Generation 4 - Return from Exile

Michel Pitre

Bona Arseneault, author of the History of the Acadians names our ancestors Michel Pitre & Marie-Josephe Orillion among the first acadian settlers of Nipisiguit, now Bathurst, N.B.

Born in Grand-Pr�, Acadia, Michel Pitre was the son of Jean-Baptiste and C�cile Boudreau. A few years later, his family settled in Beaubassin. This move probably saved their family from deportation. The proximity of Beaubassin to the woods in New Brunswick allowed them to escape by reaching that area.

Dykelands of Grand Pr�

Michel's parents came to Quebec by sea vessel with L'Abb� Le Guerne. The Acadians who followed Le Guerne had to be hardy and have a little money. Once in Quebec City, they had to negotiate passage again this time to go up the river to Nicolet.

He was 23 when he arrived as a refugee in Quebec with his parents sometime in the Spring of 1758. The following year, Michel Pitre married the Acadian Marie-Josephe Orillion in the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Qu�bec on May 14. This couple will settle in the Nicolet region of Quebec where 13 children will be born between 1760 and 1779.

Return from Exile

Athanase Boudreau was a close cousin of our ancestor Michel Pitre. That is because Michel Pitre's Mother, C�cile Boudreau was the sister of Anthanase's father, Fran�ois Boudreau. As well, Michel's Father, Jean-Baptiste Pitre was the brother of Athanase's Mother, Marguerite Pitre. Furthermore, a week before, Michel Pitre's marriage to Marie-Josephe Orillon, his cousin Athanase Boudreau , had married F�licit� Orillon (Marie-Josephe's sister) also in Quebec City and this couple also settled in Nicolet.

Michel's close relationship with his cousin and brother-in-law Athanase Boudreau could have been a decisive factor in his return to Nova Scotia. (Nipisiguit being part of Nova Scotia at that time).

Athanase Boudreau was called upon for his expertise in building the dam for the first flour mill in Nicolet. The first flour mill of Soroist in Baie Ste-Antoine, Nicolet to which was later added an industrial complex, served the community until the beginning of the 20th century.

(H�bert 205)

In 1780, cousin Athanase was accused of helping the passage of emissaries from the American Congress. The following translates a letter sent to the Governor by Sieur de Tonnencour.

September 27, 1780

The named Athanase Boudreau, miller at the �Moulin de p�pin au pais br�l�' from baie Sainte-Antoine, having heard many times that this man helped the passage of emissaries of the American Congress from that colony.... I will detain him in prison as well as his neighbour named �Boucher',....'�

Sieur de Tonnancour

Source: Notes from Stephen White

A year later, Athanase's brother Osias Boudreau (married to Marie-Anne Orillon) and our ancestor Michel Pitre ask for a permit to go east via the St. John River.

The following translates a request sent on behalf of our ancestors to M. Haldemand, Governor General by their parish priest, l'abb� F. Brallard.

12 october 1781

The mentioned Ozias Boudraut & Michel Pitre, both Acadians, humbly beg your Excellency for a permit for them and their family, for the �Rivi�re St-Jean'. In this parish, they are considered honest people.

L'abb� F. Brassard

Source: Notes from Stephen White

Michel Pitre and his family would have made their way down the St-Jean River and turned to the Baie des Chaleurs. Athanase Boudreau and his family also headed in the same direction, settled in Grande Rivi�re, Gasp� and later in Beresford, N.B. where Athanase became a successful miller.

Michel Pitre and his family settled in Nipisiguit (now Bathurst, N.B.) where he became progenitor of most of the Pitre descendants in that area.

