Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
Hi, A few years ago,I found this bit of information concerning Acadie's pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois that some of you may be interested in.One of his decendents married one of my great+++aunt.Since he is not one of my ancestors, I have no more information on this family.Enjoy, Janet
1.Jacques-Jacob2 Bourgeois, Dr.(Nicolas1) was born 08 Jan 1621 in Couperans en Brie, Champagne, France, and died about 1701 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada.He married Jeanne Trahan about 1644 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada, daughter of Guillaume Trahan and Francoise Corbineau/Charbonneau.She was born about 1629 in Bourgueil, Anjou, France, and died about 1714 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada.
Notes for Jacques-Jacob Bourgeois, Dr.:
He is listed with his family in the 1678 Acadien Census with 20 acres and 15 cattle.
Founding of Beaubassin:
Jacques Bourgeois, d’Aulnay’s former surgeon and a farmer, moved to Beaubassin soon after 1671 and in 1672 he established the settlement of Beaubassin.He had been in the area before, and probably like the trading prospects and room for growth.It had much more of the valuable salt marsh that could be converted to good farmland.The original settlement of the area was on the south side of the Missaguash River, around the area on which Ft. Lawrence was built. The group (of Bourgeois and 5 other families) was settled in less than 5 years.Michel Leneuf de La Valiere (Nicolas Denys’ son-in-law) had visited the settlement and had obtained a seingeurie of the area (10 leagues square - about 1000 sq. mi.) in 1676.[Clark, p. 141; Trueman]
He had to leave the current settlers and the land they had (and planned on acquiring) alone.LaVilliere settled on Tonge’s Island (between the 2 ridges).He put a stockade around his buildings and dyked off some land.Like the settlers, most of the buildings were logs, though some outbuildings (stables, barns) may have been of planks.A 1682 list of 11 men at Beaubassin who didn’t accept the concession contracts were Pierre Morin, Guyou Chiasson, Michel Poirier, Roger Kessy, Claude Du Gast, Germaine & Guillaume Bourgeois, Germaine Giroir, Jean Aubin Migneaux, Jacques Belou, and Thomas Cormier.Few new people arrived before 1686.La Villiere brought in engages from outside of Acadia, at least one married an Acadian girl.[Clark, p. 142]
There’s a 1680s description (by Demeulle?) of the area.There were vast meadows.Over 20 homes were on the borders or islands of the marsh.Each farm had many outbuildings, 12-20 cattle, 12 pigs, 12 sheep.The livestock were kept in stables only 2-3 months in the winter, or to fatten them up before butchering them.Many were probably lost to wolves.They depended on livestock, and had been neglecting crops ... though soon the fields should be ready for larger crops.Women made linen and woolen cloth for clothing.Both men and women wore Indian mocassins made by themselves.He noted the short distance across the isthmus and suggested a possible canal to shorten the Quebec-Port Royal journey; in part so the Acadians would trade more with Quebec than New England.[Clark, p. 143]
The population of the area, unsteady at first, grew steadily from 1690 on.It went from: 127 (1686) to 101 (1687/8) to 84 (1689) to 119 (1693) to 174 (1698) to 188 (1701) to 246 (1703) to 271 (1707).
There were a large number of cattle.But since the cattle were only milked while the calves were suckling, there was a shortage of milk (and of butter).LaVilliere and Bourgeois both build gristmills by the late 1680s.Jacques also had a sawmill.
Gradually, the produce in Port Royal found its way to Beaubassin ... ie. fruit trees (apple, pear, plum) and were established by 1700.The more severe winter may have prevented cherry trees from surviving.
The area didn’t grow as much as Minas.Perhaps because LaVilliere left for Canada, and his son-in-law replacement (Sebastien de Villieu) did poorly.Sebastien gave eviction orders and took back the land of settlers who had squatted at Shepoudy.Raids by Benjamin Church (where buildings were destroyed and cattle killed) in 1696 and 1704 were harmful.The gypsum and coal were probably used regularly, but didn’t seem to attract much attention.Grindstone Island hadn’t become known for its products. Coal veins could be observed at Joggins when sailing by (but no harbor and the tide made it difficult to take advantage of).The isthmus was a crossroads for Indians.[Clark, p. 144]
Beaubassin was the first and major settlement on the Chignecto isthmus.The Chignecto was a vague area (like Minas) which spread from Shepody around to River Hebert.There were many ridges ... 100-150' above sea level ... rising like islands above the marshy grassland.Villages were built on the hills.The main marsh areas were north of Cumberland Basin, which had 4 rivers: La Planche, Missiquash, Aulac and the Tantramar .. each about 12-15 miles long.
Children of Jacques-Jacob Bourgeois and Jeanne Trahan are:
2 i. Charles3 Bourgeois, born about 1646 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada; died Bef. 26 Apr 1679 in Acadie, Canada.He married Anne Dugas about 1670 in Beaubassin, Acadie, Canada; born about 1654 in Port Royal, Acadie,Canada; died 04 Nov 1740 in Beaubassin, Acadie, Canada.
Notes for Charles Bourgeois:
Both he and his wife Anne Dugast were listed in the 1671 Acadien census with one daughter.
3 ii. Germain Bourgeois, born about 1648 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada; died about 1711 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada.
4 iii. Marie-Francoise Bourgeois, born about 1650 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada; died about 1694 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada.She married Claude Dugas about 1673 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada; born about 1650 in Port Royal, Acadie,Canada; died 16 Oct 1732 in Port Royal, Acadie, Canada.
More Replies:
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
marc Bourgeois 11/13/10
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Documented over 11,000 Bourgeois' descendant from Jacques Bourgeois
Janet Manseau 11/13/10
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
Huey Bourgeois 12/03/10
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
marc Bourgeois 12/03/10
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
Huey Bourgeois 12/04/10
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
marc Bourgeois 12/04/10
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
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Documented over 11,000 Bourgeois' descendant from Jacques Bourgeois
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Re: Pioneer Dr. Jacques Bourgeois...Acadie
Gail Hartwig 10/21/10