None

Marguerite Landreville
Marguerite Landerville

“ JEAN GUEDRY, 1735, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié, vers 1755, à Marguerite Picot, fille de Michel et d’Anne Blain. Enfants: Elizabeth, vers 1754; Joseph, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Jean-Charles, 1760; Olivier, 1764; Marguerite, 1766; Pierre, 1770; Marie-Judith, 1772; Marie-Anne, 1774; Augustin, 1775. Déportée au Massachusetts, cette famille était à Québec en 1766 et s’est établie à Saint-Jacques-de-l’Achigan vers 1767. “

Translation:
“ JEAN GUEDRY, 1735, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married about 1755 to Marguerite Picot, daughter of Michel and of Anne Blain. Children: Elizabeth, about 1754; Joseph, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Jean-Charles, 1760; Olivier, 1764; Marguerite, 1766; Pierre, 1770; Marie-Judith, 1772; Marie-Anne, 1774; Augustin, 1775. Deported to Massachusetts, this family was at Québec in 1766 and settled at Saint-Jacques-de-lAchigan about 1767. “5351

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“ JEAN GUEDRY, né en 1735, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié vers 1755 à Marguerite Picot, fille de Michel et d’Anne Blin. Enfants: Elizabeth, vers 1754; Joseph, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Jean-Charles, 1760; Olivier, 1764; Marguerite, 1766; Pierre, 1770; Marie-Judith, 1772; Marie-Anne, 1774; Augustin, 1775. Cette famille, déportée au Massachusetts, en 1755, était à Québec, en 1766, et s’est établie à Saint-Jacques de L’Achigan, vers 1767. “

Translation:
“ JEAN GUEDRY, born in 1735, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married about 1755 to Marguerite Picot, daughter of Michel and of Anne Blin. Children: Elizabeth, about 1754; Joseph, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Jean-Charles, 1760; Olivier, 1764; Marguerite, 1766; Pierre, 1770; Marie-Judith, 1772; Marie-Anne, 1774; Augustin, 1775. This family, deported to Massachusetts in 1755, was at Québec in 1766 and settled at Saint-Jacques de L’Achigan about 1767. “5183

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“ . . . Jean spent his first five years at Wilmington and his last six at Woburn. His move to Woburn came as a result of his intolerable conditions in Wilmington. Jean petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature on numerous occasions demanding better living conditions for himself and his family. There are to be found many of these petitions in the Massachusetts Archives, Jean’s name being given some ten times as John Labardor or Labrador. After 1763, he is found listed as John or Jean Guidry, Gaidry, Guidri or Guidrit. These petitions provide some of the best historic documentation we have of Jean’s life in Acadia and in Boston. In one petition he states:

“ John Labrador sheweth that while he lived at Maligast (Mirligueche) he was so faithful in serving and assisting all Englishmen in distress and from the cruelty of the Indians that one day in particular, having sent away out of the harbour one vessel which the Indians intended to prey on and which they forbade him at his peril, they waylaid him coming from the vessel and shot him with buckshot, several of which were log’d in his flesh and thirty odd went thro his coat which marks he now bears, having three yet in his back, but they not satisfied with that treatn’d to take his life away the first opportunity which obliged him to abandon his habitation and go live in Pisiquite”.

Because the Acadians were under state supervision, any decisions made regarding them had to be made by the State Legislature. In December 1757, Jean Guidry describes the kind of living conditions he had to bear in Wilmington:

“ . . . in ten weeks, he received nothing but a haunch of lamb and one quart of milk a day. He has no wood (December 26, 1757) because they refused to lend him an ox to haul the wood he cut. So then, he is without food or fire in a house that has no door and no roof. When it rains, they have to move their beds along a wall against the wind in order to avoid rain and snow. Once he remarked to a Councillor that they were flooded in the house: the Councillor replied that they should build a boat and float. “

Again on January 10, 1758, a petition was signed by Francis Mius, “a Nova Scotian French person placed at Tewkesbury.” It was likewise endorsed by “Lawarence Mius, placed at Methuen”, and brought forth the complaints also “of John Labrador, another placed at Wilmington - respectfully setting forth the hardships and sufferings they undergo in the present situation. “

Apparently Jean’s petitons met with some success for we find him moved to Woburn in 1760. His family continued to grow and 1763 he had 5 sons and 2 daughters. This seems amazing when you consider that over half of the Acadians in Massachusetts are reported to have died during their exile there. In 1763, when Jean and other Acadians signed a petition requesting to be sent to France, only about 1000 of the original group of Acadians, out of the 2000 deported in 1755 remained alive.

With the fall of Montreal on September 8, 1759, tbe (sic) French and Indian War was all but over. For the terms of surrender, Vaudreuil, the French Governor, had presented fifty-five articles of peace to Amherst, the King of England’s representative. On the margin of the 39th Article which stipulated that all the French must remain in Canada and not be deported, Amherst wrote, “Agreed except as regards the Acadians”. Again as a marginal note to the 54th Article, which would guarantee a safe return of officers, militiamen and Acadian prisoners in New England to their respective countries, the general scribbled, “Accepted, but with reservation to the Acadians”.

With the French and Indian War concluded, the Acadians in Boston and vicinity began to hope to leave their exile. Up to this time, France had not taken an active part in rescuing the Acadians from the American colonies but had provided, when requested, refuge to great numbers of them exiled to England, Île Royale, Île St-Jean and from the American continent. In fact, the first to arrive in Cherbourg, France was from Bosotn. However, at peace negotiations held in England, the Duke of Nivernois, Peer of France, who represented the French King, was made more fully aware of the Acadians’ plight. On his return to France he had his Secretary de la Rochette write letters to the Acadians in the English colonies in America, inviting them to come to France to be with friends and relatives. When the 1000 Acadians in Boston and Massachusetts heard of Rochette’s letter, they signed a petition asking to return to France. Note their request as itemized above.

