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Germain Fraser is the eldest child of Fergus and Marsali Fraser, and the eldest grandchild of Jamie and Claire Fraser.
Personal History[]
Germain was born in Jamaica to Fergus and Marsali Fraser, who had made a transatlantic journey from Scotland to the West Indies in order to elope. They married on a beach on Hispaniola, and Marsali stayed on Jamaica – probably at Jamie's cousin Jared Fraser's plantation house – during her pregnancy, to await Fergus's return. In 1767, his father returned to Jamaica to be with Germains mother in the last few months of her pregnancy. Germain was born in the winter of that year. Around August 1768, Germain arrives with his parents in North Carolina, where he initially resides at Fraser's Ridge before moving to New Bern and later Philadelphia.[6]
Events of the Novels[]
Drums of Autumn[]
In summer 1768, Germain arrives with his parents Fergus and Marsali Fraser at Fraser's Ridge.[7]
The Fiery Cross[]
Germain's sister Joan Fraser is born in April 1770.[8]
Germain and his sister are baptized together during the Gathering at Mount Helicon in late October 1770. Not long afer his, he is present for the wedding of his aunt Brianna MacKenzie to Roger MacKenzie. In May 1772, his second sister, Félicité Fraser, is born at Fraser's Ridge. In the spring of 1773, he travels with his family to Wilmington. He and his grandmother are accosted by Stephen Bonnet, but Germain successfully retrieves his mother and Brianna, and rejoices when his mother shoots Bonnet.[9]
A Breath of Snow and Ashes[]
Germain continues to live on Fraser's Ridge, enjoying the company of his cousin Jeremiah MacKenzie and the rest of his extended family. However, he is present when his mother is attacked and his grandmother abducted by a band of men lead by Arvin Hodgepile. He manages to let the rest of the family know, and his grandmother is eventually rescued.[10]. Germain's brother Henri-Christian is born in the autumn of 1773, prompting gossip as he has been born with dwarfism. Germain is very protective of his younger brother.
In 1774, Germain moves with his parents and siblings from Fraser's Ridge to New Bern, so that his father can start up a print shop.[9]
An Echo in the Bone[]
Germain continues to reside in New Bern, where he (against his mother's wishes) dabbles in occasional pickpocketing. He also helps at his father's printshop[11]. By 1777, New Bern has become unsafe due to the American Revolution, so Germain moves with his parents and siblings to Philadelphia, where his father opens a new print shop. Germain assists his father and begins doing light messenger work for Continental officers [12] in Philadelphia.
Written in My Own Heart's Blood[]
In 1778, Germain runs away from home in order to join his father Fergus and grandfather Jamie at the Continental army camp prior to the Battle of Monmouth. He runs into Lord John Grey, who is stuck well behind enemy lines and has assumed a false identity as a Continental soldier, and appoints himself as Lord John's orderly. Germain is caught by Jamie, and is roundly rebuked for running away to the camp, though he is allowed to remain with Lord John at camp for the time being.[13] Not long after this, Germain spots a horse belonging to the Frasers, Clarence, being ill-used by a member of the continental forces, and angrily attempts to reclaim him. Lord John and Percy Beauchamp intervene to protect Germain from the other men's retribution for stealing the horse. Germain is escorted back to Philadelphia by his father.[14]. In September of 1777, his family's Philadelphia home is burnt down. Germain attempts to save his brother Henri-Christian, but fails. A grieving Germain goes to Fraser's Ridge wih his grandparents.
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone[]
Germain remains on the Ridge for more than a year, bonding with new resident Frances Pocock and enjoying he return of his cousins Jeremiah MacKenzie and Amanda MacKenzie. Eventually, he accompanies Brianna MacKenzie to Charleston, where his parents have set up shop once again. He also meets his new twin brothers, Alexandre Fraser and Charles-Claire Fraser, for the first time. Germain, happy to be reunited with his parents and siblings, returns to helping his father at the printshop and again takes up assistant and delivery duties.[15]
However, after being harassed in Wilmington by loyalists, Fergus sends Germain and his siblings back to Fraser's Ridge and out of harm's way.[16]
Personality[]
Germain is charming and quick-minded. He is brave and very protective of his family.
Physical Appearance[]
He is blond and slender, like his mother. He has blue eyes.f[3]
Relationships[]
His mother is Marsali Fraser, and his father is Fergus Fraser. His cousin[17] is Jeremiah "Jemmy" MacKenzie.
Name[]
- Germain is a French form of Germanus, which was an ancient Roman cognomen that meant "brother" in Latin.[18][19]
- Alexander is the Latinized form of the Greek name Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, help" and ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος).[20]
- Claudel is a variation of the French name Claude, which comes from the Roman family name possibly derived from Latin claudus meaning "lame, crippled".[21][22] Claudel is also a French surname.[23]
- MacKenzie is the anglicized form of MacCoinnich, a Gaelic patronymic name meaning "son of Coinneach". The personal name Coinneach means "handsome" or "comely".[24][25]
- Fraser may be derived from Fredarius, Fresel or Freseau. The earliest recorded versions of the name, from the 12th century, are de Fresel, de Friselle and de Freseliere, which appear to be Norman.[26] Another suggestion is that the Frasers were a tribe in Roman Gaul, whose badge was a strawberry plant.[27]
Trivia[]
TV Series[]
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Drums of Autumn. In July 1767, Fergus leaves for Jamaica to rejoin Marsali, who has stayed on the island during her pregnancy. Fergus and Marsali were most likely married sometime in March (based on Claire's having been taken aboard the Porpoise on February 3 and being detained there for weeks, purchasing a slave around April 2, and the wedding occurring sometime between - see Voyager timeline). If Germain was conceived soon after they married, and if he was full-term when he was born, his birthday is sometime in December 1767 or early January 1768.
- ↑ Age as of the end of Written in My Own Heart's Blood.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Breath of Snow and Ashes, chapter 43.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Although they are not related by blood, Germain's relationship with Jamie and Claire has been that of a typical grandson for his entire life. Qualifiers having to do with adoption or stepfamily are sometimes used in reference to Fergus and Marsali's relationships to Jamie and Claire, but never Germain's relationship to them.
- ↑ Non-biological. Jenny was a foster mother to Fergus, and considers her relationship with Germain to be that of grandmother/grandson.
- ↑ Drums of Autumn. In July 1767.
- ↑ Drums of Autumn, chapter 23.
- ↑ The Fiery Cross, chapter 1.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Fiery Cross, chapter 103.
- ↑ The Fiery Cross, chapter 27.
- ↑ The Fiery Cross, chapter 82.
- ↑ The Fiery Cross, chapter 93.
- ↑ Written in My Own Heart's Blood, chapter 59.
- ↑ Written in My Own Heart's Blood, chapter 62.
- ↑ Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, chapter 67.
- ↑ Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, chapter 153.
- ↑ Non-biological
- ↑ Behind the Name: Germain – accessed 1 July 2016.
- ↑ Behind the Name: Germanus – accessed 1 July 2016.
- ↑ Behind the Name: Alexander – Accessed 19 April 2015.
- ↑ Behind the Name: Claude – Accessed 21 April 2016.
- ↑ Behind the Name: Claudius – Accessed 21 April 2016.
- ↑ House of Names: Claudel – Accessed 21 April 2016.
- ↑ Behind the Name: Coinneach – Accessed 19 April 2015.
- ↑ Ancestry.com – MacKenzie. Accessed 19 April 2015.
- ↑ House of Names: Fraser – accessed 19 May 2015
- ↑ Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 142 - 143.