The First 21 Acadian Arrivals in Louisiana Territory

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This free-space page is a place to gather information, sources and long excerpts concerning the first 21 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana after the deportations. Instead of repeating information on profiles, this page can be referenced instead. As more information is discovered, changes can be made here instead of all 21 profiles.

There were four families with children.

Four Families

1. Jean-Baptiste Richard & Catherine Cormier; Jean Marie Richard (son), Joseph Richard (son) and Rosalie Richard (daughter) (5)
2. Jean-Baptiste Poirier (brother to Cécile Poirier) & Marie-Madeleine Richard (Jean-Baptiste & Catherine Cormier's daughter); Jean Baptiste, (son), Joseph (son) (4) and Marie (daughter).
3. Cécile Poirier (sister to Jean Baptiste Poirier) married to Olivier Landry; Jean Antoine (son), Joseph (son), Marie Helene Landry (daughter). (5)
4. Jean-Baptiste Cormier & his wife Madeleine Richard; Anastasie Cormier (daughter), Marie Cormier (daughter), Marguerite Cormier (daughter), Marie Anne Cormier (daughter), Madeleine Cormier (daughter) (7)

Links and Sources

• The Chronology of the Deportations and Migrations of the Acadians 1755-1816 by Paul Delaney

December 21, 1763, The Georgia Gazette' (22 December 1763) announced that 21 Acadians "went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans."

• Ronnie-Gilles LeBlanc, ed., Du Grand Dérangement à la Déportation: Nouvelles perspectives historiques, (Moncton, NB: Chaire d'études acadiennes, 2005) p. 269.

"By 1763, twenty-one people went to Mobile, Alabama, on their way to Louisiana.[footnote] 99. These twenty-one people belonged to four families who have been identified by Stephen A. White and others as those of Jean-Baptiste Richard & Catherine Cormier, with their daughter Marie-Madeleine married to Jean-Baptiste Poirier and the latter's sister, Cécile Poirier married to Olivier Landry; the last family was headed by Catherine Cormier's brother [sic, he was from a different family Girouard-4019 15:43, 31 May 2016 (EDT)], Jean-Baptiste Cormier & his wife Madeleine Richard. These are the first Acadians known to have reached Louisiana after the expulsion. They are said to have come from New York, but there is no doubt that they had been deported to Georgia."

• Carl Brasseaux, THE FOUNDING OF NEW ACADIA (Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1987), p. 102.

In 1987, Carl A Brasseaux, a foremost scholar of Louisiana Acadian history, published The Founding of New Acadia: The Beginnings of Acadian Life in Louisiana, 1765-1803. Dr. Brasseaux noted that "the oldest of the pioneer communities, called first le dernier camp d’en bas, and later Fausse Pointe, was established near present-day Loreauville by late June 1765." He suggested some Acadians soon moved, and in 1766 the new colonists in the Attakapas were settled there and in three other locations. Two of these locations may have been adjacent to each other. The theorized locations were determined primarily upon examination of the 25 April 1766 Spanish Census and available land records.

• A New Look at the Initial Acadian Settlement Location in the Attakapas by Donald J. Arceneaux, Attakapas Historical Society

• Article by Paul Delaney, "The Acadians Deported from Chignectou to 'Les Carolines' in 1755: Their Origins, Identities and Subsequent Movements."

• Albert J. Robichaux, Jr., "The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana: A Reexamination," (Louisiana Genealogical Register, Dec 1985)

• Winston De Ville, The Parish of St. James in the Province of Louisiana (Ville Platte, LA: Author, 1987).

• The First Acadians in New Acadia: 1764-1784

"The first Acadians to arrive in the Louisiana territory consisted of 21 people in 4 families who came from Georgia and arrived in Mobile. The South Carolina Gazette (Jan. 14, 1764) has an entry dated Dec. 22 that says 'Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New-Orleans.' On Dec. 21, the Savannah Packet left Savannah for Mobile."

Based on church records, we know that this group included:

Jean Baptiste POIRIER & Madeleine RICHARD, Jean Baptiste (son), Joseph (son)

Jean Baptiste RICHARD & Catherine CORMIER, Jean (son), Joseph (son)

Jean Baptiste CORMIER & Magdeleine RICHARD, Anastasie (daughter), Marie (daughter), Marguerite (daughter), Marie Anne (daughter), Madeleine (daughter)

Olivier LANDRY & Cecile POIRIER, Jean Antoine (son), Joseph (son), Marie (daughter).