As soon as the Lords of Trade in England learned of Nivernois’ scheme to attract the Acadians to France or to her tropical colonies, a formal protest was registered with the French Ambassador. Notwithstanding, on December 6, 1763, the French Duke wrote Choisel to keep sending boats to pick up the Acadians, particularly those in New York and Boston. He assumed the Acadians there would find a way to leave America. None went to France. Some went to Louisiana, while other like Jean returned to Canada. A few remained where they had been exiled and were finally absorbed into the surrounding population.

Although Acadians started leaving Boston as early as 1763, Jean and his family did not get permission until 1766. Missing the boats to France and Louisiana, Jean Guidry signed his name with a group of Acadians to a list of persons requesting to be transferred to St. Dominique Island in the West Indies. This petition was signed on December 1, 1764, at which time Jean signs his name “Guedrit” and states that there are ten in his family. The petition for passage to the West Indies was denied on the grounds that the Acadians were English subjects and should remain under English rule.

In 1765, Governor Murray of Canada signed a decree requesting English subjects to settle in Quebec. On January 13, 1766, several Acadians asked the Governor of Boston for permission to write to Murray to obtain his approval for their return to Canada. Permission to make that appeal was granted. Murray, in turn, promised to try to accomodate the Acadians, apparently seeing it as an advantage to have the Acadians settle where they could be an asset to Canada and the British Empire. After sending inquiries out to different parts of Quebec, Murray found several areas, mostly around Montreal, willing to welcome these exiled Acadians. On June 2, 1766, Jean signed another petition, along with 890 Acadians in the Boston area asking to be released in order to proceed with the move to Quebec. Permission was granted and on June 13, 1766, most of the Acadians left the villages they had been exiled to, determined to find their way back to their homeland. Some traveled by boat, while others walked by way of Lake Champlain. On September 8, 1766, the Quebec Gazette announced the arrival of these Acadians.

Jean and Marguerite went up the river to Montreal until some parish priest met them and led them to his parish. On October 16, 1766, M. Degneay, the Cure of l’Assomption, took in about 80 Acadians (12 or 13 families) to help them get started in their new life. Jean and Marguerite were part of this group guided by Father Degneay to the town of l’Assomption where they spent the winter in a warehouse near the church. Soon after their arrival in l’Assomption, Jean and Marguerite had their marriage blessed by the church and had the Baptism of four their children, born in exile, validated.

After spending a long winter in the warehouse, Jean and his family became the first Acadians to buy land along the grand line from St. Alexis, near Ruisseau St. Georges. This land was purchased on April 2, 1767. It had been completely paid for by 1781 and would stay in the family for over one hundred years, finally being sold by Modeste Guildry dit Labine in 1871.

Along with being one of the first Acadians to buy land, Jean was also one of the first to build a house along Ruisseau St. Georges, no doubt similar in style to that of early architecture.

The turmoil in his life all but over, Jean could finally turn his attention to raising a family and being a farmer. He and Marguerite raised eleven children in Quebec, although the oldest, Anne Marie, married Nicolas Dufault soon after their arrival in Quebec, (September 14, 1767). Four of Jean’s sons, as far as we know, (Olivier, Jean Baptiste, Charles and Mathurin) spent some time as voyageurs. Olivier eventually worked his way down the Mississippi to Louisiana to reunite with the Guidrys there. Mathurin drowned in the Lachine rapids while still young.

Jean outlived his second wife, Marguerite, and in 1799, married for the third time, Marie Angelique Marois, the widow of Pierre Milot. A death certificate dated 1802 indicates that Jean died at age 80. He is most likely buried at the old cemetery site in St. Jacques though no markers give evidence of this and the original burial ground is not clearly located.

We don’t know how the deportation and difficult times affected Jean and his family once they settled at St. Jacques. Like other refugees in other times, they more than likely talked about their experience very little, and spent the rest of their lives thinking about the future, rather than the past. There is a strong possibility that Jean’s son Olivier, sent word back to Quebec that he had found his Uncles, Jean Guidry’s brothers, in Louisiana. We can be certain in saying, however, that they never saw one another again.

Jean Guidry dit Labrador dit Labine lived a remarkable life, one full of turmoil, adventure, hardship, tragedy, courage and endurance. In death he would finally find that eternal peace that his life seemed to have very little of. He left behind him a great number of descendants and the Labine family multiplied and grew. “5354

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On the 26th of December 1757 the Petition of John Labardor of Wilmington, Massachusetts to Thomas Pownall, Governor and the Council and House of Representatives in the General Court, states:

“ No. 576

To his Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq. Goverfnor the Honourable the Council & House of Representatives in General Court assembled.

The humble Petition of John Labardor sheweth that while he lived at Maligast he was so faithful in serving and assisting all Englishmen in distress and from the cruelties of the Indians that one day in particular having sent away out of the harbuor one vessel which the Indians intended to prey on and which they forbade him at his peril, they waylaid him coming from the vessel and shot at him with Buckshot seven of which were log’d in his flesh and Thirty odd went thro his coat which marks he now bears, having three yet in his back, but they not satisfied with that treatn’d to take his life away the first opportunity which obliged him to abandon his habitation and go live to Pisiguite, but having done all the service in his power, and in a perishable condition at pres’t without any regard or pity showed him almost breaked his heart. For those ten weeks he has had no kind of subsistance only one quarter lamb, and about a quart Milk each Day among seven in family without wood having at length refused him oxen to fetch home his wood which he always cut himself, and left them now in that condition without victuals or firing, and in a kind of house without doors or Roof for when it rains they are obliged to shift their bed from part of the wett to leeward and from a melting snow there is no screeing and having told one of the selectman that we were afloat in the house he said I must build a boat and sail in it. He has with his family lived chiefly on acorns three weeks without any pity, and innumerable other cruelties too tedious to mention.

