“ PIERRE GUEDRY dit LABINE, né en 1697, fils de Claude et de Marguerite Petitpas, marié vers 1720, à Marguerite Brasseau, fille de Pierre et d’Isabelle Forest. Enfants: Marie-Josephe, 1722; Pierre, 1723; Charles, 1726; Marguerite, 1727; Hélène, 1729; Anselme, vers 1730; Joseph, 1731; Jean, 1735; Augustin, 1740; Agnès, 1742. “

Translation:
“ PIERRE GUEDRY dit LABINE, born in 1697, son of Claude and of Marguerite Petitpas, married about 1720 to Marguerite Brasseau, daughter of Pierre and of Isabelle Forest. Children: Marie-Josephe, 1722; Pierre, 1723; Charles, 1726; Marguerite, 1727; Hélène, 1729; Anselme, about 1730; Joseph, 1731; Jean, 1735; Augustin, 1740; Agnès, 1742. “4509

    ____________________

“ PIERRE GUEDRY dit LABINE, 1697, fils de Claude et de Marguerite Petitpas, marié vers 1720, à Marguerite Brasseau, fille de Pierre et de Gabrielle Forest. Enfants: Marie-Josephe, 1722; Pierre, 1723; Charles, 1726; Marguerite, 1727; Hélène, 1729; Anselme, vers 1730; Joseph, 1732; Jean, 1735; Augustin, 1740; Agnès, 1742. “

Translation:
“ PIERRE GUEDRY dit LABINE, 1697, son of Claude and of Marguerite Petitpas, married about 1720 to Marguerite Brasseau, daughter of Pierre and of Gabrielle Forest. Children: Marie-Josephe, 1722; Pierre, 1723; Charles, 1726; Marguerite, 1727; Hélène, 1729; Anselme, about 1730; Joseph, 1732; Jean, 1735; Augustin, 1740; Agnès, 1742. “4766

    ____________________

“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, 1740, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié civilement, vers 1767, à Marie-Françoise Jeanson, fille de Guillaume et de Marie Aucoin. Enfants: Hermel-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. Son mariage a été réhabilité à Windsor (Pisiguit), le 8 mai 1769. Il demeura à Windsor de 1767 à 1772 et il s’est établi à Chéticamp (Matéghan), à la baie Sainte-Marie, où il est décédé en 1826. “

Translation:
“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, 1740, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married civilly about 1767 to Marie-Françoise Jeanson, daughter of Guillaume and of Marie Aucoin. Children: Hermel-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. His marriage was rehabilitated at Windsor (Pisiguit) 8 May 1769. He lived at Windsor from 1767 to 1772 and he settled at Chéticamp (Matéghan) on Bay Sainte-Marie where he died in 1826. “5350

    ____________________

“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, né en 1740, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié vers 1767 à Marie-Françoise Jeanson, fille de Billie Jeanson. Enfants: Hermat-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. Cette famille était à Pisiguit, en 1768 et en 1770, et s’est établie à Chéticamp, Cap-Breton, vers 1774. “

Translation:
“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, born in 1740, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married about 1767 to Marie-Françoise Jeanson, daughter of Billie Jeanson. Children: Hermat-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. This family was a Pisiguit en 1768 and in 1770 and settled at Chéticamp, Cape Breton about 1774. “5182

    ____________________

“ MARIE-FRANCOISE JEANSON, 1744, fille de Guillaume et de Marie Aucoin, épousa à Windsor, le 8 mai 1769, Augustin Guédry, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau. “

Translation:
“ MARIE-FRANCOISE JEANSON, 1744, daughter of Guillaume and of Marie Aucoin, wed at Windsor 8 May 1769 Augustin Guédry, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau. “5410

    ___________________


“ TOUR OF INSPECTION MADE BY THE SIEUR DE LA ROQUE. CENSUS. 1752.

CENSUS OF THE SETTLERS AT THE POINTE A LA JEUNESSE.

. . . .

The Pointe à la Jeunesse is situate on the narrows of the great lake of Bras d’Or. The lands lie exceedingly high and are covered with all kinds of mixed wood.

The settlers are unanimous in reporting the ground as unsuitable for cultivation. It is freely traversed with rocks, which prevent its being worked.

. . . .

Charles Guedry, ploughman, native of la Cadie, aged 26 years. Married to Madeleine Ebert, native of la Cadie aged 25 years.
They have two daughters: --
Marie Madeleine, aged 6 years;
The last is not named; she is 8 days old.
In livestock they have one ox and one pig.
There are with them four of his brothers, who are: --
Joseph Guedry, aged 20 years;
Jean Femilien, aged 17 years.
Augustin, aged 12 years.
Aniez, aged 10 years;

. . . .

When all the settlers landed on their arrival from la Cadie in August last, they owned between them the number of 188 oxen or cows, 42 calves, 173 sheep or ewes, 181 pigs and 17 horses. A comparison with the recapitulation will easily show how many of these have perished from want of hay on which to feed. The settlers had not even water to give them within reach, and now all ask to leave so fully do they realize that they cannot live here. “5158

    ____________________

“ Augustin, Pierre’s ninth child, escaped capture and never left Acadia. He never signed the Oath of Allegiance to the English King either. More on Augustin son of Pierre dit LaBine in Chapter IV. “5411

    ____________________

“ CHAPTER IV
AUGUSTIN ESCAPES, SETTLES IN ST. MARY’S BAY

Augustin Gedree was born in 1740, in either Pisiquit or Île Royale. He married Marie Francoise Jeanson around 1767, the year his father died. Augustin was the son of Pierre Guedry dit LaBine and Marguerite Brasseau and the grandson of Claude Guedry dit Grivois and Marguerite Petitpas. He is the ancestor of all the Guedry, Geddry, Guidrey, Guiddry, Jeddry and Jedrey families in Clare, Nova Scotia and New England.

Augustin is my great, great, great, grandfather. Somehow that seems a very close relationship for two people born almost two full centuries apart. The reason can be found by reviewing the Genealogy. Augustin and I are so close because I am the result of a string of births that happened when the age of the male members of the family averaged thirty-nine years.

Augustin Escapes

Augustin was captured by the English but was never deported. He was not deported because he escaped. He never left Acadia. This is his story.

In 1754, Augustin’s father Pierre dit LaBine was in Merligueche, probably with his family. Pierre is recorded as having surrendered to the English “at the time of the exile”, probably in 1755, on Île St-Jean (Prince Edward Island). Perhaps Augustin, then 14 or 15 years old was “taken” while Pierre was in Merligueche. Perhaps he was captured or detained at the time of his father’s surrender on Île St-Jean. In any case he was put on board a ship ready to sail for the English colonies. Somehow Augustin escaped from the ship before it sailed. Legend has it that he swam ashore and made a run for it, eventually making his way to La Heve in the region of Cape Sable, near his Grandfather’s old stomping grounds.

It is quite possible, but not verified, that the name of the ship he escaped from was the Pembroke. The Pembroke is recorded as the only ship that had experienced a mass escape of Acadian prisoners in 1755. It was docked at Goat Island off the shore of Port Royal when the escape took place.

Why Augustin would have been transported to Port Royal from Merligueche or Ile St Jean is unknown. A possible reason is “lack of transport”, not enough ships, to do the deed. English records are replete with complaints about “lack of transport”. If Augustin had been captured while Pierre was in Merligueche, and then was brought to Port Royal because transport was available there, that would explain why, when he escaped, he made his way back to Le Heve in the Merligueche area. He would have thought his father was still there.

We know that Augustin lived among the Micmac Indians for at least eight years. He remained a free man, one of the few Acadians who managed to do so. Of course he lived in constant fear of capture, but being the product of at least two generations of Coureurs de Bois, would have been quite comfortable living that way.

Augustin Settles in St. Mary’s Bay

In 1763, when the Acadians were again free to come back to their homeland (many did not), Augustin emerged from the woods and settled quietly on the west coast of Nova Scotia on land at Gilbert’s Cove near Hobb’s Hill and west of St. Croix Chapel. We believe it was there that he met and married Marie Jeanson and where at least three of their children, Hermat-Pierre, Joseph Felix and Augustin Jr. were born. In 1900, that land was owned by M. Charles Mande Melancon.

The couple initially entered into a civil marriage before witnesses in 1767. Their marriage was “rehabilitated” in a Church ceremony by a missionary from Windsor (now Truro) on May 8, 1769. One source reports that when English Colonists moved in beside him in 1787, he moved down the coast of St. Mary’s Bay, obtained a Grant of Land and became the pioneer settler of Cheticamp. This was certainly understandable given what he and his family had experienced under the English.

Bona Arsenault believed and had written in his books that Augustin settled in Cheticamp, Cape Breton. I wrote him and explained that there were two Cheticamps, the second in the St. Mary’s Bay area of Nova Scotia. At first he rejected the idea. Then one morning at seven A. M., while I was still asleep, the phone rang. The operator said, “Please hold for a call from the Office of the Vice-Premier of Canada”. That woke me up. Bona Arsenault, who was then a Member of Parliament, and for some reason was calling from that office, came on the line and apologized for not taking my Cheticamp, St. Mary’s Bay claim seriously at first, but, being the good Genealogist he was, he had looked into it and had now concluded I was correct. He told me I “would get full credit” in his future writings on the subject. I never checked. Bona and I had several other conversations over the next few months. I believe it was he who directed me to Father Partrice Gallant at the University of Moncton, New Brunswick.

The remainder of Augustine’s children were born in Cheticamp, St. Mary’s Bay, now known as St. Alphonse. During my visit to Meteghan in 1965, I was brought to a house, in St. Alphonse, that, I was told had been built by Augustin’s son Philippe. The story was that old Augustin might have lived out his final days there and this his son Evariste, my great grandfather was born there. In 1965, the house was owned by the Deveau family. There is a photograph of the house, substantially modified since the original of course, in the Picture Gallery.

A list of Augustin’s children is shown in Table 4. There is a gap of 10 years between Anne and Philippe. It is possible there were other children, but if there were, I have found no record of them.

Table 4
Children of Augustin Gedree and Marie Jeanson

Name Year of Birth

Hermat-Pierre 1767
Joseph Felix 1770
Augustin 1771
Anne 1773
Philippe 1783
Romain 1784
Frederic 1790
Jean 1790

Augustin, his son Augustin, Hermat-Pierre and Philippe appear on the Annapolis County Poll Tax record of 1792. At that time their name was spelled Gedree. The Pierre listed in the record is Hermat-Pierre.

The next we hear of Augustin’s children is in a census taken over the years 1818 to 1822 by Father Ligogne. In that census and subsequent censuses taken by the same Priest, we find the Gedrees, Philippe, some of his brothers, some of his children and Philippe’s mother, Marie Jeanson, still living in the St. Mary’s Bay area. Some lived in Meteghan, another in Plympton.

The 1818-1822 census indicates that Augustin was “deceased”. We interpret this confusing statement to mean Augustin died sometime between 1818 and 1822 while married to Marie-Jeanson.

Other entries indicate that Marie was living with her son Jean and his wife Rosalie Clothilde Robichau from 1822 to 1827 at least. Marie Jeanson was no longer living with her son according to the Ligogne census of 1840-1843, meaning she had probably passed away by then.

At least one Genealogist has suggested that Augustin had a second wife. I have found no evidence of it and there appears to be no knowledge of it within the family. The census of Father Ligogne seems to contradict it as well.

