July 28, 2011
Port La Joye 1, PEI
From Summerside we headed east on Hwy 1A to drive Confederation Bridge- the 14 kilometer bridge back to the continental mainland; New Brunswick. But I wanted to drive the southern star route scenic byway along the southern shore of PEI, so we dropped down on hwy 10east. Glad I didn't bypass this route.
Along the route the PEI countryside was really good farmland and homesteads. Very beautiful.
A stop in Victoria was a neat small village to see and there was a town / village walking theater production underway. -- Also see Victoria. PEI post--
There were views of the ocean... the Northumberland Straight all along the drive. The route turned north uo Charlottetown Harbor and after being lost for a minute, wound up at Rocky Point. The Mi' kmaq First Nation were holding their tribal elections.
A mile back to Port la Joye... and I am blown away. Absolutely stunned. This is the origin of "The Grand Deragnement" .... The great Deportation of the Acadians.... a horrific sad period of a genocide of the French Acadian settlers, rounded up by the British as they were "suspected" of not being loyal to the English crown.
Traveling through the Maritimes we visited many communities of Acadian heritage. This IS Acadia --- New France-- in the new world during the colonial era. Every sign here is in English AND French! There is too much history to write here; I'll include a brief wikipedia synopsis, but do read this history of the Acadian deportment.
Certain crossroads on life paths sometimes make a huge difference. At high school in the '60s , Alabama just taught the basics of academia. Over forty years ago the first time reading Longfellows "Evangeline",... I knew I had to see this place one day. Back then,... I thought Acadia was one place. Maybe the size of a county.
At another crossroad as a teenager in the shipyards, I didn't know that 40 years later would be significant to standing here. A lifetime has passed and I'm supposed to be here; I didn't know that 'til today... standing here
I worked the summer of 1969 in the Mobile, Alabama shipyard - Addsco- Alabama Dry docks & Shipbuilding co. on Pinto Island in Mobile Bay. Working a Summer as a boilermaker / ironworker,... putting keel plates on ships in drydocks was a great adventure and experience. Working and making friends with Cajuns gives you a unique perspective of life.
I lived in Prichard Alabama in a boarding house on Telegraph Road. At dawn, you head to the shipyard. The humidity on Mobile bay in July was ungodly; the Cajuns were hard workers. I worked with Cajuns, talked with cajuns, joked with the Cajuns, ate with Cajuns, went out onto the causeway after work and drank beer with the Cajuns, was invited to their homes to meet their families. Thank you Willis and Somerville! There is a reason New Orleans has the nickname "The Big Easy". Cajun culture is a big part of the easy going nature of the Louisiana life and attitude. They knew how live in the moment; that is what I learned from them. They taught me what was important; enjoy this time of life
As a teenager back in the Summer of 1969 working in a shipyard -- Alabama Drydocks and Shipbuilding co; ADDSCO -- on Pinto Island, Mobile Alabama... Those Cajun guys that taught me so much; their families came from here. There bloodline is here. This is a powerful place.
Turns out... today... July 28th is the National Holiday set aside for mourning and regret to remember the Great Upeaval ; the Acadians and the Great Derangement. ?Who could have timed that in 40 years? ?a lifetime? The monument is unique... but the setting, the earthworks of Port la Joye.... overlooking Charlottetown. Sublime to me. ... full circle.
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Sorry for the copy/ paste references below. This was just too historical of a place to wing it on the facts.
****** from Wikipedia
Port-la-Joye—Fort Amherst is a National Historic Site of Canada[1] in Prince Edward Island, Canada, commemorating the location's double distinction in hosting both the oldest permanent European settlement on Ile Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) and the first military fortification on the island to be built by the British. The first European settlers in the area were French; personnel from Fortress Louisbourg founded a settlement in 1720 named Port La Joye on the southwestern part of the harbour opposite the present-day city. This settlement was led by Michel Haché-Gallant, who used his sloop to ferry Acadian settlers from Louisbourg.
After the Siege of Louisbourg (1745) during King George's War, the New Englanders also captured Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island). The New Englanders had a force of two war ships and 200 soldiers stationed at Port-La-Joye
In July 1746, the battle happened near Northeast River (Hillsborough River).[6] Montesson and his troops killed or imprisoned forty New Englanders. Montesson was commended for having distinguished himself in his first independent command.[7]
During the French and Indian War, the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign involved the British seizing control of the port and replacing its initial fort with a new one, Fort Amherst (1758).
*********
From the Port la Joye website http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/pe/amherst/natcul/natcul3.aspx
Acadian Deportation of 1758
By 1758 the population of Île Saint-Jean had reached approximately 4,600 people. France and Great Britain were by then engulfed in the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War).