Therefore if your honours would permit him to quit Wilmington that place of woe and come to Charlestown he would for you as in duty bound forever pray so hoping for the love of God (that your Honours being the fathers of your country) you will help and redress the grievances of the distressed, and in this confidence subscribed himself.
Your Honours most Dutiful servt

JN. LABARDOR

Wilminton 26th Dec. 1757.

In council Jan. 10, 1758. Read and ordered that James Minot, Esq. with such as the Hon House shall join be a comittee to consider of their Petition and Report what they judge proper to be done in the affair.
Sent down for Concurrence

A. OLIVER, Sec.

In House of Rep., Jan. 15, 1758. Read and concurred and Col. Choate and Col. Buckmington are joined in the affair.

T. HUBBARD, Spk. “5356

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No. 484

BOSTON, AUG. 24th, 1763.

JASPER MAUDUIT, ESQ:

Sr. -- In the general Court’s letter to you, dated the 16th of June last, you were informed that the Nova Scotia French sent here in 1755 had occasioned an expense to the Province for their support to June 1759 of £6543 19 9 Sterling. It being near the end of the session when that letter was sent, there was not opportunity to collect the amount of their support to the present time: but this has been since done.

And you herewith have a particular account of the whole sum that has been paid out of the Province Treasury for supporting them since their first arrival, amounting to £9563 9-10 of a Pound Sterling. This account is authenticated by a certificate from the Sec., and another from the Province Treasurer.

The reason of transmitting to you this account at this time, is, that his Excellency the Gov. has had communicated to him by some of the principals of sd. Nova Scotians, letters from London written in consequence of a declaration of the French Ambassador, the Duke de Nivernois, acquainting them that his most Xtien Majesty looking upon them as some of his most faithful subjects would order Transports for conveying them to France upon their signifying the number within this Province that wanted a conveyance. They have accordingly made out a list and exhibited a copy of it to his Excellency the Governor, an abstract of which his Excellency has sent to the Lords of Trade: a copy of it I now enclose you. By this list it appears that there are 1019 within the Province and they appear to be all desirous of going. As the French King looks upon them as his subjects, he must look upon them as Prisoners of war, and therefore by agreement between the two Crowns, Great Briton is entitled to a Reimbursement of the expense that has accrued by supporting them. This reimbursement you’ll please to apply for pursuant to the agreement aforesaid, and if by any means it should fail in that method of application, you will endeavor in pursuance of the genl. Court’s direction contained in their letter aforesaid to obtain it in the way you judge most suitable. This is written to you in the name and by the direction of the Gov. & Council.


No. 485

Since the before mentioned the mentioned letters were communicated to the Governor, these French People have received an invitation from Mr. Robin, a French Protestant who hath obtained a grant from the Crown of a tract of land lying on the Bay or River Merrimeche, [Miramichi] in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to settle on the said Grant. Some of them may probably embrace this offer. They seem generally inclined to remove out of the Province. If this should be (the) case and we lose the benefits of their service now they might be made useful subjects; after that we have been at the charge of supporting them while they were looked upon as Enemies, the Province hath an equitable claim to a reimbursement at all Events. It was much against their inclination that they received them at first, but out of a dutiful Regard to his Majesty’s Service, they were permitted to come among Us, and were supported by Us, while some of our neighboring Governments refused those who were sent to them, many of whom afterwards found their way into this Province, and increased our charge. You will therefore endeavor in pursuance of the General Court’s direction contained in this letter afores’d, to obtain a reimbursement in the way you judge most suitable. His Excellency having wrote to the Lords of Trade upon the subject may facilitate your application, which we hope will prove successful.

This letter is wrote you in the name and by the direction of the Governor & Council.

You will observe a difference in the sums a[s] certified by the Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The Secr. certifies the sums for which warrants have been issued, the Treasurer certifys the actual payments: it is possible some of the warrants may not yet have come to hand: be that as it will the Government must be content to have the account settled agreeable to the actual payments.

You have for you further information in this matter, copies enclosed of a paragraph of a letter from Mr. Bollan of 1 Oct. 1757, and of the Petition of his Majesty therein referred to.

24 Augt. HON. ADREW OLIVER, ESQ.


(Mr. Boudon’s Compliments, wait upon the Secretary with a draft of a letter to the Agent on the subject mentioned in council today. The Secr. will please to make such such alterations as he thinks proper.


No. 486

A LIST OF THE FRENCH WHO DESIRE TO GO TO OLD FRANCE, WITH LETTER OF
AUG. 24TH, 1763.

Heads of Families Sons Daughters Total

. . . .


La veuve Robicho 2 3 6
Benoni Dousel [Doucet] & Marie - - 2
Jean Gaidry [Guedry] & Marie 5 2 9
Aman Bodot [Boudrot (?)] & Isabelle 2 3 7
Joseph Brox [Breau] & Anne - 1 3

. . . .

. ____ ____ ____
. 64 75 1,019


At a Council holden at Halifax on Thursday the 18th August 1763.

Present

THE HONORABLE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOUR

The Honorable Charle Morris
Richard Bulkeley
Alexander Grant Councillors
Henry Newton
Michael Francklin

The Lieutenant Governor informed the Council that Mr. Deschamps had transmitted to him the Copy of a Letter found in the hands of Joseph Broussard alias Beausoleil at Pesiquid, which was handed about among the French Acadians, and wrote by one De la Rochette, said to be a clerk to the Duke de Nivernois, and inviting them to go to France where they should be immediately received into the French King’s protection, Which Letter the Lieutenant Governor thought proper to be communicated to the Council for their opinion and advice, being as follows, vigt:

“fait á Liverpool le 18 mars 1763.

