About
My name is Cate, and Miss Nixie is my website where I explore the stories of my French Canadian and Puritan ancestors and their unique places in Canadian and American history.
I’m a writer, editor and avid reader and researcher with interests in storytelling, history, literature, feminism, socialism, pop culture and photography. I hold a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature, and I’m currently taking history courses at the local university where I work. My studies include world religions, American history, Indigenous history and Canadian history.
My passion for history has grown in recent years, especially after learning that I am a descendant of both early French Canadians and Puritans. On my mother’s side, I trace my roots to some of the founding families of New France who first settled in Quebec in the early 1600s. Some of my French Canadian ancestors became part of the original French Canadian settlers in Detroit, who eventually established roots in Essex County. At least one of my Puritan ancestors was a Loyalist during the American Revolution.
Working on my family tree has deepened my interest in Canadian and American history and its intersection with Indigenous histories. I am considering pursuing another M.A., this time in history, to explore some of these topics further.
If you’re French Canadian or have Puritan ancestry, I’d love to connect and hear your story.
You can also find me on Instagram, where I share my travel photography and more.
