Roger Rozendal was born and raised in South Dakota. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Minnesota. He was employed by the Shell Oil Company in the Exploration Department for 34 years.

Married to Patricia Thibodeau, a descendant of Pierre Thibodeau, while doing the genealogy of her family, he became fascinated by the history of the Acadians and the Grand Dérangement. As most of her ancestors went to Louisiana with Joseph Broussard in 1765, his special interest has been in the Acadians who were imprisoned in Acadia and went to Louisiana in 1765 (prior to the April 1766 Spanish census of Louisiana). He has been attempting to trace their place of imprisonment in Acadia (1760-1763), their time of arrival in Louisiana, their place of settlement, and any subsequent moves prior to the 1766 census.


Report On Paper Money Held By The Acadians
New Orleans, March 8, 1766

By Roger Rozendal

In the Spanish Archives in “Archivo General Indios, Audencia de Santo Domingo, Legajos 2595” is found (translated by Carl A. Brasseaux etal in “Quest for the Promised Land” p. 54):

Register of sums, as from letters of exchange, card money, and drafts, as certificates and other negotiable bills, formerly used as specie by the Acadian refugees in this colony. They have delivered these papers to Mister Maxent, for shipment to his correspondent in France, whom he will instruct to seek reimbursement.

To wit,
From one Broussard, leader of the first group (of Acadians, February 1765) to reach this colony, composed of 58 families, the sum of 33,395 livres, 18 sols, divided unequally among said 58 families. The ledger for said amount has been sent to France as supporting evidence, attached to the papers it represents.- 33,395#18s

From one Bergeron, the sum of 47,076 livres, 19 sols, 6 deniers, belonging to 73 families, some of whom arrived in June 1765, and the remainder of whom will arrive at first opportunity.- 47,076#19s6d

From one Lachausée, 27,044 livres, 7 sols, 8 deniers, belonging to 37 families, some of whom reached this colony in various ships - in August, September, October and November - and the remainder will arrive shortly.- 27,044#7s8d

Total - 107,517#5s 2d

Does not include several certificates whose value has not yet been determined, and were not included in the total of the foregoing ledgers. I hereby acknowledge receipt of the aforementioned sums, in the aforementioned currency, for the aforementioned purposes. At New Orleans (signed) Maxent

There is an indication of yet one more list of Canadian money holders in a letter from Ulloa to Grimaldi dated July 9, 1766 (translated by Carl A. Brasseaux etal in “Quest for the Promised Land” p. 76):

My Dear Sir:

During my visit to the Opelousas and Attakapas [posts], the Acadians settled there showed me a small coffer which contained currency of the province of Canada, the total of which is owed them by His Most Christian Majesty and which does not constitute part of the Louisiana debt nor that of the Acadians of which Your Excellency was notified in the month of March. They total 6,890 livres, 17 sols, which constitute a little more than 13,000 pesos. To have a statement on their value, I arranged for the superior of the Capuchins to take it himself to Mister Maxent, the merchant who has taken care of the money of other Acadians...

Unfortunately, only one of these lists has been found, that of the Joseph Broussard group. In the future I plan to post information from this list. However, certain inferences can be drawn.

Including the 4 families who arrived in 1764, this would indicate 172 plus the Opelousas group (1766 census 17 families and 35 individuals) Acadian families had arrived in Louisiana prior to the April 1766 Spanish census. From other correspondence and information, the following can be deduced about the groups:

First arrivals, before 26 February 1764: 4 families of 20 individuals This group seems to have been exiled to Gerorgia, were in South Carolina 23 August 1763, went to New York and sailed from there to Louisiana. Settled in Cabannoce on the Mississippi River just above the German Coast (Verret’s Company).

Joseph Broussard Group, before 19 February 1765: 58 families 231 individuals (an additional 7 or 8 had died in New Orleans) The members of this group were imprisoned in Halifax or Fort Edward with a few at Fort Beausejour. They sailed from Halifax in November 1764, changed ships in Santo Domingo, and sailed to Louisiana. They settled in Attakapas. After this group, the Spanish allowed no other Acadians to go there until after the 1766 census.

Group before 4 May 1765: (25 families) 80 individuals Most in this group had been imprisoned at Halifax or Fort Edward. They were settled in Cabannoce in Judice’s Company.

Group before 13 May 1765: 48 families (168 individuals at 3.5/family) Some in this group had been in South Carolina 23 August 1763. Most had been imprisoned in Halifax or Ft. Edward. They settled in Cabannoce mainly in Verret’s Company.

Group after 30 September 1765: 37 families (130 individuals at 3.5/family)
This group is really a mixed bag and arrived in a number of ships. It includes families from New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania who had gone to settle in Santo Domingo in September 1764 (600 individuals). A lot of them were orphans, widows, and widowers, the few survivors of that disasterous climate. This group was settled in both Judice’s and Verret’s Companies often with relatives who had arrived earlier.

Opelousas Group (1766 census 17 families, 35 individuals) This group had all been imprisoned at Halifax or Ft. Edward. I do not think any of them came with Joseph Broussard, but were a later group. The first record of an Opelousas resident is the marriage of Anastasie Guenard (Timothy & Marie Thibodeau) on 9 February 1766 to Amable Bertrand, an Alabaman (LSAR: Opel: 1766-3) Hebert SWLAR pp. 367-368.

From the above, prior to the 1766 Spanish census of Louisiana it would seem about 189 Acadian families made up of approximately 674 individuals arrived in Louisiana. In a future post, I will compare these numbers with the results of the 1766 census.

For an excellent summary of Acadian arrivals in Louisiana, see Elton Oubre's book "Vacherie" (revised edition) pp. 68-77.


Summary of 1766 Spanish Census, Louisiana

By Roger Rozendal

In the Spanish Archives in Archive General Indios, Audience de Santo Domingo, Legatos 2595 is found:

LISTAS DE LAS MILITIAS Y HABITANTES DE LA COLONIA DE LA LOUISIANA AÑO DE 1766

”LISTS OF THE MILITIAS AND INHABITANTS OF THE COLONY OF LOUISIANA YEAR OF 1766”

In this are found the 1766 Spanish census for each department and region in Spanish Louisiana. Usually, there are 2 copies of the census, in different handwriting. Although there are some differences in spelling and numbers, they are useful because what may be illegible on one may be decipherable on the second copy.

At the end of the census lists is found:

Resumen General Que. compressed todos Habitantes y Éstablecimentos de la Colonia de la Louisiana Hecho el año de 1766

”1766 General Summary that includes all Inhabitants and Establishments of the Colony of Louisiana done the year of 1766”

I would like to present the number of Acadian families and individuals listed in this summary and compare it to the numbers I presented in my previous article “REPORT ON PAPER MONEY HELD BY THE ACADIANS NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 8, 1765”.