“Messieurs et chers frères “
“Nous ont [avons] ordre de Monseigneur le Duc de Nivernois, Ambassadeur extraordinaire de Sa Majesté trés Chrétienne qui reste actuellement a Londres pour un longtems de vous faire tenir la Copie de celle qu’il nous a donnée, qui est que le traitté définitif est signé, et l’on va procéder Immédiatement á votre renvoi en france, comme le Reglement a ce sujet ne peut ce prendre qu’en sachant Exactement le nombre de ceux ou de celles qui veullent s’en rapporter á la Protection du roi de france, il est necessaire que vous lui en faisier tenir la Liste le plutôt qu’il vous sera possible, cette liste contiendra les nom des hommes et des femmes et des Enfants, chacun la signera pour soi. Et ceux qui ne sauront pas signer mettront leurs marques.

“J’ai le plaisir de vous apprendre que votre Traitement sera en france Encore plus avantageux que vous ne l’attender, et que vous serés sous la protection Immédiate du Roi et de son ministre, Monseigneur Le duc de Nivernois.

“Communiquez à nos Frères cette Lettre et assurés les bien de la protection [sic] que j’approuve, en leur annonçant leur prochaine delivrance.

J’ai L’honneur détre très parfaitement
Messieurs,
Votre Très Humble et Obeisst. Servt.

De La ROCHETTE

“Nous [ont] avons, tous les ceux qui sont en Angleterre, pris cette Liste, et nous sommes tous sur notre depart pour passer En France, Nous prions tous Dieu de vous y voir avec nous. Nous vous assurons que quelque parts que nous allions nous n’auront plus de neutralité puisqu’il n’y En aura plus. prenons donc le parti de notre Religion, C’est La Grâce, Messieurs que vous demandent ceux qui sont bien sincerement.

“Vos Très Humbles Servrs
“Les Acadiens

ALEXIS TRAHAN
TRANQUILLE PRINCE
JOSEPH LEBLANC
ALEXIS BOUDROT

__________

Mon cher Ami, -- Je vous faif parvenir la Copie de cette Lettre pour que vous en Envoyés une Copie au Port Royal, et que vous leur fassiés a savoir le parti qu’ils doivent prendre, et comme nous Esperont la Lettre qui a Eté Ecrite pour être Envoyé á tout le public Lorsquelle nous sera parvenu nous vous l’envoiront paraillement.

Je suis trés parfaitement
“Mon cher ami
“Votre serviteur

“LEMAIGRE le père.



HALIFAX, le 30e Juillet 1763.

A MONSIEUR BROUSSARD dit BEAUSOLEIL
Pigiguit.

It appearing to the Council that the said letter had been received by one Joseph LeMaigre in this Town and by him sent to the said Broussard, le Maigre was sent for, and being examined acknowledged that he had received the said letter from Philadelphia and had sent it to Beausoleil to be communicated to the french Acadians in this Country. He also acknowledged that he had received at the same time another paper, which being produced was ordered to be entered as follows:--


LIVERPOOL, le 18 mars 1763.

MESIEUR, -- comme J’espère que vous ne manquerez pas de vous Reprod’huyre a monSeigneur le Duc de Nivernois Je man vais vous en donner Le moyin, votre representation Cachète et à dressez au duc puis vous metterez La dresse avec une enveloppe desus et vous metterez La dresse que Voicy suivante:

To MR. ANTHONY KASTLING
At Old England Coffee House
St. Martins Lane
To London.

Vous pouvez par Le premier Vaisseau que vous Trouverrez qui viendra en Agnleterre, Envoyez votre Liste, aussytôt quel sera attérée, soit en Angleterre, ou en Hirlande elle yra à son adresse à Londres &c.

N’espérez point de soulagement de france sil vous retourniez en notre [pays] natal parce qu’il veut retirer tous Les Ceux qui veulent aller à luy.

Votre serviteur.

The Council were of Opinion that the further examination of this affair should be deferred till the arrival of Beausoleil, and did advice that the Lieutenant Governor would be sent for to Halifax, in order & be examined touching the said letter.


At a Council holden at Halifax on Monday the 22 August, 1763.

Present:

THE HONORABLE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

The Honorable Charles Morris
Richard Bulkeley
Edmund Crawley Councillors
Henry Newton
Michael Franklin

His Majesty’s Council having examined the several french Letters found in the hands of Joseph Leblanc alias Lemaigre, and Joseph Broussard alias Beausoleil, and having also examined the said persons touching the substance of the said Letters, Do Advise that the Lieutenant Governor will be pleased to transmit the said Letter to His Majesty’s Secretary of State, with such Representations thereon, as to him shall appear most expedient; being of opinion that such correspondence between His Majesty’s subjects and those of the French King, without the knowledge of government may be prejudicial of His Majesty’s Interest. “5357

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“ GOVERNMENT OF THE LEWARD ISLANDS.

Charles Theodat, Count D’Estaing Nominated and admitted Knight of the Orders of the King, Lieut.-General of his Army and Navy, Governor General and Representative of His Majesty’s Person in the Leward Islands in America and the seas adjacent.

Be it known to all the Acadians residing in New England that all each of them whether men, women or children as are willing to go the the french colonies in Saint Domingo may apply to Mr. John Hanson Merchant at New York, who will furnish them with necessary Provision and Procure them passages to the aforesaid colonies, where they shall be kindly received. They shall have grants of land made to them and they shall be maintained by the King during the first months of their abode and until they shall be able to maintain themselves.

At Cape Francois in the Island of Saint Domingo the 26 June 1764.
By Order,
MARTIN

(Translated from the French.)

BOSTON December 1, 1764.

To His Excellency the Governour Commander in Chief of Massachusetts Bay.

We take the liberty, all of us in general, of presenting to your Excellency a few words presuming to intreat your honour to grant us a general passport for all of us who shall incline to go to Hispaniola.

We intreat your honourable person to comply with our request if your honour think fit and consent to our request..

Signed by the chief of the Acadian families.

Such as here present without reckoning such as are not Present.

Names. Number in each family.

. . . .

Jean Landry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Aman Braux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Jean Guedrit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Jean Leblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

. . . .

Total number . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

To the above must be added the following names, who gave their list December 10 1764:

. . . .

Total number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .406

With few exceptions all these 66 heads of families went to the Province of Quebec in 1766, 1767 and following years, and settled there.


