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Subject: THE LANDRYS PISIQUID (PISIQUIT, PESSAQUITH) - by Dr. Don Landry Part 1
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 12:39:50 EST

THE LANDRYS PISIQUID (PISIQUIT, PESSAQUITH)
By Dr. Don Landry
Part 1
___________

Later arrivals from Port Royal and the progeny of the earlier settlers of
Grand-Pre, moved further up along the along the tidal rivers of the Minas
Basin from Grand Pre to the Pisiquid and Coquebid rivers.

Like the shoreline of the Annapolis Basin and the area along the Annapolis
River, the physical structure of the Minas area was aloso closely associated
with the action of the tides of the Bay of Fundy, which rise twice a day to a
height of twenty eight feet, or more at the Pisiquid (present day Windsor-
Falmouth) section of the Avon River

Pisiquid also had many tidal marshes, along the Avon River and its branches,
that would be well suited for farming, once they constructed the earthen dikes
or levees, equiped with "aboiteauxs". Soon after the Acadians arrived there,
they too had vast meadows and fields for agriculture. The resulting type of
sands and gravels which form the basis of the soil in the area is ideal for
the growing of fruit trees. The marsh lands along thr banks of the avon river
were formed by red sandstone

The Pisiquid area, later to be designated as a district, included both sides
of the Pisiquid (Avon) River. "La pariosse de L'Assomption de Pisiquid" (the
Catholic church parish of the Assumption) was founded by the Missionary priest
Louis du Thury in 1696, and served both banks of the Pisiquid (Avon) River.
The church building was built on the east bank of the Pisiquid river (present
day Windsor, Nova Scotia).

Later in 1722 "la pariosse de L'Assomption de Pisiquid" was divided and "la
parriosse de la Sainte-Famille de Pisiquid" (the Catholic Church parish of
Sainte Famille [Holy Family]) was founded on the west side of the Pisiquid
(Avon) River, (present day Falmouth, Nova Scotia).

The Acadians who would play a part in my family genealogy were among the ones
to move from Port Royal into the Pisiquid district. These included the
Landrys, as well as the Thibodaus.

Martin Blanchard, progenitor of the Blanchards who would also be part of my
family genealogy, moved from Port Royal to Coquebid.

The progenitor of the Landrys, that established settlements in "la parriosse
de Sainte-Famille de la Pisiquid was Rene Landry, the younger.

Rene Landry, the younger was born in France in ca. 1634. His origin in France
and the names of his parents are unknown, although there has been some
undocumented speculation by some genealogists in the past.

Rene Landry, the younger married in ca. 1659 to Marie Bernard, who was born
ca. 1649 and was the daughter of ......?....... Bernard and Marie Andree
Guion. It is not clear whether they were married in France or at Port Royal,
although most believe that Rene and Marie were married in Acadia.

Rene Landry, the younger died at Port Royal in ca 1692. - Marie Bernard died
on 10 January, 1719 at Port Royal.

After Rene Landry and Marie Bernard and their family had settled at Port
Royal, several of their sons, among them GERMAIN born ca. 1674 (his name could
have been Pierre-Germain Landry since the village that apparently bears his
name is referred to as Village Pierre-Germain Landry on the 1755 map of
Pisiquid); ABRAHAM LANDRY, born ca. 1678 and PIERRE LANDRY, born ca.1680, left
Port Royal in search of good farmland along the tidal rivers of the Minas
Basin. My ancestor Germain Landry, along with his two brothers Pierre Landry
and Abraham Landry, appear in the Pisiquid census for 1714.

They, along with other younger members of the Port Royal families, chose land
near the marsh lands of the various rivers, built dikes and placed the drained
marshland (dike-land) under cultivation in order to support a permanent
settlement. They then established villages that would bear their names. It is
believed that the settlements at Grand-Pre, La Riviere aux Canards and
Pisiquid were formed this way. (John V. Duncanson, - FALMOUTH - A NEW ENGLAND
TOWNSHIP IN NOVA SCOTIA - p. 4) (Bona Arsenault "Historie et Genealogie des
Acadiens" Tome 1 [Port-Royal], p. 434)

Although there were villages named Landry located in "la pariosse de
L'Assomptionö on the east bank of the Pisiquid River (present day Windsor), it
is important for my Landry family history and genealogy to note that Pierre
Landry, Pierre-Germain Landry and Abraham Landry, sons of Rene Landry, the
younger and Marie Bernard of Port Royal, established farms on the west side of
the Pisiquid (Avon) River in an area that would later in 1722 be designated as
"la pariosse de la Sainte Famille de Pisiquid" (present day Falmouth, N.S).

