1752 Acadian Census

Categories: Acadians Project


Contents

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

The journal and census of the Sieur de la Roque from the Archives in Paris were prepared under the direction of M. le comte de Raymond, in the year 1752. La Roque commenced his work in the midst of winter and had to encounter many hardships in the performance of his task. The census appears to have been carefully made and furnishes many details of interest to-day. As an introduction to the work of the Sieur de la Roque we quote a letter of M. le comte de Raymond to the Minister dated the 5th of December, 1752, as it contains the instructions given to the surveyor, particulars concerning his qualifications, and the progress made with the census up to the end of the year.

LETTER OF THE COMTE DE RAYMOND TO THE MINISTER

LOUISBOURG 5th December 1752

MY LORD,

The ship which is to carry the despatches is not yet ready to sail and is not likely to leave for eight or ten days.

I do not know whether the Sieur de la Roque, one of the land surveyors of the colony, has as yet arrived in Paris, where he is going after he has entered into possession of an inheritance at Toulouse.

I would be sorry, My Lord, if you were not apprised before his arrival there, of his qualifications. He is a very good man full of zeal and talent. He is the son of one of the King's Musketeers, of good family, and has rendered excellent service during the last war.

He has done wonderful things here for me. It is he, who last year made a tour of Ile Royale to inspect, according to my instructions, all the ports and harbours, search for a new route to Ile au Justaucorps, which is feasible and would shorten the sea voyage between this island and Ile Royale more than fifty leagues.

I had also intrusted him with the making of a general census of the settlers on the island, name by name, men as well as women and children, their respective ages and professions, tha numbers of arpents each has of improved land, the number of their cattle, their species, fowl &c., &c., distinguishing the good workmen from those who are not, and the character of each individual. He was instructed also to examine, and inspect the most percipitous places in the island; those where troops could be most easily landed; how many ships each harbour could accommodate and their tonnage; the difficulties of making each harbour, the rocks and breakers at their entrances; what disputes exist concerning concessions and lastly a general survey of everything.

I instructed him to do the same during the summer at the Ile St. Jean. He acted as my forerunner there, and I have seen with pleasure, My Lord, during the general tour which I have made, that when I have personally reviewed the reports which he has made to me they have ail been proved correct.

This man being of good family is desirous of rising above the average and asks a brevet as sub-engineer, which I pray you to be pleased to grant. Monsieur Franquet has already taught him much, and he intends to perfect himself during his stay in France, but at the same time I have arranged with him that at present he shall not cease to be a surveyor. He will be of the very greatest assistance in the general survey, which I intend to make of this colony, as well as of Ile St. Jean, in order to come to some definite settlement of the concessions. He will take with him two other surveyors, and with his knowledge of the country, and of each concession, he will be well fitted to satisfactorily carry out the work.

I pray you, My Lord, to not only grant him the favour he greatly desires, but also to show him more kindness and allow him to return by the first boat coming here.

If you intend to send us a fourth surveyor who has some knowledge of engineering and who has the instruments necessary for the survey of this country, it would be very fitting to expedite this most interesting work.

Two surveyors could go one way and two the other. I know that to maintain four surveyors here will be putting the King to much expense, but I also know that at the present time they are very necessary, and will be so until the land granting business is cleared up, and ail the concessions have been put in order and the boundaries determined; a work which cannot be begun too soon. It would not be necessary to keep more than two afterwards, one in this colony and the other at Ile St Jean. The two others could be utilised on other work, or returned to France.

Les Sieurs Chatton and Roche who are the other two surveyors, and of whom nothing but good can be said, have not yet received payment of the three hundred livres which you had the goodness to grant to each of them towards the cost of their passage to this country. I beg you, My Lord, to be pleased to send orders that they be paid, for I assure you they have great need of this small sum as they cannot live here within the limits of their eight hundred livres of pay.

I have the honour, etc,

LE COMTE DE RAYMOND.