At a Council held held at the Council Chamber in Boston, the 19th of Dec., 1764.

His Excellency the Governor having communicated to the Board an application he had received from some of the French Acadians who had come to Boston in order to take passage for some of the French Islands and are now destitute of all means of support.

Advised That His Excellency recommend it to the overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston to make Particular Inquiry into the circumstances of those People and to take an accounty (of) what Towns they come from and the number from each Town, and that a sum not exceeding £25 be advanced to the Overseers for their present support and that they be desired to devise means for putting an end to this charge by returning them to their respective towns if possible, and to prevent any more of them from comming in; and to lay some state of the affair before his Excellency and the Board on Wednesday next.

A. OLIVER, Sec.

The Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston beg leave to acquaint your Excellency and Honours that immediately upon the receipt of the within recommendation they were called together, sett themselves about the Business therein pointed out and make the following Report.

That most of these poor Accadians we found very sick and others daily taken down which as we apprehend is chiefly owing to the distressed circumstances these people were under before any relief was afforded them. Those of them who are in health and are able to work the season of the year is such that but little labour is to be done: it appears to us they are solicitously careful to find employ yet they cannot obtain sufficient for the support of themselves much less their Family, &c.

As to putting an immediate end to this charge the method printed in your Excellency’s recommendation would be most effectual, but when we consider the Season of the Year and reflect on their present Circumstances, that in some of the Familys are the aged and infirm, in others those who are sick and in all women and young children, we cannot think it eligible to say the least so much as to attempt at present to prosecute it etc.

We beg leave to mention to your Excellency & Honours as one means of putting an end to the present method of their support That the Selectmen of the several Towns which they were assigned by the General Court be made particularly acquainted with their circumstances that they themselves make take further care as to them may seem meet.

With respect to the preventing of others comming into this Town with the same expectations we cannot conceive of any method more effectual than that already taken by your Excellency in issuing your Proclamation so generally spread forbidding any person to carry them off.

We are with Great Esteem
Your Excellency’s & Honours most humble servants.

JOHN BARRET per Order.



AT BOSTON the 1st January 1765.

We Acadians have a great desire to to the french Colonies. We take the liberty to present a second Petition to your Excellency the Governor & Commander in Chief of the Massachusetts Bay to you and your Council wishing you a good year & great Prosperity flattering ourselves, Sir, that your honorable Person will do us Perfect justice in respect to what we Pray for.

You are well acquainted Sir, with the offer which has been made us from Colonies. For nine years we have lived in hopes of joining our Country men and its seems to us that you have caused a door which was open to be shut upon us. We have always understood that in time of Peace and in all countries the prison doors are open to Prisoners. It is therefore astonishing to us, Sir, to be detained here. We are told that we are allowed the liberty of our religion which is contrary to what we think to be the case, for it seems to us that if you detain us here you take from us the free exercise of our religion. This is very hard upon us. It is hard to reflect upon our Present situation, to see ourselves by one sudden blow rendered incapable of affording ourselves relief.

Sir, If you do not take compassion on us, we believe we shall Perish with cold and hunger.

Sir, Since we Presented our Petition to you we receive 94 Pounds of mutton, two loads of wood, two bushels of Pease, five bushels of Potatoes and turnips for seventy two of us.

Sir, This is very hard after having been ruined as we have been. There are some of your People that think we are rich. This has never been the case with us yet, since we have been in this country, but less so at present than ever, for all the riches which remain to us are Poverty and Misery.

Thus, Sir, we intreat you to be so good as to have compassion on us Poor People for the remaining time we are to tarry here.


signed by
JEAN TRAHANT.
CASTIN THIBODOT.
JEAN HEBAIRE.
CHARLE LANDRY.
ALLEXIS BRAUX.


Message of Governor Francis Bernard respecting the Acadians.

Gentlemen of the Council and gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

About three months ago, I was first informed that the Acadians belonging to this Province were going hence in large numbers to form a settlement in French Hispaniola. As I have all along considered these People to be British subjects, and have some time ago submitted their case to his Majesty’s Ministers of State, and prayed their directions concerning them, I could not suffer these Emigrations to be carried under my eye, until I have received orders thereof from home. I therefore with the advice of the Council issued a Proclamation to prevent their transportations. Since which I have received several Petitions from them, complaining of the want of subsistance here. With the advice of the Council, I procure them some relief for the present, until the General Court meet. I now lay before you their Petitions with other Papers relating thereto; and desire your advice and assistance concerning these People.

Their case is truly pitiable: if they go to Hispaniola, they run into certain destruction, very few escaping with life, the Effects of the bad climate there, and yet they have no encouragement to continue in this country. Humanity more than Policy makes me desirous to prevent the remainder of them taking this fatal voyage. I want not so much to make them British Subjects, as to keep them from perishing. The first consideration must be to provide them present subsistence: After which I shall be very glad, if means could be concerted to procure them somewhere some Comfortable Settlement; that they may not be obliged to pursue the desperate resolution of removing to Hispaniola with little probability of surviving the Experiment.

COUNCIL CHAMBER FRA BERNARD
January 24, 1765.


The Committee appointed to take into consideration his Excellency’s message of the 25th (sic) Instant, relative to the Acadians now in the Province, beg leave to report, that they find the said People extremely averse to continue within the Province.

The Committee are therefore of opinion it would at present be to no purpose to make them any offer of land in order to a settlement.

The Committee find that a large number have left the Towns where they were placed, to come to Boston in order to remove to West Indies and that others had disposed of their Provisions and necessary utensils and lost much of their time in preparing for their Removal.

The Comtee further find that the Intent of his Excellency’s Proclamation was to restrain all persons from contracting for the removal of his Majesty’s Subjects in order to strengthen the Dominions of a foreign Prince. The Comtee find that the said Acadians by means of their disappointment are under necessitous circumstances and in danger of perishing unless immediately relieved by the Court.

