The True Story of the Acadians, 93rd Anniversary Edition with Index

By M.M. Le Blanc

This is the true history of the French Acadians, who settled French Acadia (now Nova Scotia) in the 1500's, only to live under British rule when King Louis XV ceded the territory to England in 1713. The French Acadians were victims of the tragic Exile and Deportation by the British in 1755, resulting in the intentional separation of families ont

• Language: English
• Publisher: BizEntine Press
• Release date: Jan 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781947471146

M.M. Le Blanc

M.M. Le Blanc is a 7-time International Literary Award-winning Author of over 20 books, including award-winning historical fiction, non-fiction history and genealogy, business, finance, law and textbooks.

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PRAISE – 1st Edition

Quoting Dudley J. Le Blanc: "Modestly, we add here extracts from a few letters of commendation received for The True Story of the Acadians."

The Hon. Paul Claudel, Ambassador of France to the U.S. I have received your book THE TRUE STORY OF THE ACADIANS and I want you to accept my thanks for this very interesting work.

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Rt. Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard, Catholic Bishop, Diocese of Lafayette, LA: The writing of this book, I am sure, was a work of love for you. May it have a wide circulation, especially among the descendants of the heroic Acadian Exiles…. It cannot but make them proud of their ancestry and create a greater attachment to the noble Christian ideals that were dearer to their forefathers than even life and earthly possessions…. I want to compliment you on the real service you have rendered our people in writing this true story of their glorious past.

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The Rev. Father J. A. Allard, Bathurst, N.B., Canada, Secretary, Acadian Historical and Literary Society: It gave me great pleasure to receive your interesting book…allow me to compliment you on the high quality of your work in compiling this history. I feel that all who read this book will realize fully the sterling characteristics of the Acadians…. Each Chapter of your story has in it a wealth of knowledge…which you have so ably depicted…. The illustrations are splendid. It is also interesting to note…particularly the names of those imprisoned at Grand Pré in 1755.

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Mr. James T. Vocelle, Vero Beach, FL, attorney and author of The Triumph of the Acadians: The book is splendidly written and gives to the public access to original documents which have never before been made public. In writing and publishing this book, you have rendered a very great service, not only to the Acadian people, but also to the cause of truth in connection with right­ing in the public mind the most monstrous crime of history.

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Miss Edith G. Dupre, Lafayette, LA, prominent English professor in one of Louisiana’s foremost college: I found your book extremely interesting on the first reading; and I ex­pect to enjoy it more and more as I re-read it from time to time. I congratulate you highly on this achievement of yours.

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Rev. Edmond Daull, Abbeville, LA.: I received my copy of your book, so beautifully gotten up, so poignantly interesting. Your book, the writing of which no doubt implied for you a ‘labor of love,’ is also evidence of your own loyalty to the spiritual traditions of those heroic forebears whose worthy scion you are, and will forever be highly treasured by me.

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M. Pierre Moray. Acting French Consul, New Orleans, LA: I wish to express my most sincere compliments for the wonderful work you have accomplished. I have seldom seen combined to the same extent historical accuracy and lively facts together with a pleasant presentation.

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Mr. Chas. A. Poirier, Secretary, Board of Public Welfare, New Bedford, MA: Every page brought to my mind facts which I had read or heard about, but never to such precise nature. The few friends to whom I have shown the book are anxious to have one. please send me ten copies….

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Rt. Rev. J. L. Quelo. C. J. M., President, Sacred Heart Col­lege, Bathurst, N.B., Canada: You have collected the touching traits of the Acadian history with vivid colors.

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Clarence F. Cormier. Secretary of The Society of The Assumption (an Acadian organization). Waltham, MA: "…must have given much satisfaction to our com­patriots of Louisiana as it has to those of the North. You undoubtedly have read the appreciation of your book which appeared in Le Devoir and L’Evangeline, the two great French newspapers of Quebec and New Brunswick."