TOUR OF INSPECTION UNDERTAKEN BY LE SIEUR DE LA ROQUE

Tour of inspection undertaken by le Sieur de la Roque, King's Surveyor, by order of M. le Comte de Raymond, Chevalier, Seigneur d'Oye, la Cour and other places; Brigadier General; His Majesty's Lieutenant of the Towns and Castles of Angoulême; Governor and Commandant of Isles Royale, St Jean and others and their dependencies. This tour through all the ports, harbours, creeks, rivers and to all places in Isle Royale, generally, where there are settlers, was commenced on the fifth of February, 1752.

Louisbourg

This said 5th day of February, 1752, we, Joseph de la Roque, in consequence of orders and instructions given to us by M. le Comte de Raymond, left the town of Louisbourg, the capital of Isle Royale, at one o'clock in the afternoon, in rainy weather, and at four o'clock in the evening of the same day arrived at the dwelling of the Sr. Pierre Boisseau, situate on the road to Miré, two leagues from Louisbourg.

We found in the said house an old soldier of the garrison of Louisbourg, Pierre Bonne, aged 61. He is a native of St. Pierre de Roumoulon, diocese of Xaintes, has neither trade nor profession, and is in the service of the said Pierre Boisseau.

On being asked the extent of the concession, by whom granted and when; the quantity of cleared and meadow land and of fallow land; and what use could be made of the land; he answered us that he knew nothing about the extent or boundaries of the concession; in regard to the cleared land, that was in grass, and from it they had harvested from 130 to 140 quintals of hay, the nature of the soil being most favourable for growing hay.

The said Sieur Boisseau had no live stock.

Except a lake lying to the left of the road we observed nothing worthy of note throughout the whole distance of two leagues. This lake discharges its water into the stream of Pointe Plate, by which stream they are carried to the sea at the harbour of Gabarus. The land is clothed with fir of all descriptions.

Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, in bright sunshine, we set out from the said dwelling for Gabarus. We continued to follow the highway for half a league, and then took a blazed road, which led us to the further end of the gorge of the Montagne du Diable, on the sea shore at the harbour of Gabarus. The length of this road is placed at three leagues.

All the woods are of beech and the surface of the ground is extremely rough.

The Bay of Garbus

This bay is formed by thé Pointe du Dehors and thé Pointe Blanche Thèse points lie about north east and south west at a distance f roin each other of some three leagues giving thé bay a circuit of six leagues inland on thé north west of thé island

Between Pointe Blanche and Cormorandière a good half league distant from Louisbourg lies Pointe Plate thé exact place on which thé English made a descent and landed thé army in thé year 1745 The land between thé town of Louisbourg and this point is very rough and marshy with ten to twelve feeb of peat which neither dries up nor condenses owing to thé gréât quantity of water with which every part is usually covered

Nor would it be easy to make practical drainage for thé reason that nearly ail thé marshes are pierced by ridges which partake of thé nature of rocks The bottom beneath thé ten or twelve feet of peat is a mixture of rich soil f ull of and traversed by rocks thé whole producing a petrified mass and extremely difficult to remove

Ail thèse considérations lead to thé conclusion that should thé enemy attempt to make a descent at this part of thé bay they would find it very difficult if not impracticable to transport artillery across such rough country

The distance from Cormorandière to Pointe aux Basques or to Point du Dehors is estimated at four leagues Within this distance we find-

1 Between la Cormorandière and thé gorge of thé above mentioned Montagne du Diable there lie several creeks practicable for landing from beats Thèse creeks are re spectively half a league a league and a league and a half distant from thé site of one of thé projected redoubts on thé said Cormorandière on which a landing could be made without running any risk of danger The distance between thé gorge of thé said mountain to thé Pointe du Dehors is about two leagues and between them there rises a bank of sand half a league in length and from 40 to 50 toises in width extending from thé foot of thé said mountain to a stream which forms thé boundary of thé home steads of thé Sieur Duchambon and thé heirs of Pierre Rondeau

On this bank it would be possible to effect a landing at ail times and tides except during a heavy gale and thé redoubts to be thrown out on Pointe Plate and on thé Coimorandière would offer no opposition on accouiit of their distance

