Jean Cyr (abt. 1716 - 1759)

Born about 1716 in Grand Pré, Acadie, Colony of Nova Scotia

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Josèphe Gautrot — married 1736 in Acadie

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1759 at about age 43 in Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Canada, Nouvelle-France

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Biography

Jean Cyr was born around 1716 in Grand Pré, Acadie. His parents were Louis Cyr and Marie-Josephte Michel. ^[1]

He married Marie Josèphe Gautrot around 1736 ^[2]

Children: ^[3]

Their children were:

1. Jean Cyr (about 1739–1767) .
2. Pierre Cyr (1741–1787) .
3. Charles Cyr (about 1749–before 1805) .
4. Joseph Cyr (about 1750–1758) .
5. Bénoni Cyr (1753–before 1787)

Around 1750, they decided to seek a better life in the French colony of Isle Saint-Jean. In 1752 Jean, Marie Josèphe and their 4 sons were residents of Anse au Comte-Saint-Pierre on Isle Saint-Jean. He was a ploughman, 36 years of age, and owned farm animals. ^[4]

"The years between 1749 and 1758 were very difficult ones on the Island for the Acadian refugees as well for the older settlers. Various disasters destroyed the crops, cattle was lost through sickness and lack of fodder, and seeds were difficult to obtain. The colony was most often on the brink of famine.” ^[5]

In September 1756 two ships left Isle Saint Jean for Quebec City with nearly 200 Acadians seeking refuge. Jean, Marie Josèphe and their sons Jean, Pierre, Joseph, Charles and Bénoni were among the passengers. ^[6] These Acadians were distributed in the parishes on Île d’Orléans because there were already too many in the city of Québec. They were given rations by the government. ^[6]

By settling in Canada, Nouvelle-France, they were spared the deportation that took place on Isle Saint-Jean in 1758. Some 3000 Acadians were crowded on ships that set sail for Europe. Thousands died at sea or shortly after arriving in France.

However, life would not be easy for them in the following years. Jean died on March 11, 1759 in Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse at about age 45 leaving Marie Josèphe with 5 young boys. ^[7]

Marie Josèphe died on June 16, 1764 in Québec, Province de Québec at 52 years of age.

Research Notes

Source to be added to son Joseph when profile created.

. Joseph N vers 1750 Acadie et D 27-2-1758, St-Charles, Bellechasse ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ francogene Louis Cyr & Marie Josèphe Michel
2. ↑ Karen Theriot Reader Page for Jean Cyr citing Stephen A. White, DICTIONNAIRE GENEALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES; 1636-1714; Moncton, New Brunswick, Centre d'Etudes Acadiennes, 1999, 2 vols.; p. 438; own copy. #(12): He was on the 1752 (LaRoque) census, age 36 years.
3. ↑ Marcel Walter Landry Page for Jean Cyr at Généalogie des Landry à travers le monde, accessed November 2020
4. ↑ Report Concerning Canadian Archives for the Year 1905, Volume II (Ottawa: Printed by S.E.Dawson, 1905), 1752 La Roque Census, p. 108/ image 246 . The original census, in French, can be found at Census Original Version “Recensement de l'Isle Royal et de Isle Saint-Jean ” Images 402-403

   Jean Sire, ploughman, native of l'Acadie, aged 36 years, he has been in the country two years. Married to Marie Joseph Gautrot, aged 40 years. They have four sons:-
   Jean Sire, aged 13 years.
   Pierre, aged 11 years.
   Joseph, aged 4 years.
   Charles, aged 3 years.
   In live stock one horse, two pigs, and four fowls. The land upon which they are settled is situated as in the preceding case, it was given to them verbally by Monsieur de Bonnaventure. They have made a clearing on it of one arpent.

5. ↑ Arsenault, Georges, "The Acadians Of Prince Edward Island." [online] Acadian Home. Available at: http://www.acadian-home.org/Georges-Arsenault-pen.html Accessed 4 June 2020.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Vachon, André-Carl. Les réfugiés et miliciens acadiens en Nouvelle-France 1755-1763, Tracadie, La Grande Marée, 2020, p. 249-250
7. ↑ IGD: Sépultures 1621-1861 Sépulture Jean Cire S 12 mars 1759, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse 1757-1789, image 43 sur 569 Jean Cire, acadien, âgé d'environ 45 ans (pas de mention d'une épouse)
8. ↑ IGD: Sépultures 1621-1861 Sépulture Joseph Cire

See also:

• Jean Cyr and Marie Josephe Gautrot are the ancestors of Mary Rose-Anne Bolduc, born Travers, (June 4, 1894 – February 20, 1941) known as La Bolduc, a singer and musician from Québec. Her mother was Adéline Cyr. (Vachon, André-Carl. Les réfugiés et miliciens acadiens en Nouvelle-France 1755-1763, Tracadie, La Grande Marée, 2020, p. 250)

• Généalogie des Landry à travers le monde Jean Cyr

• http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?genealogy=Jean_Cyr&pid=866591&lng=fr