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Rev. F. Chiasson. Mamou, LA: Your TRUE STORY OF THE ACADIANS is the most complete that I have ever read on the Acadian subject.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PREFACE (1st edition)

PREFACE (2nd Improved Edition)

Chapter I: ORIGIN OF THE NAME

Chapter II: EARLY SETTLEMENTS OF ACADIA

Chapter III: THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION

Chapter IV: THE ACADIAN PEOPLE

Chapter V: ACADIA CEDED TO ENGLAND

Chapter VI: ACADIANS REFUSE TO TAKE UNQUALIFIED OATH YET BRITISH GOVERNORS PREVENT THEM FROM LEAVING ACADIA

Chapter VII: TRICKERY OF BRITISH AUTHORITIES —DEPORTATION PLANNED

Chapter VIII: WAR — ACADIANS TRUE TO OATH

Chapter IX: RELIGION - THE MAIN REASON WHY THE ACADIANS WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO ENGLAND

Chapter X: DEPORTATION PLANNED

Chapter XI: ACTS OF UNBELIEVABLE CRUELTY TO ACADIANS AND INDIANS BY THE ENGLISH

Chapter XII: PLANS FOR THE EXILE

Chapter XIII: PERSECUTION OF THE ACADIANS PRIOR TO THE EXILE

Chapter XIV: IMPRISONMENT, DEPORTATION

Chapter XV: POPULATION OF ACADIA AT THE TIME OF EXILE

Chapter XVI: THE DESTRUCTION, THE DESOLATION, THE MAN CHASE

Chapter XVII: THE ORDER TO SEPARATE MEMBERS OF FAMILIES

Chapter XVIII: EXILE

Chapter XIX: EXILE CONTINUED

Chapter XX: EXILE CONTINUES AFTER 1755

Chapter XXI: FUGITIVES FROM NOVA SCOTIA

Chapter XXII: DID BRITISH KING AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES IN LONDON ORDER THE ACADIAN EXILE?

Chapter XXIII: NOVA SCOTIA ACADIANS

Chapter XXIV: GENERAL CONDITIONS

Chapter XXV: FROM MARYLAND TO LOUISIANA

Chapter XXVI: EARLY HISTORY OF LOUISIANA -THE ACADIANS

Chapter XXVII: THE ACADIANS ARE WELCOMED IN LOUISIANA

Chapter XXVIII: ACADIANS UNDER SPANISH RULE- CONDITIONS AT THAT TIME

Chapter XXIX: THE EFFECTS OF THE ACADIAN EXILES ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Chapter XXX: ACADIANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Chapter XXXI: THE ACADIANS

Chapter XXXII: ACADIANS, BUILDERS OF LOUISIANA

Chapter XXXIII: ACADIAN FAITH AND LANGUAGE

Chapter XXXIV: LOUISIANA ALWAYS FRENCH

Chapter XXXV: THE ACADIAN MIRACLE

APPENDIX A: ACADIAN COSTUMES

APPENDIX B: INFLUENCE OF THE POEM EVANGELINE

APPENDIX C: LONGFELLOW AND EVANGELINE

APPENDIX D: DUDLEY J. Le BLANC

APPENDIX E: THE THREE OFFICIAL PILGRIMAGES OF LOUISIANA ACADIANS TO ACADIA - Grand Pré, Nova Scotia

APPENDIX F: THE FAMOUS PAINTING OF EVANGELINE BY FAED

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR M. M. Le BLANC

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER OR AUTHOR

For the descendants of the Acadian Exiles

during Le Grand Dérangement and thereafter.

Vive les Acadiens. Vive les Cajuns.

Merci, St. Thérèse.

FOREWORD

The True Story of the Acadians 93 rd Anniversary Edition with Index is the fourth revision of this book. The first two editions were written by the author’s grandfather, Dudley J. Le Blanc . The 90th Anniversary Edition was revised and edited by this author. The author and editor of this 93rd Edition of the book with index has endeavored to retain the original language, spelling and content of the prior editions written by Dudley J. Le Blanc .

The 1st edition and the improved version 2nd edition of The True Story of the Acadians have been out of print for decades, a tragedy to historians, Acadians and history lovers everywhere. Dudley Le Blanc’s significant writings on Acadian history would have been lost without this book, the main purpose of which is to preserve such vital Acadian research for generations to come.

In many instances in the book, the reader may find an older form of grammar or a different style of writing from that which is commonly used today. All of these elements are included exactly as in the original where possible to preserve the authenticity of this heavily-researched written work. Typographical and spelling errors have been corrected where appropriate, or noted within text, preserving the vintage spelling and poetic style and grammar of the period. The vernacular of the day as written by Dudley Le Blanc in the 1st Edition has been retained.

Important additions and revisions to this 93rd Anniversary Edition of The True Story of the Acadians with Index have been made by the revision author and editor for the convenience of the reader. A new Index has been included in the back, and other new elements include locating some text in Appendices at the back of the book; providing new Appendices; creating a Table of Contents in front matter; adding a researched and completed Bibliography in the back of the book from notes of the 1st Edition and partial or incomplete in-text attributions; adding Tables with lists of the names of Acadians imprisoned at Grand Pré in 1755; including additional front and back matter; implementing new formatting, fonts, and other stylistic, content and editing revisions. The original sources were researched for required content in the style and context of the 1st Edition.

