Acadia and the Acadians
Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, was settled by the French in 1607. Many of
the colonists settled in the fertile region about the Bay of Minas, an arm
of the Bay of Fundy. One of these settlements was called Grand Pre, meaning
Great Meadow. The people were industrious and thrifty and they soon attained
a considerable prosperity.
During the early period of American History, France and England were almost
continually at war with one another, and in these wars the colonists were
concerned. At the close of what is known as Queen Anne's war, in 1713,
France ceded Acadia to the English, and it has since remained in their
possession. Some thirty-five years passed before an English settlement
was made at Halifax, the Acadians in the meantime remaining in undisturbed
possession of the country. Soon after the settlement of Halifax trouble
began between the rival colonists.
The Acadians were, as a whole, a quiet and peaceable people, content to till
their farms and let the mother countries settle any disputes. Some of them
were not thus minded and they succeeded in causing considerable trouble.
Frequent attacks were made upon Halifax by the Indians who were supposed to
have been aided and encouraged by the Acadians. The Acadians had refused
to take the oath of allegiance to the English and this caused them to be
regarded with suspicion and fear. They had sworn fidelity on the condition
that they should not be required to bear arms against the French, with
whom they naturally sympathized, being of the same blood and religion. They
persistently refused to go further and swear allegiance.
The English were not without blame since it must be admitted they had
covetous eyes upon the rich farms of the Acadians and an opportunity to take
possession of them would not be unwelcome.
[Illustration: Map of Annapolis and Kings Counties.]
The strife that had so long been going on between France and England to
determine which should rule in the New World was now at a critical point.
England's power seemed to be trembling in the balance. Her defeat meant
great disaster to the Colonies. Alarmed by Braddock's failure, the Colonists
determined something must be done to prevent the Acadians giving assistance
to the French. To send them to Canada would be to strengthen the enemy,
while to transport them to any one of the Colonies would be equally unwise
since they would there be a source of danger. It was finally decided to
scatter them among the different settlements. An order was issued requiring
all the males of Grand Pre and vicinity ten years old and upwards to
assemble in the church to hear a Proclamation of the King. Failure to attend
would result in a forfeiture of all property of the individual. On the
appointed day the men gathered in the church and heard the Mandate directing
that all their property, excepting household goods and money, should be
forfeited to the Crown and they with their families should be transported to
other lands. They were held prisoners until the time of sailing, the women
and the children gathering their belongings on the beach. The expected
transports failed to arrive on time and fear of trouble led the English
to hurry their prisoners aboard the few ships in the harbor. These were
so crowded nearly all the goods had to be left behind, and in the haste
of embarking many families, lovers and friends were parted, being carried
aboard different ships bound for different ports.
On October 29th, 1755, the Acadians sailed away into exile, an "exile
without an end, and without an example in story."
There is a considerable difference of opinion as to whether such extreme
measures were justified. The English Colonists evidently felt that it was
a necessary act, an act of self-preservation. It is, perhaps, no worse than
many of the horrors of war. On the other hand the Acadians had, as a whole,
committed no overt act of disloyalty, though a few of them had done so.
Should a whole community thus suffer for the wrong doing of a few? This is
certainly a difficult question.
Those interested in the subject should read an article by Parkman in
"Harper's Magazine" for November, 1884, where he justifies the action. For
the opposite view, see "Acadia" by Edouard Richards, vol. I, chap. IV.
The following quotations will be found of interest. The first is from
Edouard Richards; the second and third from two of contemporaries of the
exiled Acadians, Moses de les Derniers and Brook Watson.
"All that vast bay, around which but lately an industrious people worked
like a swarm of bees, was now deserted. In the silent village, where the
doors swung idly in the wind, nothing was heard but the tramp of soldiery
and the lowing of cattle, wandering anxiously around the stables as if
looking for their masters....The total amount of live-stock owned by the
Acadians at the time of the deportation has been variously estimated by
different historians, or to speak more correctly, very few have paid any
attention to this subject....Rameau, who has made a much deeper study than
any other historian of the Acadians, sets the total at 130,000, comprising
horned cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs."
Edouard Richard quotes the following from two contemporaries of the exiled
Acadians. "The Acadians were the most innocent and virtuous people I have
ever known or read of in any history. They lived in a state of perfect
equality, without distinction of rank in society. The title of 'Mister' was
unknown among them. Knowing nothing of luxury, or even the conveniences of
life, they were content with a simple manner of living, which they easily
compassed by the tillage of their lands. Very little ambition or avarice
was to be seen among them; they anticipated each other's wants by kindly
liberality; they demanded no interest for loans of money or other property.
They were humane and hospitable to strangers, and very liberal toward those
who embraced their religion. They were very remarkable for their inviolable
purity of morals. If any disputes arose in their transactions, they always
submitted to the decision of an arbitrator, and their final appeal was to
their priest."--_Moses de les Derniers_.
"Young men were not encouraged to marry unless the young girl could weave
a piece of cloth, and the young man make a pair of wheels. These
accomplishments were deemed essential for their marriage settlement, and
they hardly needed anything else; for every time there was a wedding the
whole village contributed to set up the newly married couple. They built a
house for them, and cleared enough land for their immediate needs; they gave
them live stock and poultry; and nature, seconded by their own labor, soon
put them in a position to help others."--_Brook Watson_.
[Illustration: Village of Grand Pre. Rivers Gaspereau and Avon in the
distance.]