Madame Montour

Who was Madame Montour?

Madame Montour was an influential interpreter, diplomat, and local leader of French Canadian and probably Native American ancestry. Although she was well known, her exact identity is unclear because her contemporaries usually referred to her only as "Madame" or "Mrs." Montour. She may have been Isabelle Couc, a Métis born in 1667, or perhaps Isabelle Couc's niece, who was born around 1685 and whose given name is uncertain.

In 1711, Madame Montour began working as an interpreter and diplomatic consultant for the province of New York. Around 1727, she and her husband Carondawana, an Oneida, moved to the province of Pennsylvania. Her village, known as Ostonwakin, was near the modern borough of Montoursville, which was named for her.

Montour's son Andrew Montour also became an important interpreter, as did his son John Montour. Some of Madame Montour's female relatives were also prominent local leaders, and have often been confused with her.