In July of 1758, the Fortress of Louisbourg fell for a second time, attacked by British forces led by General Jeffery Amherst and Admiral Edward Boscawen. As in 1745, the French governor at Louisbourg surrendered Île Saint-Jean when he gave up Louisbourg. Three weeks later, roughly 500 British troops detached from Louisbourg and led by Lord Andrew Rollo arrived at Port-la-Joye and took control of Île Saint-Jean. Lord Rollo quickly began to round up every French and Acadian person on Île Saint-Jean, in preparation for yet another mass deportation. Rollo soon realized, however, that the four ships that had been taken to Port-la-Joye would not be adequate to transport the more than 4,000 people that, unbeknownst to him, lived on Île Saint-Jean. Rollo had received the much more conservative estimate of 400 to 500 people.
In total, 13 ships were ordered to carry the deportees to France. Efforts to round up Acadians ended in October of 1758 and, in the end, these vessels carried more than 3,000 Acadians. Some Acadians escaped deportation by fleeing to what is now eastern New Brunswick and to Quebec, while a whole parish on the north shore of the island—Malpec—was not rounded up at all. It appears that Lord Rollo deemed them to be too far away and, as it was getting late in the season, it would take too long to gather them. They resolved to return the next year, but by 1759 the Acadians were hiding in the woods and difficult to locate. In all, some 1,600 Acadians were able to escape deportation.
For most of the deportees, leaving Port-la-Joye and Île Saint-Jean was simply the beginning of the Acadian Odyssey.
Leaving late in the fall of 1758 meant that the vessels were at risk of meeting storms. Three transports, the Duke William, the Violet and the Ruby, met their fate during the crossing of the Atlantic. Nearly 700 people lost their lives in the sinking of these ships.
While sinking in and of itself was a great danger to the transports, the threat of disease and illness onboard the ship was even more prominent. It is estimated that one third of the passengers—nearly 900 people—died onboard the ships due to illness. Combined with death due to drowning, it is estimated that more than 1,600 of the 3,100 people deported lost their lives during the crossing.
Although the ships were headed for France, not all deportees made it their final stop. There are records showing that some of these Acadians found themselves in such far-away places as St. Pierre and Miquelon, islands in the Caribbean, Guiana, Louisiana, and the Falkland Islands.
In 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, effectively ending the Seven Years' War. The Treaty officially granted New France and all French territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain, with the exception of St. Pierre and Miquelon. As most of North America was now British, the threat of a renewed French attack was severely diminished. The British authorities allowed Acadians to return to their former territories, although British settlers now inhabited much of the land that they had previously occupied. A small number returned, and combined with those who had remained on the island, they are largely the ancestors of today's Acadian population.
**********
Sorry for the copy/ paste references. This was just too historical of a place to wing it on the facts.
MARNE 39 # 112
July 28, 2011
Port La Joye 1, PEI
From Summerside we headed east on Hwy 1A to drive Confederation Bridge- the 14 kilometer bridge back to the continental mainland; New Brunswick. But I wanted to drive the southern star route scenic byway along the southern shore of PEI, so we dropped down on hwy 10east. Glad I didn't bypass this route.
Along the route the PEI countryside was really good farmland and homesteads. Very beautiful.
A stop in Victoria was a neat small village to see and there was a town / village walking theater production underway. -- Also see Victoria. PEI post--
There were views of the ocean... the Northumberland Straight all along the drive. The route turned north uo Charlottetown Harbor and after being lost for a minute, wound up at Rocky Point. The Mi' kmaq First Nation were holding their tribal elections.
A mile back to Port la Joye... and I am blown away. Absolutely stunned. This is the origin of "The Grand Deragnement" .... The great Deportation of the Acadians.... a horrific sad period of a genocide of the French Acadian settlers, rounded up by the British as they were "suspected" of not being loyal to the English crown.
Traveling through the Maritimes we visited many communities of Acadian heritage. This IS Acadia --- New France-- in the new world during the colonial era. Every sign here is in English AND French! There is too much history to write here; I'll include a brief wikipedia synopsis, but do read this history of the Acadian deportment.
Certain crossroads on life paths sometimes make a huge difference. At high school in the '60s , Alabama just taught the basics of academia. Over forty years ago the first time reading Longfellows "Evangeline",... I knew I had to see this place one day. Back then,... I thought Acadia was one place. Maybe the size of a county.
At another crossroad as a teenager in the shipyards, I didn't know that 40 years later would be significant to standing here. A lifetime has passed and I'm supposed to be here; I didn't know that 'til today... standing here
I worked the summer of 1969 in the Mobile, Alabama shipyard - Addsco- Alabama Dry docks & Shipbuilding co. on Pinto Island in Mobile Bay. Working a Summer as a boilermaker / ironworker,... putting keel plates on ships in drydocks was a great adventure and experience. Working and making friends with Cajuns gives you a unique perspective of life.