But it is probable that thèse two projected redoubts will be very useful in prevent ing thé enemy from efiecting a landing as near thé place as they did during thé last war and should a landing on thé said sand bank be effected even then thé impracticable roads they must follow in order to attack thé said redoubts and gain thé road to Miré are thé true guarantees for their security seeing that it is morally impossible to tranport any kind of artillery across thé lands in this locality or by way of thé per pendicular banks of thé streams which intersect them

It is estimated that thé distance between thé said sand bank and thé Pointe du Dehors is two leagues and at a quarter of a leagu to thé south east lies a creek where vessels anchor in four or five fathons of water and sheltered generally from ail winds except from thé north which blows off land This bay where a very promising commencement for thé settlement of a colony has been made is suitable for thé cod fishery there is also an abundance of pasturage for raising a gréât quantity of live stock and thé land is also good for cultivation


Census

The homesteads that hâve been granted on thé said Bay of Gabarus and thé inhabitants who hâve settled there men as well as women boys girls domestics thirty six months men live stock schooners bateaux skiffs boats fec

M Degouttin a lot situated on thé Pointe du Dehors unimproved
T M Daillebou a pièce of land situated along thé coast Not cultivated
M Thiery a pièce of ground situated on thé coast (adjoining thé above) Uncultivated
M de St Ovide and now occupied by M St de Chambon There are at présent two settlers on it
M Rondeau a pièce of ground situated in thé middle of thé said bay There is one settler at work thereon
Sixton Huiker ploughman native of Switzerland aged 42 years married to Marie Jeanne Esteruine native of Dailledan Switzerland aged 35 years and their children as follows:-
Joseph Huiker aged 16 years
Angélique Huiker aged 9 years
Both natives of Louisbourg The man occupies about two arpents of cleared land to make a garden in which he will sow ail kinds of grain as an experiment to discover which will do best He has a skiff
The land on which he is settled belongs to M du Chambon
Jeanne Baudry widow of François Clermont native of Plaisance aged 45 years
She has three children who are
François Clermont aged 33 years of âge
Pierre Clermont aged 27 years
Jeanne Clermont aged 15 years
Three hired fishermen who are
Etienne Daguerre native of Louisbourg aged 33 years
Pierre Tuillier native of Dieppe aged 27 years
François Durand native of Dinant aged 27 years
Three boats one sow and five young pigs
The land on which she is settled is situated on thé creek au Major a part of thé homestead of M du Chambon
Pierre Duport ploughman settler in thé Colony for one year having received rations for that time for himself and his family native of thé parish of Sonneville in Abbeville diocèse of La Rochelle aged 32 years
Jeanne Métayer his wife native of thé same parish aged 24 years
They hâve three children two sons and one daughter who are
Pierre Duport aged 6 years
Jean Duport aged 4 years
The daughter is not yet baptised
They hâve with them Jeanne Rousseau widow of Jean Métayer their muother aged 45 years
Elizabeth Métayer their sister aged 18 years
The land on which they are settled belongs to and forms part of thé homestead of Sr Rondeau

On thé 8th at 7 o clock in thé morning we took our departure from thé said Gabarus to proceed to thé harbour of Fourché which we reached about 3 o clock in thé afternoon of thé saine day

The harbour of Fourché lies on thé south west coast of thé island about three leagues distant from Gabarus In leaving thé said harbour of Gabarus we crossed thé ake on thé land of Madame Rondeau which lies behind thé sand bank already referred to In keeping to thé west for a quarter of league thé lands are covered with hard wood fit for fuel Making west south west during thé second stage we reached a portage of about 80 toises which brought us to a second lake with no outlet for its waters save that of filtration This is a very extensive sheet of water Keeping thé same course we followed this lake for 200 toises and entering a wood went south west for a qaarter of a league which brought us out on thé Grand lac du Gabarus This lake has three arms running well inland to thé north north east and south west The river Barachois de Bellefeuille rises hère lying in thé north arm and is thé only outlet frona thé said lake of Gabarus

On leaving thé wood for thé first stage we followed thé river in a south westerly direction for about 400 toises and then west quarter north west for a quarter of a league ail thé woods being composed of fir At thé end of this distance we reached a small portage of about 70 or 80 toises through hard wood which brought us to a fourth unnamed lake In continuing our journey we followed this lake its entire length which is not very gréât The timber in this locality is fir and further on we re entered thé wood going south west for some 400 toises This brought us immediately to thé further end of thé Barachois de Bellefeuille Towards thé end of thé way we found ail kiuds of hard wood