The Committee therefore report it as their opinion that some assistance be offered to such of the Acadians as are so circumstanced to relieve and support them during the two following months.

which is submitted
per order of the Committee
BEN J. LYNDE.

In Council Feb. 2, 1765. Read and sent down.
In the House of Representatives Feb. 5, 1765. Read and not accepted.


In the House of Representatives, Feb. 15, 1765.

Resolved that the Acadians now in this town that by a former Order of this Court are Inhabitants of other Towns within this Province & are now subsisted [thro their necessity] at the public charge be further allowed at the charge of the Province four Days Provisions more here in order to prepare themselves for their removal as also the necessary Provision to support them in their return to the several Towns to which they Respectfully belong, allowing Eight miles for the sd four Days all such Acadians immediately be sent to the Town to which the belong & that the charge of the Transportation of such of them as shall be unable to travel be paid out of the public Treasury, And that the Commissary General be directed to supply the said Acadians with the aforesaid allowance of Provisions & to see to the Execution of this Order in regard to their Removal to their several & Respectives Towns.

Sent up for Concurrence
S. WHITE, Spk.

In Council, Feb. 7 (sic) 1765. Read and Concurred.
A. Oliver, Sec.

Consented to
FRA BERNARD


To His Excellency Francis Bernard Esq. Capt. General and Governor in Chief for
his Majesty of Great Briton in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New
England at Boston & to the Gentlemen of the Council of Boston.

We the French of Acadia whom they call Neutrals, being in the Government of Boston & scattered through the country towns by order of Council, and having remained there several years without troubling the Government, but our families being greatly increased, we have been obliged to quite the country and to come to Boston in order to go away, but we were stopped by an order of Government which obliged us to remain at Boston & to endeavour to support ourselves and our poor families. Some follow the fishery, some work as labourers in the town where they are able to find work. Those that go a fishing are obliged to take up so much in necessaries that when they come home and what has been advanced is deducted nothing remains for the support of their families. Therefore we poor Frenchmen pray the Gentlemen of the Council to have pity & compassion upon us & many poor widows & our small children and help us this winter, so as to support life, which we are unable to do, and are obliged to have recourse to you to find us work being willing to labour, but not being able to find employment in this town.

Therefore we pray your Excellency and Gentlemen of the Council to regard us with an eye of pity & not to forget us and we shall be your most humble and obedient servants.

JEAN HEBERT
AUGUSTIN LE BLANC
his
PIERRE X TRAHAN
mark
his
MARIN X GOUDREAUX.
mark “5358

    ____________________

“ At Boston January 13, 1766.
To his Excellency Francis Bernard, governor in chief at Boston and his Majesty’s Council.

We the French Acadians, resident here, having presented a Memorial dated the 11th of last month to the Council and Court, praying them to assist us with something to maintain us this Winter and not having had any answer;

We humbly beg leave to desire your Excellency and his Majesty’s Council to have the goodness to transport us to Canada in proper vessels for us and our families with provisions to maintain us for one year, we having no means to do it ourselves. And we pray your Excellency the Governor to have the goodness to write to the Honourable James Murray, Governor and Commander General of the province of Canada, that he would be so good as to give us lands and assistance for us and our families after our arrival in Canada, according to his proclamation of the first of March, 1765. And in so doing you will oblige your most submissive servants, the subscribers.

Boston, Feb. 8, 1766. (Signed) JEAN TRAHAN.
ALEX BROC.
RENE LANDRY
ISAC GOURDEAUX.
AUGUSTIN LEBLANC.
ISIDORE GOURDAUX.
JEAN HEBERT.
JOSEPH MANZEROL.


Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
At the beginning of this Session I sent a message to you recommending a Petition of some French Accadians to which I have received no answer. I now recommend to you another Petition of the Accadians in general, which I desire you would immediately take into your consideration.

Ever since I have been Governor of this Province I have had great compassion for this People, as every one must who has considered that it was by the exigencies of War rather than any fault of their own that they were removed from a State of ease and affluence and brought into poverty and dependence; from which in their present situation they Can see no prospects of being delivered. I have heretofore made several attempts to them settled in some manner that might make them useful Subjects of Great Britain and Comfortable to themselves but I have failed for want of ability.

You have now an opportunity at no great Expense to dispose of these People, so that instead of being a burthen to the Province and to themselves as they are like to continue, whilst they remain here, they may become a fresh accession of wealth and strength to the British Empire in America; as it is certain that their Industry only waits for property to exert itself on, without which no one will be industrious. I therefore hope you will improve this occasion; and in so doing you will unite public Spirit and Charity.

FRA. BERNARD.

Council Chamber
Feb. 13th. 1766
Upon the Petition of the Acadians as referred in Govr Bernard’s Message to the House of Representatives, on the 13th of Feb. 1766.


In the House of Representatives Feb. 18, 1766.
Resolved that the Commissary General be directed forthwith to put in Execution the Resolve of the whole Court of the 15th February last respecting said Accadians, and if they refuse to go to the Several Towns to which they were assigned by order of this Court that then the House Rent and provisions they now receive be withdrawn and that they still be deemed ans Inhabitants of the Towns to which they were originally assigned.

But in case any of them should be in such necessitous circumstances as to require immediate relief & support, they shall be relieved at the Charge of the Province till they are in circumstances to return to sd Towns to which they belong.

Sent up for Concurrence.
S. WHITE, Spk.

In Council, 20th Feb. 1766. Read and non Concurred.
A. OLIVER, Sec.


In the House of Representatives Feb. 20, 1766.

Resolved That His Excellency the Govr be desired to write to the Govr of Canada to acquaint him of the Desire of the French Accadians in this Province to go thither and to Know of him whither he is willing to Receive them as settlers in that Government & that the sum of Twenty Pounds be allowed out of the public Treasury to enable the Govr to send two of the sd French People for the Purpose aforesaid.

Sent up for Concurrence

S. WHITE, Spk.

In Council Feb. 20, 1766.
Read & Concurred.