Locations where Acadians are listed were:

Departam.s Quart.s Capitanias á Comand.s
”Departments” “Regions” “Commandant”

Kabakan Costa Inferior Verret
Cabaanoce Costa Superior Judice
Atakapas Acadianos Massé
Opeloussas Acadianos Coudableau

The column headings were the following:

Vecinos = Households

Hombres de Armas = Militia Men. Usually all males in a household 15 years of age or older. Note: Voorhies in “Some Eighteenth Century Louisianians” left this column out which distorts the number of males somewhat. Most boys 15 and older had been allocated 6 arpents of land and were listed separately from their families.

Mujeres = Women

Hijos varon.s grandes = Hijos varoniles grandes = Teenaged boys (probably age 12-14).

Hembr.s grandes = Hembras grandes = Teenaged girls Note: Voorhies interpreted this as “Men”, admittedly many of the columns appear to be Hombres grandes.

Niños = boys

Niñas = girls

There were also listings of slaves, land, cattle, hogs, etc. but I will not go into those.

DEPARTMENT HOUSE MILITIA WOMEN TEEN TEEN BOYS GIRLS HOLDS MEN BOYS GIRLS

Kabakan 60 59 29 1 15 20 18
- Verret

Cabaanoce 101 103 53 7 25 56 27
- Judice

Atakapas 50 56 22 8 7 22 22
- Massé

Opeloussas 20 15 9 0 0 3 6
- Coudableau

TOTALS 231 233 113 16 47 101 73 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS = 583

The breakdown is:

Total- 231 households with 583 individuals (compared to 189 families with 674 individuals I estimated to have arrived in Louisiana)

Cabanocey-Kabakan- 161 households with 413 individuals (compared to 114 families with 398 [estimate] individuals originally indicated going there)

Attakapas- 50 households with 137 individuals (compared to 58 families with 231 individuals who went to Attakapas with Joseph Broussard)

Opelousas- 20 households (3 non-arcadian) with 33 individuals (probably settled there in May 1765)

Analysis:

Increase of total households is largely the result of two things: 1) many marriages given that the pool of eligible spouses was much greater, 2) each young bachelor greater than 15 years of age had been granted 6 arpents of land and was listed as a household.

Cabanocey-Kabakan- the total households increased from 114 to 161 (see above) but the total individuals only increased from 398 to 413. This indicates to me that my estimate of 3.5 members per family where we do not have numbers is probably too high, particularly since the later arrivals included many decimated families from Santo Domingo. There were probably less than 600 Arcadians that arrived in Louisiana prior to April 1766. Until each family listed in the 1766 census is analyzed as to when and how they came to be in Louisiana, more accurate numbers will not be available.

Attakapas- the total households decreased from 58 to 50, and the total individuals decreased from the 231 that accompanied Joseph Broussard to Attakapas to 137. In the summer and fall of 1765, a major epidemic (yellow fever?) swept through Attakapas killing many people including Joseph Broussard, Alexandre Broussard and their wives (at least 48 deaths documented). This also caused many who had settled in Attakapas to flee to Cabanocey-Kabakan in late 1765 and early 1766 (at least 67 are documented). This included all the surviving members of the Bergen, Arcane, and Dugas families.

Opelousas- the refugees from Fort Toulouse, Alabama, were settled at Opelousas in March 1764 under the Commandant Louis Peelers. It is indicated that a small group of Arcadians (all former prisoners at Halifax or Fort Edward) were settled there in May 1765 based on the following entry in the records of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans:

COMEAU, Louis (Michel and Marie GIROIRE), bp. May 16, 1765, born April 20, 1765, sponsors [*] PEELERS, officer on half-pay, commandant at Opelousas, and Marie Marthe BELLAIR, his wife (SLC, B5, 92) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 59

In my next posting, I am planning to list the results of my research in “ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS SACRAMENTAL RECORDS, VOLUME 2 1751-1771” for Acadian records for the period 1764-1766 (until the 1766 Spanish Census of Louisiana). The aim of this research is to better define the arrival of the groups of Arcadians and to determine the individuals making up these groups.


Acadian Entries for St. Louis Cathedral Sacramental Records
1764 - April 1766

By Roger Rozendal

It is a likely assumption that the Acadians, being long deprived of the services of a priest, would take advantage of the first access to one to baptize their children and bless their marriages. Therefore, it is interesting to review the sacramental records of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans (as listed in “ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS SACRAMENTAL RECORDS, VOLUME 2 1751-1771” editors: Earl C. Woods and Dr. Charles E. Nolan) in an attempt to determine the time of arrival of the various Acadian groups and to delineate some members of each group.

The first Acadian entries are the following in 1764:

LANDRY, Jean Antoine (Olivier and Cecile POIRIEZ [sic for Poirier]), bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born Nov. 13, 1760, sponsors Antoine OLIVIER and Magdeleine BRAZIER (SLC, B5, 40) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 167

POIRIER, Joseph (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born June 12, 1762, sponsors Jean RICHARD, the infant’s grandfather and Marie COLMIER [sic for Cormier], the infant’s maternal first cousin (SLC, B5, 40) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 229

RICHARD, Joseph (Jean and Catherine COLMIER [sic for Cormier]) bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born March 24, 1748 (sic), sponsors Jean RICHARD, the infant’s brother, and Magdeleine RICHARD, the infant’s aunt (SLC, B5, 40) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 238

POIRIER, Jean Baptiste (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. March 1, 1764, born May 20, 1760, sponsors Jean Baptiste DEVILLE DEGOUTIN and Marianne COUTRIE (SLC, B5, 40) ADNOSR v. 2. p. 229

These entries place members of the first four Acadian families documented to have arrived in Louisiana in New Orleans from February 26th to March 1st, 1764. Sometime after April 6th, they settled in the area covered by the April 8, 1766 census of Verret’s Company (Kabakan) (on the west bank of the Mississippi River between Richbend and Oak Alley, Elton Oubre “Vacherie” p. 69).

The next group of Acadian entries are from February to April, 1765:

DAROIS, Michel (Pierre and Marie BOURGOIS [sic for Bourgeois]), bap. Feb. 19, 1765, born Feb. 19, 1765, sponsors Michel BOURGOIS [sic for Bourgeois] and Marie Joseph GIRLOIS [sic for Girouard] (SLC, B5, 82) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 66

LEBLANC, Marie Angelique (Simon and Catherine TIBODEAU [sic for Thibodeau]) bap. Feb. 20, 1765, born Jan. 1, 1765, sponsors Jeury DETOUR, merchant in this city, and Marie Angelique REVOIL (SLC, B5, 82) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 177

GAUTROT, Marie Joseph (dec. Pierre and Louise TIBEADAU [sic for Thibodeau]), bap. Feb. 22, 1765, born April 3, 1764, sponsors Aman TIBEADAU [sic for Thibodeau] and Gertrude BOURQUE [sic for Bourg] (SLC, B5, 82) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 138

LEBLANC, Marie Louise (Simon and Catherine TIBEAUDAU [sic for Thibodeau]) bap. Feb. 22, 1765, born Jan, 30, 1762, sponsors Philippe MARIGNY and Marie Louis DAUBERVILLE (SLC, B5, 82) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 177