The Barachois de Bellefeuille

The Barachois de Bellefeuille is very extensive It forms several arm s which run deep inland on thé north east thé north and thé north west We crossed at first hold ding south icest for about five toises and then going west a quarter north west for a good quarter of a league The banks as well as thé lands in thé interior are wooded with inferior fir The entrance to thé said Barachois de Bellefeuille lies north and south At high tide an empty boat might succeed in making thé passage which is hardly two toises in widthi The land is mostly peaty and marshy being only good for pasturage In front of thé said barachois a sand bank extends a quarter of a league in length by 30 to 40 toises in width It runs north east and south west Besides thé sand bank lying outside thé entrance thé water is full of shoals and reefs vessels would be unable any where to find shelter from thé winds or to ride in safety in case of a light wind springing up Further as everyone knows thé weather on this coast is so changeable that an enemy would never be no imprudent as to land without making sure of beiug able to reembark in case of a repuise or if thé state of thé Hveather should render such a course necessary

But even with a favourable wind what advantage would a landing oflèr If they should proceed inland to reach Gabarus Bay how could they pass through a country so marshy as that described above ?

Leaving this Barachois going west south west we passed an aider plot of some 400 toises in extent which brought us1 to thé Barachois Marcoche

The Barachois de Marcoche is very extensive being a league across We followed it making many points of thé compass which we reduced to thé south west The Barachois has a number of arms running inland for a league and one running to thé north west a good league and a half There are several islets and peninsulas on it whilst thé banks are covered with fir trees The entrance which is perhaps fifteen toises across lies north and south Loaded boats pass at high tide There is a rock on thé starboard side as one enters and a sand bank on thé larboard leaving room for only one boat to pass A sand bank very similar to that in front of thé Barachois de Bellefeuille lies before thé entrance About a league outside thé two Barachois there are a number of reefs visible only at low tide From thé said lake we skirted thé coast which is full of reefs and shoals as far as thé mouth of thé Harbour de Fourché a distance of a quarter of a league

The harbour of Fourché

The harbour of Fourché is one of thé best harbours for thé cod fishery on thé coast The only thing against it is thé difficulty of thé entrance on account of shoals near it It is divided into two arma thé one running to thé west north west and thé other to thé west The latter was well settled before thé war there being twelve or fifteen familles ail doing well

The English burned thé whole place with thé exception or a storehouse 100 feet long on thé homestead of thé late M Daccarette still in existence to day and used for thé raising of cattle

Leaving Fourché on Wednesday thé ninth instant holding north west for a quarter of a league past spruce woods rendered impracticable owing to their heavy growth thé route brought us to Lake Ablin which may be a quarter of a league in length by 200 toises in breadth It divides at thé further end into two branches and runs about north east and south west The shores are entirely covered with fir The lake discharges itself into thé Barachois de la Grande Framboise by means of a stream whioh we followed iiMt il we came to an arm of thé said Barachois de la Framboise The distance between thé two points is possibly an eighth of a league

THE BARACHOIS DE LA GRANDE FRAMBOISE

The Barachois de la Grande Framboise is situated half a league from thé Harbour Fourché The entrance lies north north west and south south east its width may be placed at 450 toises

There are two reefs opposite thé entrance A boat of thé capacity of five or six cords of wood can pass while outside there is anchorage It is estimated that it runs inland for a league and a half throwing out several arms that extend some deeper than others into thé land in a north north westerly direction forming many islands and points in its mille IN lis width may be considered to be a good half league The banks are covered with poor fir The chief product of thèse Barachois creeks and lakes consists of hay seeing that thé country is very marshy Leaving thé Barachois we took a westerly course past an aider plot of about 200 toises in extent which brought us to thé Barachois de la Petite Framboise

