Our Acadian neighbours---Tracadie
The nearest acadian village is Tracadie which is about 28km
east of Pomquet along the Trans-Canada Highway. This village was founded about 1772 by the
acadians but many of Irish descent had also settled alongside the french in the mid-
1800's, The first settlers were the Benoits who migrated from Cape Breton after having
taken refuge there during the deportation years.
Approximately 10 years later the Gerroirs, Gauterots Maillets (Myettes),
Barillots, D'Orlys, and the Petitpas ( Pettipas or Pitts ) arrived. The Cotés ( Coties )
and the Perraults ( Perros) came from Quebec while the Mathés ( Matties ) arrived from
the Jersey Islands in the English Channel. By 1787 Jacquet dit Deslauriers ( Deloreys ),
Bonnevie dit Beaumont (Bonvies and Bowmans) and the Fougeres had settled in the area. The
Boudreaus were the last Acadians to arrive.
After the Napoleonic Wars several soldiers who were held prisoner in Halifax immigrated to
the area upon their release. These soldiers included Pierre Davisson ( Davidson ), Joseph
Hannequin dit Alicon ( Alisson ), Joseph-Aime Dadu ( Dadeau ), Jean Courtin. and Augustin
Pascal.
As in most acadian villages of time the harbour was of vital importance. The sea was as
important as the land. They were not only farmers but also fishermen. They also used boats
as a means of transportation between villages. The Tracadie acadians did not have their
land grants in one large block as in Pomquet. This left many areas within the community
available for tile irish and the scots to settle. As a result, the population became much
more mixed sooner than in Pomquet. The process of assimilation also began quickly and now
many of the Tracadie acadians have unfortunately lost their finch language.
From the date of settlement to the l860's, Tracadie was the main parish with it's own
church, St. Pierre, for the acadians. Havre au Boucher, Pomquet and Heatherton were
missions of Tracadie. This all changed when each of these villages built their own
churches.
Havre au Boucher
Further east lies the village of Havre au
Boucher also on the coast of St. Georges Bay. The date of settlement is still the subject
of debate. We do know that a map drawn up by the French shows the location of this harbour
in l755. In 1757. there was a Captain Boucher who spent one winter here because he was
trapped by the ice. The date of settlement is around 1781 - 1784. It is known that there
was a chapel which was in use until 1790.
The family names of the original settlers were Boucher Coste, Levandier ( Levangie )
Fougeres, Briand (Breen), Breau (Brow), Benoit ( Bennett), Petitpas (Pettipas), Roi (
King) and Melong. 'I'here was also a family named Bellefontaine who came from Chezzetcook
near Halifax. They settled just east of Havre au Boucher and the area was known by the
family name. Unfortunately, the area was renamed East Havre Boucher and the family name
has since disappeared
.
Our Guysborough Cousins
Along the rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean, lies the three
small villages of Port Felix, Charlos Cove and Larry's River. All were founded by
acadians. They came to this area mostly because it was isolated and far from the english
settlements. The land was not very suited to agriculture so the residents made their
living through wood products and fishing. The sea was of vital importance to these
communities as it was with all the acadian communities. Although they were isolated even
froms the acadians settlements of Antigonish county and Isle Madame there was interaction
socially and commercially between these and other acadian settlements. Transportation and
communication was mostly done by boat.
Many off the founding acadians migrated from Chezzetcook found lands not yet granted to
the english, The pioneers of Charlos Cove were Charles Richard, Joseph Richard, Oliver
Flamming and John Evory (Avery). Larry's River was founded by families named Roi, Mannette
and Petitpas. These families petitioned for land in 1797. Other lands were given to
families such as Bonnevie, Fougere, Pelrine and Petitpas in l 805. Port Felix was settled
by l797 acacdian families known as Boudreau, David, Bellefontaine, Girroir and LeBlanc.
All these family names can be found throughout the whole area. There are also either
acadian names who migrated to the area from Pomquet, Tracadie, Havre Boucher and Isle
Madame. The fishery has declined considerably and now the people find most of their
employment outside the area in larger towns. An improved highway system allows for the
residents to travel economically to their places of work.
As with all the other acadian villages. their faith was of great importance. At first all
the residents from the three villages had to go to Guysborough or Arichat to receive the
sacraments. Port Felix built St. Joseph church in 1851 while Larry's River built is' own
church, St. Pierre, in l 874 and Charlos Cove built St. Joseph in 1876.
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