Comments on: Last Acadian village found?

By: Andre Gregoire

Andre Gregoire — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:07:51 +0000

Patrick Clarke refers to La Petite Rochelle AS Myth and reality. I can only speak of the reality part because i know very little of the mythical part of it. There is no record of an Acadian presence in this area before the supposed first group of refugees arrived with Joseph Leblanc in 1757. As for the Seigneurie of Petite Rochelle, it was not developed enough to leave documentary traces. After the conquest this area which was part of migamagi,became part of Nova Scotia, it then became part of New Brunswick,and finally part of the province of Quebec. The border between Canada and Acadia was exactly where it is today ,That is Cap Desrosiers near Gaspe. Acadia was and is a completly different watershed than Canada. It was Samuel de Champlain who fixed ihe frontier on his maps. The reason that the Gaspe peninsula was annexed to Quebec is because Lord Dalhousie A former military govenor in British north America, did not want two French Provinces on his hands. Acadins were still coming out of the woods for many years after the battle of the ristigouche, that is why there is so many here now.

By: Not Acadian

Not Acadian — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:32:12 +0000

The village of Petite Rochelle was not Acadian, as much as the people in the Machault Society would love it to be. They ignore key evidence and acquire artifacts then falsly claim they were found in other places. Anyone with a real hunger for history..REAL HISTORY.. would have dismissed the claims of these charlatans years ago. Their only concern is a presence of Acadians in the Restigouche River area after the expulsion. There is no way they would have had time to establish a permanent settlement of 200 houses in the short time between the expulsion and the supposed burning of Petite Rochelle in 1760/61. They had neither the manpower or resources to so such a thing. The people of Petite Rochelle may have taken some in, but where they are currently searching they aren’t finding anything.. It just goes to show how some people are only interested in personal glory rather than the true history of our area. The real location of the village is known to me and to anyone else who takes the time to look at the maps and read the literature closely. I will not reveal it’s location out of fear the government will get involved.. They cannot be trusted after taking the word of Mr. Goudreau and spending money on a wild goose chase to boost his ego.

By: andre gregoire

andre gregoire — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:29:54 +0000

The Acadian refugees who formed the major part of the human element of the community did not name the village La Petite Rochelle. The witness who describes the distruction of the village in 1760 reffered to it as La Petite Rochelle. Incidently La Petite Rochelle is in fact the oldest known French name applied to this Place.

By: andre gregoire

andre gregoire — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:20:47 +0000

The Societe Historique has located two documents which may end the confusion as to what or where La Petite Rochelle was ? The oldest known document refering to Petite Rochelle, is now in the University of Moncton documents, and refers to the Seigneurie de La Petite-Rochelle,which was granted to one Charles Damours in 1684. The boundary of the said seignurie began at Ruisseau de l’officier located at the western end of Listuguj westward, and also included the concession de Matapedia. The other refers to the 1760 London Times story of the distruction of the Acadian refugee village of la petite rochelle situated near battery point.

By: Charles Borris

Charles Borris — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:43:19 +0000

I also agree with Mr.Jaques. The Arcgeologists may find trace of a village, once the Acadians refugees, but it is not to be confused with La Petite Rochelle accordind to Father Pacifique that lived in Restigouche and had great interest in history. Byron never mention that he destroyed “Petite Rochelle”. It’s also interesting to see what John Carter Allen has to say about this with the map he drew. Captain Allen was also with Commodore Byron. La Petite Rochelle was a Seigneurie dating back at least 1684 according to the Acadian Archives in Moncton. If not much is written about it might have to do with a possibility of a huguenot factor. New Rochelle near New York City still there today was originaly Huguenot named after LaRochelle France, once the powerhouse of the Huguenots. Now tell me this knowing what religion was at that time why would Acadians Catholics name a village after a Huguenot Town?