Children of Michel Pitre and Marie-Josephe Orillon dit Champagne:

1. Marie-Josephe PITRE (twin) born February 13, 1760 in B�cancour, Qu�bec - married 1783 to Jean-Baptiste CHAMBERLAND of Jean-Baptiste & Louise-Ursule LEMIEUX died November 10, 1824 in Petit-Rocher, N.B.
2. Francoise Marie(twin) PITRE born February 13, 1760 in B�cancour, Qu�bec
3. Marie PITRE born February 24 died March 5, 1762 in Nicolet, Qu�bec
4. Michel dit Nordest PITRE born June 20, 1763 in Nicolet, Qu�bec - married June 3, 1789 in Nipisiguit to Marguerite BOUDREAU of Joseph & M-Jeanne HACH�. died January 29 and was buried February 8, 1817 in Bathurst
5. Joseph PITRE born February 12 died February 23, 1765 in Nicolet, Qu�bec
6. Marie-Marguerite PITRE born March 19, 1769 in Nicolet, Qu�bec - married on May 3, 1790 in Nipisiguit to Jean-Joseph BERTIN, widower of Charlotte DUBOIS & son of Gabriel Joseph & Marie-Jos�phe LEFEBVRE
7. Pierre PITRE born August 18, 1771 in Nicolet, Qu�bec
8. Charles Olivier PITRE born November 27, 1772 in Nicolet, Qu�bec, married 1- April 4, 1796 in Caraquet to C�leste COMEAU Daughter of Fran�ois le jeune & Marie BEAUDRY 2- April 28, 1812 in Bathurst to Marie-Rose TH�RIOT Daughter of Victor & Julie THIBODEAU
9. Joseph PITRE born April 10, 1767 in Nicolet, Qu�bec
10. Jean-Baptiste PITRE born January 1, 1775 in Nicolet, Qu�bec - married April 21, 1800 in Bathurst Marie HACH� widow of William MORRISON & daughter of Joseph & Madeleine DOUCET
11. Alexis PITRE born June 1, 1776 in Nicolet, Qu�bec married 1797 Anne H�BERT of Simon & Anne CAISSIE (He settled in Beresford, N.B.)
12. C�cile PITRE born May 5 died May 18, 1778 in Nicolet, Qu�bec
13. C�cile PITRE born May 28, 1779 in Nicolet, Qu�bec married April 1, 1802 1 John YOUNG of Madeleine (indian) 2 Fran�ois LE BRETON son of Fran�ois & Marguerite GIONET. Died October 31st, 1859 in Tracadie

Marie-Josephe Orillion dit Champagne:

According to Monsignor L. Richard of Trois-Rivi�res, among the Acadian settlers in Nicolet, three families (Pitre, Boudreau & Gaudet) were linked to Charles Orillon (Orion) dit Champagne through the marriage of his daughters. These families would have followed him to settle in the Nicolet region. Charles Orillon (Orion) dit Champagne left a progeny in that region that can be seen even today by the number of descendants bearing the names of Orillon, Orion and Champagne. Charles Orillon II dit Champagne passed away in Nicolet on March 19, 1790.

Marie-Anne Richard was the daughter of Fran�ois and Anne Comeau. Born around 1684 in Port Royal, she had the misfortune of dying young as she was only 42.

Marie-Josephe Orillon herself lived in Nipisiguit until the age of 72, when she was buried there on January 18, 1809 .

Marie-Josephe Orillon is a descendant of pioneer Charles Orillon dit Champagne.

HISTORICAL TIDBITS

Nipisiguit, N.S.
(now Bathurst, N.B.)

Nipisiguit is situated in the north-western region of New Brunswick. The coasts of the 'Baie des Chaleurs' were already known by the French and the Acadians for a long time. According to geographical surveys along that coast, there has been evidence of European fishermen there as far back as 1506. The colonization of this area only came later since neither the French nor the English showed interest in this region until 1755.

It would stand to reason that this area was well-known to Acadians in Nova Scotia before deportation in 1755. Because it was secluded from the military and political centres, many Acadians who escaped deportation followed the coast or went through the woods to seek refuge in what is now northern New Brunswick.

Before the �Great Upheaval', the French population of Acadia totaled approximately 12,000. When the war between France and England was finally over in 1763, there were only about 4,500 Acadians left in their country. Under the Treaty of Paris, France gave away their territory to England.

By 1768, the Acadians in exile were allowed to return without penalty if they swore allegiance to the King of England and dispersed into small groups.