TRAHAN, Marie Francoise (Michel and Anne Fransine VINCENT), bap. Feb. 26, 1765, born Nov. 29, 1764,sponsors Joseph Marie AMMAN and Marie Francoise GALLOT, spouse of RANSON (SLC, B5, 83) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 268

BOURQUE [sic for Bourg], Gertrude (Jacques and Anne BOUDREAU [sic for Boudrot]), native of Isle St. Jean, Dependency of Louisbourg, married Amand THIBEAUDAU [sic for Thibodeau] (dec. Charle and dec. Marie COMEAU), Feb. 27, 1765 (SLC, B5, 185 & M2, 15) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 31 & 261

BERGERON, Charle Henry (Berthelmi and Anne ARCHENEAU [sic for Arseneau]), bap. March 3, 1765, born [Jan./Feb.] 22, 1765, sponsors Charle Auguste DELACHAISE, fils, and Marie Dorgon (SLC, B5, 83) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 17

SURET, Marie Anne (Pierre and Marie THIBODO [sic for Thibodeau]), bap. March 4, 1765, born [Feb. 24?], 1762, in Chipute, England, sponsors Jean LAFITTE, merchant in this city, and Marie Anne FORTIER (SLC, B5, 84) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 259

DUGAS, Mathilde (Joseph and Cecile BERGERAS [sic for Bergeron], Acadians), bap. March 8, 1765, born March 6, 1765, sponsors Andres Antonio DE ABREU, Spanish officer, and Marie Joseph [GAUCIEN?) [marginal note: died March 11, 1765] (SLC, B5, 84) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 105

BOURGEOIS, Marie (dec. Paul & dec. Anne BRUN), native of Beaubassin in Acadia, married Pierre DAROY [sic for Darois] (Jean and Marguerite BREAU), April 8, 1765 (SLC, B5, 185 & M2, 16) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 31 & 66

GIROUARD, Joseph (dec. Jacque and Anne TOURANGEAU), native of Port Royal, married Ursule TRAHAN (dec. Rene and Izabelle ROY), widow of Joseph Brossard, April 8, 1765, witness DE LOUVIGNIE, verger of the parish, Henry ROCHE (SLC, B5, 185 & M2, 16) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 136 & 267

MARTIN, Elisabeth (Ambroise, Acadian, and Marie Magdeleine BELLEFONTAINE [dit for Godin]) bap. April 14, 1765, born March 21, 1765, sponsors Gilber GUILLEMARD and Elisabeth MAXENT (SLC, B5, 89) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 198

All of these families were imprisoned either in Halifax or Fort Edward. All of these dates (February 19, 1765 to April 14, 1765) fall into the time Joseph Broussard and his group were in New Orleans. They arrived in New Orleans on or before February 19, 1765, left for Attakapas after April 17, 1765, and were in Attakapas April 24, 1765.

Surprisingly, from April 1765 until November 1765, there are only four Acadian entries in the Records:

COMEAU, Louis (Michel and Marie GIROIRE [sic for Girouard]), bap. May 16, 1765, born April 20, 1765, sponsors [*] PELLERIN, officer on half-pay, commandant at Opelousas, and Marie Marthe BELLAIR, his wife (SLC, B5, 92) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 59

Michel Comeau was imprisoned at Halifax. It seems the Opelousas settlers were a small group (30 individuals) and all were imprisoned at Halifax or Fort Edward. Because it was a small group, maybe there wasn’t as much need for the immediate services of a priest. The fact that the sponsors for Louis Comeau were the Commandant of Opelousas and his wife may indicate the commandant may have been in New Orleans to lead them to Opelousas. Perhaps the Opelousas settlers arrived in New Orleans on or just before May 16, 1765 and were settled in Opelousas soon after May 16, 1765.

LANDRY, Marie, native of Holy Family Parish at Pequedete in Acadia, widow of Joseph BOURDE [sic for Bourg] married Francois SAVOYE [sic for Savoie] widower of Anne AUCOIN, July 22, 1765 (SLC, B5, 188 & M2, 19) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 167 & 251

Marie Landry (Joseph? & Marguerite Forest?) and her first husband, Joseph Bourg (Alexandre & Marguerite Melanson), were listed as prisoners in Pennsylvania on June 20, 1763. They probably went to St. Domingue in late 1764 like many others from Pennsylvania and Joseph may have died there. Marie Landry and her children came to Louisiana sometime before July 22, 1765.

Francois Savoie (Charles & Francoisé Martin) and his wife, Anne Aucoin, were listed as prisoners in Pennsylvania on June 20, 1763. In 1764, they went to St. Domingue where on August 5, 1764 Anne Aucoin was buried. It would seem then that Francois Savoie came to Louisiana before July 22, 1765.

It is known a number of others came to Louisiana after having spent time in St. Domingue, but since they came in small groups and had access to priests in St. Domingue, they would probably leave few records at St. Louis Cathedral.

AROSTEGUY, Marie Rose (Pierre, Acadian, resident, and Isabelle COMEAU), bap. Aug 17, 1765, born Aug 17, 1765, sponsors Jean DUGAS, resident, and Agnes HEBERT (SLC, B5, 100) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 7

Pierre Arosteguy (parents?) and Isabelle Comeau (parents?) were prisoners at Fort Cumberland on August 24, 1763. When they came to Louisiana is uncertain. Note the birth date and baptismal date of Marie Rose are the same. The sponsor Jean Dugas (Jean & Marie-Charlotte Godin) was also a prisoner at Fort Cumberland, came to Louisiana with Joseph Broussard and settled at Attakapas. In the Fall of 1765, he fled to the Mississippi River and settled in Kabakan (Verret’s Company). The other sponsor, Agnes Hebert, (Jean-Baptiste & Claire Robichaud) was a prisoner at Halifax with her father and mother. She married a Bourgeois (possibly Jean-Baptiste, son of Jean-Jacques & Claire Bourg) who died before the 1766 census. Agnes and her parents came to Louisiana with Joseph Broussard and settled at Attakapas. In the Fall of 1765, she fled to Cabanoce (Judice’s Company) with her widowed mother.

SAVOIE, Andre (Joseph, Acadian, and Anne PREJEAN), bap. [Sept. 22?], 1765, sponsors Andre BOMBRUND and Dorothee DUBOIS (SLC, B5, 103) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 251

Joseph Savoie (Francois & Marie-Josephe Richard) and Anne Prejean (Joseph & Marie-Louise Comeau) were prisoners at Halifax. With no birth date and a questionable baptismal date (although Book 5, p. 103 is consistent with a September date), when they came to Louisiana is uncertain. However, if the assumption of using the first available priest is correct, they may have been part of a small group (such as the May Opelousas group) that arrived in September from Halifax and settled in Cabanoce (Judice’s Company).

It appears that from June to November 1765, no large groups of Acadians came from Halifax, but that this is the time that small groups from there, St. Domingue, South Carolina, and Georgia dribbled into Louisiana leaving few records at St. Louis Cathedral.

