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My Acadian First Families Ancestors


My Acadian ancestors all come from my great-grandmother, Rosemarie Alma (Deveau) Quinn. Nearly all of her ancestors can be traced back to the Acadians. Rosemarie was born on 10 August 1914 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts. Her parents were Thomas Clarance Deveau and Cleophas M LeBlanc. Thomas was born in Ohio, Digby, Nova Scotia on 25 May 1888 to Leandé Joseph Deveau and Lea Madeline Comeau. Cleophas was born on 25 April 1888 in Meteghan, Digby, Nova Scotia to Victor LeBlanc and Marie Vitalline Thibodeau.

Interesting Acadian Ancestors

Jean Blanchard

Jean Blanchard was a pioneer and the ancestral patriarch of the Acadian Blanchard family. He was born about 1611 in France and married Radegonde Lambert about 1642 and had six known children together. It is believed that Jean arrived in 1640 to Acadia, as he owned the lot adjoining the side of the old Fort in Port Royal. He was among one of five men who had received one of the first land grants at Port Royal. The land was expropriated in 1705 for the extension of the Fort, so they lived here only until that time at the latest. Jean died sometime between the 1686 and 1693 censuses.

Abraham Dugas

Abraham Dugas was a pioneer and the ancestral patriarch of the Acadian Dugas family. He was born about 1616 in France and married Marguerite Doucet around 1647 in Port Royal, they had eight known children. He arrived to Port Royal around 1640 where he was given the designation of Lieutenant General. He was also know as an armorer to the King by some historians, but documentation is needed to prove this. Abraham was involved in the rebuilding of Port Royal after the the attack in 1654 led by Robert Sedgwick. He died sometime between the 1693 and 1700 census, when his wife was listed as a widow.

A History of Port Royal/Annapolis Royal, 1605-1800 by Brenda Dunn, page 29

Michel Boudrot

Michel Boudrot was a pioneer and the ancestral patriarch of the Acadian Boudrot family, one of the largest Acadian families. He was born about 1600 in France and arrived to Acadia before 1639 when he was mentioned as a "syndic" trustee. In 1686 he was listed as a "criminal lieutenant general" which is equivalent to a magistrate. It is likely that Michel was recruited to Port Royal by Governor Charles de Menou d'Aulnay, as he was present at the baptism of the Governor's daughter on 21 September 1639 in his capacity of First Trustee of Port Royal. Around 1641 he married Michelle Aucoin, they had 11 known children. He also witnessed the 1654 attack on Port Royal by Robert Sedgwick. In 1685, Michel received a letter from the King of France naming him Lieutenant-General for Civil and Criminal matters for the country and the Acadian coast. He occupied this position until 1688. Michel died sometime between 1688 and 1693 when his wife is listed as a widow on the census.

Pierre Arseneau

Pierre Arseneau was the ancestral patriarch of the Acadian Arseneau family, another one of the largest Acadian families. He was born about 1646 in France and arrived in Port Royal between 1671-1672, possibly embarking from Rochefort aboard the L'Oranger. He was a coastal pilot. Around 1672 he co-founded the colony of "Bourgeois" with Jacques Bourgeois, which later became Beaubassin (now Amherst, Nova Scotia). He married, first, Marguerite Dugas (daughter of the above mentioned Abraham Dugas) about 1675 in Port Royal, they had two known children before she died around 1685. He married, second, Marie Guérin about 1685 in Port Royal, they had seven known children. Pierre died around 1710.

Jacques Bourgeois

Jacques Bourgeois was the ancestral patriarch of the Acadian Bourgeois family. He was born about 1620 in France and arrived in Acadia on 6 July 1641, which is documented by accounts of the payments made to the crew (including Jacques) aboard the Saint-François which departed on 7 May 1641 from the port of La Rochelle. A later deposition given on 31 July 1699 states Jacques came to Port Royal in 1642. Jacques traveled with the Governor of Acadia, and came to practice surgery. He married Jeanne Trahan about 1643, they had ten known children. He became a fur trader and merchant, eventually building lumber and flour mills. He traded with the Bostonians and also the Mi'kmac Indians. In 1646, Jacques and his wife were granted an island called Île aux Cochons situated in the Dauphin River (now Annapolis River), upstream from Port Royal.

A History of Port Royal/Annapolis Royal, 1605-1800 by Brenda Dunn, page 18

In 1671, Jacques founded the colony of Bourgeois, which became Beaubassin, with his two sons Charles and Germain. Beaubassin later became the most prosperous place in Acadia. After founding Beaubassin, Jacques and some of his family returned to Port Royal where he worked as a surgeon. Charles and Germain remained in Beaubassin with their families. Jacques died about 1701.

Location of Beaubassin in Nova Scotia

Acadian First Families
These people are the first of their families to live and establish their family name in Acadia. Most of them were born in France and are the Patriarch or Matriarch of their family. This list encompasses my Acadian First Families ancestors ranging from 10 to 14 generations back. Pioneer settlers are also noted.

Pioneer, François (Amireau) Amirault (abt.1644-aft.1737) m. Marie Pitre






Pioneer, Étienne Robichaud (abt.1640-bef.1686) m. Françoise Boudrot
Marie Mercier (abt.1645-bef.1698) also m. Guillaume Le Juge


For more information on Acadian history visit:
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