The author anticipates this 93rd Anniversary Edition with Index will benefit current and future generations. It is hoped this work will continue to have a lasting influence on historians, scholars, researchers, librarians, students, educators and the general public interested in the true story of the Acadians.

The author is proud to have participated in preserving the legacy of her grandfather, Dudley J. Le Blanc, in providing this The True Story of the Acadians 93rd Anniversary Edition with Index for the benefit of all historians, Acadians and readers worldwide.

M. M. Le BLANC

PREFACE (1st edition)

This book is a humble effort to put into condensed form the facts of the Acadian Exile . I make no pretense at learning; and I have striven to avoid all technical language. My hope is that the average reader may be able to understand what I have written.

To some it may appear strange that I should have devoted so much time, effort, and money to the subject of the Acadian history; that in the midst of a life taken up with the interests of the day I should find time to delve into a remote past and linger with pride on a neglected page of history.

My paternal and maternal ancestors were Acadians. It should not be surprising, then, that having once looked behind that closed door, I should have found a drawing power that called me again and again. There I found, to be sure, the traditions I had learned as a child, the sad legends tearfully related and received into my soul with that ethereal beauty with which a child’s mind is wont to clothe its trea­sures. The more I delved, the more I discovered.

Much of what has been written about the Acadians in the past was an attempt to show that they were largely to blame for the fate that befell them and that their removal from the country was a poli­tical necessity. This propaganda was believed for a time because of the absence of documents that would deny the accusation. Thanks to the efforts of several zealous souls particularly Émile Lauvriere, Paris, many of the documents on the subject were recovered, and the world is gradually learning the truth relative to the Acadian Exile.

This event of the dispersion of a people will grow as time grows. The unsuccessful efforts made to blot out all trace of it, by suppressing and even destroying some of the documents that would disclose the facts will contribute more than anything else to make the recollection of it lasting.

Several English authors have also vainly attempted to show that the English government was not responsible for the deportation of the Acadians, and that the local provincial governors were the sole insti­gators and perpetrators of the outrage. I suppose it is natural for an English subject to want to excuse its home government from a crime so terrible as the Acadian Deportation, just as it would be natural for a child to refuse to believe in the past guilt of a parent. Besides, it would be considered unpatriotic and treasonable for an English subject to point the finger of guilt and shame towards the British Crown, for the benefit of the rest of the world, even in defense of his own an­cestry. Therefore, we overlook those English authors, particularly Édouard Richard and Placide Gaudet, who have so beautifully defended their country. The English King George II and Charles Lawrence, the provincial governor of that day, alone bear the responsibility of the Deportation.

By an order of the legislature of Nova Scotia, Thomas B. Akins was appointed to publish, in book form, the letters and all the other important documents that referred to the Acadians in the province of Acadia from the time of its first colony up to the time that the book was printed.

This work was begun in 1857 and completed in 1869. Mr. Akins has been charged by several authors with voluntarily neglecting the printing of certain letters. It has been charged by others and particularly by Édouard Richard, author of Acadia, that the docu­ments which he selected were selected with the greatest partiality, and with the purpose, poorly disguised in the very preface, of getting to­gether such papers as might justify the deportation of the Acadians.

This accusation I have not deliberately striven to support by hunting up examples, says Mr. Richard, and yet the proofs of it have incidentally accumulated in such profusion as to open the eyes of those who are not willfully blind.

Continuing, Mr. Richard has this to say about Mr. Akins (referred to in this paragraph as the Compiler): By leaving out many of the documents he has led into error nearly all the writers that have written the history of Nova Scotia. They begin where the Compiler begins; they finish where he finishes; they omit what he has omitted, they skip what he has skipped.

The special purpose was to comprise in a volume all the docu­ments that could throw some light on the causes that furnished motives for the expulsion of the Acadians. Mr. Akins grouped together all that might be injurious to them and made his volume a convenient and easy arsenal where writers might come to seek weapons against the Acadians.

This is related here only to show the extent to which the British authors and the British authorities were willing to apply themselves in a vain and unsuccessful attempt to mislead the world on a subject that is today regarded as the darkest page of English history.