JNO. COTTON, D. Sec.

Consented to.

FRA. BERNARD.

Extract of a Letter from Govr. Murray to Govr. Bernard dated Quebec
the 28th April 1766.

Sir, -- I received some time ago your letter of the 25th Feby. relative to the Accadians in your Province: I think it will be for the good of the British Empire in General and that of this Province in particular that these people were settled here upon the same footing with his Majesty’s New Canadian subjects, and therefore I shall not hesitate to receive them. But as they formerly refused to take the Oath of Allegiance & abjuration, and by their Petition to me, it appears they expect to be supported here at the expense of Government until they can provide for themselves. I think it necessary to enclose my answer their Petition, which I beg you will be pleased to have Communicated to them in such a way that none may plead ignorance, this will prevent future heartburnings & reproaches on either side.

To his Excellency Francis Bernard Esq. Govr. &c. also to the Gentlemen of the Council.

Sir, -- We all the inhabitant Acadians in general thank your Excellency & the Gentlemen of the Council for having the Goodness to write in our favour to his Excllency James Murray Esq. Governor at Quebec &c.; & having received an answer from his Excellency for our going to settle in Canada; but his Excellency cannot assist us in any manner with provisions upon our arrival there.

We pray your Excellency and the Gentlemen of the Council to have the goodness to regard us with the Eye of pity and to assist us with something to enable us to live for some time after our arrival there.

Our situation being extreemely poor & miserable, & their being many poor widows incumbered with young children as well as persons advanced in years who are not able to wrok for their support, is the reason of flinging ourselves upon your protection you having been always ready to assist us and there being no one but you, gentlemen who can draw us out of the abiss of trouble in which we are.

Sir, -- We are in general resolved to take the oath of fidelity, and therefore pray you would give orders to transport us to Canada as soon as shall be possible. For great part of us have not worked for some time in expectation of our being removed; & we know not what part to take unless your Excellency & the Gentlemen of the Council will assist us in Our Want & regard our poor Condition

Your most humble most obedient, submissive & faithful subjects.

ALEXIS BRO
JEAN LANDRY
JEAN TIBODO
PIERRE MIUSE
AMAN LANDRY

Boston June 2, 1766

Liste Des Noms des francois qui veulent passés au Canada.
(Translation: List of the Names of the French who want to go to Canada.)

Name No. in each family


. . . .

Jean Hebert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Joseph Manzerolle . . . . . . . . 4
Joseph Landry . . . . . . . . .. . 7
Jean Guedry . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Joseph Hebert . . . . . . . . . . 4
Castin Tibodo . . . . . . . . . . . 5

. . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890

. . . .


Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

According to the desire of the House last Session, I sent two Acadians, in Febry last, with letters to his Excellency Gov. Murray. One of them is since returned & has brought letters from Gov. Murray expressing his readiness to receive the Acadians if they shall be transported thither; but signifying his inability for want of a proper fund to make any provision for them upon their arrival.

The Acadians are willing to go & have given lists of those who are ready to the amount of 890 persons: They have also given in another petition praying some provisions may be made for supporting them for a little time after their arrival. All of which I lay before you that you may do herein as you shall think most proper.

FRA. BERNARD.
Council Chamber
June 9, 1766.


June, 1766.

The Comtee appointed to Examine into the State and Circumstances of the French Neutrals In the Province have attended that Service and they find that several Towns in the Province who had French Neutrals Assigned Them in the general distribution of them have for some Time past been wholly Freed from any Charges on their Account, and other Towns Remain at Considerable Charges, and further the Comtee find that agreeable to the Order of the House the Commissary General has supplyd the French with 8-10 and the Comtee also find that by Order of the Govr and Council Since August 21, 1765, the French have been supplyd with Sundreys and House Rent to the amount of £48, 15s, 8d, 2qt. And also with £20 granted by the General Court to enable two of the French to go to Canada: and that those French that have Recd the above £48, 15s, 7d, 2qr. Belong to Lenncester [Lancaster], Acton, Shrewsbury, Medford, Willmington, Worcester, Woburn, Barnstable, Hingham and Rutland.

AARON WOOD
per Order.


Mr. Otis, Col. Bowers and Mr. Sayward to draw a vote to prevent the neutrals being supplyd any further and to inquire relative to the money already advanced.

In the House of Representatives June 25, 1766.
Resolved that the sum of £48, 15, 8.2 which has been paid out of the Treasury of this Province by order of the Governor and Council for the support of sundry of the Accadians be added to the next year’s Tax of each of those Towns to which the several Persons for whose support the same money was advanced In the same proportion as the same was Paid out, and that no further sum be paid out of the Treasury for the support of any of those People without the orders of this Court.

A
Send up for concurrence.
T. CUSHING, Spk.

In Council 27 June 1766.
Read and Concurred with the amendment at A viz: cases of absolute necessity excepted.

Send down for concurrence.
A. OLIVER, Sec.

In the House of Representatives, June 27, 1766.
Read and non-concurred.
T. CUSHING, Spk.


Council June 27, 1766. Read.

The following item appears in “The Quebec Gazette” of September 1st, 1766:
“Last night came up the sloop Terrey, from Boston: She has brought with her about 40 Acadians, who, for the Benefit of their Religion, are come here to settle.”

On the 8th September, same year, “The Quebec Gazette: says:
“Thursday arriv’d here the sloop Good Intent, Samuel Harris, from Boston, with a number of Acadians, who are come here to settle.”

The Council met the same day and here is what was decided relating to these Acadians:
At the Council Chamber in the Castle of St. Louis in the City of Quebec on Monday the Eight Day of September 1766.

Present:
The Honble Hector Théo Cramahé
Adam Mabane
Thomas Mills Esqs.
Walter Murray
James Goldfrap

The Council met this Day to read a petition from a number of Acadians just arrived from the province of New England in consequence of a Letter from His Excellency Governor Murray to them dated in April in answer to a petition from the Acadians, dated 28 February 1766.