The next set of entries is a large group from November 30, 1765 until December 25, 1765. Most of the families had been prisoners at Fort Edward or Fort Cumberland; very few of them had been prisoners at Halifax. I have separated these into two groups, those that settled in the area of Verret’s Company (Kabakan) and those that settled in the area of Judice’s Company (Cabanoce) even though it is likely they arrived in Louisiana as one very large group.

VERRET’S COMPANY (KABAKAN) [see Note]

GAUDET, Margueritte (Pierre, Acadian, and Magdeleine D[OUCE?]T) bap. Dec. 1, 1765, born Aug. 1, 1764, sponsors Louis ARMAND and Margueritte [?] (SLC, B5, 108) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 134

MOUTON. Marie Genevieve (Salvateur, Acadian, and Anne BAIS[A?]TERESSE [sic for Bastarache]) bap. Dec. 2, 1765, born Sept. 15, [1765?], sponsors [*] TRUDEAU and [*] TRUDEAU (SLC. B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 213

MOUTON, Anne Charlotte (Louis, Acadian, and Marie Modeste BASTERACHE [sic for Bastarache]) bap. Dec. 2, 1765, born Feb. 15, 1764, sponsors Pierre SONGY, militia officer, and Charlote RILIEUX, spouse of Joseph SONGY, scrivener (SLC, B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 213

BOURGEOIS, Joseph Marie [Jean-Baptiste], Acadian, and [Madeleine] Bour[q]ue [sic for Bourg], bap. Dec 5, 1765, born [March?] 10, 1763, sponsors Jean Baptiste [COURSANE?] and Rose LA PORTE (SLC, B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 31

THERIOT, Marie Roze (Joseph, Acadian, and Magdeleine BOURGEOIS), bap. Dec. 9, 1765, born Dec. 25, 1762, sponsors [*] HARDY DE BOISBLANC and Charlotte Roze DELACHAISE (SLC, B5, 110) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 261

BOURGEOIS, Marguerite (Claude and Marguerite BLANC [sic for LeBlanc]), native of Port Royal married Joseph GAUDIS [sic for Gaudet] (Claude and Catherine FORE [sic for Forest]), Dec 10, 1765 (SLC, B2, 189 & M2, 20) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 31 & 134

GAUDET, Rosalie Victoire (Joseph, Acadian, and Margueritte BOURGEOIS), bap. Dec. 10, 1765, born Feb. 25, 1764, at Boston, sponsors Daniel DANVILLE and Marie Victoire DANEVILLE (SLC, B5, 111) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 134

BOURGEOIS, Claude (Jean Baptiste, Acadian, and Magdelene BOURQUE [sic for Bourg]), bap. Dec 21, 1765, born Dec. 19, 1765, sponsors Claude TRIERE and Rose BOURGEOIS (SLC, B5, 111) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 31

MOUTON, Marguerite Francoise (Jean and Isabelle BASTARACHE, Acadians), bap. Dec. 25, 1765, born Nov. 20, 1765, sponsors Raimond DUBREUIL ROSEMONT and Margueritte DUVERGES (SLC, B5, 113) ARDNOSR v.2, p. 213

JUDICE’S COMPANY (CABANOCE) [see Note]

PREJEAN, Charles Amand ( Charles and Margueritte RICHARD) bap. Nov. 30, 1765, born Nov. 28, 1765, sponsors Amand PRIJEANT [sic for Prejean] and Catherine BLANCHARD (SLC, B5, 108) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 231

DUON, Jean Baptiste (Charles and Marie Joseph PRIJEAN [sic for Prejean]) bap. Dec. 1, 1765, born Nov. 10, 1759, sponsors Pierre BLANCHARD and Josephe VINCENT (SLC, B5, 108) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 105

DUON, Marguerite (Charles and Marie Joseph PREIJEAN [sic for Prejean]) bap. Dec. 1, 1765, born Feb. 6, 1764, sponsors Claude DUHAN [sic for Duon] and Anne Martin (SLC, B5, 108) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 105

PREJEAN, Jean Baptiste (Joseph, Acadian, and Margueritte DURELLE), bap. Dec. 1, 1765, born Aug. 30, 1765, sponsors Jean Baptiste NICOLLET, merchant, and Jeanne DUBUISSON (SLC, B5, 108) ADNOSR v.2, p. 231

BREAU, Anastasie (Athanase and Marie LE BLAN [sic for LeBlanc]), bap. Dec 2, 1765, born July 8, 1765, sponsors Jean TRUDEAU, captain, and Magdeleine BREAU (SLC, B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 33

BREAU, Joseph (Athanase and Marie LE BRUN [sic for LeBlanc]), bap. Dec. 2, 1765, born Aug. 2, 1762, sponsors Estienne Burck TRUDEAU and Anne LE BLAN [sic for LeBlanc] (SLC, B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 34

ROBICHAUD, Bruno (Bruno, Acadian, and Anne Felicite BROSSARD [sic for Broussard]), bap. Dec. 3, 1765, born July 9, 1764, sponsors Francois Bruneau SALOMON MALLINE, merchant, and Marie TESTAR (SLC, B5, 109) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 241

LEBLANC, Joseph (Estienne and Elisabeth BEAUDREAU [sic for Boudrot]), bap. Dec. 8, 1765, born July 19, 1762, sponsors Michel BOUGEOIS [sic for Bourgeois] and Margueritte BOURGUE [sic for Bourg] (SLC, B5, 110) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 177

LEBLANC, Marie Marthe Elisabeth (Estienne and Elisabeth BEAUDREAU [sic for Boudrot]), bap. Dec. 8, 1765, born April 15, [1765?], sponsors Joseph MEREAU and Elisabet SANS CHANCH[*]GREN (SLC, B5, 110) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 177

PREJEAN, Andre Joseph (Amand and Magdelaine MARTEN [sic for Martin]), bap. Dec. 8, 1765, born Oct. 6, 1765, sponsors Andre Joseph BARBIER and Jeanne BARROIS (SLC, B5, 110) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 231

CHIASSON, Marie (Pierre and Ausede LANDRY, Acadians) bap. Dec. 9, 1765, born Oct. 12, 1765, sponsors Alexi Joseph Cartlier and Marie Marguerite Carlier (SLC, B5, 110) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 56

FORET [sic for Forest], Charles (Charles, Acadian, and Margueritte SAUNIER [sic for Saulnier]) bap. Dec. 10, 1765, born Sept. 27, 1764, sponsors Mathurin DOUSSAIN and Felicite BOISDORE (SLC, B5. 111) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 125

RICHARD, Anne (Joseph, Acadian, and Anne BLANCHARD) bap. Dec. 15, 1765, born Aug. 6, 1765, sponsors Jacque GAIGNARD, merchant, and Marie BLANCHARD (SLC, B5, 111) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 238

RICHARD, Rosalie (Joseph, Acadian, and Anne BLANCHARD), bap. Dec. 15, 1765, born Jan. 6, 1763, sponsors Pierre GUETINAU and Pelagie MORAIN (SLC, B5, 111) ADNOSR v. 2, p. 239

This large number of entries indicates the arrival of a big group of ex-prisoners from Fort Edward and Fort Cumberland into New Orleans on or before November 30, 1765, and who remained in New Orleans until sometime after December 25, 1765. Sometime after this date approximately one-third of them settled in Verret’s Company (Kabakan) and two-thirds in Judice’s Company (Cabanoce). The leader of this group may have been Philippe LaChaussee.

