Not long ago when visiting the genealogical society, I came across this book entitled: "Old
Tombstones of Acadie" by Wm Inglis Morse. He published 500 copies in
England in 1929 - The book I accessed at ACGS is #88. Here are some
extracts from it:
"One mile east of Bridgetown, Annapolis County, on the main road to Halifax,
we found a local cemetery. Examination showed a few gravestones belonging
to a family by the name of De St. Croix. Three stones were piled in a heap;
three of four others were ranged along a bank, which at one time may have
been an old French road, and two or three other pieces of gravestone formed
a series of steps. The stones had been cut in two or quartered. A resident
on the farm showed us a sample of one of these stones, which had been used
for the chimney-top of the house. For some reason the chimney did not draw
well, and a Mr. Zimmermeyer indicated that the stone refused to stay in
place, and eventually found it way back to the cemetery.
One or two of the reproductions show the character of the stones, the crude
steps, bearing the legend: J. De St. C. - E. De St. C. - Peter & Euphany
De St. Croix, who died in infancy. In memory of Thomas De St. Croix Who
departed this Life Feb 29, 18??
There was also a stone for Leah De St. Croix, who departed this life Feb 8,
1811 in the 75th year of her age. Then 'Sacred to the memory of Joshua T.
De St. Croix, who departed this life, March 3rd, 1805, in the 72nd year of
his age.' This is inscribed: 'Deth is a debt that's nature's due, Which I
have paid and so must you'.
In memory of Joshua De St. Croix, who departed this life, June 4th, 1810, in
the 46th year of his age.
This local cemetery, now almost a thing of the past, was once known as a
part of Gaudet's Village, which was settled about 1640 by Dennis Gaudet.
Old French cellars were found near this spot, but destroyed after the
Explusion of the Acadians in 1755.
A Bernard Gaudet of this village was a prominent and prosperous citizen,
deputy, etc. Placide Gaudet was a descendant of Bernard Gaudet. The exact
location of his home was between the present school and cemetery, and not
far from the river. He had an orchard and his English successors reported
both apples and cider on his farm. The more modern name for this village
(in 1929) is Ruffee's Hill.
Christopher Prince once owned this farm, known as Mount Pleasant. Later
he sold it to Peter Pineo, Jr., about 1777, for 470 pounds. Pineo sold to
Joshua Temple De St. Croix, a Loyalist from New York for 1,200 pounds."