THE BARACHOIS DE LA PETITE FRAMBOISE

The Barachois de la Petite Frambois lies two leagues from thé Harbour Fourché and four from that St Esprit Its entrance is not suited for anything more than a canoë The Barachois is a league in width north east and sonth west and bas several arms which rmi inland for a distance of about two leagues forming islands and points and it is stated that thé arm to thé north north east discharges its waters through a river into thé lake of thé river Miré Ail thé shores as well as thé lands of thé interior grow poor fir From thé Barachois we continued to skirt thé coast as far as St Esprit In this distance of four leagues we found only two creeks where boats could shelter in bad weather from winds blowing from wesb quarter north west to north north east There was much greater shelter in thé creek that bas been named thé Creek du Caplan With thèse two exceptions thé rest of thé coast consists of high lands and rocks which are impracticable owing to their extrême abruptness

ST ESPRIT

St Esprit is well settled It is adapted to thé cod fishsry thé raising of cattle and for gardening thé soil being samiy in character

The harbour of St Esprit isin truth an open roadstead Its mouth lies east north east and west south west Vessels of sixty to se renty tons can enter and anchor in thé middle of thé roadway with from ten to twelve fathoms of water at high tide There are two reefs which one leaves thé one on thé starboard and thé other on thé larboard Behind thé roadstead is a Barachois which runs inland in a north westerly direction for about a league The settlers eut what hay they require on thé banks of this Barachois Its mouth lies north east and south west

There is sufficient water at high tide to allow of thé passage of a boat laden with five or six cords of wood Ail thé lands in thé neighbourhood of St Esprit are covered with fir wood only


CENSUS

Census of thé settlers bachelors hired fishermen thirty six months men live stock schooners bateaux and boats of St Esprit