From January1, 1766 to April 1766, there were three Acadian weddings performed at St. Louis Cathedral, but no other records of Acadians:

LA CHAUSSE [sic for Pepin dit LaChance], Jacques (Jacques and Marie Therese LESSARD), native of St. Anne, Cote de Beaupre [sic], in Canada, married Rose TIBAUDAU [sic for Thibodeau], widow of Claude Richard, Jan. 27, 1766, witness Joseph LA CHAUSSE [sic for Pepin dit LaChance], Joseph RICHARD, Francois MARTIN, Jean Baptiste ROBIQUE [sic for Robichaud] (SLC, [?], M2, 21) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 159 & 261

Rosalie Thibodeau and her husband, Claude Richard, were prisoners at Halifax on August 23, 1763. Witness Joseph Richard, brother of Claude Richard, came to Louisiana in the November 1765 group which may indicate Rosalie Thibodeau probably did also. Rosalie died before February 7, 1768 when Jacques married Marie-Marthe LeBlanc (Bourgeois “Cabanocey” p. 171).

PREJEAN, Charles, Acadian, married Margueritte RICHARD, previously in Acadia with the consent of the spouses’ parents, in the presence of many witnesses, in the absence of a priest, marriage ratified and blessed, Feb. 3, 1766 (SLC, B5, 189) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 231-232

This was a blessing of an earlier marriage without a priest in Acadia. Their son, Charles Amand Prejean, was baptized November 30, 1765, the first record at St. Louis Cathedral for the November 1765 group.

LEGER, Marie (Francois and Magdelene COMMEAU), native of Port Royal in Acadia, married Pierre MICHEL (Jacques and Anne BREAU), March 3, 1766, witnesses JOURDAIN, Amand PREJEAN, Nicole LEGER (SLC, B5, 190) ADNOSR v. 2, pp. 182 & 205

Pierre Michel (Jacques & Jeanne Breau), his siblings, and his parents were deported to Connecticut where they were listed as prisoners in 1763. Shortly after this, Pierre married Marguerite Porlier, also a prisoner in Connecticut. Pierre, his wife, and his parents went to St. Domingue in late 1764 where Pierre lost the following members of his family who were buried on:

Isadore, brother, September 22, 1764
Gabriel [sic for Jacques], father, October 20, 1764
Marguerite, sister, December 19, 1764
Marguerite Porlier, his wife, February 21, 1765
Marie [sic for Jeanne] Breau, his mother, March 31, 1765

Sometime after March 31, 1765, possibly late in the year, Pierre went to Louisiana, probably by himself or in a small group from St. Domingue.

Marie Leger, along with her parents and siblings were deported to Connecticut where they were listed as prisoners in 1763. They probably went to St. Domingue, as did Pierre Michel, and later on to Louisiana. The exact timing is unknown, but may have been late in the year.

In summary, the records of St. Louis Cathedral seem to indicate the arrival of two large groups from Acadia, one in February 1765 under the leadership of Joseph Broussard, largely from imprisonment in Halifax and Fort Edward, and a second in November 1765 under the leadership of Philippe Lachausee, largely from imprisonment in Fort Edward and Fort Cumberland. A smaller group from Acadia arrived in May 1765, largely from imprisonment in Halifax and Fort Edward, and settled in Opelousas. The rest of the arrivals seem to be from elsewhere than Acadia (St. Domingue, South Carolina, and Georgia) or were small groups from Acadia by way of St. Domingue who settled quickly with relatives already in Louisiana.

NOTE

In the Spanish Archives in Archivo General Indios, Audencia de Santo Domingo, Legajos 2595 [microfilm at Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana] is found:

LISTAS DE LAS MILICIAS Y HABITANTES DE LA COLONIA DE LA LUISIANA AÑO DE 1766

”LISTS OF THE MILITIAS AND INHABITANTS OF THE COLONY OF LOUISIANA YEAR OF 1766”

In this are found the 1766 Spanish census for each department and region in Spanish Louisiana. Usually, there are 2 copies of the census, in different handwriting. Although there are some differences in spelling and numbers, they are useful because what may be illegible on one may be decipherable on the second copy.

Locations where Acadians are listed were:

Departam.s/Departments Quart.s/Regions Capitanias á Comand.s/
Commandant
Kabakan Costa Inferior Verret
Cabaanoce Costa Superior Judice
Atakapas Acadianos Massé
Opeloussas Acadianos Coudableau

I have opted to use the original department names to describe where Acadians were present in the 1766 Spanish Census (e. g. Kabakan for Verret’s Company, Cabanoce for Judice’s Company, Attakapas, and Opelousas.

I have found a 1769 census for each of these deparments except for Kabakan.

In the 1777 census, the areas of Kabakan and Cabanoce are both included in the census of the Parish of Saint Jacques a Cabahan-noces (Archivo General de Indias, Papeles de Cuba, Legajo 190).


How Acadians came to Louisiana

Extensive research done by Elton Oubre and additional work I have done indicates the boundaries of the various censuses along the Mississippi River were consistent usually just indicating new settlers going into previously unsettled areas. The censuses had distinct boundaries and the census takers seem to have been very meticulous. My interpretation of the various census data along the Mississippi to date is as follows (with a lot of help from Elton Oubre).

CABAANOCE CENSUS 9 APRIL 1766 (JUDICE'S COMPANY)

Right (West) Bank

Starts at habitacion of Jacques Cantrelle (near present day St. James Railway Station, St. James Parish) and goes upriver on the right bank ending at Bayou Lafourche near present day Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish.

Left (East) Bank

Starts at habitacion of Joseph Hebert across river from Jacques Cantrelle and goes upriver on left bank and ends up still in present day St. James Parish near the Ascension Parish line.

ACADIAN COAST CENSUS SEPTEMBER 14, 1769

Right (West) Bank

Starts at habitation of Jacques Cantrelle (same as 1766 census) and goes upriver on the right bank to the end of the 1766 census and then lists 28 new families upriver (ending up in present day Ascension Parish).

Left (East) Bank

Starts at habitacion of Joseph Hebert across river from Jacques Cantrelle (same as 1766 census) and goes upriver on left bank to the end of the 1766 census and then lists 36 new families upriver that went settled farther on into present day Ascension Parish.

ASCENSION PARISH CENSUS AUGUST 1, 1770

Right (West) Bank

Starts at Ascension Parish line and goes upriver listing 53 families that were in the 1769 Acadian Coast census plus 1 new family upriver. Left (East) Bank Starts at Ascension Parish line and goes upriver on the left bank

listing 23 families that were in the 1769 Acadian Coast census plus 8 new families upriver.

VERRET'S COMPANY CENSUS APRIL 8, 1766

Right (West) Bank

Starts at habitation of Nicholas Verret (just downriver from Jacques Cantrelle) and goes downriver. Families #2-10 are essentially the 1764 Acadian arrivals (present day Lagan) and 13 additional families that arrived later are listed downriver (to present day Vacherie).