They made their way to New Orleans, and were settled along the west bank Mississippi River (on what was to be called the Acadian Coast) in the first week of April 1764.

In the New Orleans church records of 1764, we find proof of these Acadians in Louisiana in the following 4 entries. [SOURCE: N.O. Sacramental Records, V. 2: 1751-1771]

Baptism of Jean Antoine LANDRY on feb. 26, 1764 (b. Nov. 13, 1760 to Olivier & Cecile POIRIER), sponsors Antoine OLIVIER & Magdeleine BRAZIER.

Baptism of Joseph POIRIER on Feb. 26, 1764 (b. June 12, 1762 to Jean & Magdeleine RICHARD), sponsors Antoine OLIVIER (Joseph's grandfather) & Marie CORMIER (Joseph's first cousin on his mother's side).

Baptism of Joseph RICHARD on Feb. 26, 1764 (b. March 24, 1748? to Jean & Catherine CORMIER), sponsors Jean RICHARD (Joseph's brother) & Magdeline RICHARD (Joseph's aunt)

Baptism of Jean Baptiste POIRIER on March 1, 1764 (b. May 20, 1760 to Jean & Magdeline RICHARD), sponsors Jean Baptiste DEVILLE DEGOUTIN & Marianne COUTRIE.

Research Notes

The material posted here is by Roger Rozendal, a prolific and important Acadian researcher who died on 22nd of October 2008. The material is still available here but for how long? NOTE: it is in two parts

[Acadian-Cajun] JEAN-BAPTISTE CORMIER/MADELEINE RICHARD Roger Rozendal 11/9/2007, 3:01:17 PM https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/acadian-cajun.rootsweb.com/thread/25151298/

Part 1

CORMIER, JEAN-BAPTISTE, père

Jean-Baptiste Cormier[1], born 1706, son of Pierre Cormier and Catherine Le Blanc, married 11 August 1733 Madeleine Richard[2], born 1709, daughter of Martin Richard and Marguerite Bourg.

A son, Jean-Baptiste Cormier fils, born 24 September 1734[3], was separated from his parents during exile and was imprisoned in Halifax [see separate writeup on him].

The rest of this family was deported to Georgia where on a prisoner list dated 23 August 1763[4] is found: Jean Cormier, his wife, 5 children [Jean Cormier age 57 Madeleine Richard age 54 Madeleine age 19, born 1744 Marie age 17, born 1746 Marie-Anne 16, born 14 November 1746[5] Marguerite age 13, born 1750 Anastasie age 11, born 1752][6]

This family, along with 3 other close-knit families, boarded a ship in December 1763 to leave Georgia.

In the [Savannah] GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[7] is found:

"Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans."

"Sailed for Mobile Dec. 21, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master]"

These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean-Baptiste Poirier and Madeleine Richard was blessed by the first priest they had seen in years. A copy of this ceremony is in Vidrine’s “Love’s Legacy[8].

Note this indicates a journey of about one month to Mobile. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated 26 February 1764, the return of the Savannah Packet to Savannah is noted[9], a return voyage of one month. This indicates the Acadians in Mobile boarded a different ship for New Orleans which could have been bound from New York to New Orleans. They arrived on or just before 26 February 1764.

Sometime after 6 April 1764, this family settled on the west bank of the Mississippi just down river from Verret’s Plantation.

Jean-Baptiste Cormier fils came from Attakapas and rejoined his family after coming to Louisiana with Joseph Broussard in February 1765.

Madeleine Cormier married 31 March 1766[10] Simon Mire, born 1744, son of Pierre Mire [Lemire] and Isabelle Thibodeau[11] and on the same date Marie Cormier married[12] Michel Poirier, born 1738, parents unknown.

In the 29 June 1766 Cabaanocé Lower Coast (Verret’s Company) census [13] is found: [Jean-Baptiste] Cormié man age 60 Madeleine [Richard] woman age 57 [Jean-Baptiste] Cormié [fils] man age 30 Marianne girl age 19 Marguerite girl age 16 Annassetazie girl age 14

In the 9 April 1766 Cabaanocé Upper Coast census[14] are found: Simon Mire age 22 Magdelaine Cormier wife age 22

Michel Poirier age 28 Marie Cormier wife age 20

In the 14 September 1769 Cabaanocé Upper Coast census[15] are found: Family #99 Michel Poirier age 31 Marie Cormier, wife age 24 Pierre Poirier, son age 3 Joseph, son age 8 mos. Marie [Poirier], orphan, age 16 [orphan of Abraham Poirier and Marie- Josèphe Bourg]

Family # 100 Simon Mirre age 25 Magdelaine Cormier, wife age 25 Joseph, son age 8 mos. Marie, daughter age 2

Part 2

JEAN-BAPTISTE CORMIER/MADELEINE RICHARD (CONTINUED) by Roger Rozendal Unfortunately, no 1769 census has been found to date covering the area of the 1766 Cabaanocé Lower Coast census. The next available census for this area is the 1 January 1777 St. James Parish census.