Le Sieur Ferriez conducting a fishery native of Plaisance aged 42 years married to
Marguerite Dion native of La Cadie aged 48 years
They hâve three hired fishermen two boats three cows three geese two turkey hens and nine fowls
The land that he occnpies was granted him verbally by M de St Ovide and M LeDormant de Mézy
It includes a beach and scaffolding for thé drying of thé fish of two boats and a large garden where they grow ail kinds of vegetable produce
François Picard fisherman native of Pléhérel diocèse of St Brieux aged 39 years of which he bas passed 24 years in thé colony married to
Anne Barbudeau native of thé place aged 28 years
They hâve been granted rations for two years
They hâve four children
Jullien aged 8 years
Suzanne aged 5 years
Angélique aged 2 years
Françoise aged 1 year
Five hired fishermen namely
Jean Gauthier aged 36 years native of Mandes diocèse of St Malo
Julien Thomas native of Couet diocèse of St Malo aged 30 years
Jean Colinet aged 22 years native of Trebedeau diocèse of St Malo
Pierre Briand native of St Carié diocèse of St Malo
Toussaint Picard native of Fléhérel diocèse of St Brieux aged 17 years
Three other hired men who are at Louisbourg
Two boats a half boat one cow and six fowls
Le Sieur François Picard bas no dwelling
Jean Granne fisherman native of Tadé diocèse of St Malo and 35 years of which he bas passed 17 in this colony married to
Marie Papou native of St Pierre aged 30 years
They hâve one son and three daughters
Augustin aged 3 years
Isabelle aged 7 years
Agathe aged 5 years
Geneviève aged 14 months
Nine hired fishermen of whom six are working for their board
Jean Fougère native of Chateauneuf diocèse of St Malo aged 39 years
André Groey aged 24 years native of Garonne diocèse of Avranches
Toussaint Tramond aged 1 5 years native of Hebedau diocèse of St Malo
Julien Papou aged 24 years native of St Esprit
Pierre Jourgouche native of Bayonne aged 22 years
Gabriel Touria aged 30 years native of Bayonne
Two boats two cows one calf and six fowls
The dwelling that he occupies was sold to him by thé widow Seau In thé deed of sale thé number of toises thé land contains either frontage or surface measurement is not mentioned
Georges Barbudeau master surgeon of St Esprit native of thé island of Oléron diocèse of Saintes He bas been 36 years in thé colony married to
Françoise Vrigneau aged 52 native of Plaisance
They hâve with them their nephew
Simon Halbert native of thé island of Oléron aged 16 years He is to remain in thé country in thé capacity of a surgeon
They hâve no grant of thé land they occupy They hâve a garden but no live stock or poultry
Herbe Desroches fisherman native of Coral diocèse of Avranche bas been in thé colony 22 years aged 35 years married to
Marie Barbudeau native of this place aged 30 years
They hâve three sons and one daughter
François aged 8 years
Jean aged 3 years
Pierre aged 3 months
Margueritte aged 10 years
Louise Duneau aged 14 native of Louisbourg in thé capacity of servant
Three hired fishermen
Yves Galles aged 30 years native of thé parish of Guillé diocose of St Malo
Alexis Renard aged 30 years native of Ste Broulade de Hol
Louis Mange aged 23 years native of Carmel archdiocese of Paris
One boat one half boat one cow and eight fowls
The dwelling that he occupies was given verbally by M Bigot and contains platforms and scafîbldiugs for drying thé fish of two boats
Isabelle Longue Epée widow of thé late Jean Papou native of thé coast of Plaisance aged 52 years
She bas four sons
Charles aged 29 years
Julien aged 25 years
Jean aged 22 years
François aged 18 years
ail natives of St Esprit
The land they occupy was given them verbally by thé authorities The hâve a gardon
Jean Clément fisherman native of thé parish of Jeffrets diocèse of Coutances aged 45 years of which he has passed 30 in thé colony Married to
Marie Brus aged 40 years native of la Cadie
They hâve five sons and one daughter
Jean aged 20 years
Pierre aged 18 years
Jean aged 11 years
Pierre aged 9 years
Chapin aged 10 months
Louise aged 4 years
ail natives of St Esprit
One boat one cow one calf and six fowls
George Bonin fisherman native of thé place aged 28 years married to
Marie Diers native of Niganiche aged 19 years
They hâve one daughter not yet named aged 21 days and
Madeleine Diers her sister aged 9 years
One mare three fowl two geese and two turkey hens
The land they occupy was granted to them by Messrs de St Ovide and Le Normand but they lost thé title deed in thé war
Jacques Lirard fisherman native of thé parish of Plerin diocèse of St Brieux aged 40 years of which he has passed 26 in thé colony Married to
Catherine Clément aged 22 years native of Port Toulouse
They hâve one daughter Marie aged 14 months
Two hired fishermen
Nicolas Joasse aged 18 years native of Quarolle diocèse of Avranche
Joannes Dharouenaut aged 24 years native of Charau diocèse of Bayonne
Five fowls
They hâve no dwelling place
François Le Hardy fisherman native of St Mode diocèse of St Malo married to
Marguerite Clément aged 15 years native of thé place
Their whole wealth eonsists of seven fowls they hâve no dwelling place
Madeleine Robert widow of thé late Jean Bradou native of la Cadie aged 52 years
She has three children two sons and one daughter
Jean Bradon aged 24 years
Pierre Bradon aged 32 years
Marguerite Bradon aged 18 years
Etienne Porier her nephew aged 7 years
Ail natives of Ile Royal
One heifer and five fowls
She bas no dwelling place
Jean Beau lieu fisherman native of Bourneuf diocèse of Nantes aged 48 years of which he bas passed 30 in thé colony Married to
Marie Hulin native of Grandville diocèse of Coutances aged 48 years
They hâve two sons
Pierre aged 6 years
Jean aged 2 years
Four fowls and they hâve no dwelling place
François Bonnieu fiisherman native of thé place aged 24 yeiirs Married to
Marguerite Lavaudiere native of Port Toulouse
They hâve one son and1 one daughter
Jean aged 5 months
Barbe aged 3 years
And one mare for thé whole of their live stock
Anselme Blanchard farmer for M Dola Barras Captain of thé port native of Cobeguy aged 33 years Married to
Marguerite Diron native of la Cadie aged 32 years
They hâve 6 children
Joseph aged 10 years
Marie Marthe aged 15 years
Isabelle aged 7 years
Margueritte aged 4 years
Jeanne aged 3 years
Cloty aged 2 years
A cow with her calf
They bave not yet cleared any land

NOTE As regards St Esprit there was a greater number of boats before thé war than to day.