Left (East) Bank

Starts across river from Verret's habitacion and goes down river to Pierre Charpentier and Jaquelin cow ranch, residents of Second German Coast (across from present day Vacherie?).

ST. JAMES PARISH CENSUS 1769 or 1771

No census for 1769 for the area of Verret's Company has been found to date, but there may be one for 1771 (thanks Stanley for the lead) which I am in the process of researching.

ST. JAMES PARISH CENSUS JANUARY 1, 1777

This census covers the part of the 1769 Acadian Coast census that is in present day St. James, the area of Verret's Company 1766 census and the Second German Coast that is in present day St. James Parish. Right (West) Bank Starts at habitacions of Jacques Cantrelle and the widow Verret (same as 1766 and 1769 censuses) and goes upriver on the right bank to the Ascension Parish line.

Left (East) Bank

Starts at Ascension Parish line and goes DOWNRIVER (opposite of 1766 and 1769 censuses) to the habitacion of Antoine LaBauve (essentially where the 1769 census of Cabaanoce started and went upriver). At this point, are 3 non-Acadian families who were former residents of the Second German Coast. Here also seems to be the starting point for the left bank of Verret's Company 1766 census. It continues downriver, ending with Pierre Charpentier, the same as in the 1766 census. According to Elton Oubre, in 1777 there was only a cow ranch (Jaquelin?) and vacant space below here to the St. John the Baptiste Parish line.

Right (West) Bank

The census taker seems to have crossed the river and gone down to the St. John the Baptiste Parish line and started the census going upriver. The first 15 families listed are non-Acadians and were residents of the Second German Coast (some Alabamans who arrived in 1764). Then in the area of present day Vacherie are Acadians who were at the end of the Verret's Company 1766 census. The census continued upriver (opposite direction of the 1766 census) and ended up in the Lagan area, where the residences of the 1764 Arrivals were.

The 1764 arrivals were settled just downriver from the habitations of Verret and Cantrelle some distance from the nearest residents of the Second German Coast (5 miles?). Later Acadian arrivals filled the space between them.

The various censuses had distinct boundaries that reflected settlement patterns and political boundaries and were done in a meticulous manner.


Halifax 1763

Of the 140 families listed in the prisoner list in Halifax in 1763:

All or part of 75 families seem to have come to Louisiana
13 families were in Miquelon in 1767
25 families seem to have settled in various parts of old Acadia or Quebec
27 families I have yet to determine where they went
A significant number of other families that went to Louisiana were imprisoned in 1761 and 1762 at Fort Edward, a few at Fort Cumberland in 1763, and a few at Port Royal in 1763.


Joseph Broussard November 1764

Joseph Broussard left Halifax in November 1764 and, by way of Santo Domingo, arrived in New Orleans on or just before 19 February 1765. Before 24 April 1765, he lead a group of 58 Acadian families consisting of 231 individuals to settle in Attakapas.

My research indicates all of these families were imprisoned in Halifax or in Fort Edward, except for the possibility of one from Fort Cumberland (old Beausejour) [Charles Dugas, son of Charles Dugas and Anne Robichaud, and his siblings.]

A second group arrived from Halifax on or shortly before 16 May 1765. This seems to have been a small group (30 individuals?) and again all were imprisoned in Halifax or in Fort Edward. This group settled in Opelousas.

A third large group came from Halifax arriving in New Orleans on or shortly before 30 November 1765. So far, I have identified 17 families (76 individuals) I think came with this group, all of them imprisoned at Fort Edward or at Fort Cumberland (old Beausejour).

  • Settled in Judice’s Company (Cabanocey)
  • Athanase Breau/Marie LeBlanc, 2 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Oct 11, 1762)

    Pierre Chiasson/Ositte Landry, 4 children (Fort Cumberland Aug 24, 1763)

    Charles Duon/Marie-Josephe Prejean, 3 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762)

    Charles Forest/Marguerite Saulnier, 6 children (Fort Edward Oct 11, 1762)

    Etienne LeBlanc/Elizabeth Boudreau, 7 children (Fort Cumberland Aug 24, 1763).

    Amand Prejean/Madeleine Martin, 5 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Oct 11, 1762)

    Charles Prejean/Marguerite Richard (Fort Edward Oct 11, 1762)

    Joseph Prejean/Marguerite Durel, 2 children (Fort Edward Oct 11, 1762)

    Joseph Richard/Anne Blanchard, 3 children (Fort Edward Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Oct 11, 1762)

    Bruno Robichaud/Anne-Felicite Broussard, 2 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Port Royal 1763)

  • Settled in Verret’s Company
  • Jean-Baptiste Bourgeois/Madeleine Bourg, 2 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762)

    Joseph Gaudet/Marguerite Bourgeois (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762)

    Pierre Gaudet/Madeleine Doucet, 3 children (Fort Edward Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Oct 11, 1762)

    Jean Mouton/Isabelle Bastarache (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762, Port Royal 1763)

    Louis Mouton/Marie-Modeste Bastarache, 1 child (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Oct 11, 1762, Port Royal 1763)

    Salvatour Mouton/Anne Bastarache (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762; Aug 9, 1762, Port Royal 1763)

    Joseph Theriot/Marguerite Bourgeois, 2 children (Fort Edward Oct 5, 1761; Jul 12, 1762, Port Royal 1763)


    The following are the number of prisoners listed at the noted locations

    Fort Edward 5 Oct 1761: 273

    Fort Edward 11 Jul 1762: 298 (men were in Halifax awaiting deportation)

    Fort Edward 9 Aug 1762: 320 (men were in Halifax awaiting deportation)

    Fort Edward 11 Oct 1762: 219

    Port Royal 1763: 91

    Halifax 12 August 1763: 706

    The following is what I have found on the imprisonment of Joseph dit Beausoliel Broussard.

    Joseph Broussard and 190 of his followers surrendered to Major Joseph Frye at Fort Cumberland (old Beausejour) on 16 November 1759.

    In the 9 August 1761 list of prisoners on the Acadian Coast are listed:

    Joseph Broussard: 1 man, 1 woman, 3 boys, 1 girl
    Joseph Broussard fils: 1 man, 1 woman, 1 boy
    Anselme Broussard: 1 man, 1 woman

    These are Joseph dit Beausoliel Broussard, his son Joseph dit Petit Joe Broussard, and his nephew Anselme Broussard.

    In the 12 July 1762 list of prisoners at Fort Edward are listed:

    Joseph Broussard, Sr. 5 members
    Joseph Broussard Jr. 2 members
    Anselme Broussard 1 member

    The men were at Halifax awaiting deportation

    In the 9 August 1762 list of prisoners at Fort Edward are listed:

    Joseph Broussard Sr. 5 members
    Joseph Broussard Jr. 2 members
    Anselme Broussard 1 member

    The men were still at Halifax

    In the 11 October list of prisoners at Fort Edward are listed:

    Wife Joseph Broussard Sr. 5 members
    Joseph Broussard Jr. 3 members

    Joseph Jr. was back from Halifax, but Joseph Sr. was not at Fort Edward.

