealt with the fisheries question; and provided for amnesty to Loyalists and the restoration of their property. The colonies repudiating the last obligation, provision was made by the British government for compensation to the Loyalists, many of whom were given grants of land in Upper Canada, New Brunswick, and the Eastern Townships. Index: WM Concluded in 1783, 269; assured the independence of the thirteen colonies, 269. S Its provisions for protection of Loyalists, 52-54; not carried out in its integrity by the united colonies, 118. Bib.: Hertslet, Treaties and Conventions.
Vesey, Colonel. Bk Question of land grant for, 138; letters to Brock, 153, 154, 157.