Left St Esprit on thé llth of February and arrived at l Ardoise about 6 o clock in thé afternoon of thé same day The distance between thé two points is estimated at six leagues We noticed first that a bank of sand on which there is a gréât cleal of grass extends from St Esprit to thé Creek de la Choui and further that this Creek de la Cboui affords excellent anchorage from thé south west north west and north quarter north east winds but it is open to thé full force of winds from other points It bas an area of three quarters of a league and in thé centre seven or eight fathoms of water There are two subinerged reefs outside thé said creek that are left to starboard on entering The Grande Rivière runs into thé said creek The narrow entrance of thé creek lies north and south It runs inland about three leagues and after dividing into three arms pénétrâtes inland to thé west north west and north Vessels of seventy tons if they couM only efiect an entrance might pass up thé creek for two leagues but thé passage is only practicable for vessels drawing six or seven feet of water and that only at high tide It's shores are covered with ail I i mis of hard wood with quantities of pine or spruce on thé high ground and on thé banks of thé three arms During thé remainder of thé distance which is estimated at four leagues we did not tind any place suitable as a place of refuge for boats It is ail composed of abrupt declivities aud chains of rocks impracticable for vehicles Ail thé land in thé vicinity of thé sea is covered with fir and poor spruce

The bay de l Ardroise is adapted to thé cod fishery The family of thé Sieur Coste who took refuge hère at thé time of thé last war with thé English makes good catches of codfish of very merchantable quality The bay is divided into two parts thé one that is settled being very small and exposed to thé winds blowing in froin thé open aea but it was preferred to thé larger arm seeing that that does not run so far inland and is therefore more exposed to thé full force of thé wind In thé larger branch vessels find shelter from winds from every point generally and when they are to lie there for some time without proceeding on their way they can by using précaution find anchorage It runs inland for a good half league but thé water is only deep enough for boats The banks are covered with hardwood The soil is known to be largely sandy in its composition and suited only for thé cultivation of hay and garden stuff

CENSUS OF THE FAMILY OF SR FRANÇOIS COSTE

François Coste native of thé parish of Martegue diocèse of Marseille aged 90 years has been in thé colony 30 years Married to
Madeleine Martin native of Port Royal aged 89 years
They hâve with them
Joseph Dugas aged 21 years
Madeleine Dugas aged 12 years their grand son
Louis Mercier aged 17 years native of Canada engaged for one year in thé capacity of servant
Five cows two mares one sow six fowls and a garden
Pierre Boy fisherman native of St Jean des Camps disocese of Coutances aged 70 years of which he has spent 40 in thé colony Married to
Marie Coste aged 56 years native of Port Royal
They hâve two sons and five daughters
Joseph aged 19 yeara
François aged 17 years
Judith aged 27 years
Cécile aged 21 years
Madeleine aged 17 years
Charlotte aged 14 years
Geneviève aged 11 years
One ox two cows three calves one bull two pigs seven fowls one boat and a large garden
Madeleine Coste widow of thé late Barthélémy Petitpas native of Port Royal aged 54 years
She has five sons and one daughter
Jean Petitpas aged 24 years
Pierre Petitpas aged 21 years
Claude Petitpas aged 18 years
Guillaume Petitpas aged 17 years
Paul Petitpas aged 12 years
Pelajie Petitpas aged 14 years
Ail natives of Port Toulouse
One ox four cows one calf two pigs five fowls one boat and a large garden
Gervais Brisset fisherman native of Condé diocèse of Bayou aged 50 years of which he has passed 30 in this colony Married to
Marie Joseph Le Roy native of Port Toulouse aged 36 years
They hâve five daughters
Marie Josephe aged 16 years
Catherine aged 12 years
Brigide aged 8 years
Suzanne aged 6 years
Gervaise aged 3 years
One ox one cow two pigs six fowls one schooner of thé capacity of 15 cords of wood and a garden like thé others
Charles Lavigne coaster native of Port Royal aged 34 years Married to
Madeleine Petitpas aged 34 years native of Port Toulouse
They hâve two sons and three daughters
Benoist aged 3 years
Joseph aged 5 months
Anne aged 9 years
Charles aged 6 years
Cécile aged 5 years
Gilles Poirier aged 13 years native of St Esprit in thé capacity of a domestic
One ox four cows one oalf two pigs seven fowls one beat of thé capacity of ten cords of wood and a garden
Joseph Petitpas fisherman native of thé Port de Toulouse aged 29 years Married to
Anne Lafargue aged 25 years native of Petit Degras
They hâve one son aged 15 months
One cow five fowls and a garden
Jean Coste coaster native of Port Royal aged 38 years Married to
Madeleine Lafargue native of Petit Degra aged 29 years
They hâve four sons and one daughter
François aged 11 years
Pierre aged 9 years
Jean aged 6 years
Etienne aged 6 months
Geneviève aged 3 years
Madeleine aged 16 years
Ambroise Lebandon aged 24 years native of Port Toulouse in thé capacity of domestic
Six head of cattle one mare two pigs seven fowls one boat of thé capacity of 15 cords of wood and a garden
Pierre Brisson fisherman native of Nantes aged 52 Married to
Anne Boy native of Port Toulouse aged 33 years
They hâve two sons ahd one daughter
Jean aged 5 years
Pierre aged 18 months
Marie aged 11 years
Louis Minereau native of Rochfort aged 20 years as a domestic
Five head of cattle one mare two pigs five fowls one boat and a garden
Noël Amiot fisherman native of Quiberon diocèse of St Malo aged 40 years and in thé Colony since 1728 Married to
Marguerite Boy native of Port Toulouse aged 30 years
They hâve two sons and two daughters
Jean aged 4 years and
thé other is not yet named
Margueritte aged 8 years
Madeleine aged 2 years
Seven head of cattle one pig five fowls one boat and a garden