    I think the Acadians were paid in English money, because they were able to charter a British ship to take them to Santo Domingo and another one to take them on to Louisiana. I don't think the British would have accepted French money.

    Until 1759, Joseph Broussard and his band were in present day New Brunswick which was somewhat under French control and probably French money was used for exchange.

    ACADIANS IN GEORGIA

    The Treaty of Paris ratified 10 February 1763 provided an eighteen- month period during which Acadians detained in British territory could relocate to French soil.

    Dated 23rd August 1763, a list[1] was prepared titled:

    Etat, et Liste des accadiens avec leurs Noms et la quantité des Enfans qu’ils ont fait dans la Caroline du Sud, ce 23rd Aoust 1763

    [State, and List of the Acadians with their Names and the Number of Children that They Have in South Carolina this 23rd day of August 1763]

    A letter[2] attached to this list clearly that these are “Acadians from Savannah in Georgia that are in South Carolina”.

    This list of 185 persons has been transcribed[3] by Janet Jehn in “Acadian Exiles in the Colonies”. These are what is left of the 400 Acadians exiled to Georgia in 1755[4].

    In the GEORGIA GAZETTE published in Savannah, Georgia, dated August 25 1763, is found[5]:

    Last week a number [120?] of the Acadians who have been here a few years, went on board a sloop for Monto Christi [Monte Cristi, St- Domingue].

    Sailed for Monto-Christi
    August 21, Schooner Dolphin, W. Deadman [Master]

    It seems before the list was finalized and dated most of the Acadians had left.

    In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[6] is found:

    Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans.

    OUTWARDS for Mobile
    Dec. 17, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master]

    These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean Poirier and Madeleine Richard was blessed by the first priest they had seen in years. A copy of this ceremony is in Vidrine’s “Love’s Legacy[7].

    Note this indicates a journey of about one month to Mobile. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated 26 February 1764, the return of the Savannah Packet to Savannah is noted[8], a return voyage of one month. This indicates the Acadians in Mobile boarded a different ship for New Orleans which could have been bound from New York to New Orleans. I will have more on this group of Acadians later.

    In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated January 12, 1764[9] is found:

    The Acadians have entirely left this place; 44 of them went for Cape- François [St-Domingue] on Friday in the brigt. Polly and Deborah, Capt. George Anderson

    In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated February 9, 1764[10] is found:

    Arrived at Cape-François from this port, the Polly and Deborah, Anderson The Acadians who lately went from this [port] for Cape-François are to have settlements there, with plantation tools, and two years provision.

    It appears that all the Acadians had left Georgia by January 12, 1764, with the majority of them going to St-Domingue. However, there is evidence that some of those that went to St-Domingue a short time later, under the leadership of André Le Blanc, went to Louisiana and settled next to the first documented Acadians in Cabaanocé before the arrival of the Joseph Broussard group in February 1765. I will have more on this second group later.

    [1] ANF, Archives du Ministére des Affaires étrangéres,
    Correspondance politique, Angleterre, vol 451, fol 125-126.
    [2] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES
    ACADIENNES English Supplement p. lxxxii.
    [3] Pp. 229-232, 237.
    [4] Brasseaux, Carl A. Scattered to the Wind p. 8.
    [5] No. 21, p. 3. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society,
    Worcester, Mass. 1968]
    [6] No. 38, p.2.
    [7] Pp. 320-321.
    [8] No. 46, p. 2.
    [9] No. 41, p. 1.
    [10] No. 45, p. 2.


    FIRST ACADIANS IN LOUISIANA 1764

    The first documented Acadians to arrive in Louisiana were noted in a letter dated 6 April 1764 from D’Abbadie, Director-General of Louisiana, to Duke of Choiseul-Stanville , Secretary of the French Navy in Paris. D’Abbadie wrote “… four Acadian families of twenty persons have arrived from New York during the month of February last”. [1]

    Elton Oubre using church records, census data, and land records identified the four families and 20 individuals as[2] [numbers were assigned by Oubre]:

    Jean[-Baptiste][3] Poirier (No. 1)
    Madeleine Richard (No. 2), his wife
    Jean-Baptiste Poirier (No. 10), their son
    Joseph Poirier (No. 9), their son

    Jean-Baptiste Richard (No. 3)
    Catherine Cormier (No. 4), his wife
    Joseph Richard (No. 11), their son
    Rosalie Richard (No. 14), their daughter

    Jean-Baptiste Cormier (No. 7)
    Magdeleine Richard (No. 8), his wife
    Anastasie Cormier (No. 13), their daughter
    Marie Cormier (No.19), their daughter
    Marguerite Cormier (No. 15), their daughter
    [Marie-]Anne Cormier (No.16), their daughter
    Madeleine Cormier (No. 20), their daughter

    Olivier Landry (No. 5)
    Cécile Poirier (No. 6), his wife
    Jean-Antoine Landry (No. 12), their son
    Joseph Landry (No. 17), their son
    Marie Landry (No. 18), their daughter

    In light of new information that has recently been obtained, the earlier work on these four families has been reviewed.

    The new information is:
    1) An item found in the [Savannah] Georgia Gazette dated December 22,
    1763 by Lucie Consentino:
    In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[4] is found:

    Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans.

    Sailed for Mobile
    Dec. 21, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master]

    2) 29 June 1766 Cabaanocé Lower Coast census[5] (Verret’s Company) found by Donald J. Arceneaux.

    The review indicates Elton Oubre’s list of 20 members of the four families is correct, but should include one more for a total of 21. The additional member would be: Jean Richard, son of Jean-Baptiste Richard and Catherine Cormier (age 22 in 29 June 1766 census) who married 7 November 1767[6] Rosalie Bourgeois).

    Further posts will be the history of each of the four families as it has been compiled, tracing the families from imprisonment in Georgia, arrival in Louisiana and their settlement patterns through 1777.

    As an aside, note how close-knit this group of families were.

    Cécile Poirier, wife of Olivier Landry, was the sister of Jean- Baptiste Poirier who was married to Madeleine Richard, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Richard and Catherine Cormier; Jean-Baptiste Richard was a brother to Madeleine Richard who was married to Jean-Baptiste Cormier, who was a cousin to Catherine Cormier.

    [1] Brasseaux, Carl A. ed. QUEST FOR A PROMISED LAND p. 16.
    [2] Oubrie, Elton J. VACHERIE, ST. JAMES PARISH, LOUISIANA: HISTORY AND GENEALOGY pp. 68-69.
    [3] The information in [….] is personal interpretation.
    [4] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. 1968]
    [5] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 202, folio 225.
    [6] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206 .


    RICHARD, JEAN-BAPTISTE

    Jean-Baptiste Richard[1], born 2 February 1719, son of Martin Richard and Marguerite Bourg, married 1740 Catherine Cormier[2], born 1721, daughter of Alexis Cormier and Marie Le Blanc.