Jean-Baptiste Cormier, fils, 1768 married Marguerite Bourg, born 1749, daughter of Joseph Bourg[1] and Marie Landry[2]. They lived along the Mississippi River until at least 12 November 1775 (baptism of son, Jean-Baptiste[3]), but after that moved to Attakapas.

Marie-Anne Cormier 1768 married Joseph Landry, born 1750, son of Olivier Landry[4] and Cécile Poirier[5].

In the 1 January 1777 St. James Parish census[6] is found:

Joseph Landry age 27

[Marie-] Anne Cormier wife age 30

Joseph son age 7

On 7 January 1771[7], Marguerite Cormier married Firmin Girouard, born 1750, son of Louis (dit Paul) Girouard[8] and Marie Thibodeau[9].

In the 1 January 1777 St. James Parish census[10] is found:

Firmin Giroire age 26

Margueritte Cormier, wife age 25

Simon, son age 5

Jacques, son age 4

Pierre, son age 5 months

Anastasie Cormier married 27 January 1772[11] Pierre Bourg, born 22 July 1748[12], son of Joseph Bourg[13] and Marie Landry[14].

In the 1 January 1777 St. James Parish census[15] is found: Jean Baptiste Cormier age 68 Marie Richard wife age 51 [sic] Pierre Bourg son-in-law age 24 [sic] Anastasie Cormier wife age 24 Marguerite daughter age 2 Rozalie daughter age 2 Felicite daughter age 5 [months] [Jean-]Charles Bourg, orphan age 15 [brother of Pierre]

Part I Sources

• [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 236.

• [2] Ibid. p. 919, father Joseph.
• [3] DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS v. 2 1770-1803 p.

203.

• [4] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 919, father Joseph.

• [5] Ibid. p. 1336.
• [6] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 190,

folio 192.

• [7] DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS v. 2 1770-1803 p.

204.

• [8] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 725.

• [9] Ibid. p. 1509, father Charles.
• [10] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo

190, folio 192.

• [11] DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS v. 2 1770-1803

p. 203.

• [12] DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS Acadian Records,

1707-1748 v. 1a p. 39.

• [13] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 236.

• [14] Ibid. P. 919, father Joseph.
• [15] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo

190, folio 192.

Part 2 Sources

Roger A. Rozendal,

• [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 406.

• [2] Ibid. p. 1380.
• [3] Reider Milton and Reider, Norma Acadian church records v. 2 p. 44.
• [4] Jehn, Janet ACADIAN EXILES IN THE COLONIES p. 231.
• [5] Reider Milton and Reider, Norma Acadian church records v. 2 p.

118.

• [6] The information in [….] is personal interpretation.
• [7] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society,

Worchester, Mass. 1968]

• [8] Pp. 320-321.
• [9] No. 46, p. 2.
• [10] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206.
• [11] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES

ACADIENNES p. 1522.

• [12] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206.
• [13] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA,

Legajo 202, folio 225-227.

• [14] 9 APRIL 1766 CABAANOCÉ UPPER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA,

Legajo 187A, folio 219-224.

• [15] 14 september 1769 CABAANOCÉ UPPER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE

CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 220-231.

• Article by Paul Delaney, "The Acadians Deported from Chignectou to 'Les Carolines' in 1755: Their Origins, Identities and Subsequent Movements."^[1]

Text: "By 1763, twenty-one people went to Mobile, Alabama, on their way to Louisiana.[footnote] 99. These twenty-one people belonged to four families who have been identified by Stephen A. White and others as those of Jean-Baptiste Richard & Catherine Cormier, with their daughter Marie-Madeleine married to Jean-Baptiste Poirier and the latter's sister, Cécile Poirier marrie d to Olivier Landry; the last family was headed by Catherine Cormier's brother [sic], Jean-Baptiste Cormier & his wife Madeleine Richard. These are the first Acadians known to have reached Louisiana after the expulsion. They are said to have come from New York, but there is no doubt that they had been deported to Georgia. Carl Brasseaux, THE FOUNDING OF NEW ACADIA (Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1987), p. 102."