|
a ACADIAN REBIRTH article
Cultures
of Acadiana |
Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, April 27, 1999
Order forbade other settlements to accept Acadians
by Jim Bradshaw
While Gov. Antonio de Ulloa was trying to force newly arrived Acadian exiles to settle at Natchez, he sent orders to the other places where Acadians had been settled, expressly forbidding commandants there to accept new settlers.
In April 1768, he wrote to Frederick Joseph de Orieta, who was commandant to Fort St. Gabriel, and to Fabriel Fuselier de la Clair and Jacques Patin in Opelousas, Rene Trahan and Jean-Baptiste Broussard at Attakapas, Francois Amitault Duplessis at Pointe Coupee, Louis Judice and Nicolas Verret at St. James, and Charles Fredrick d'Arsenbourg at Des Allemands.
Settlers Arrested
He wrote to Oriette, "You will not allow to settle in the area under your jurisdiction any of the Acadians who have recently arrived under the command of Pedro Piernas, by they individuals or families, and, should they attempt it, you will arrest them immediately and send them to this city as prisoners. For this purpose, you will (meet with) all the heads of households of your post and let them know that no one should receive them regardless of the reason or the pretext of familial relationship, under the pain of the following penalty: He who harbors them, contrary to my orders, will be expatriated from the colony with his family, regardless of excuse."
"Will Pay Dearly"
Each of the other commandants received copies of a similar message, "You will prevent any newly arrived Acadian from settling in your district. Consequently, you will forewarn all the settlers that they are forbidden to harbor them, under any circumstances."
"You will also warn the Acadians already settled in your district. Should they receive any Acadians, even relatives, under any circumstances, they will pay dearly for their disobedience, forfeiting their land grants."