Four of Augustin’s Children Establish Families

Records indicate that two of Augustin’s children established families that remain today in the St. Mary’s Bay area and parts of New England, primarily Massachusetts. They are Hermat-Pierre and Philippe. I was told that Frederic and Jean also established families in the Nova Scotia/Cape Breton area but their trails has been harder to follow. I have included as much information as I was able to find about them in the narrative.

Of these four, the most extensive families, or at least the ones we know the most about, are those begun by Philippe and Hermat-Pierre. Hermat-Pierre’s name has been carried down through family records simply as Pierre. “5412

    ____________________

“ Some Acadians evaded the dragnet of Winslow’s and Handfield’s troops at Grand-Pré and at Annapolis, and escaped to the woods. We have already seen that Pierre Belliveau and his followers escaped deportation with the help of Indians. Others like Augustin Guiddery, also known as ‘Grivois’, did likewise, but took another route. It seems that Augustin lived part of the period between 1755 and 1764 in the La Have area. In 1764 he settled at what was known in the early 1900’s as Hobb’s Hill, west of the Sainte Croix Church at Plympton.

Augustin Guiddery and his wife Marie Johnson, daughter of William (Billie) Johnson, later moved to Cheticamp, now St. Alphonse, where he was one of the grantees of lot no. 146. “5413

[NOTE: Today the site of Augustin Guédry’s homesite (Hobb’s Hill) is 6860 Highway 1 at Gilbert’s Cove, Nova Scotia - just west of the Sainte-Croix Church at Plympton.]

    ____________________

“ Some Acadians evaded the vigilance of Winslow’s and Handfield’s troops at Grand-Pré and at Annapolis, and escaped to the woods. We have already seen that Pierre Belliveau and his followers escaped deportation with the help of the Indians. Others like Augustin Guiddery, also known as ‘Grivois’, did likewise, but took another route. It seems that Augustin lived part of the period between 1755 and 1764 in the LaHave Area. In 1764 he settled at what was known in the early 1900’s as Hobb’s Hill, west of the Sainte Croix Church at Plympton. Augustin Guiddery and his wife, Marie Johnson, daughter of William (Billie) Johnson, later moved to Cheticamp, now Saint Alphonse, where he was one of the grantees of lot no. 146. “5414

    ____________________

“ The author has experienced some difficulty in determining the exact date when the French entered our County, as no record of such settlement could be found. Tradition relates that some of these people living at Port Royal in 1755, escaped to the woods when Winslow’s Transports sailed up the Annapolis River, successfully eluding their pursuers; and passed a roving, unsettled life some years, while the Micmacs aided them as far as possible. Thus the latter requited zeal evinced for them by their European friends. These French exiles, while roaming through the forests, reached the south-east shore of St. Mary’s Bay. Finding fish abundant, the soil fertile, the forests plentiful and of great value, some resolved to settle in the vicinity. Among these was Augustine Guiddery, pronounced Jedry, the pioneer occupant, who located in 1764 on the farm now owned by M. Charles Mande Melancon, near Hobb’s Hill; west of St. Croix Chapel, Gilbert Cove. The second was Olivier Robichaud, brother-in-law of Guiddery, whose partner was Rosalie Robichaud, settled on land now owned by Major R. Timpany, near shore of St. Mary’s Bay, Rossway, very soon thereafter. Others whose names the author vainly endeavoured to procure, were said to have also lived around that Bay fifteen or more years before the arrival of Loyalists. Apple trees planted by these adventurers were then bearing ample fruit. Some of these were standing recently on both sides of the Bay, particularly on farm of Uriah Worthylake, at Brighton. Those Acadiens cut hay on Marsh and on limited tracts of upland. Not wishing to live beside English, Robichaud sold his improvements to Major Robert Timpany in 1785 for a sloop; while the others likewise followed his example, - and all removed to Cheticamp, Clare. “5415

    ____________________

“ Saint Mary’s Bay had been left untouched by the century and a half of conflict between England and France for the possession of North America, while the territory immediately on the other side of the isthmus separating the Bay from the Basin had changed hands seven times. The Expulsion of the Acadians and the Seven Years War did not affect it either, for no Acadians were living there and no New Englanders had been enticed by alluring offers of free lands to move in during these troubled times. With the coming of peace in 1763, Acadian refugees, like Augustin Geddry (33), moved in without fanfare, as if still unsure of their status; then others like the New England fishermen, the Stricklands and others, came in pursuit of their business and found the prospects good enough to remain.

(33) Guiddry. Unpublished manuscript. “5416

    ____________________

“ Augustin Guiddery, or Geddry, who had first settled at Gilbert’s Cove in 1764, and Joseph Comeau, son of Francis Comeau, Sr. and Madeleine Lord, received a grant of 1600 acres extending 270 chains south of Guillot Lake. (1)

(1) Dept. of Lands and Forests, N. S. Book 20, p. 64, or Lib 5, Fol. 276. “5417

    ____________________

“ Every author and every oral tradition concerning the settlement of Clare stresses the fact that Joseph Dugas came with his wife, expecting her second child, and his very young daughter, and that as a family they survived their first winter on Saint Mary’s Bay. (1)

The following year Joseph Dugas’ family was joined by “seven other families” (2), says Wilson. Haliburton mentions 175 families in 1800 (3).

Before Joseph Dugas settled at LeBlanc Cove in Calre, Augustin Guiddery had moved with his family from La Have to the Plympton area of Saint Mary’s Bay. (4)

(1) This fact is mentioned by Isaiah W. Wilson (see No. 2 below); by Rev. P. M. Dagnaud, Les Français du Sud-Ouest de la N.-E.; by Placide Gaudet in his Genealogical Notes, Public Archives of Canada.

(2) Isaiah W. Wilson, A Geography and History of the County of Digby, Halifax 1900, page 30.

(3) Hailburton, History of Nova Scotia, Halifax, 1829, Vol. 11 p. 172.

(4) Bernard Guiddery, unpublished manuscript. “5418

    ____________________

Home Presently Located at 6860 Highway 101 (Highway 1) in Gilbert’s Cove, Digby County, Nova Scotia

“ I believe this home was built by Charles Melanson approx. 1865. Charles Melanson is shown as living here in the c 1865 A. F. Church map. Charles was married in 1865. The home is believed to be standing on the site of William Hobbs’ homestead. It may be argued that this was the Hobbs home. Vincent Robichaud remembers his grandfather saying a Hobbs lived here. He is not certain if he meant the home or just the land. The name of the hill that the house is on is known as Hobbs Hill. The high price of the property (because of the mills across the street) through the years make it impossible to determine exactly when the home was built. The style and construction of the home does not appear to be much older than 1865. We know William Hobbs moved to this land in 1833. It is likely that he moved into the Jeddrie home as he married Augustin Jeddrie’s widow. Mr. Hobbs was only 20 years old when he married Augustin Jeddries 57-year-old widow.

The 200 acre lot was a part of 1000 acres that was granted to James Boutineau Franklin in consideration of his services to the county in establishing earliest settlements in Digby and vicinity. James was clerk of the House of Assembly for a long period and he had generously surrendered to the Crown all his rights in the Township of Digby. James was the son of Hon. Michael Franklin, Lieutenant Governor of the Province.

Although James Franklin held title to the land until 1802 he probably never lived on the land. From I. W. Wilson’s History of Digby County we see the following: “...These French exiles, while roaming through the forests, reached the south-east shore of St. Mary’s Bay. Finding fish abundant, the soil fertile, the forests plentiful and of great value, some resolved to settle in the vicinity. Among these was Augustine Guiddery, pronounced Jedry, the pioneer occupant, who located in 1764 on the farm now owned by M. Charles Mande Melancon, near Hobb’s Hill, west of St. Croix chapel, Gilbert’s Cove”.

It doesn’t appear that Mr. Jedry or Guiddery (various spellings of his name) ever held legal title to the land but his son Augustin Guiddery Jr., acquired the 200 acres in 1802. Augustin Guiddery Sr. left the Gilbert’s Cove area about 1790 and became the founder of Cheticamp.

Augustin Guiddery died March 9th, 1833, aged 64. The same year Augustin’s 57-year-old widow married 20-year-old William Hobbs, of Argyle. A transaction was made before the marriage from Mary Rebecca Jedrie to William Hobbs for the high sum of 500 pounds.

In 1838 William Hobbs petitioned the assembly for aid to construct his oat mill which was erected on Hobb’s or Melancon’s brook, west end of Plympton Station; northern side of Post Road. William Hobbs was a miller.

The same year (1838) William Hobbs and his wife Rebecca sold the eastern half of this lot (Lot 62) to Mark Melanson for 200 pounds (exclusive of all mills on the farm). +The home in question appears to be on the western half on Lot 62 and M. Melanson is on the opposite side of the road, east of the home in question, near the brook and Mathias Melanson is on the other side of the road in the c1865 aforementioned map.

In 1859 William Hobbs sold the western half of the lot to Mark Melanson for 350 pounds. Now Mark owned the entire 200 acres. In 1868 Mark obtained a $1600 mortgage and could not pay for it. Mark was born in 1812 at Church Point. He married Jeanne Rosalie Comeau about 1840. Mark was the son of Henry Benoni Melanson and Rosalie Doucet. They had 2 children: Charles Marc Benoni Melanson and Marguerite Melanson.

Charles Marc Benoni Melanson (believe builder/first resident known for certain) 1841-???? married Jeanne Chantal Deveau in 1865 at St. Croix Catholic Church. They had 9 children.

(1898) “Mrs. C. M. Melanson will open her house to summer travel under the very appropriate name of “The Willows”. It is well situated, good shade, air, scenery, bathing and drainage”.

1n 1921 Roy Melanson moved in here to look after Charles (who would have been 80). Roy owned the home until 1945 when he sold the home to a retired couple, George and Margaret Ambrose. Margaret, widowed, sold the home to Leo James Thibault in 1958. Leo was a stoker on the H. M. C. S. Cornwallis. He owned the home for 20 years, selling it in 1978 to H. M. Colwell and sons. Harold Colwell owned the home from 1980 to 2001 and Gayle and Roneta Gammie purchased the home this year and enjoy it very much and have great intentions for the preservation of “The Willows”.

+Charles Melanson’s son, William, and William’s daughter, lived in, and operated the Gilbert’s Cove lighthouse for over 65 years.

-This is an old gothic style home with dental work along the eaves and heavy returns. The owners plan to maintain this home and keep it in its original condition. It is a beautiful historic home which stands out upon a hill.

PAST OWNERS OCCUPATION DATE D/W PRICE LOT SIZE BOOK/PAGE
Gayle Gammie-(Roneta) 2001 D 3.90 acres 591/467
Harold Clark-(Barbara) 1980-2001 D 3.90 acres 346/496
Reginald Walker-(Dorothy) 1979-1980 D 3.90 acres 330/888
H. M. Colwell and Sons Ltd. 1978-1979 D 98 acres 323/967
Leo James Thibault-(Mary Louise) 1958-1978 D 98 acres 196/63
George Ambrose-(Margaret) 1945-1958 D 98 acres 163/342
Roy E. Melanson-(Hattie) Farmer 1921-1945 D $1=Maint 98 acres 127/98
Charles M. Melanson ????-1921
Mark Melanson 1859-???? D 350 pds 100 acres 29/61
. w-half
William H. Hobbs 1833-1859 D 500 pds 200 acres 12/36
Mary Rebecca Jedrie Jr. (Widow of Augustin) 1833-
Augustin Jedrie Jr. 1802-1833 D 50 pds 200 acres 3A/76
James Boutineau Franklin Esq.-(Sarah) Crown-1802 D 200 acres
Crown Land “5373

    ___________________

“ Le vingt huit aout 1768 jai baptise sous conditions les cydessous nommés qui avoient tous etés ondoyés ny ayant pas de missionaire dupuis une dixaine d’années a pisiguid.

