|
an ACADIAN EXILE article
Cultures
of Acadiana |
Lafayette (La) Daily Advertiser, March 30,1999
"Relation told story of the Acadian dispersal"
by Jim Bradshaw
About 1756, John Baptiste Galem, "one of the said people." published in the Pennsylvania Gazette "A Relation of the Misfortunes of the French Neutrals, As Laid Before the Assembly of the Providence of Pennsylvania." In it, he told the tale of how the Acadians came to be sent to that providence. He praises the reception the Acadians received in Pennsylvania Quakers from French Huguenot decent. alarm may have been one of those. It may also have been that since he was asking for compensation for the land and goods taken from the Acadians, he thought it best not to alienate those who could help him. This is part of the text of his story.
About he year 1713, when Annapolis Royal was taken from the French, our fathers then being settled on the Bay of Fundi (sic), upon the surrender of that country to the English, had, by virtue of he Treaty of Utrecth, a year granted them to remove their effects; but not being willing to lose the fruit of many years labor , they chose rather to remain there, and become subjects of Great Britain, on condition that they might be exempted from bearing arms against France(most of them having near relations and friends amongst the French, which they might have destroyed with their own hands, had hey consented to bear arms against them). This request they always understood to be granted, on their taking the oath of fidelity to her late Majesty, Queen Ann; which oath of fidelity was by us, about27 years ago, renewed to his majesty King George, by General Philipse (sic), who then allowed us an exemption of bearing arms against France; which exemption till lately... we always thought was approved by the king. Our oath of fidelity, we .... have always inviolably observed, and have, on all occasions, been willing to afford all the assistance in our power to his Majesty's governors in erecting forts, making roads, bridges, &c, and an providing provisions for his Majesty's services, as can be testified by the several governors and officers that have commanded in his Majesty's providence of nova Scotia; and this, notwithstanding the repeated solicitations, threats, and abuses which we have continually, more or less, suffered from the French and French Indians of Canada on that account, particularly about ten years ago, when 500 French and Indians came to our settlements, intending to attack Annapolis Royal, which, had their intention succeeded, would have made them masters of all Nova Scotia, it being the only place of strength then in that providence, they earnestly solited us to join with, and aid them therein; but persisting in our resolution to abide true to the oath of fidelity, and absolutely refusing to give hem any assistance, they gave their intention, and returned to Canada. About seven years past, at the settlement of Halifax, a body of 150 Indians came among us, forced some of us from habitations, and by threats and blows would have compelled us to assist them in waylaying and destroying the English, then employed in erecting forts in different parts of the country; but we positively refusing, they left us, after having abused us, and made great havock (sic) or our cattle, &c. I myself was six weeks before I wholly recovered of the blows I received from them at the time.
Almost numberless are the instances which might be given of the abuses and losses we have undergone from the French Indians on account of our steady adherence to our oath of fidelity; and yet, notwithstanding our strict observance thereof, we have not been able to prevent the grievous calamity, which we apprehended to be in a great measure owing to the unhappy situation and conduct some of our people settled at Chiegnecto (sic), at the bottom of the Bay of Fundi, where the French, about four years ago, erected a fort; those of our people who were settled near it, after having had many of their settlements burnt by the French, being too far from Halifax and Annapolis Royal to expect sufficient assistance from the English, were obligated, as we believe, more through compulsion and fear than inclination, to join with and assist the French; which also appears from the Articles of Capitulation agreed on between Colonel Monckton (sic) and the French Commander at the Delivery of said fort to the English, which is exactly in the following words.
“With regard to the Acadians, as they have been forced to take up arms on pain of death, they shall be pardoned for the part they have been taking."
Notwithstanding this, as these people's conduct had given just umbrage to the government, and created suspicions to the prejudice of our whole community, we were summoned to appear before the governor and council at Halifax, where we were required to take the oath of allegiance, without exception, which we could not comply with, because as that government is at present situate, we apprehend we should have been obligated to take up arms; but were still willing to take (an) oath of fidelity, and give the strongest assurances of continuing peaceable and faithfulness to his Britannick (sic) Majesty, with that exception. But this, in the present situation of affairs, not being satisfactory, we were made prisoners, and our estates, both real and personal, forfeited for the King's use; and vessels being provided, we were sometime after sent off, with most of our families, and dispersed among the English colonies.
The hurry and confusion in which we were embarked was an aggravating circumstances attending our misfortunes; for thereby many, who had liven in affluence, found themselves deprived of every necessary (sic), and many families were separated, parents from children and children from parents. Yet blessed be God that it was our lot to be sent to Pennsylvania where our wants have been relieved, and we have in every respect been received with Christian benevolence and charity. And le me add that, notwithstanding the suspicious fees with many here are possessed of on our account, as though we were a dangerous people, who make little scruple of breaking our oaths, time will manifest that we are not such people; for had we entertained such pernicious sentiments, we might easily have pretended our falling into the melancholy circumstances we are now in via: Deprived of our substance, banished from our native country, and reduced to live in charity in a strange land; and this for refusing to take an oath, which we are firmly persuaded Christianity absolutely forbids us to violate, had we once taken it, and yet an oath which we could not comply with, without being exposed to plunge our swords in he breasts of our friends and relations.
We shall, however, as we have hitherto done, submit to what, in the present situation of affairs, may seem necessary, and with patience and resignation, bear whatever God, in the course of His Providence, shall suffer to come upon us. We shall also think it our duty to seek and promote the peace of the country into which we are transported, and inviolably keep the oath of fidelity that we have taken to his gracious Majesty, King George, whom we firmly believe, when fully acquainted with our faithfulness and suffering, will commiserate our unhappy condition, and order that some compensation be made us four losses. And may the Almighty abundantly bless his Honor, the Governor, the honorable Assembly of the Providence, and the good people of Philadelphia, whose sympathy, benevolence, and Christian charity, have been, and still are, greatly manifested and extended toward us, a poor distressed and afflicted people.