    This family was deported to Georgia where on a prisoner list dated 23 August 1763[3] is found:

    Jean Richards, wife, 4 children
    [Jean Richard age 44
    Catherine Cormier age 42
    Jean age 19 born 1744
    Rosalie age 9 born 1754
    Joseph age new born? born 24 March 1763?
    Child [name unknown, no further record of this child][4]

    This family along with 3 other close knit families, boarded a ship in December 1763 to leave Georgia.

    In the [Savannah] GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[5] is found:

    Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans.

    Sailed for Mobile
    Dec. 21, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master]

    These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean-Baptiste Poirier and Madeleine Richard was blessed by the first priest they had seen in years. A copy of this ceremony is in Vidrine’s “Love’s Legacy[6].

    Note this indicates a journey of about one month to Mobile. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated 26 February 1764, the return of the Savannah Packet to Savannah is noted[7], a return voyage of one month. This indicates the Acadians in Mobile boarded a different ship for New Orleans which could have been bound from New York to New Orleans. From Mobile, they went on to New Orleans arriving on or just before 26 February 1764.

    On arrival in New Orleans, Joseph was baptized.

    RICHARD, Joseph (Jean and Catherine COLMIER [sic for Cormier]) bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born March 24, 1748 [sic], sponsors Jean RICHARD, the infant’s brother, and Magdeleine RICHARD, the infant’s aunt (SLC, B5, 40)[8]

    The birth date March 24, 1748 would seem to be in error as the record states he is an infant. Possibly, he was born 24 March 1763? He seems to have been in the list dated 23 August 1763.

    Sometime after 6 April 1764, this family settled on the west bank of the Mississippi just down river from Verret’s Plantation.

    In the 29 June 1766 Cabaanocé Lower Coast (Verret’s Company) census [9] is found:

    [Jean-Baptiste pere] Richards man age 47
    Catherine [Cormier] woman age 46
    [Jean] Richard [fils] man age 22
    Rozalie girl age 12

    Joseph, baptized 26 February 1764, is not in the census [died?].

    Jean Richard fils married 7 November 1767[10] Rosalie Bourgeois, born 1750, daughter of Pierre Bourgeois[11] and Marie-Françoise Cormier[12].

    In the 1 January 1777 St. James Parish census[13] is found:

    Jean [-Baptiste] Richard age 57
    Catherine Cormier, wife age 56
    Rozalie, daughter age 21

    Jean Richard age 32
    Rozallie Bourgeois, wife age 26
    Pierre, son age 8
    Paul, son age 6
    Michel, son age 1
    Pellagie, daughter age 4

    [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 1381.
    [2] Ibid. p. 405.
    [3] Jehn, Janet ACADIAN EXILES IN THE COLONIES p. 231.
    [4] The information in […..] is personal interpretation.
    [5] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. 1968]
    [6] Pp. 320-321.
    [7] No. 46, p. 2.
    [8] Woods, Earl & Nolan, Charles eds. SACRAMENTAL RECORDS OF THE
    ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS v. 2,
    1751-1771 p. 238.
    [9] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 202, folio 225.
    [10] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206.
    [11] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 258.
    [12] Ibid. p. 406.
    [13] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 190, folio 192-205.


    POIRIER, JEAN-BAPTISTE

    Jean-Baptiste Poirier[1], born 20 February 1733, son of Jean-Baptiste Poirier and Marie Cormier, married 1759 Madeleine Richard, born 1741, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Richard[2] and Catherine Cormier[3].

    A son Jean-Baptiste was born 20 May 1760[4] and a son Joseph was born 12 June 1762[5]. This family was deported to Georgia where on a prisoner list dated 23 August 1763[6] is found:

    Jean Poirier, his wife and 3 children
    [Jean Poirier age 30
    Madeleine Richard, wife age 22
    Jean-Baptiste age 3
    Joseph age 1
    Child, name unknown, nothing further is known of this child][7]

    This family along with 3 other close knit families, boarded a ship in December 1763 to leave Georgia.

    In the [Savannah] GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[8] is found:

    Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans.

    Sailed for Mobile
    Dec. 21, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master]

    These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean-Baptiste Poirier and Madeleine Richard was blessed by the first priest they had seen in years. A copy of this ceremony is in Vidrine’s “Love’s Legacy[9].

    Note this indicates a journey of about one month to Mobile. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated 26 February 1764, the return of the Savannah Packet to Savannah is noted[10], a return voyage of one month. This indicates the Acadians in Mobile boarded a different ship for New Orleans which could have been bound from New York to New Orleans. From Mobile, they went on to New Orleans arriving on or just before 26 February 1764.

    On 26 February 1764, Jean-Baptiste’s sons Jean-Baptiste and Joseph were baptized in St. Louis Cathedral.

    POIREZ (sic for POIRIER), Joseph (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born June 12, 1762, sponsors Jean RICHARD, the infant’s grandfather and Marie COLMIER [sic for Cormier], the infant’s maternal first cousin (SLC, B5, 40)[11]

    POIREZ (sic for POIRIER), Jean Baptiste (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. March 1, 1764, born May 20, 1760, sponsors Jean Baptiste DEVILLE DEGOUTIN and Marianne COUTURIE (SLC, B5, 40)[12]

    Sometime after 6 April 1764, this family settled on the west bank of the Mississippi just down river from Verret’s Plantation.

    On 6 March 1765, a son François was born.

    POIREZ [sic for POIRIER], Francois (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD), bap. March 6, 1765, born March 6, 1765 sponsors Jean RICHARD and Cecile POIRRIER [sic for Poirier] (SLC, B5, 84)[13]

    In the 29 June 1766 census of Cabaanocé Lower Coast (Verret’s Company) [14] is found:

    [Jean-Baptiste] Poirier man age 33
    Madeleine [Richard] age 25
    [Jean-Baptiste] Poirier boy age 6
    François boy age 1

    Joseph, born 12 June 1762, is missing from the 1766 census [died?].

    In the 1 January 1777 St. James census[15] is found: Jean[-Baptiste] Poirier age 40 [sic] Magdelaine Richard, wife age 35 Jean [-Baptiste], son age 17 Francois, son age 12 Michel, son age 3 Marie, daughter age 10

    [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 1336.
    [2] Ibid. p. 1381.
    [3] Ibid. p. 405.
    [4] Woods, Earl & Nolan, Charles eds. SACRAMENTAL RECORDS OF THE
    ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS v. 2, 1751-1771 p. 229.
    [5] Ibid. p. 229.
    [6] Jehn, Janet ACADIAN EXILES IN THE COLONIES p. 231.
    [7] The information in […..] is personal interpretation.
    [8] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. 1968]
    [9] Pp. 320-321.
    [10] No. 46, p. 2.
    [11] Woods, Earl & Nolan, Charles eds. SACRAMENTAL RECORDS OF THE
    ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS v. 2, 1751-1771 p. 229.
    [12] Ibid. p. 229.
    [13] Ibid. p. 229.
    [14] [14] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 202, folio 225-227.
    [15] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 190, folio 192-205.


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