Haliburton, who wrote The History of Nova Scotia, published in 1829, was a native son of Nova Scotia. He rose to the Supreme Court Bench. He was a remarkable author who enjoyed the respect of his fellowmen. His position, his character, his judicial mind, his great and varied talents mark him as one of the noblest representatives of the prominent men of his day. His book is today regarded as an authority on the subject of the Acadian Exile. Relative to the destroying of the documents, Haliburton has this to say: No documents of this important event (the deportation of Acadians) to be found among the records in the Secretary’s office at Halifax. I could not discover that the correspondence had been preserved, or that the Orders, Returns and Memorials had ever been filed there. The particulars of this affair seem to have been carefully concealed. Although, it is not now easy to assign the reason, unless the parties were, as in truth they well might be, ashamed of the transaction.

Philip H. Smith, in Acadia: A Lost Chapter of American His­tory, says: The deportation was conducted in so heartless a manner that, as though by common consent, the reports of details have been purposely destroyed, and historians have passed over it with only an allusion, as if unable to record the shame of the transaction.

It is hoped that a broader knowledge and understanding of the incidents that led to the settlement of the Acadians in Louisiana will instill in the minds of their descendants an appreciation of the true nobility of their race and cause them to glory in their Acadian heritage.

My principal work of reference in compiling this brief history was La Tragédie d’un Peuple, by Émile Lauvriere. Other books of re­ference were: Thomas Miller’s Historical and Genealogical Record; St. Michel du Conte d’Acadie, by René de Senneguy; Southwest Louisiana, Bio­graphical and Historical, by William Henry Perrin; History of Grand Pré, by John Frederick Herbin; The Land of Evangeline, Nova Scotia, published by Dominion Atlantic Railway; History of Louisiana, by Harriet Magruder; Mississippi Valley Beginnings, by Henry E. Chambers; La Gaspésie au Soleil, by Antoine Bernard, C. S. V.; L’Histoire de France, by Lucien Bailleaux and Victor Martin; Un Pèlerinage au Pays d’Evangeline, by H. R. Casgrain; Une Colonie Féodale en Amérique, 1’Acadie, and La France Aux Colonies, by Edme Rameau; Ar­chives Canadiennes, by Placide Gaudet; Acadia: Missing Links of a Lost Chapter, by Édouard Richard; The History of the American People, by Beard and Bagley; Haliburton’s Nova Scotia; Histoire Philosophique et Politique etc. by L’Abbé Raynal and others.

I also made researches in the archives of the Catholic Churches, including the St. John Cathedral, Lafayette, Louisiana and the St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana; the Public Library, in the records of the Louisiana Historical Society, New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Congressional Library, Washington, D.C.

PREFACE

(2nd Improved Edition)

In preparing this second edition of The True Story of the Acadians , the author has carefully examined and studied the subject in the light of constructive criticisms and suggestions made on the first edition by various newspapers and readers, including some highly acceptable authorities. The author has read practically every book which, to his knowledge, has ever been printed on the subject of the Acadian Exile; and he, therefore, believes that this is the first time that many facts pertaining to the Acadian Exile have ever been printed in the English language. The author with several assistants – persons who were familiar with research work – was fortunate in finding many documents that tended to throw a new light on the subject. This work lasted several years. He has taken great care to identify every statement printed herein, some of which to a certain extent, contradict statements made by pro-British authors.

CHAPTER I

ORIGIN OF THE NAME

Whence comes this name, Acadian , or Cadien, or the corruption, Cajun , as commonly applied to the French people of South Louisiana ? And whence come the traits, customs, language, faith, the very appearance peculiar to the Acadians or Cadiens? Many remember the lines of Longfellow ’s beautiful poem, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, published in 1847. A few have made a deeper study of the incidents that led to the tragedy so beautifully depicted in the poem, our subject herein.

At the time of its very earliest European settlement, that territory in Canada now called Nova Scotia was variously named Larcadia, Arcadia, or Cadie. Previous to the European settlement the country had been inhabited by Micmac Indians. Some believe the name Cadie, meaning fertile in, was given to the land because of the Micmac’s frequent use of the word with reference to the Acadian soil.

However, a recently-discovered historical record seems to settle conclusively the origin of the word. In 1524, Francois I, King of France, sent Verrazzano, an Italian, to explore new lands in America. Verrazzano’s report describes the coast near Acadia as a territory baptized ‘Arcadia’ on account of the beauty of the trees. The first known map to use the name L’Arcadia, is by Gastoldi dated 1548, as Gastoldi used French and not Italian. A beautiful and detailed map by F. Simon dated 1580 is in the British Museum. L’Arcadia Pro (Province) appears on the territory of the present New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It seems evident that Champlain’s Arcadia in his Des Sauvages in 1603 is from such maps, as did the writer of the 1603 De Monts commission who used La Cadie in his document.

