ACADIAN REDEMPTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments ...... i Dedication ...... v Editor’s Notes by Chris Segura ...... vii Foreword by Dr. William Arceneaux ...... xi Introduction by Mary Leonise Broussard Perrin ...... xiii

Part I - Acadian Odyssey Chapter 1 - The First Broussard in ...... 1 Chapter 2 - The Early Years: Colonization ...... 5 Chapter 3 - Beausoleil’s Four Civil Disputes ...... 9 Chapter 4 - The Resistance ...... 19 Chapter 5 - Finalizing the Acadian Problem ...... 33 Chapter 6 - Departing for a New Life ...... 37 Chapter 7 - The Settlement of “New Acadia” ...... 43 Chapter 8 - The Legacy ...... 57 Chapter 9 - The Broussard Clan in ...... 67

Part II - Redemption: The Petition to Obtain an Apology for the Acadian Deportation Chapter 10 - Sketches of an Acadian Journey ...... 101 Chapter 11 - The Petition ...... 105 Chapter 12 - Apologies ...... 111 Chapter 13 - Support for the Petition ...... 115 Chapter 14 - The Royal Proclamation ...... 119

Epilogue by Dr. Shane K. Bernard ...... 127 Flags Tell the (1996) ...... 130 Acadian History in Brief – Chronology ...... 132 Petition of the Acadians Deported to Philadelphia to the King of England (1760) ...... 134 Notes ...... 143 About the Author by Gen. Curney J. Dronet, Sr...... 163 Bibliography ...... 167 MAPS, DOCUMENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS Dafford’s “Beausoleil” at the Acadian Museum of Erath (2004) ...xviii Map - Early French Colonization (1604-1670) ...... 3 Map - le Village-des-Beausoleil (1750) ...... 6 Map - Acadian Migration from Port Royal (1670-1680) ...... 8 Reproduction and Translation of the baptism record of Marguerite Tibodeau (1706) ...... 11 Translation of the marriage record of Beausoleil and Agnes Tibodeau (1725) ...... 14 Map - Acadian Hamlets on the Petitcoudiac (1755) ...... 17 Map - Deportation of Acadians (1750-1755) ...... 26 Map - (1755) ...... 34 Report on Paper Money Held by Acadians (1766) ...... 41 “Beausoleil” Named Captain Commandant (1765) ...... 45 St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church Record of the death of Alexandre Broussard and a Joseph Broussard (September 4, 1765) ...... 48 Song: “Hey, Hey, Beausoleil” (2003) ...... 51 Song: “O! O! Acadie!” (2003) ...... 53 The Dauterive Compact (1765) ...... 55 Song: “The Broussard Song” ...... 56 Acadian Museum of Erath brochure (1990) ...... 58 Dafford’s Mural “The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana” ...... 60 Mothey’s sketch of Beausoleil in Le Chef Des Acadiens (1980) ...... 64 Mary B. Perrin’s drawing “Acadian Guerillas” (1977) ...... 65 Map - Acadian Settlements in Spanish Louisiana (1760s) ...... 66 Document: First Acadian church in Attakapas (1773) ...... 69 Cattle Branding in Southwest Louisiana ...... 71 City of Broussard’s monument to Beausoleil designed by Maxine Duhon ...... 77 La Famille Beausoleil Commemorative coin “Beausoleil” (1997) ...... 77 City of Broussard’s brochure “Beausoleil” ...... 78 Broussard Coat of Arms ...... 80 Historiography ...... 81 Map - The Acadian Triangle ...... 82 Map - Broussard telephone service (1981) ...... 83 Letter proposing Beausoleil memorial (1997) ...... 84 Map - Acadians in the World ...... 100 Map - “The Long Journey Home” (1755-1785) ...... 107 Editorial cartoon by Garnotte (2001) ...... 110 Editorial cartoon by Chauvin (1993) ...... 112 Editorial cartoon by Chauvin (1993) ...... 112 The Queen’s Royal Proclamation (December 9, 2003) ...... 120 Beausoleil Broussard Coat of Arms ...... 142