The Board are of opinion that an order should be directed to the Commissary of the King’s provisions to issue to the Acadians being the number of Ninety men, women and children provisions for one month and that an advertisement should be published acquainting the different Seigneurs in this province of the arrival of these people; that they may without Loss of time Agree with them to settle on their lands upon the best terms the Can make.

Resolved that an order be given to the Commissary accordingly vizt: that a full Ration be furnished to the men and women and half a ration to the Children.

Signed H. T. CRAMAHE


On September 15, 1766 “The Quebec Gazette” published the following “Advertisements,
Council Chambers, Quebec, 8th September 1766.
“Whereas a Number of Acadians have lately arrived from New England, with an Intention to take up Lands and Settle in this Province; His Majesty’s Council have directed this public Intimation to be made to the different Seigneurs, that they may without Loss of Time agree with these Acadians to settle the unconceded Lands in their Seigneuries. “

“N. B. One Month’s Provisions are ordered to be issued to them, from his Majesty’s Stores, for Subsistence till they Can provide themselves as aforesaid.”

“By order of the Board, J. A. POTTS, D. D. C. “ “5367

    ____________________

“ No. 582

To His Excellency the Governor and Council in Boston, assembled:

The humble Petition of John Labardore shewith, that by reason of his large & helpless Family (having Eight Children) and the slackness of work he is reduced to great penury, and fears that if he stays in this place till Winter they must inevitably suffer: Therefore most earnestly begs you would grant him and family their passage to Quebec gratis where he had a Cousins House to go live in this Winter.

Your poor petitioner more especially claims your protection and favour, on account of his former services to the loyal subjects of Great Brittain in saving the lives of many of them when in imminent danger fo being destroyed by the Micmac Indians, and at the peril of his own life and all his there possessions which were pretty considerable; the truth of which several gentlemen here in Marblehead can attest if required. The last encounter he had with said Indians was on the occasion, viz.: An English vessel put into his Harbour, as he called it, which the Indians seeing sent him word that if he went on board to warn them of their danger as was his custom, they would kill him: But he said he would, and that he would suffer no murder to be committed in his place, upon which a Battle ensued between him & the savage messenger and the savage shot him with small shot whereof several remain in his body to this Day, and he obliged to fly to another part of the province to save his life, and which he submits to your wise considerations, and in hopes of you granting his request remains
Your most dutiful Servt.,

JOHN LABARDORE

BOSTON, 14th July, 1766.



No. 583

BOSTON, 23rd July, 1766.

GENTLEMEN, -- John Labardore, a French Accadian, whose Family is partly placed in your Town by the Government has applied to the Govr. & Council, desiring they may be carried to Quebec at the public Expense; but as the care of them is devolved upon you, I am by their direction to acquaint you of this their desire, & to recommend it to you, if you choose to part with them to make provision for their passage, or that you would otherwise fulfill your agreement with them. The arrears now due from you to these people would go a great way towards paying this Expense in case they should be willing to have it applied it in that manner; and there is a vessel sails for Quebec next Saturday. “5368

    ____________________

“ Records at St. Alexis show a Joseph Guidry who died in 1853, born to a Jean Baptiste Guidry in Boston, Mass., during Jean’s deportation there and said to have been 103 years old when he died. Joseph married Marguerite Landerville and died in St. Alexis in the year 1853. If he is, in fact, Jean Baptiste’s son, then he was probably only 94 years old or 96 years old when he died, not 103. There is a possibility that Joseph was not Jean Baptiste’s son and then 103 could be a possibilty. This would also mean that more than one Guidry family came to Quebec from Acadia! “7078

There is confusion in the secondary sources5351,5183,5329,7075 as to whether Jean Baptiste Augustin Guédry dit Labine dit Labrador and Marie-Marguerite Picot had only one son named Joseph (Joseph Augustin Guédry born in 1759) or two sons named Joseph (Joseph Guédry born in 1757 and Joseph Augustin Guédry born in 1759). Arsenault5351,5183 and Labine5329 indicate that Jean Baptiste Augustin Guédry dit Labine dit Labrador and Marie-Marguerite Picot had two sons by the name of Joseph while LaBine7075 only cites one son by the name of Joseph.

Labine5342 indicates that Joseph Guédry, born 1757, married first Marie Charlotte Methot (b. 1759 and d. 1835) in 1778 and then later married Marguerite Landreville. Furthermore, Labine5329 cites that Joseph Guédry, born 1759, married first Marie Genevieve Martineau in 1783 and later Marguerite Poirier. LaBine7076 states that Joseph Augustin Guédry, born 1759, first married Marie Charlotte Methot (b. 1759 and d. 1835) in 1778, then married a second time in 1783 to Marie Genevieve Martineau (b. 1761 and d. 1816). No mention is made in this reference to Marguerite Landreville or Marguerite Poirier. Arsenault5351,5183 only cites the birthdates for the two Joseph Guédry’s.

It is uncertain at this time if Jean Baptiste Augustin Guédry dit Labine dit Labrador and Marie-Marguerite Picot had only one son named Joseph Guédry or two sons with this name. I have opted to retain both sons and present the two marriages for each Joseph Guédry. This is based on two reasons: (1) to include all information that is available and thus show all four wives cited and (2) it appears strange that Joseph Augustin Guédry would first marry Marie Charlotte Methot and then marry Marie Genevieve Martineau prior to the death of Marie Charlotte Methot. My review of the old Catholic records indicate that divorces were quite rare and almost all second marriages were due to the death of the first spouse. No mention is made in the available references of a divorce - thus I tend to believe that different Joseph Guédry’s married Marie Charlotte Methot and Marie Genevieve Martineau. Should more specific, contradictory facts be identified later, the genealogy will be modified according to the facts.

Joseph Guédry
Joseph Guedry
Joseph Guidry
Joseph Guidry dit Labine dit Labrador