The land on which thé family of François Coste is settled was granted to Sieur Coste by Messrs de Saint Ovide and de Soubras It extends half a league on thé sea shore The small quantity of meadow land is situated on thé banks of thé Grande Baye They would not know where to obtain sufficient hay for their live stock unless they carried it from thé lands of Ganceau The beach is naturally enclosed and there are scaffoldings for drying thé fish

NOTE That ail those settlers as well as those at Saint Esprit and at Gabarus hâve received rations for two years

Left l Ardoise on thé 13th and arrived at Port Toulouse on thé saine day thé distance between thé two points being estimated at two leagues

About two hundred toises from thé bay de l Ardoise settled by le Sieur François Coste we found a second very extensive bay The entrance to il lies south east and north west with a depth of four fathoms of water and vessels once inside find anchorage in 15 to 16 feet of water and shelter froui winds from thé south quarter south west west north west north and north quarter north east In truth they are not secure in case of heavy weather for thé bottoin is composed of moving sands and vessels are liable to drag their cables and drive on to thé rocks of thé Cap de l Ardoise or run aground on a sand bank that extends to thé further end of thé bay It is little fre qnented by thé sailors during thé autumn which is thé season for gales and vessels only go there to load with cord wood A quarter of a league outside thé bay to thé south quarter south west lies an island of thé same name which may be half a league in extent Itis close to thé lands Grand Isle near thé cape at thé south west of thé said bay Ail thé shore as well as thé interior is covered with hard timber Leaving thé bay we pass through an aider plot about an eighth of a league in extent which leads to a species of barachois afterwards following thé shore for half a league before striking thé Barachois des Sept Islots This barachois is not of much importance

It bas little water and it seems probable that at some remote date it was meadow Ituni which has been submerged with thé waters left by thé incursions of thé sea into thé island One sees where in reality there is thé grass still at thé bottom and at low tide there is at thé most only a foot of water over it The bottom is very muddy Out side there are seven small islands which give to tins place thé name Sept Islots

Finally a blazed road is taken which leads to thé further end of thé barachois to thé east of Port Toulouse Ail this part of thé country is covered with mixed timber but fir is thé prédominant wood

Port Toulose

todo - continue from page 14

Sources

Public Archives of Canada, Report Concerning Canadian Archives for the Year 1905, vol. II, Appendix A, part I, p3-p165



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