CHAPTER II

EARLY SETTLEMENTS OF ACADIA

The French were the first to discover and explore the land of Acadia ; and, by virtue of these prior rights, they took possession of the territory. As early as 1504 its coast had been visited by French fishermen. Sometimes, says Richard Hackluyt, in his Diverse Voyages, there were not less than 100 boats fishing there.

The first attempt to settle Acadia was made by a French­man, Baron de Lery, in 1518. This attempt proved unsuccessful, and was followed by the explorations of Jacques Cartier in 1534.

Cartier sailed into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claiming Canada and Acadia for France. In his account of Acadia to his king, he described it as the most beautiful country in the world.

Again in 1598 a French nobleman, Marquis de la Roche, armed with a royal commission, sailed with a party of colonists for Acadia. He landed at Sable Island but adversities made him return home.

Then, in 1603 the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, discovered the St. Lawrence River and claimed the territory as part of New France. He communicated his enthusiasm to Sieur de Monts, who obtained from Henry IV, King of France, a commission which granted him a monopoly on trade in Acadia with the express provision that de Monts establish a colony there.

In 1604 de Monts with a company of noblemen including Sieur de Poutrincourt and Champlain (who became a great figure in the early history of America), came to Acadia in two boats. The company, numbering 120, landed at Île Ste. Croix, where they planted their colony. The following year, in August 1605, this colony founded Port Royal (now named Annapolis), the second permanent Eu­ropean settlement in America. Very few of the settlers survived, how­ever, and Poutrincourt undertook the reinforcement of the colony.

Jean de Biencourt, Sieur de Poutrincourt, governor of Honfleur and of Ponts, France, was a man noble of traits as well as of name. Fired with the desire to people new lands for the glory of Christianity and of France, he recruited with little trouble an expedition including some of the best farm­ing families, a few noblemen and learned persons of renown.

Among them was the druggist, Louis Hebert, son of the druggist of Catherine of Medici, and progenitor of a large posterity in America. He, like Poutrincourt and others of the party, sacrificed riches and honors at home. The expedition set sail on the Jonas in 1606 and arrived at Port Royal just

in time to save from perishing the few remaining colonists.

Poutrincourt, a real organizer, was very industrious, and hardly had his colonists landed that he set them to tilling the fertile soil. Poutrincourt introduced in America the cultivation of wheat. He was very kind to the Micmac Indians, whom he converted to the Catholic faith, and who ever remained loyal friends to the French.

At the death of Poutrincourt, in 1615, Acadia was held for France by his son, Charles de Biencourt. This period was marked by great poverty and suffering for the colonists, whose only means of subsistence was the profits from fur trading.

Biencourt died in 1624, and he was succeeded by Charles Turgis, unscrupulous but energetic, who had himself named de la Tour. Great Britain had for some time looked jealously on the land of Acadia. Though she had paid little attention to the rich Acadian country before the French settlement, England now based her claims of ownership on the vague explorations of John Cabot in 1497 (from his supposed discovery, Cabot had described the country as arid and full of white bears).

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Accordingly, on September 10, 1621 the King of England, James I, gave Acadia to William Alexander, a Scotch poet. It was named Nova Scotia, or New Scotland. Since there were a New France and a New England in America, it was decided to call Acadia, New Scotland. No at­tempt at colonization, however, was made by the Scotch or English until 1627, three years after de la Tour had taken charge of the French colony.

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Upon the arrival of the Scotch in Acadia, de la Tour placed himself at their service. He and his father, who also obtained a title of nobility from the English, were traitors to their country and their peo­ple. Through them, France lost Acadia and the whole of New France until 1632. Then, through the efforts of the able French Minister of State, Cardinal Richelieu, Great Britain returned to Louis XIII, King of France, not only Canada but also Port Royal and Acadia as well.

The task of restoring French colon­ists in Acadia was assigned to Isaac de Razilly, Cardinal Richelieu’s cousin, a man of remarkable energy and foresight. In 1632 Razilly brought with him three hundred of the most prominent people of Touraine and Brittany.

The colony had begun to grow and prosper, exporting wood and developing agricultural and fishing industries, when, in 1635, Razilly died.

Two men, Charles de Menou, Sieur d’Aulnay de Charnizay (who, like Razilly, was a relation to Richelieu), and Charles de la Tour (who had contrived to remain in the good graces of the French government), divided Razilly’s succession, and to each of them the title of Lieuten­ant-Governor of the King was granted.