. . . .

hermet pierre 8 mois fils d’augustin et de marie jamson. par[ein] joseph grangé mareine marie aucoin.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly ptre. “

Translation:
“ The twenty-eighth of August 1768 I have baptized on condition those named below who have all been privately baptized not having any missionary for ten years at pisiquid.

. . . .

hermet pierre 8 months son of augustin and of marie jamson. godfather joseph grangé godmother marie aucoin.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly priest. “5419,5420

    ____________________

“ Prisonniers Acadiens du Fort Edward, N.-E., 1763-1764 et Pétitions des Acadiens de Cette Région, avec les Listes des Signataires, 1764-1768

. . .

Apr 1st 1768
Petition of the accadians for a priest and provision (au verso)

. Winsort April 1 1768
Monseiner

Nous prenoms la lieberté te demandé la Bondé a votes Seifer pour avoir un preter de de quebec set eté, et Si le Roi que lave la Bondé pour nous donné la Provision pour un ans quand nous Sirions etabli Noter tere

Nous Serion bien ess Si le gurvernement donni un Erpanter pour Erbanté la terre avec Nous

. Sinigé

et votre Exelent Lieutenant piere X Belliho
Gouvernor Nous some Les tres Gilliom Shanson
humble et les res obeissants Joseph X Comon
seviteurs Charles X Malasson
. Joseph Shiroit
. John X Malasson
. pierie X Malasson
. amon X Malasson

Charles X Malasson Joseph X Bro Joseph X Como
Amon X lanu Joseph X Bourjois Mishel X Hashé
Olive X Pouttro piere X Goté Joseph X Oquein
piere X Bellivo piere X Brein Joseph X Grange
René X Lanié Rene X lantri Josip X Bellio
Joseph X du Blan Salomon X Maye piere X Malason
Clot X Sunie Joseph X lesher Carels X foré
Bon ans X du Blan Mishel X Du boui john X Bourg
Carles X du Blan piere X Le Blan john X Bourg
Rene X Rishart Augustin X Gettry piere X Babein “


Annotated Version:
“ Prisonniers Acadiens du Fort Edward, N.-E., 1763-1764 et Pétitions des Acadiens de Cette Région, avec les Listes des Signataires, 1764-1768

. . .

Apr 1st 1768
Petition of the accadians (sic, Acadians) for a priest and provision (au verso)

Monseiner (sic, Monsieur) Winsort (sic, Windsor) April 1 1768

Nous prenoms la lieberté (sic, liberté) te demandé la Bondé a votes (sic, votre) Seifer pour avoir un preter (sic, pretre) de de (sic) quebec set (sic, cet) eté (sic, été), et Si le Roi que lave la Bondé pour nous donné la Provision pour un ans (sic, an) quand nous Sirions (sic, Serions) etabli Noter (sic, Notre) tere (sic, terre)

Nous Serion (sic, Serions) bien ess (sic, est) Si le gurvernement (sic, gouvernement) donni (sic, donnéº un Erpanter pour Erbanté la terre avec Nous

et votre Exelent (sic, Excellent) Lieutenant Gouvernor (sic, Gouverneur) Nous some (sic, sommes) Les tres humble (sic, humbles) et les tres obeissants (sic, obéissants) seviteurs (sic, serviteurs)


. Sinigé (sic, Signé)

et votre Exelent Lieutenant piere X Belliho (Belliveau)
Gouvernor Nous some Les tres Gilliom Shanson (Johnson)
humble et les res obeissants Joseph X Comon (Comeau)
seviteurs Charles X Malasson (Melanson)
. Joseph Shiroit (Giroir)
. John X Malasson (Melanson)
. pierie X Malasson (Melanson)
. amon X Malasson (Melanson)

Charles X Malasson (Melanson) Joseph X Bro (Breau) Joseph X Como (Comeau)
Amon X lanu (Lanoue) Joseph X Bourjois (Bourgeois) Mishel X Hashé (Hachéº
Olive X Pouttro (Boudreau) piere X Goté (Gauthier) Joseph X Oquein (Aucoin)
piere X Bellivo (Belliveau piere X Brein Joseph X Grange (Granger)
René X Lanié Rene X lantri (Landry) Josip X Bellio (Belliveau)
Joseph X du Blan (LeBlanc) Salomon X Maye (Maillet) piere X Malason (Melanson)
Clot X Sunie Joseph X lesher Carels X foré (Foret)
Bon ans X du Blan (LeBlanc) Mishel X Du boui john X Bourg (Bourque)
Carles X du Blan (LeBlanc) piere X Le Blan (LeBlanc) john X Bourg (Bourque)
Rene X Rishart (Richard) Augustin X Gettry (Guédry) piere X Babein (Babin) “


Translation:
“ Acadian Prisioners at Fort Edward, Nova Scotia, 1763-1764 and Petitions of Acadians from That Area, with the Lists of Signers, 1764-1768

. . .

Apr 1st 1768
Petition of the acadians for a priest and provision (on the back)

Winsort April 1 1768
Sir

We take the liberty to implore the Goodness from your Lordship to have a priest from quebec this summer, and If the King would have the Goodness to give us the Provisions for one year once we are Settled on Our land

We would be very pleased if the government would give us a Surveyor to Survey the land with Us

. Signed

and your Excellent Lieutenant piere X Belliho
Governor We are very Gilliom Shanson
humble and very obedient Joseph X Comon
subjects Charles X Malasson
. Joseph Shiroit
. John X Malasson
. pierie X Malasson
. amon X Malasson

Charles X Malasson Joseph X Bro Joseph X Como
Amon X lanu Joseph X Bourjois Mishel X Hashé
Olive X Pouttro piere X Goté Joseph X Oquein
piere X Bellivo piere X Brein Joseph X Grange
René X Lanié Rene X lantri Josip X Bellio
Joseph X du Blan Salomon X Maye piere X Malason
Clot X Sunie Joseph X lesher Carels X foré
Bon ans X du Blan Mishel X Du boui john X Bourg
Carles X du Blan piere X Le Blan john X Bourg
Rene X Rishart Augustin X Gettry piere X Babein “5370

    ____________________

“ The year 1768 was a turning point in the lives of the Acadians who were living more or less as pariahs in the Annapolis Valley. (They did not have the right to vote and their right to own land was in question.) But in 1768, this petition was written and sent to the governor, Michael Franklyn.

Apr 1st 1768

Petition of the Acadians for a priest and provision

Winsort April 1, 1768

Monsieur

Nous prenons la lieberté te demandé la Bondé a votes Seifer pour avoir un preter de quebec cet eté, et Si le Roi que lave la Bondé pour nous donné la Provision pour un ans quand nous Sirions etabli Noter tere

Nous Serion bien ess Si le gurvernement donni un Erpanter pour Erbanté la terre avec Nous

. Sinigé

et votre Exelent Lieutenant piere X Belliho (Belliveau)
Gouvernor Nous somme Les tres Gilliion Shanson (Johnson)
humble et les tres obeissants Joseph X Comon (Comeau)
seviteurs: Charles X Malasson (Melanson)
. Joseph (Girroir) Shiroit
.

Charles X Malasson (Melanson)
Joseph X Bro
Joseph X Como (Comeau)
Amon X lanu (Lanoue)
Joseph X Bourgois (Bourgeois)
Mishel X Hashé
Olivie X Pouttro
piere X Goté
Joseph X Oquein
René X Lanié
Rene X lantri
Josip X Bellio (Belliveau)
Joseph X du Blan (LeBlanc)
Solomon X Maye (Maillet)
piere X Malason (Melanson)
Clot X Sunie
Joseph X lesher
Carels X foré
Bon ans X du Blan (LeBlanc)
Mishel X Du boui
john X bourg (Bourque)
Carles Xdu Blan (LeBlanc)
piere X Le Blan (LeBlanc)
john X Bourg (Bourque)
rene X rishart (Richard)
Augustin X Gettry (Guidry)
piere X Babein (Babin)(17)


Petition in English:


Your Lordship

We take the liberty to implore the goodness of His Lordship to have a priest from Quebec this summer and if the king would have the goodness to give us one year’s provision once we are settled on our land.

We would be very pleased if the government would provide us with a surveyor to survey the land with us.

Your Excellency Lieutenant-Governor. We are your very humble and very obedient subjects.



This petition must have been written by William (Guillaume) “Billy” Johnson who signs his name Gilliom Shanson, or by Joseph Shiroit (Girroir) or by both of them for they are the only two who signed their names, proving they could write more or less. All the other Acadians could only add their mark “X” to the document.

In this petition these Acadians ask for a priest from Quebec, implying that he must be French-speaking, and for a surveyor to survey the land that the government would have the goodness to grant them, with provisions for a year, on these same lands.

Prompted by demands from the Indians, the lieutenant-governor, Lord William Campbell, had already asked the newly-appointed bishop of Quebec for a missionary to the Micmacs and to the Acadians. Therefore in the spring of 1768, Abbé Charles Bailly de Messein was sent by the Bishop of Quebec, whose diocese included Nova Scotia, as missionary to the Acadians and the Micmacs of Nova Scotia, which at that time included New Brunswick. When Abbé Bailly arrived in Halifax in the spring of 1768, the first request of the Acadians was fulfilled, at least temporarily.

Michael Franklyn, who succeeded Lord William Campbell as lieutenant-governor, readily accepted their demand for lands and a surveyor, by bringing a Warrant of Survey dated July 1st, 1768, granting the lands of the Township of Clare to the Acadians, and at the same time officially naming the area from Sissiboo to Cape St. Mary “Clare” as St. Mary’s Bay.

As you can see, this Warrant of Survey named John Morrison as the surveyor of the area to be known as Clare. It is therefore quite logical that John Morrison would have recruited among the Acadians living around Annapolis, a number of men to help him in running the lines dividing the lots in this area which was then virgin forest... “5378

      ____________________


“ Le huit de mai 1769 apres La publication de trois bancs de mariages faites au proné dela messe paroissiale le 30 avril, 4 mai, et le sept entre augustin guidri et marie jamson d’ayant decouvert aucun empechement de mariage entre eux nous avons recus leur mutuel consentement et Leur avons donné La benediction nuptiale selon la forme prescrite par notre mere La sainte eglise romaine etce enpresence de plusieurs temoins.

charles francois Bailly ptre vic g. “

Translation:
“ The eighth of May 1769 after the publication of three banns of marriage made in the sermons of the parish mass on 30 April, 4 May and the seventh between augustin guidri and marie jamson having not discovered any impediment of marriage between them we have received their mutual consent and have given them the nuptial blessing according to the prescribed form by our mother the holy roman church and in the presence of several witnesses.

charles francois Bailly priest vicar general “5421,5422

    ____________________


Le 12 janvier 1770 a Windsor jai Baptises les cydessous nommes tous issus de Legitime mariages.

. . . .

allain fils de rené Landry et marguerite Boudrot par augustin guedry mar marg. Boudrot

. . . .

charles francois Bailly ptr mvg “

Translation:
“ The 12th of January 1770 at Windsor I have Baptised those named below all issue of Legitimate marriages.

. . . .

allain son of rené Landry and marguerite Boudrot godfather augustin guedry godmother marg. Boudrot.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly missionary priest vicar general5376,5377

    ____________________

Le 12 janvier 1770 a Windsor jai Baptises les cydessous nommes tous issus de Legitime mariages.