I lived in Prichard Alabama in a boarding house on Telegraph Road. At dawn, you head to the shipyard. The humidity on Mobile bay in July was ungodly; the Cajuns were hard workers. I worked with Cajuns, talked with cajuns, joked with the Cajuns, ate with Cajuns, went out onto the causeway after work and drank beer with the Cajuns, was invited to their homes to meet their families. Thank you Willis and Somerville! There is a reason New Orleans has the nickname "The Big Easy". Cajun culture is a big part of the easy going nature of the Louisiana life and attitude. They knew how live in the moment; that is what I learned from them. They taught me what was important; enjoy this time of life
As a teenager back in the Summer of 1969 working in a shipyard -- Alabama Drydocks and Shipbuilding co; ADDSCO -- on Pinto Island, Mobile Alabama... Those Cajun guys that taught me so much; their families came from here. There bloodline is here. This is a powerful place.
Turns out... today... July 28th is the National Holiday set aside for mourning and regret to remember the Great Upeaval ; the Acadians and the Great Derangement. ?Who could have timed that in 40 years? ?a lifetime? The monument is unique... but the setting, the earthworks of Port la Joye.... overlooking Charlottetown. Sublime to me. ... full circle.
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Sorry for the copy/ paste references below. This was just too historical of a place to wing it on the facts.
****** from Wikipedia
Port-la-Joye—Fort Amherst is a National Historic Site of Canada[1] in Prince Edward Island, Canada, commemorating the location's double distinction in hosting both the oldest permanent European settlement on Ile Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) and the first military fortification on the island to be built by the British. The first European settlers in the area were French; personnel from Fortress Louisbourg founded a settlement in 1720 named Port La Joye on the southwestern part of the harbour opposite the present-day city. This settlement was led by Michel Haché-Gallant, who used his sloop to ferry Acadian settlers from Louisbourg.
After the Siege of Louisbourg (1745) during King George's War, the New Englanders also captured Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island). The New Englanders had a force of two war ships and 200 soldiers stationed at Port-La-Joye
In July 1746, the battle happened near Northeast River (Hillsborough River).[6] Montesson and his troops killed or imprisoned forty New Englanders. Montesson was commended for having distinguished himself in his first independent command.[7]
During the French and Indian War, the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign involved the British seizing control of the port and replacing its initial fort with a new one, Fort Amherst (1758).
*********
From the Port la Joye website http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/pe/amherst/natcul/natcul3.aspx
Acadian Deportation of 1758
By 1758 the population of Île Saint-Jean had reached approximately 4,600 people. France and Great Britain were by then engulfed in the Seven Years War (also known as the French and Indian War).
In July of 1758, the Fortress of Louisbourg fell for a second time, attacked by British forces led by General Jeffery Amherst and Admiral Edward Boscawen. As in 1745, the French governor at Louisbourg surrendered Île Saint-Jean when he gave up Louisbourg. Three weeks later, roughly 500 British troops detached from Louisbourg and led by Lord Andrew Rollo arrived at Port-la-Joye and took control of Île Saint-Jean. Lord Rollo quickly began to round up every French and Acadian person on Île Saint-Jean, in preparation for yet another mass deportation. Rollo soon realized, however, that the four ships that had been taken to Port-la-Joye would not be adequate to transport the more than 4,000 people that, unbeknownst to him, lived on Île Saint-Jean. Rollo had received the much more conservative estimate of 400 to 500 people.
In total, 13 ships were ordered to carry the deportees to France. Efforts to round up Acadians ended in October of 1758 and, in the end, these vessels carried more than 3,000 Acadians. Some Acadians escaped deportation by fleeing to what is now eastern New Brunswick and to Quebec, while a whole parish on the north shore of the island—Malpec—was not rounded up at all. It appears that Lord Rollo deemed them to be too far away and, as it was getting late in the season, it would take too long to gather them. They resolved to return the next year, but by 1759 the Acadians were hiding in the woods and difficult to locate. In all, some 1,600 Acadians were able to escape deportation.
For most of the deportees, leaving Port-la-Joye and Île Saint-Jean was simply the beginning of the Acadian Odyssey.
Leaving late in the fall of 1758 meant that the vessels were at risk of meeting storms. Three transports, the Duke William, the Violet and the Ruby, met their fate during the crossing of the Atlantic. Nearly 700 people lost their lives in the sinking of these ships.
While sinking in and of itself was a great danger to the transports, the threat of disease and illness onboard the ship was even more prominent. It is estimated that one third of the passengers—nearly 900 people—died onboard the ships due to illness. Combined with death due to drowning, it is estimated that more than 1,600 of the 3,100 people deported lost their lives during the crossing.
Although the ships were headed for France, not all deportees made it their final stop. There are records showing that some of these Acadians found themselves in such far-away places as St. Pierre and Miquelon, islands in the Caribbean, Guiana, Louisiana, and the Falkland Islands.
In 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, effectively ending the Seven Years' War. The Treaty officially granted New France and all French territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain, with the exception of St. Pierre and Miquelon. As most of North America was now British, the threat of a renewed French attack was severely diminished. The British authorities allowed Acadians to return to their former territories, although British settlers now inhabited much of the land that they had previously occupied. A small number returned, and combined with those who had remained on the island, they are largely the ancestors of today's Acadian population.
**********
Sorry for the copy/ paste references. This was just too historical of a place to wing it on the facts.
