However, research by Father Clarence d'Entremont seems to show that these settlers did not arrive in the area at the same time. For instance, Pierre LeBlanc as well as Pierre and Louis Mius returned here in 1766 after being in exile in Massachusetts. They wintered at Buttes-de-Sable 1766-1767, not far from Barrington, Shelburne County. In the spring they went to what is today Yarmouth. The Mius brothers went to Wedgeport and remained there.
PIERRE LEBLANC
Pierre LeBlanc was headed to Buttes-Amirault. However, it is recorded in a manuscript by Alvinie A. Logéré that the first house built at Pointe-à-Rocco was the home of Pierre LeBlanc.
On 16 August 1769, Father Bailly blessed the marriage of Pierre LeBlanc and Marguerite Amirault that had taken place while they were in exile as no priests were allowed to go near the Acadians while in exile. If they did, imprisonment or death awaited them.
Marguerite was the daughter of Charles to François dit Tourangeau Amirault and Claire Dugas to Claude. Father Bailly also had blessed the marriage of Pierre Mius and Cécile Amirault. Marguerite and Cécile were sisters. At about the same time, he baptized two children of Pierre LeBlanc - one of these by the name of Charles was five years of and would be the future sacristan/assistant of Father Sigogne. He also baptized one child of Pierre Mius.
Pierre LeBlanc was born in 1741 in Grand-Pré. He was the son of Pierre and Claire Boudreau to René LeBlanc and Jeanne Landry to Jacques and Catherine Hébert to Daniel and Françoise Gaudet. They had at least three sons: Charles who became Father Sigogne's sacristan settled at Belleville; Joseph dit Guelou who later settled at Rivière-Abram; and Honoré who settled at Sainte-Anne-du-Ruisseau.
Pierre's son Honoré married Anne-Judith Mius, daughter of Jean-Baptiste to Jean-Baptiste to Joseph d'Azy. The mother of Anne-Judith was Marie-Modeste Doucet.
Honoré died 10 October 1861 at the age of 93 years. He was at his son Antoine's home.
Daughters of Pierre LeBlanc and Marguerite Amirault:
Marie born 24 February 1767 who married Paul Mius.
Isabelle (Élisabeth) who married Joseph-Oliver Babin.
For more information on the founding families please read Histoire de Sainte-Anne-du-Ruisseau, Belleville and Rivière-Abram by Father Clarence J. d'Entremont - ISBN 1-895054-95-3
Published in March 1995 by Father Clarence J. d'Entremont.
The other children of Pierre LeBlanc and Marguerite Amireau/Amireault:
Pierre born before the census of 1763
Charles born in exile baptized by Father Bailly 4 Jan 1764 at Cap-Sable, according to his register kept at Caraquet. Charles married Marie-Susanne Mius.
Joseph who married Marguerite-Anne Doucet and then Rosalie Mius.
Source: Stephen A. White, Genealogist, CEA, University of Moncton
It is indeed difficult to find who among the Acadians was the first to eventually acquire land in this area. The time tables of the journeys of various families differed considerably depending on where they were exiled and the like. However, it should be said that family connections obviously played a part in where the Acadians finally settled following those long years of exile. Dominique Pothier was born near Beaubassin. He married Anne Surette in Petitcodiac and they moved to Pré d'En Haut near Memramcook, where Anne gave birth to their first son. They escaped to Cocagne and then on to Bouctouche during the Deportation. In 1760, they surrendered at Fort Cumberland (this had been Fort Beauséjour but had capitulated to the British). Dominique Pothier's name is on the list of prisoners, along with several Surettes who were at Fort Edward in 1761. Five years later, they were in Chezzetcook across the harbor from Halifax. In 1775, Dominique Pothier settled in Sainte-Anne-du-Ruisseau. His sons, Sylvain and Charles-Amand, took land in Lower Tusket a few years later. All the pothiers in Yarmouth Country today are descendants of this family.
Father Sicogne
In 1784, on a hill at Rocco Point was erected a small church, the first Roman Catholic Church in the county of Yarmouth. Parts of the foundation, and traces of the old cemetery beside it, still remain. In 1799, the famous Fr. Jean-Mande Sigogne landed at Eel Brook to begin his years of devoted service among the Acadian people and, in the same year established the Parish of Ste. Anne d'Argyle. In 1804 he commenced the building of a new church on the site of the present one. Completed and blessed, on August 21,1808, it served until totally destroyed by fire, March 23,1900. Due to the amazing courage and energy of the then Pastor, Fr. J. Crouzier, the present magnificent edifice was in readiness for the Christmas services of that same year.
Source: Ste-Anne du Ruisseau History
© Lucie LeBlanc Consentino
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