. . . .

joseph felix fils dauugstin duedry et marie jamson parein joseph arsenaud marie daigle.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly ptr mvg “

Translation:
“ The 12th of January 1770 at Windsor I have Baptised those named below all issue of Legitimate marriages.

. . . .

joseph felix son of augustin duedry and marie jamson godfather joseph arsenaud marie daigle.
. . . .

charles francois Bailly missionary priest vicar general5376,5423

    ____________________

“ B. Augustin Guedry, fils.

Le 14 oct. 1774, bapteme d’Augustin Guedry, ne le 20 juin 1771, fils d’Augustin Guedry et de Marie Jeanson. Ondoye par Michel Hache. P. Francois Comeau, m. Marguerite Comeau. “


“ B. Augustin Guidry, Jr..

The 14th October 1774, baptism of Augustin Guedry, born 20 June 1771, son of Augustin Guedry and of Marie Jeanson. Baptized by Michel Hache. Godfather Francois Comeau, godmother Marguerite Boudreau. “5424,5425

     ____________________

“ Abjuration de Marie Eagle
nee probablement vers 1776
femme d’Augustin Giddery

L’an mil sept cent quatre vingt dix neuf le onzieme aout, a ete par moi, pretre missionaire soussigne, baptisee sous condition Marie, fille de Edward Eagle et de Catherine Eagle, de la Georgie, aujourd’hui epouse legitime d’Augustin Giddery,* de cette paroisse, agee d’environ vingt trois ans, n’ayant pas de certitude suffisante de la validite du bapteme qu’elle avait recu etant petite dans une des communions protestantes qu’elle a abandonee le dit jour en faisant abjuration de l’erreur des protestants et faisant profession de la foi de la religion catholique, apostolique et romaine. Le parrain a ete Simon Saulnier, laboureur, la marraine Marie-Suzanne Amirault de cette paroisse, qui ont declare ne savoir signer ainsi que la baptisee et son mari present. Ont ensuite signe comme temoins:

Joseph Mieuce Marque
John McCullough Marie X Eagle
Frederic Belliveau
Amable Doucet Sigogne, pretre
Dennis Doucet

*Note, probablement par Placide Gaudet: nee 20 juin 1771, fils d’Augustin Guedry et de Marie Jeanson. “



“ Abjuration of Marie Eagle
born probably about 1776
wife of Augustin Giddery

The 11th of August 1799, was conditionally baptised by me, the undersigned missionary priest, Marie, daughter of Edward Eagle and Catherine Eagle, of Georgia, now the legitimate wife of Augustin Giddery,* of this parish, aged about 23 years, not having sufficient certainty of the validity of the baptism she received as a child in one of the Protestant communions which she has abandoned this day in abjuring the error of the Protestants and professing the Catholic, apostolic, and Roman religion. The godfather was Simon Saulnier, laborer, the godmother, Marie Suzanne Amirault of this parish, who declared they did not know how to sign, as did the person baptized and her husband, present. The following signed as witnesses:

Joseph Mieuce Her
John McCullough Marie X Eagle
Frederic Belliveau Mark
Amable Doucet
Dennis Doucet Sigogne, Priest

*Note, probably by Placide Gaudet: born 20 June 1771, son of Augustin Guedry and of Marie Jeanson. “5426,5427

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have administered the ceremonies of baptism to Jean age about seven years, born of the legitimate marriage between Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JANSON (JOHNSON) of this parish, he having been previously baptised by a lay person for lack of a priest. The godfather was Pierre GIDDERY, brother of the child and the godmother was Anne BELLIVEAU, wife of the said Pierre GIDDERY also of this parish, who have declared they do not know how to sign. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5429

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Joseph, born the 3rd of October 1796 of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, he having been baptised by Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), his grandmother, for lack of priest; thus have the father and mother, present at the ceremony, declared to me. The godfather was Romain GIDDERY, uncle of the child, and the godmother Marguerite BELLIVEAU, his aunt, also of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5430

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Marie Anne, born the 10th of July 1798 of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, she having been baptised by Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), her grandmother, for lack of a priest; thus have the father and mother of the child assured me, present at the ceremony. The godfather was Frederic GIDDERY, her uncle, and the godmother Marguerite GIDDERY, her aunt, also of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5430

    ___________________

“ 28 Pierre Guedry & Anne Belliveau

Le 19 janvier 1800, rehab. du mariage de Pierre Giddery, fils d’Augustin et de Marie Jeanson, a Anne Belliveau, fille de Joseph Jacques Belliveau et de Marguerite Robichaud, maries auparavant en presence de temoins. “


“ 28 Pierre Guedry & Anne Belliveau

The 19th of January 1800, revalidation of the marriage of Pierre Giddery, son of Augustin (Giddery) and Marie Jeanson, to Anne Belliveau, daughter of Joseph Jacques Belliveau and Marguerite Robichaud, previously married in the presence of witnesses. “5431,5432

    ___________________

“ The nineteenth of January 1800 after the publication of three banns of marriage at the parish Mass for three different days, namely 29 December 1799, the first and the Sunday following, fifth of January between Pierre GIDDERY, son of Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JEANSON (JOHNSON) on one part and Anne BELLIVEAU daughter of Joseph Jacques BELLIVEAU and Marguerite ROBICHEAU on the other part, both of this parish, under which there was no canonical impediment found, I the undersigned priest have given the nuptial blessing with the ceremonies of the church, in presence of Frederic BELLIVEAU, uncle of the bride and Anselme BELLIVEAU, her cousin-germain, of Charles BELLIVEAU, her brother, of Jean BELLIVEAU, also her brother, all habitants of this parish. The said parties were previously united together in marriage with the approval and consent of their respective parents with the promise to present themselves at the church at the first occasion when there would be a legitimate pastor in the parish; thus have I been assured by the mother of the bride, by Frederic BELLIVEAU, principal witness and by the other persons heretofore named, of which one signed: Charles BELLIVEAU; /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5433,5434

    ____________________

“ 30 Jean Bte. Saulnier & Theotiste Guedry

Le 20 janvier 1800, rehabilitation du mariage de Jean Baptiste Saulnier, fils de Pierre Saulnier et de Madeleine Boudreau, a Theotiste Giddery, fille d’Augustin et de Marie Jeanson, maries auparavant le 9 janvier 1798. “

“ 30 Jean Bte. Saulnier & Theotiste Guedry

The 20th of January 1800, revalidation of the marriage of Jean Baptiste Saulnier, son of Pierre Saulnier and Madeleine Boudreau, to Theotiste Giddery, daughter of Augustin (Giddery) and Marie Jeanson, previously married 9 January 1798. “5431,5435

    ____________________

“ The twentieth of January 1800 after three publications of marriage (sic) at the parish Mass, on three different days, namely Sunday, 29 December 1799, the first January and the Sunday fifth of the same month of the year 1800 between Jean Baptiste SAULNIER, son of Pierre SAULNIER and Magdelaine BOUDREAU of this parish on one part, and between Theotiste GIDDERY, daughter of Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), also of this parish on the other part, under which there was not found any canonical impediment, I the undersigned priest have given the nuptial blessing to them with ceremonies prescribed by the Holy Catholic Church, in presence of Francois COMEAU, senior, of Charles DOUCET, Frederic BELLIVEAU and Frederic MELANCON and several other persons, habitants of this parish, of whom several signed. The parties were joined together at the time of their marriage before several witnesses for lack of a priest with the approval of their fathers and mothers, with the promise to present themselves at the church on the first occasion of there being a priest in the area; this was verified by a writ dated 9 January 1798, with the marks of the spouses, of Anselme PRITCHARD, Joseph SAULNIER and Jean Baptiste SAULNIER the younger. /s/ Frederic BELLIVEAU, Charles DOUCET; Sigogne, priest. “5436,5437

    ____________________

“ The first of February 1800 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Joseph, born the 6th of March 1797 of the legitimate marriage between Olivier ROBICHEAU and Ludivine CLERMONT, of this parish, he having been previously baptised by Olivier ROBICHEAU, his grandfather, for lack of a priest; thus have the father and the mother, present at the ceremony, assured me. The godfather was Anselme MELANCON and the godmother Josette GIDDERY, daughter of Augustin GIDDERY, both of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5438,5439

    ____________________

“ The eleventh of June 1800 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Dominique Clement, born the 16th of March last of the legitimate marriage between Jean Baptiste SAULNIER and Theotiste GIDDERY of this parish, he having been previously baptised by Jean McCULLOUGH, also of this parish, during my absence, thus has it been said to me by the mother of the child and her father, present at the ceremony. The godfather was Dominique GIDDERY, uncle of the child, and the godmother was Helene ROBICHEAU, daughter of Olivier ROBICHEAU of this parish, they having declared they do not know how to write. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5440,5441

    ___________________

“ The nineteenth of April 1801 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Jean Benjamin, born the second of September of the preceding year of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, he having been previously baptised by Joseph COMEAU in necessity and because of the distance from the church; thus has it been told me by Joseph COMEAU and the mother of the child. The godfather was Joseph BELLIVEAU, grandfather of the child, and the godmother Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), wife of Augustin GIDDERY, also grandmother of the child, of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5442,5443

    ____________________

“ The first of June 1801 after three publications of banns of marriages made at the sermon at our parish masses for three consecutive Sundays, namely the third, the tenth and the seventeenth of the month of May last between Anselme LEBLANC, son of Pierre LEBLANC and of Marguerite Praxede BELLIVEAU on one part and Marie Josette COMEAU, daughter of Joseph COMEAU and Marguerite JANSON, also of this parish, on the other part, under which there was not found any canonical impediment, I the undersigned priest gave them the nuptial blessing with the ceremonies of the Catholic Church in presence of the mother of the bride and of the father of the bride, in presence also of Casimir LEBLANC, of Charles THIBODEAU and Athanase DOUCET and several other persons, parents and friends of the spouses, who have been previously united together and have given their mutual consent of marriage in presence of several witnesses; thus has it been verified by two writs, the first dated 19 November 1798 signed by Casimir LEBLANC, principal witness, and Joseph MIUS with the ordinary marks of Anselme LEBLANC, Marie Josette COMEAU, Joseph Tranquille MAILLET, Augustin GIDDERY, and Pierre LEBLANC, and the second dated 10 December 1798, signed by Amable DOUCET and Olivier DOUCET, with the ordinary marks of the spouses. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5444,5445

    ____________________

“ In the line of New Settlements, Salmon River first claims attention. M. Felix Deveault, Senior, with his brother Jacques, left in 1787, the Hermitage which had been their home since 1755, effected a clearing adjoining St. Mary’s Bay near eastern bank of the River on lots of the Morrison Grant. Soon afterwards, Augustine Guiddery removed from Gilbert’s Cove to Cheticamp, becoming its founder. He settled on lot seventy-one. Cheticamp lands were surveyed by John Harris, Esquire. They are occupied by descendants of Acadiens who fled to the forests when their race was expelled under superintendance of Major John Handfield at Annapolis, Lieutenant-Colonel John Winslow at Grand Pré, Captain A. Murray at Pisiquid, (Windsor,) Colonel Robert Monckton at Beauséjour, Tantramar, (Sackville,) now in New Brunswick, and Fort Lawrence, all near head of Bay of Fundy. “5446

    ____________________

“ g) Etablissement de Saint-Alphonse: Entre Meteghan et le Cap Sainte-Marie s’établissent Dominique Doucet, Charles LeBlanc, Janvier Maillet, Anselme Frontain, Charles McCarthy, Augustin Geddry, dit ‘Grivois’, qui s’était d’abord à Gilbert’s Cove (24), ainsi que Joseph Comeau, fils de François Comeau et de Madeleine Lord, ou L’or. Ceux-ci reçurent 1600 arpents de terre entre Meteghan et ‘la butte de l’Eglise de Saint-Alphonse’. Leurs descendants occupent encore ces propriétés. (25)

Un fils de Joseph Comeau, Sylvain, et Joseph Corporon reçurent 400 arpents à l’Anse-à-l’Ours. Puis une concession de 2730 arpents fut accordée aux fils de Joseph Comeau, Martin, Sylvain, François, Charles et Antoine, ainsi qu’à Pierre et Anselme LeBlanc, Philippe et Pierre ‘Jedery’ ou ‘Geddry’, et Joseph Saulnier (voir carte à la page suivante). Leurs descendants les habitent encore. (26)

(24) C’est ici une tradition dans la famille Guidry et que l’on retrouve répétée dans Wilson, A Geography and History of the County of Digby, p. 98. Cependant les Notes Généalogiques de Placide Gaudet indiquent que c’est plutôt Augustin Guidry, fils, dit aussi ‘Grivois’, qui s’est établi à Gilbert’s Cove.