As their families grew, each of the succeeding generations built homes and
established individual farms on adjacent land. These settlements, or
concentration of buildings and farms, later became individual villages in the
Pisiguit district and bore the names of the founding family head. (John V.
Duncanson, - FALMOUTH - A NEW ENGLAND TOWNSHIP IN NOVA SCOTIA - p. 4) (Bona
Arsenault "Historie et Genealogie des Acadiens" Tome 1 [Port-Royal], p. 434)

After the settlements on both sides of the river in the Pisiquid district
grew, a problem of the location of the parish church developed. Those on the
west side of the river wanted the church located in their area.

The problem was settled in 1722 when the bishop of Quebec divided the parish
of the Pisiquid district into two parishes. The eastern side of the river
retained the original name - "la paroisse de L'Assomption de Pisiquid". And a
new parish on the western side of the river- "la paroisse de la Sainte-Famille
de Pisiquid", was formed. Seperate parish registers were kept in each parish.

The Bishop further instructed that Mass would be celebrated on alternate
Sundays in the two parishes. There were at least two "Mass Houses" in
addition to the main Acadian church located in "la paroisse de la Sainte-
Famille'
.
"Mass Houses" were actually locations, where priests would travel to celebrate
Mass and administer the Sacraments to the persons unable to travel to the main
church location.

The oldest church with an adjacent cemetary was located at the top of the hill
which slopes up from the river and upriver from the present site of Fort
Edward on the east side of the river (Windsor). The site of the church and
cemetary is on land now owned by the estate of Robert Illsley. (John V.
Duncanson, - FALMOUTH - A NEW ENGLAND TOWNSHIP IN NOVA SCOTIA - p. 4-5 ).

In a videotape, John Wilson, president of the West Hants Historical Society
states that "tradition has it that about 100 years ago, some Acadians from
Louisiana, descendants of the Acadians from the west bank of the Pisiquid,
came and removed some of their ancestor's remains (or bones) and brought them
to Louisiana".

In June, 1996, skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site on what
is believed to be the site of the cemetery of "la paroisse de la Sainte-
Famille de Pisiquid", and the skeletal remains are believed to be those of the
pre-expulsion Acadians who lived in this area.

The area, which is known as Falmouth today, was one of the main Acadian
settlements of the Pisiquid district. There were at least five distinct
villages or family groupings on the Falmouth side of the river. The Acadian
farms were located along the tidal marshes stretching from present day
Hantsport to the head of the tide at Upper Falmouth. It was customary for
deputies to be elected each year to act as a representative for the
inhabitants of each village. The deputy for Village Landry, located in St.
Croix was Jean Landry.

As tensions grew during the pre-expulsion period, a number of Acadian families
left their homes and moved to Ile St. Jean (Prince Edward Island) and by 1753,
it is estimated that over one hundred families left their homes at Pisiquid.
(a record of the Acadians that went to Ile St. Jean can be found in the
LaRoque census of 1752)

The year 1753 marked a change of command and policy in Acadia. Colonel Charles
Lawrence took direct charge of the colony.

An arrogant and violent individual, Colonel Lawrence beleived that exile was
the only solution for the half hearted allegience to the British Crown, the
Acadians had exhibited over the past forty-odd years. So, in July 1755,
Lawrence informed London of his decision to deport the Acadians, and, by
August 1755, political procedures and military machinery were readied for the
deportation of the Acadians. (Gregory A. Wood - THE FRENCH PRESENCE IN
MARYLAND _ 1524-1800 - p. 65-66)
Because the British feared a French invasion and the Acadians' refusal to
take an unqualified oath of allegience to the British Crown, and, because it
was determined by Governor Charles Lawrence that the only safe way to protect
Acadia was to disperse the Acadians and replace them with loyal New
Englanders, the famous Acadian dispersion was about to begin.