D’Aulnay, a man of energy determined at the outset to make of Acadia an agricul­tural, industrial, and missionary colony. He made Port Royal the center of his overflowing activity. Pledging his fortune and his future, he gave himself wholly to the noble cause. He sent to Paris, Touraine, Aunis, Saintonge, and Poitou in France for Colon­ists, whom he established on farms, distributing seeds, building mills, and generally creating a progressive and unified colony. It was he who was, if not the founder, at least the organizer of Acadia.

A document recently discovered in the French archives of Paris gives us the names of immigrants who in 1636 left France for Acadia. These immigrants were recruited by Nicollas Denis under the instructions of Governor d’Aulnay.

The document has today become one of the most interesting as well as one of the most important in Aca­dian history. It is written in the French handwriting of that period and taking into consideration the many possible errors of the misspelled names etc., we reproduce below the names along with our interpretation of their occupation:

Nicollas Le Creux, with his wife and her sister, Anne Morin; Claude Morin, their brother; Jehan Morin, another brother; Jehanne Morin, the sister; Jacqueline de Glainee, their cousin; Jehanne Billard, maid for the family.

The following are the names of the Colonists:

Jehan Chalumeau and wife, husbandman; George Migot and wife, husbandman; Jehan Hyechtier and wife, husbandman; Simon Merlin and wife, husbandman; Jehan Pericauds and wife, woodsman; Jehan Guiot and wife, husbandman; Nicollas Bagolle and wife; Isaac Pesselin de Champagne; Hilaire Bicau and wife, husbandman; Jehan Donno, carpenter of the mill at Paris, France; Roch Roché, carpenter, also from Paris; Martin Ledoux, carpenter, from Paris; Tibault des Touches and wife, with three children, from the Parish Bourguel near Chinon, husbandman; Pierre Martin, laborer, with his wife and one child from Bourguel; Jehan Mangoneau, laborer, with his wife and one child, also from Bourguel; The widow Perigault with her sons Michel and Julien, laborers, also from Bourguel; Adrien Benaiston, laborer, from Bourguel; Julian Aury, laborer; Pierre Le Moinne, from Bourguel; Noel Tranchant, husbandman; Guillaume Trahan, marshal of Tranchant, with his wife and two children, and a valet, all from Bourguel; Louis Deniau, from the town of Chinon, Cabinet-maker; Telyre Ratté, also from Chinon, tailor; Daniel Chicherau, tailor; Jehan Danjou, from Chinon, husbandman; Michel Callant, husbandman; Jehan Vaché, from Chinon, Cobbler; Louis Blanchard, grower of wine grapes; Pierre Paquis, master gunsmith; Aime Diot, laborer, of Paris; Andre Baconneau, husbandman of Paris; Francois Guion, baker; Gille Tionne, Gardener of Paris, France.

The following are the names of carpenters who came to Acadia to construct boats:

Jouanis Destiquy, master carpenter, in charge of carpenters; Jehan de Bourgonore, carpenter; Jouanis de Hausquin, carpenter; Jehan de Lafaye, carpenter; Bernard Buguare, carpenter; Jouanis Lavere, carpenter; Bernard Tegarnous, carpenter; Abrahan Dostich, carpenter; Sainct Martin, dit Gascon, sailor; Francois Leteller, dit Labrande, sailor.

Names of Sauniers who went to Acadia to help colonize the land:

René Arquange, sailor; Jehan Sandre and his wife, leader of Sauniers; Pierre Gabory, assistant leader of the Sauniers, from La Rochelle; Jehan Provost; Francois Baudry; Pierre Brault.

The eighteen other names contained in this important document were the names of the sailors who had been assigned to duty on the boat, St. Jehan, to carry the colonists to Acadia. The St. Jehan sailed from France on the first day of April 1636. It is interesting to note that Acadian names familiar in Louisiana and Canada are contained in this list; although spelled differently, the pronunciations are the same.

As for de la Tour, who controlled the other half of Acadia, he could not bear to share authority with the newcomer, d’Aulnay. Being a person of hazardous and unscrupulous enterprises, he gave no attention to the colonization of the colony but centered his efforts on commerce. Furious at seeing the Etchemins coast (now New Brunswick), a territory rich in furs pass into the hands of his rival, he used all sorts of means to destroy d’Aulnay’s work, attacking him with arms, allying himself with the English, and even renouncing his faith in order to succeed in his selfish schemes.