(25) Livre ‘Y’, p. 31, ou Livre ‘8’, fol. 102, Ministère des Terres et Forêts, Halifax (Nouvelle-Ecosse).

(26) Livre ‘F’, p. 14, ou Livre ‘8’, fol. 107, chez Ibid. “

Translation:
“ g) Settlement of Saint-Alphonse: Between Meteghan and Cap Sainte-Marie settled Dominique Doucet, Charles LeBlanc, Janvier Maillet, Anselme Frontain, Charles McCarthy, Augustin Geddry, dit ‘Grivois’, who had settled initially at Gilbert’s Cove (24), at the same time as Joseph Comeau, son of François Comeau and Madeleine Lord, or L’or. This one received 1600 arpents of land between Meteghan and ‘the hill of Sainte-Alphonse Church’. Their descendents still occupy these properties (25).

A son of Joseph Comeau, Sylvain, and Joseph Corporon received 400 arpents at Anse-à-l’Ours. Then a concession of 2730 arpents was granted to the sons of Joseph Comeau, Martin, Sylvain, François, Charles and Antoine, at the same time as Pierre and Anselme LeBlanc, Philippe and Pierre ‘Jedery’ or ‘Geddry’, and Joseph Saulnier (see map on the following page). The descendents still live there (26).

(24) This is a tradition in the Guidry family and as it is found again repeated in Wilson, A Geography and History of the County of Digby, p. 98. Nevertheless the Notes Généalogiques of Placide Gaudet mentions that it is rather Augustin Guidry, fils, called also ‘Grivois’, that has settled at Gilbert’s Cove.

(25) Book ‘Y’, p. 31, or Book ‘8’, fol. 102, Minister of Lands and Forests, Halifax (Nova Scotia).

(26) Book ‘F’, p. 14, or Book ‘8’, fol. 107, in Ibid. “5447

    ____________________

“ Dans les années subséquentes d’autres Acadiens, victimes de l’Expulsion, immortalisée dans Evangéline de Longfellow, vinrent prendre des terres le long de la Baie Ste-Marie.

(a) Jean Belliveau fonda l’Anse des Belliveau,

(b) Pierre LeBlanc et François Doucet fondèrent la Pointe de l’Eglise,

(c) Solomon Maillet, Poncy Gaudet et Justinnien Comeau s’établirent à Meteghan River,

(d) Prudent Robichaud et son frère Armand fondèrent Meteghan,

(e) Félix Deveau et son frère Jacques se fixérent à Salmon River,

(f) Augustin Guiddery s’établit à Saint Alphonse,

(g) Dominique Doucet, au Cap Sainte Marie,

(h) Basile Amirault à New Edinburgh.

In the following years, other Acadians, also victims of the Expulsion, immortalized by Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline, followed Joseph Dugas’ example.

(a) Belliveau’s Cove was founded by Jean Belliveau,

(b) Church Point by Pierre LeBlanc and François Doucet,

(c) Meteghan River by Solomon Maillet, Poncy Gaudet and Justinien Comeau,

(d) Meteghan by Prudent Robichaud and his brother Armand,

(e) Salmon River by Félix Deveau and his brother Jacques,

(f) Saint Alphonse by Augustin Guiddery,

(g) Cape St. Mary by Dominique Doucet,

(h) New Edinburg by Basile Amirault. “5448

 

" THE DIARY OF FRANCOIS LAMBERT BOURNEUF

. . .

In the spring at 1813 . . .

. . .

The first day I reached Beaver River where I slept. That morning I had breakfast at Archange Deveau's. After having eaten, I started to cross the Salmon River but Mr. Jacques Deveau ran after me to tell me that it was impossible to cross the Salmon River before the tide was out and brought me to his house to await the low tide. I had dinner at his place and left about half-past one in the afternoon.

I was told in Pubnico to watch out for a man known as Antoine Grivois (Guidry) because he had caused two French prisoners to be arrested. The very first person I met was this Grivois. I passed near his house and he saw me. So he saddled his black horse and came at full gallop to catch up with me. When he came near I recognized him by the description that I had received of him. He asked me all kinds of questions on many things. His tongue never stopped and he was as ugly as sin. He walked with me as far as Meteghan. There was in this village a man who sold all kinds of merchandise and also sold liquor, although he did not have a license. Old Grivois told me that if I wanted a drink of liquor that I could get some in this store. I entered and asked the proprietor, Mr. Sullivan, for a glass of rum and he answered he didn't have any to sell. I went right out and told old Grivois what had taken place. He answered that if I had let him ask for it he would have obtained some.

It was then one hour before sunset; I left Grivois and his little black horse and continued my way up the bay. After Grivois had had his drink, he rejoined me.

When we arrived at the house of old Justinien Comeau, he (Grivois) said to me: 'There is in this house a smart woman but the man is an ox.' We covered two miles together, then Grivois took a side road to go to one of his sons-in-law, Jean Baptiste Theriault.

I asked him about the nearest inn and he told me that there was one three miles away at Major Comeau’s, father of the Honorable Anselme F. Comeau. "5449


    ____________________


" THE DIARY OF FRANCOIS LAMBERT BOURNEUF

. . .

To St. Mary’s Bay

In 1813 . . .

. . .

On the first day I reached Beaver River. I slept there, and the next morning, I had breakfast at Archange Deveau's (1). After breakfast, I started to cross the Salmon River, but Jacques Deveau (2) ran after me and told me that it was impossible to cross the river before the tide was out. He took me to his home to await the low tide. I had dinner there, and I left about one-thirty in the afternoon.

In Pubnico, I have been told to watch out for a man named Antoine Grivois (3), as he has instigated the arrest of two French prisoners. But the very first person I met was Grivois.

As I passed his house, he saw me, then saddled his black horse and galloped to catch up to me. He asked me all kinds of questions - his tongue never stopped - and he was as ugly as sin. He accompainied me as far as Meteghan, where there was a man who owned a store that sold all sorts of merchandise, including liquor, though he did not have a license. I entered the store and asked the proprietor, Mr. Sullivan (4), for a glass of rum. He said that he did not have any to sell. When I told Grivois what had happened, he said that if I had let him ask for it, he would have obtained some.

It was one hour before sunset. Grivois went into the store to have a drink, and I continued up the bay. The Grivois rejoined me. When we arrived at the house of old Justinien Comeau (5), Grivois said, 'There is in this house a smart woman, but the man is an ox.' We covered two miles together, then Grivois took a side road, to go to one of his sons-in-law, Jean Baptiste Thériault (6). Before he departed, I asked him where the nearest inn was. He told me that there was one three miles away, at Major Comeau’s (7).

(1) Archange Deveau was born in 1787, son of Jean Deveau and Marie Maillet. He and his wife, Rosalie Doucet, lived about one hundred yards from the Salmon River.

(2) Jacques Deveau was the first Acadian settler at Salmon River, arriving in 1786. He was born on Ile-Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island) in 1726 and, historians say, lived to a very old age.

(3) Antoine Grivois was really Augustin Guidry, one of the founders of St. Alphonse de Clare, between Meteghan and Mavillette. Grivois, meaning ‘ribald’ was a long-standing nickname for the Guidry family. Augustin Guidry married Marie Johnson, daughter of William Johnson, of Annapolis Royal.

(4) Mr. Sullivan was an Irish immigrant in Meteghan. He first kept a store, then his family operated the Meteghan-Petit Passage ferry.

(5) Justinien Comeau, son of François Comeau and Madeleine Lord, was born in 1729 at Chipoudy, New Brunswick. In 1756, he married Natalie Bastarache. He purchased Deputy Provincial Surveyor John Morrison’s land grant at Meteghan River.

(6) Jean-Baptiste Thériault, son of Alexis Thériault, was married to Augustin Guidry’s daughter Marie Joseph.

(7) Major François Comeau was the son of François Comeau and Félicité LeBlanc. He married Marguerite Melanson, and they had seven children. They lived in the village now known as
Comeauville. “5372

    ___________________

“ The Family of Philippe

Philippe was the fifth child of Augustin. He married Angelique Theriau sometime after the turn of the nineteenth century. Their first child was born in 1804. Philippe was then only 21 years old. In the family tradition of large families, Philippe and Angelique combined to have fourteen children.

A complete list of Philippe’s children is shown in Table 6. The descendants of Philippe spelled their names Geddry, Jeddry, Guidrey or Guiddry.

Their tenth child was Evariste, born on October 26, 1820. In 1965, I was told that an expression regarding Evariste was still used by some at that time. It was not flattering and I would have discounted it except there is another story that appears to support it. The expression is, in Fench, “Laid comme le vieux Varice”. It means “ugly as old Varice (Evariste)”. Evariste was my great grandfather.

The other story comes from the book “Along the Shores of Saint Mary’s Bay”, by Alphonse Deveau. In it, Deveau tells a story about a teacher, on the road from Salmon River to Meteghan in 1813, who meets a gentleman of small stature riding on a small black horse. The little guy rides along with the traveler for several miles. He is talkative and somewhat of an annoyance. Even more of a concern was the fact that this gentleman was rumored to have turned in escaped French prisoners to the English. The teacher just happened to be one, so he was quite understandably concerned and wary. The little man on the horse had the name “Antoine Grivois (Guedry)”. The teacher, whose name was Francois Lambert Bourneuf, comments, “The man was ugly as sin”.

Table 6
The Children of Philippe Gedree and Anglique Theriau

Name Year of Birth Name Year of Birth
Joseph Charles 1804 Rosalie 1817
Julitte Adelaide 1806 Cesaire 1818
Marie 1808 Evariste 1820
Gervais 1810 Pierre 1821
Elizabeth 1812 Hilaire 1824
Cyprien 1814 Marc Maurice 1825
Maximin 1815 Catherine - 1827
. Antoinette

Two people in the same family that engender such similar comments about their appearance are too coincidental for it not to be true. Apparently genetics has corrected the problem because I have never met an “ugly” Geddry, Jeddry, Guidrey or Guiddry. In fact, some of us are quite attractive!

I believe that Antoine was a cousin of Evariste, although I have not been able to place him with any certainty. Looking through the Genealogy, there are two candidates at a compatible age. One, born in 1794, would probably have been too young to turn in French prisoners. In any case, his family was in Louisiana by 1813.

The second seems possible from the age point of view. He was born in 1754 and as a young man could have been in a position to turn in French prisoners after the French and Indian war. He descended from Pierre Guedry dit LaBine through Charles. Unfortunately for this hypothesis, his family was also in Louisiana by 1813.