On the 6th of June, during the seige of Beausejour, Governor Lawrence sent
Captain Alexander Murray with 100 soldiers from Ft. Edward (Windsor) and 50
from the garrison at Halifax, to Minas, supposedly on a visit to go fishing.
They entered Grand Pre in the evening and distributed themselves two to a
house as guests. At midnight, when their hosts were asleep, they seized all of
the boats, arms and ammunition they could find and left. (Edouard Richard:
"ACADIA", vol. II - Montreal, 1895, p.6) (also "Acadian Miracle" - Dudley
LeBlanc - p. 117)

The English captured Fort Beausejour, on the neck of the Acadian Peninsula on
June 16, 1755. Shortly after the fall of Fort Beausejour, Fort Gaspereau,
which was 12 miles away, surrendered. The French fort at St. John was burned
and abandoned, placing Acadia under British control.

The fall of Fort Beausejour and the subsequent events, together with the news
of the defeat of General Braddock in the Ohio valley, sealed the fate of the
Acadians. Governor Charles Lawrence, and his council resolved that it was
necessary to deport the Acadians who refused to take an unqualified oath of
allegience to the British Crown.

A delegation of residents of the Minas area were summoned to Halifax by
Governor Lawrence and he demanded that they get an unqualified oath of
allegience from the Acadians they represented. When they refused to take the
loyalty oath, they were imprisoned on July 3, 1755. A second group was
summoned on July 25 and 28, and they too refused to take the oath. Lawrence
and his council then ordered the Acadians' arrest, confinement and dispersal
amongst the English Colonies.

The Military were ordered to seize the inhabitants and burn their houses after
the completion of the harvest and the hay, grain and produce was stored and
secured for the winter. The principal act of arrest and expulsion at Grand
Pre, was carried out by Colonel John Winslow, with Captain Alexander Murray
directing the expulsion at Fort Edward at Pisiquid.

On August 18, 1755, Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow in command of 313 New
England and British troops with orders to oversee the deportation of the
Acadians from the Minas area, reached the Minas Basin. They entered Grand Pre
and set up a military base at the Church of St. Charles and surrounding land.
The Acadians were occupied with the year's harvest and paid little attention
to the military build-up.

On Tuesday, September 2, 1755 - Colonel John Winslow enters in his journal:
"Set out early this morning for Fort Edwards having with me Dr. Whitworth and
Adjt. Kennedy to consult with Capt. Murrray in this critical situation.
Confirmed our proposed plan and determined three in the afternoon to be the
time. Made out a citation to the inhabitants to convene them, viz. those in my
district at the church in Grand Pre, those of Capt. Alexander Murray at Fort
Edward at Pizaquid. Got it translated into French by Isaac Deschamps, a
merchant."

Following is a copy of an ammendment of this summons used by Captain
Alexander Murray to summon the male residents of Pisiquid to Fort Edward: (p.
73 - Edouard Richard, vol II. - "Acadia")
____________________
"To the inhabitants of Pizaquid as well as ancient as young men and ladies.
"Whereas, His, Excellency the Governor has instructed us in his last
resolution respecting the matters lately proposed to the inhabitants and has
ordered us to communicate the same to the inhabitants in general in person.
His Excellency being desirous that each of them should be fully satisfied of
His Majesty's intentions which he has also ordered us to communicate to you
such as they have been given him."
"I therefore order and strictly injoiyne by these presents, to all the
inhabitants as well of the above District as all the other districts both old
and young men as well as all lads of ten years of age to attend at Fort Edward
at Pizaquid on Friday, by the 5th day of September, 1755, at three o'clock in
the afternoon, that we may inpart to them what we are ordered to communicate
to them: declaring that no excuse will be admitted on any pretence whatever on
pain of forfeiting goods and chattels on default."
Given at Fort Edward in Pizaquid the 2nd day of September in the 29th year of
His Majesty's reign A.D., 1755" - (Signed) Alexander Murray)
_________________

The summons were posted the next day, Wednesday, September 3, 1755, for the
Acadians to read. (The above was taken from a photo copy of an article that
appeared in the Windsor, N.S. newspaper entitled "EXPULSION OF ACADIANS
ORGANIZED AT WINDSOR")

Cont'd in part 2

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