It looks as if Antoine will have to remain “anonymous” until either I or another Genealogist can connect him to the family.

Evariste married Francoise Saulnier sometime before 1865, but the exact date has escaped us. In 1845 his father Philippe, deeded him one third of his land in Cheticamp. A photocopy of that deed is shown in the Picture Gallery of Chapter VI. The deed was quite faded when it was photographed with high contrast film, but with a magnifying glass, almost all of it can be read.

Most of the descendants of Evariste currently live in Clare, Nova Scotia. Many live in Meteghan, or in Massachusetts, although there are quite a few in other parts of Nova Scotia and the United States as of this writing. The author is one of them. He lives in Arizona.

While assembling the Genealogy, and especially during the editing process, I happened to notice a set of unhappy events in the family of Evariste. My first inclination was to call it the “curse of the legs”, but since I don’t believe in curses of any kind, I decided to just label it what it was . . . an odd set of circumstances.

Evariste died of gangarene in the foot. His son Alexandre fell under the wheels of a train and had both legs cut off. He died shortly thereafter. A second son, Jean Adrian (my grandfather), was hit by a car in Salisbury, Massachusetts. As it was told to me, both his legs were broken. He died from pneumonia as a result of the accident. James, another of Evariste’s sons, was cut in half in a sawmill accident. Evariste’s grandson, Bernard L. Geddry Sr. (my father), went down an open manhole on his motorcycle around 1920. He refused to allow the doctors to amputate his leg. He spent the rest of his life in pain with a severe limp. Evariste’s great grandson Gustave also lost a leg in a train accident but survived the trauma to live a normal life. Another great grandson, Louis Armstrong lost two legs to diabetes before he passed away. And, incredibly, in 1965, while on a trip to Meteghan, my the wife Virginia fell down the stairs in Mary Ann Comeau Jeddry’s house and, of course, broke her leg. I hope the string has ended. “5450

    ____________________

“ Children of Joseph-Jacques (Belliveau) and their spouses:

. . .

Ann Pierre Guidry, son of Augustin Guidry, pioneer of Cheticamp, now St. Alphonse

. . . “5451

    ___________________

“ Catalogue of the Families of the Parishes of St. Mary’s Bay and St. Mandé etc. 1818-1823

. . . .

. 211
Augustin Guiddery ) c obiit
Marie Janson ) c (745)
Jean 28 ans ) c
Rosalie Clotilde Robichau ) c “5383,5384

Note: Augustin Guiddery, Marie Janson, Jean Guiddery and Rosalie Clotilde Robichau were confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church (the ‘c’ beside their names indicates ‘confirmed’). Also, Augustin Guiddery is deceased at the time that this catalogue was compiled (the ‘obiit’ indicates ‘deceased’).
 

Daryl LaBine5381 indicates that Augustin Guédry dit Grivois married a second time about 1795 at Baie Sainte Marie, Nova Scotia to Angèle Saulnier. He attributes information on this second marriage of Augustin Guédry to Elaine Rose Jeddry, daughter of Daniel Jeddry and Celine Boudreau, and an employee at the Centre Acadien at the Université Sainte-Anne. I can find no other record of a second marriage for Augustin Guédry.

    ____________________

Daryl LaBine5381 states that Augustin Guédry dit Grivois (Augustin Guildry dit LaBine) was married twice - first to Marie Françoise Jeanson by whom he had seven children and second to Angéle Saulnier by whom he had four children. There is no other record that can be found that supports this conclusion.5452 All other records state that he married only Marie-Françoise Jeanson by whom he had at least nine children. Furthermore, two of the children that Daryl LaBine attributes to his second marriage were actually sons of Hermat-Pierre Gedree and Marie Anne Belliveau and of Romain Guedry and Marie Comeau. The parents of Celestin Honoré Guédry (Celestin Simple Jedrey) were Hermat-Pierre Gedree and Marie Anne Belliveau. The parents of Hilaire Augustin Guedry were Romain Guedry and Marie Comeau. Not enough information is provided about the other two sons listed of the second marriage to determine their parentage. These two sons were Ben Guedry and Honoré Guedry.

    ____________________

Daryl LaBine5381 states that Augustin Guédry died on 15 February 1826 in Meteghan, Nova Scotia while Bona Arsenault5350 and Mark Labine4811 state that he died in 1826 at Meteghan, Nova Scotia. Daryl LaBine attributes information on the death of Augustin Guédry to Elaine Rose Jeddry, daughter of Daniel Jeddry and Celine Boudreau, and an employee at the Centre Acadien at the Université Sainte-Anne. Bernard Geddry5452 indicates that he died between 1818 and 1822 based on the 1818-1822 census of Father Ligogne. It is uncertain which timeframe is correct for the death date of Augustin Guédry.

Augustin Guédry dit Grivois
Augustin Guedry dit Grivois
Augustin Guédry
Augustin Guedry
augustin guedry
augustin duedry
Augustine Guildry dit LaBine
Antoine Augustin Guédry
Antoine Augustin Guedry
Augustine Guildry dit LaBine
Augustin Gedree
Augustine Gedree
Augustine Guiddery
Augustin Guiddery Sr.
Augustine Jedry
Augustin Giddery
Augustin Giddery, senior
Augustin Guiddery
Augustin Guidry
Augustin Guidry dit Grivois
Augustin Geddry
Augustin Gettry
Antoine Grivois
augustin guidri
Augustin Guédrie
Augustin Guédrie Grivois
Mr. Jedry
Mr. Guiddery
Grivois
Old Grivois

“ GUILLAUME JEANSON dit BILLY, 1722, fils de Guillaume et d’Elizabeth Corporon, marié, vers 1743, à Marie (Josette) Aucoin, fille de René et de Madeleine Bourg. Enfants: Marie-Françoise, 1744; Marguerite, 1748; Jean-Baptiste, 1752; Eusèbe-Michel, 1761; Michel, 1764; Jean-Paul, 1767; Elizabeth, 1770. Il était à Windsor en 1768 et 1769, à la baie Sainte-Marie en 1774 et à Carleton en 1777, où il s’est établi. “

Translation:
“GUILLAUME JEANSON dit BILLY, 1722, son of Guillaume and of Elizabeth Corporon, married about 1743 to Marie (Josette) Aucoin, daughter of René and of Madeleine Bourg. Children: Marie-Françoise, 1744; Marguerite, 1748; Jean-Baptiste, 1752; Eusèbe-Michel, 1761; Michel, 1764; Jean-Paul, 1767; Elizabeth, 1770. He was at Windsor in 1768 and 1769, at Bay Sainte-Marie in 1774 and at Carleton in 1777 where he has settled. “5453

    ____________________

“ GUILLAUME JEANSON dit BILLY, né en 1722, fils de Guillaume et d’Elizabeth Corporon, marié vers 1743 à Marie Aucoin, fille de René et de Madeleine Bourg. Enfants: Marie-Françoise, 1744; Marguerite, 1748; Jean-Baptiste, 1752; Michel, 1764; Jean-Paul, 1767; Elizabeth, 1770. Des membres de cette famille se sont établis à Carleton et à Maria, dans le comté de Bonaventure, d’autres à la Baie Sainte-Marie en Nouvelle-Ecosse et au Madawaska, au Nouveau-Brunswick. “

Translation:
“ GUILLAUME JEANSON dit BILLY, born in 1722, son of Guillaume and of Elizabeth Corporon, married about 1743 to Marie Aucoin, daughter of René and of Madeleine Bourg. Children: Marie-Françoise, 1744; Marguerite, 1748; Jean-Baptiste, 1752; Michel, 1764; Jean-Paul, 1767; Elizabeth, 1770. Some members of this family have settled at Carleton and at Maria in the County of Bonaventure, others at Bay Sainte-Marie in Nova Scotia and at Madawaska in New Brunswick. “5389

    ____________________

“ MARIE-FRANCOISE JEANSON, 1744, fille de Guillaume et de Marie Aucoin, épousa à Windsor, le 8 mai 1769, Augustin Guédry, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau. “

Translation:
“ MARIE-FRANCOISE JEANSON, 1744, daughter of Guillaume and of Marie Aucoin, wed at Windsor 8 May 1769 Augustin Guédry, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau. “5410

    ____________________

“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, 1740, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié civilement, vers 1767, à Marie-Françoise Jeanson, fille de Guillaume et de Marie Aucoin. Enfants: Hermel-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. Son mariage a été réhabilité à Windsor (Pisiguit), le 8 mai 1769. Il demeura à Windsor de 1767 à 1772 et il s’est établi à Chéticamp (Matéghan), à la baie Sainte-Marie, où il est décédé en 1826. “

Translation:
“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, 1740, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married civilly about 1767 to Marie-Françoise Jeanson, daughter of Guillaume and of Marie Aucoin. Children: Hermel-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. His marriage was rehabilitated at Windsor (Pisiguit) 8 May 1769. He lived at Windsor from 1767 to 1772 and he settled at Chéticamp (Matéghan) on Bay Sainte-Marie where he died in 1826. “5350

    ____________________

“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, né en 1740, fils de Pierre et de Marguerite Brasseau, marié vers 1767 à Marie-Françoise Jeanson, fille de Billie Jeanson. Enfants: Hermat-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. Cette famille était à Pisiguit, en 1768 et en 1770, et s’est établie à Chéticamp, Cap-Breton, vers 1774. “

Translation:
“ AUGUSTIN GUEDRY, born in 1740, son of Pierre and of Marguerite Brasseau, married about 1767 to Marie-Françoise Jeanson, daughter of Billie Jeanson. Children: Hermat-Pierre, 1767; Joseph-Félix, 1770; Augustin, 1771; Anne, 1773. This family was a Pisiguit en 1768 and in 1770 and settled at Chéticamp, Cape Breton about 1774. “5182

    ____________________

“ CHAPTER IV
AUGUSTIN ESCAPES, SETTLES IN ST. MARY’S BAY

Augustin Gedree was born in 1740, in either Pisiquit or Île Royale. He married Marie Francoise Jeanson around 1767, the year his father died. Augustin was the son of Pierre Guedry dit LaBine and Marguerite Brasseau and the grandson of Claude Guedry dit Grivois and Marguerite Petitpas. He is the ancestor of all the Guedry, Geddry, Guidrey, Guiddry, Jeddry and Jedrey families in Clare, Nova Scotia and New England.

Augustin is my great, great, great, grandfather. Somehow that seems a very close relationship for two people born almost two full centuries apart. The reason can be found by reviewing the Genealogy. Augustin and I are so close because I am the result of a string of births that happened when the age of the male members of the family averaged thirty-nine years.

Augustin Escapes

Augustin was captured by the English but was never deported. He was not deported because he escaped. He never left Acadia. This is his story.

In 1754, Augustin’s father Pierre dit LaBine was in Merligueche, probably with his family. Pierre is recorded as having surrendered to the English “at the time of the exile”, probably in 1755, on Île St-Jean (Prince Edward Island). Perhaps Augustin, then 14 or 15 years old was “taken” while Pierre was in Merligueche. Perhaps he was captured or detained at the time of his father’s surrender on Île St-Jean. In any case he was put on board a ship ready to sail for the English colonies. Somehow Augustin escaped from the ship before it sailed. Legend has it that he swam ashore and made a run for it, eventually making his way to La Heve in the region of Cape Sable, near his Grandfather’s old stomping grounds.

It is quite possible, but not verified, that the name of the ship he escaped from was the Pembroke. The Pembroke is recorded as the only ship that had experienced a mass escape of Acadian prisoners in 1755. It was docked at Goat Island off the shore of Port Royal when the escape took place.

Why Augustin would have been transported to Port Royal from Merligueche or Ile St Jean is unknown. A possible reason is “lack of transport”, not enough ships, to do the deed. English records are replete with complaints about “lack of transport”. If Augustin had been captured while Pierre was in Merligueche, and then was brought to Port Royal because transport was available there, that would explain why, when he escaped, he made his way back to Le Heve in the Merligueche area. He would have thought his father was still there.

We know that Augustin lived among the Micmac Indians for at least eight years. He remained a free man, one of the few Acadians who managed to do so. Of course he lived in constant fear of capture, but being the product of at least two generations of Coureurs de Bois, would have been quite comfortable living that way.

Augustin Settles in St. Mary’s Bay

In 1763, when the Acadians were again free to come back to their homeland (many did not), Augustin emerged from the woods and settled quietly on the west coast of Nova Scotia on land at Gilbert’s Cove near Hobb’s Hill and west of St. Croix Chapel. We believe it was there that he met and married Marie Jeanson and where at least three of their children, Hermat-Pierre, Joseph Felix and Augustin Jr. were born. In 1900, that land was owned by M. Charles Mande Melancon.

The couple initially entered into a civil marriage before witnesses in 1767. Their marriage was “rehabilitated” in a Church ceremony by a missionary from Windsor (now Truro) on May 8, 1769. One source reports that when English Colonists moved in beside him in 1787, he moved down the coast of St. Mary’s Bay, obtained a Grant of Land and became the pioneer settler of Cheticamp. This was certainly understandable given what he and his family had experienced under the English.

Bona Arsenault believed and had written in his books that Augustin settled in Cheticamp, Cape Breton. I wrote him and explained that there were two Cheticamps, the second in the St. Mary’s Bay area of Nova Scotia. At first he rejected the idea. Then one morning at seven A. M., while I was still asleep, the phone rang. The operator said, “Please hold for a call from the Office of the Vice-Premier of Canada”. That woke me up. Bona Arsenault, who was then a Member of Parliament, and for some reason was calling from that office, came on the line and apologized for not taking my Cheticamp, St. Mary’s Bay claim seriously at first, but, being the good Genealogist he was, he had looked into it and had now concluded I was correct. He told me I “would get full credit” in his future writings on the subject. I never checked. Bona and I had several other conversations over the next few months. I believe it was he who directed me to Father Partrice Gallant at the University of Moncton, New Brunswick.

The remainder of Augustine’s children were born in Cheticamp, St. Mary’s Bay, now known as St. Alphonse. During my visit to Meteghan in 1965, I was brought to a house, in St. Alphonse, that, I was told had been built by Augustin’s son Philippe. The story was that old Augustin might have lived out his final days there and this his son Evariste, my great grandfather was born there. In 1965, the house was owned by the Deveau family. There is a photograph of the house, substantially modified since the original of course, in the Picture Gallery.

A list of Augustin’s children is shown in Table 4. There is a gap of 10 years between Anne and Philippe. It is possible there were other children, but if there were, I have found no record of them.

Table 4
Children of Augustin Gedree and Marie Jeanson

Name Year of Birth

Hermat-Pierre 1767
Joseph Felix 1770
Augustin 1771
Anne 1773
Philippe 1783
Romain 1784
Frederic 1790
Jean 1790

Augustin, his son Augustin, Hermat-Pierre and Philippe appear on the Annapolis County Poll Tax record of 1792. At that time their name was spelled Gedree. The Pierre listed in the record is Hermat-Pierre.

The next we hear of Augustin’s children is in a census taken over the years 1818 to 1822 by Father Ligogne. In that census and subsequent censuses taken by the same Priest, we find the Gedrees, Philippe, some of his brothers, some of his children and Philippe’s mother, Marie Jeanson, still living in the St. Mary’s Bay area. Some lived in Meteghan, another in Plympton.

The 1818-1822 census indicates that Augustin was “deceased”. We interpret this confusing statement to mean Augustin died sometime between 1818 and 1822 while married to Marie-Jeanson.

Other entries indicate that Marie was living with her son Jean and his wife Rosalie Clothilde Robichau from 1822 to 1827 at least. Marie Jeanson was no longer living with her son according to the Ligogne census of 1840-1843, meaning she had probably passed away by then.

At least one Genealogist has suggested that Augustin had a second wife. I have found no evidence of it and there appears to be no knowledge of it within the family. The census of Father Ligogne seems to contradict it as well.

Four of Augustin’s Children Establish Families

Records indicate that two of Augustin’s children established families that remain today in the St. Mary’s Bay area and parts of New England, primarily Massachusetts. They are Hermat-Pierre and Philippe. I was told that Frederic and Jean also established families in the Nova Scotia/Cape Breton area but their trails has been harder to follow. I have included as much information as I was able to find about them in the narrative.

Of these four, the most extensive families, or at least the ones we know the most about, are those begun by Philippe and Hermat-Pierre. Hermat-Pierre’s name has been carried down through family records simply as Pierre. “5412

    ____________________

“ Some Acadians evaded the dragnet of Winslow’s and Handfield’s troops at Grand-Pré and at Annapolis, and escaped to the woods. We have already seen that Pierre Belliveau and his followers escaped deportation with the help of Indians. Others like Augustin Guiddery, also known as ‘Grivois’, did likewise, but took another route. It seems that Augustin lived part of the period between 1755 and 1764 in the La Have area. In 1764 he settled at what was known in the early 1900’s as Hobb’s Hill, west of the Sainte Croix Church at Plympton.

Augustin Guiddery and his wife Marie Johnson, daughter of William (Billie) Johnson, later moved to Cheticamp, now St. Alphonse, where he was one of the grantees of lot no. 146. “5413

[NOTE: Today the site of Augustin Guédry’s homesite (Hobb’s Hill) is 6860 Highway 1 at Gilbert’s Cove, Nova Scotia - just west of the Sainte-Croix Church at Plympton.]

    ____________________

“ Some Acadians evaded the vigilance of Winslow’s and Handfield’s troops at Grand-Pré and at Annapolis, and escaped to the woods. We have already seen that Pierre Belliveau and his followers escaped deportation with the help of the Indians. Others like Augustin Guiddery, also known as ‘Grivois’, did likewise, but took another route. It seems that Augustin lived part of the period between 1755 and 1764 in the LaHave Area. In 1764 he settled at what was known in the early 1900’s as Hobb’s Hill, west of the Sainte Croix Church at Plympton. Augustin Guiddery and his wife, Marie Johnson, daughter of William (Billie) Johnson, later moved to Cheticamp, now Saint Alphonse, where he was one of the grantees of lot no. 146. “5414

    ____________________

“ Every author and every oral tradition concerning the settlement of Clare stresses the fact that Joseph Dugas came with his wife, expecting her second child, and his very young daughter, and that as a family they survived their first winter on Saint Mary’s Bay. (1)

The following year Joseph Dugas’ family was joined by “seven other families” (2), says Wilson. Haliburton mentions 175 families in 1800 (3).

Before Joseph Dugas settled at LeBlanc Cove in Calre, Augustin Guiddery had moved with his family from La Have to the Plympton area of Saint Mary’s Bay. (4)

(1) This fact is mentioned by Isaiah W. Wilson (see No. 2 below); by Rev. P. M. Dagnaud, Les Français du Sud-Ouest de la N.-E.; by Placide Gaudet in his Genealogical Notes, Public Archives of Canada.

(2) Isaiah W. Wilson, A Geography and History of the County of Digby, Halifax 1900, page 30.

(3) Hailburton, History of Nova Scotia, Halifax, 1829, Vol. 11 p. 172.

(4) Bernard Guiddery, unpublished manuscript. “5418

    ___________________

“ Le vingt huit aout 1768 jai baptise sous conditions les cydessous nommés qui avoient tous etés ondoyés ny ayant pas de missionaire dupuis une dixaine d’années a pisiguid.

. . . .

hermet pierre 8 mois fils d’augustin et de marie jamson. par[ein] joseph grangé mareine marie aucoin.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly ptre. “

Translation:
“ The twenty-eighth of August 1768 I have baptized on condition those named below who have all been privately baptized not having any missionary for ten years at pisiquid.

. . . .

hermet pierre 8 months son of augustin and of marie jamson. godfather joseph grangé godmother marie aucoin.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly priest. “5419,5420

    ____________________


“ Le huit de mai 1769 apres La publication de trois bancs de mariages faites au proné dela messe paroissiale le 30 avril, 4 mai, et le sept entre augustin guidri et marie jamson d’ayant decouvert aucun empechement de mariage entre eux nous avons recus leur mutuel consentement et Leur avons donné La benediction nuptiale selon la forme prescrite par notre mere La sainte eglise romaine etce enpresence de plusieurs temoins.

charles francois Bailly ptre vic g. “

Translation:
“ The eighth of May 1769 after the publication of three banns of marriage made in the sermons of the parish mass on 30 April, 4 May and the seventh between augustin guidri and marie jamson having not discovered any impediment of marriage between them we have received their mutual consent and have given them the nuptial blessing according to the prescribed form by our mother the holy roman church and in the presence of several witnesses.

charles francois Bailly priest vicar general “5421,5422

    ____________________


Le 12 janvier 1770 a Windsor jai Baptises les cydessous nommes tous issus de Legitime mariages.

. . . .

joseph felix fils dauugstin duedry et marie jamson parein joseph arsenaud marie daigle.

. . . .

charles francois Bailly ptr mvg “

Translation:
“ The 12th of January 1770 at Windsor I have Baptised those named below all issue of Legitimate marriages.

. . . .

joseph felix son of augustin duedry and marie jamson godfather joseph arsenaud marie daigle.
. . . .

charles francois Bailly missionary priest vicar general5376,5423

    ____________________

“ B. Augustin Guedry, fils.

Le 14 oct. 1774, bapteme d’Augustin Guedry, ne le 20 juin 1771, fils d’Augustin Guedry et de Marie Jeanson. Ondoye par Michel Hache. P. Francois Comeau, m. Marguerite Comeau. “


“ B. Augustin Guidry, Jr..

The 14th October 1774, baptism of Augustin Guedry, born 20 June 1771, son of Augustin Guedry and of Marie Jeanson. Baptized by Michel Hache. Godfather Francois Comeau, godmother Marguerite Boudreau. “5424,5454

     ____________________


“ Abjuration de Marie Eagle
nee probablement vers 1776
femme d’Augustin Giddery

L’an mil sept cent quatre vingt dix neuf le onzieme aout, a ete par moi, pretre missionaire soussigne, baptisee sous condition Marie, fille de Edward Eagle et de Catherine Eagle, de la Georgie, aujourd’hui epouse legitime d’Augustin Giddery,* de cette paroisse, agee d’environ vingt trois ans, n’ayant pas de certitude suffisante de la validite du bapteme qu’elle avait recu etant petite dans une des communions protestantes qu’elle a abandonee le dit jour en faisant abjuration de l’erreur des protestants et faisant profession de la foi de la religion catholique, apostolique et romaine. Le parrain a ete Simon Saulnier, laboureur, la marraine Marie-Suzanne Amirault de cette paroisse, qui ont declare ne savoir signer ainsi que la baptisee et son mari present. Ont ensuite signe comme temoins:

Joseph Mieuce Marque
John McCullough Marie X Eagle
Frederic Belliveau
Amable Doucet Sigogne, pretre
Dennis Doucet

*Note, probablement par Placide Gaudet: nee 20 juin 1771, fils d’Augustin Guedry et de Marie Jeanson. “



“ Abjuration of Marie Eagle
born probably about 1776
wife of Augustin Giddery

The 11th of August 1799, was conditionally baptised by me, the undersigned missionary priest, Marie, daughter of Edward Eagle and Catherine Eagle, of Georgia, now the legitimate wife of Augustin Giddery,* of this parish, aged about 23 years, not having sufficient certainty of the validity of the baptism she received as a child in one of the Protestant communions which she has abandoned this day in abjuring the error of the Protestants and professing the Catholic, apostolic, and Roman religion. The godfather was Simon Saulnier, laborer, the godmother, Marie Suzanne Amirault of this parish, who declared they did not know how to sign, as did the person baptized and her husband, present. The following signed as witnesses:

Joseph Mieuce Her
John McCullough Marie X Eagle
Frederic Belliveau Mark
Amable Doucet
Dennis Doucet Sigogne, Priest

*Note, probably by Placide Gaudet: born 20 June 1771, son of Augustin Guedry and of Marie Jeanson. “5426,5427

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have administered the ceremonies of baptism to Jean age about seven years, born of the legitimate marriage between Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JANSON (JOHNSON) of this parish, he having been previously baptised by a lay person for lack of a priest. The godfather was Pierre GIDDERY, brother of the child and the godmother was Anne BELLIVEAU, wife of the said Pierre GIDDERY also of this parish, who have declared they do not know how to sign. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5429

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Joseph, born the 3rd of October 1796 of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, he having been baptised by Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), his grandmother, for lack of priest; thus have the father and mother, present at the ceremony, declared to me. The godfather was Romain GIDDERY, uncle of the child, and the godmother Marguerite BELLIVEAU, his aunt, also of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5430

    ___________________

“ The twenty-fifth of August 1799 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Marie Anne, born the 10th of July 1798 of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, she having been baptised by Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), her grandmother, for lack of a priest; thus have the father and mother of the child assured me, present at the ceremony. The godfather was Frederic GIDDERY, her uncle, and the godmother Marguerite GIDDERY, her aunt, also of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5428,5430

    ___________________

“ 28 Pierre Guedry & Anne Belliveau

Le 19 janvier 1800, rehab. du mariage de Pierre Giddery, fils d’Augustin et de Marie Jeanson, a Anne Belliveau, fille de Joseph Jacques Belliveau et de Marguerite Robichaud, maries auparavant en presence de temoins. “


“ 28 Pierre Guedry & Anne Belliveau

The 19th of January 1800, revalidation of the marriage of Pierre Giddery, son of Augustin (Giddery) and Marie Jeanson, to Anne Belliveau, daughter of Joseph Jacques Belliveau and Marguerite Robichaud, previously married in the presence of witnesses. “5431,5432

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“ The nineteenth of January 1800 after the publication of three banns of marriage at the parish Mass for three different days, namely 29 December 1799, the first and the Sunday following, fifth of January between Pierre GIDDERY, son of Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JEANSON (JOHNSON) on one part and Anne BELLIVEAU daughter of Joseph Jacques BELLIVEAU and Marguerite ROBICHEAU on the other part, both of this parish, under which there was no canonical impediment found, I the undersigned priest have given the nuptial blessing with the ceremonies of the church, in presence of Frederic BELLIVEAU, uncle of the bride and Anselme BELLIVEAU, her cousin-germain, of Charles BELLIVEAU, her brother, of Jean BELLIVEAU, also her brother, all habitants of this parish. The said parties were previously united together in marriage with the approval and consent of their respective parents with the promise to present themselves at the church at the first occasion when there would be a legitimate pastor in the parish; thus have I been assured by the mother of the bride, by Frederic BELLIVEAU, principal witness and by the other persons heretofore named, of which one signed: Charles BELLIVEAU; /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5433,5434

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“ The nineteenth of January 1800 I the undersigned priest supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Monique born the 6th of October of the year 1799 of the legitimate marriage between Jean GUILLAUT and Marie CLERMONT of this parish, she having been baptised in my absence by Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), midwife; thus has been spoken to me by the mother of the child, present at the ceremony. The godfather was Jean Baptiste SAULNIER and the godmother Marie GUILLAUT, sister of the child, alos of this parish, they having said they did not know how to sign. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5455,5437

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“ 30 Jean Bte. Saulnier & Theotiste Guedry

Le 20 janvier 1800, rehabilitation du mariage de Jean Baptiste Saulnier, fils de Pierre Saulnier et de Madeleine Boudreau, a Theotiste Giddery, fille d’Augustin et de Marie Jeanson, maries auparavant le 9 janvier 1798. “

“ 30 Jean Bte. Saulnier & Theotiste Guedry

The 20th of January 1800, revalidation of the marriage of Jean Baptiste Saulnier, son of Pierre Saulnier and Madeleine Boudreau, to Theotiste Giddery, daughter of Augustin (Giddery) and Marie Jeanson, previously married 9 January 1798. “5431,5435

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“ The twentieth of January 1800 after three publications of marriage (sic) at the parish Mass, on three different days, namely Sunday, 29 December 1799, the first January and the Sunday fifth of the same month of the year 1800 between Jean Baptiste SAULNIER, son of Pierre SAULNIER and Magdelaine BOUDREAU of this parish on one part, and between Theotiste GIDDERY, daughter of Augustin GIDDERY and Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), also of this parish on the other part, under which there was not found any canonical impediment, I the undersigned priest have given the nuptial blessing to them with ceremonies prescribed by the Holy Catholic Church, in presence of Francois COMEAU, senior, of Charles DOUCET, Frederic BELLIVEAU and Frederic MELANCON and several other persons, habitants of this parish, of whom several signed. The parties were joined together at the time of their marriage before several witnesses for lack of a priest with the approval of their fathers and mothers, with the promise to present themselves at the church on the first occasion of there being a priest in the area; this was verified by a writ dated 9 January 1798, with the marks of the spouses, of Anselme PRITCHARD, Joseph SAULNIER and Jean Baptiste SAULNIER the younger. /s/ Frederic BELLIVEAU, Charles DOUCET; Sigogne, priest. “5436,5437

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“ The nineteenth of April 1801 I the undersigned priest have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Jean Benjamin, born the second of September of the preceding year of the legitimate marriage between Pierre GIDDERY and Anne BELLIVEAU of this parish, he having been previously baptised by Joseph COMEAU in necessity and because of the distance from the church; thus has it been told me by Joseph COMEAU and the mother of the child. The godfather was Joseph BELLIVEAU, grandfather of the child, and the godmother Marie JANSON (JOHNSON), wife of Augustin GIDDERY, also grandmother of the child, of this parish. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5442,5443

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“ The twenty-eighth of June 1801 I have supplied the ceremonies of baptism to Frederic, born the 16th of March of the said year of the legitimate marriage between Pierre LEBLANC and Anne COMEAU of this parish, he having been previously baptised out of necessity by Marie JANSON, wife of Augustin GIDDERY, senior, midwife, thus it has been told me by the father and the mother of the child. The godfather was Charles COMEAU, uncle of the child and the godmother Rosalie DOUCET, daughter of Denis DOUCET, also of this parish, they having declared they do not know how to sign. /s/ Sigogne, priest. “5456,5457

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" THE DIARY OF FRANCOIS LAMBERT BOURNEUF

. . .

To St. Mary’s Bay

In 1813 . . .

. . .

On the first day I reached Beaver River. I slept there, and the next morning, I had breakfast at Archange Deveau's (1). After breakfast, I started to cross the Salmon River, but Jacques Deveau (2) ran after me and told me that it was impossible to cross the river before the tide was out. He took me to his home to await the low tide. I had dinner there, and I left about one-thirty in the afternoon.

In Pubnico, I have been told to watch out for a man named Antoine Grivois (3), as he has instigated the arrest of two French prisoners. But the very first person I met was Grivois.

As I passed his house, he saw me, then saddled his black horse and galloped to catch up to me. He asked me all kinds of questions - his tongue never stopped - and he was as ugly as sin. He accompainied me as far as Meteghan, where there was a man who owned a store that sold all sorts of merchandise, including liquor, though he did not have a license. I entered the store and asked the proprietor, Mr. Sullivan (4), for a glass of rum. He said that he did not have any to sell. When I told Grivois what had happened, he said that if I had let him ask for it, he would have obtained some.

It was one hour before sunset. Grivois went into the store to have a drink, and I continued up the bay. The Grivois rejoined me. When we arrived at the house of old Justinien Comeau (5), Grivois said, 'There is in this house a smart woman, but the man is an ox.' We covered two miles together, then Grivois took a side road, to go to one of his sons-in-law, Jean Baptiste Thériault (6). Before he departed, I asked him where the nearest inn was. He told me that there was one three miles away, at Major Comeau’s (7).

(1) Archange Deveau was born in 1787, son of Jean Deveau and Marie Maillet. He and his wife, Rosalie Doucet, lived about one hundred yards from the Salmon River.

(2) Jacques Deveau was the first Acadian settler at Salmon River, arriving in 1786. He was born on Ile-Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island) in 1726 and, historians say, lived to a very old age.

(3) Antoine Grivois was really Augustin Guidry, one of the founders of St. Alphonse de Clare, between Meteghan and Mavillette. Grivois, meaning ‘ribald’ was a long-standing nickname for the Guidry family. Augustin Guidry married Marie Johnson, daughter of William Johnson, of Annapolis Royal.

(4) Mr. Sullivan was an Irish immigrant in Meteghan. He first kept a store, then his family operated the Meteghan-Petit Passage ferry.

(5) Justinien Comeau, son of François Comeau and Madeleine Lord, was born in 1729 at Chipoudy, New Brunswick. In 1756, he married Natalie Bastarache. He purchased Deputy Provincial Surveyor John Morrison’s land grant at Meteghan River.

(6) Jean-Baptiste Thériault, son of Alexis Thériault, was married to Augustin Guidry’s daughter Marie Joseph.

(7) Major François Comeau was the son of François Comeau and Félicité LeBlanc. He married Marguerite Melanson, and they had seven children. They lived in the village now known as
Comeauville. “5372

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“ Catalogue of the Families of the Parishes of St. Mary’s Bay and St. Mandé etc. 1818-1823

. . . .

. 211
Augustin Guiddery ) c obiit
Marie Janson ) c (745)
Jean 28 ans ) c
Rosalie Clotilde Robichau ) c “5383,5384

Note: Augustin Guiddery, Marie Janson, Jean Guiddery and Rosalie Clotilde Robichau were confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church (the ‘c’ beside their names indicates ‘confirmed’). Also, Augustin Guiddery is deceased at the time that this catalogue was compiled (the ‘obiit’ indicates ‘deceased’).

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“ Catalogue of the Families of the Parishes of St. Mary’s Bay and St. Mandé etc. 1823-1829

. . . .

. 233
Jean Guiddery ) c
Rosalie Clotilde Robichau ) c
Ve Aug. Guiddery +{Marie Janson} c obiit 1561
Valentin 13 Février 1825
Augustin Hilaire 8 Avril 1827 “5390,5391

Note: Jean Guiddery, Rosalie Clotilde Robichau and Ve Augustin Guiddery (Marie Janson) were confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church (the ‘c’ beside their names indicates ‘confirmed’). Also, Ve Augustin Guiddery (Marie Janson) was deceased at the time that this catalogue was compiled (the ‘obiit’ indicates ‘deceased’).

None

Marie-Françoise Jeanson
Marie Françoise Jeanson
Marie Francoise Jeanson
Marie Francoise Johnson
Marie Johnson
Marie Jeanson
Marie Janson
Marie Jamson
marie jamson
Marie Johnson
Ve Aug. Guiddery (Marie Janson)