Acadian Memorials
Landry Ancestral
Graves Unearthed in Nova Scotia
In the summer of 1996, several skeletal remains were accidently unearthed at the construction site of a home on Gabriel Road in the Mountain View Subdivision near Falmouth, Nova Scotia. An archeological assessment determined that the location is an unmarked pre-1755 cemetery (1755 was the year of the Acadian expulsion).
When the building lot was being excavated, workers at the site found several bone fragments. Because the lot was on old farmland, they assumed the bones were those of a cow and continued work. But several people whom one of the workers talked to suggested the bones might be human, leading him to call the Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax. That call sent provincial archeologist David Christianson to the site. Pieces of at least two human skeletons were discovered at the site.
At first, 30 graves were found and it was expected that more would be found. But it was not yet known if the graves were a small, family plots (which was customary) or part of a larger cemetery. The graves were identified by clay caps sitting about 1.5 meters over the graves, the caps themselves being found about 30 centimeters below ground. Wrought-iron square nails (presumably coffin nails)and fragments of wood found in the disturbed graves predated 1800, meaning the cemetery could have been in use in the 17th century. Beside the nails and wood fragments, a King George III halfpenny and ceramic button dating back to the 1700's were found. The site fell under the provincial Special Places Protectin Act. Only graves uncovered by the excavation will be studied, the rest will not be disturbed according to Mr.Christianson.
The Windsor-Falmouth area (Pisiquit or Pisiquid) was settled by the Acadians at the end of the 17th century.The cemetery is an historic site of great importance, and is believed to be the cemetery of "la pariosse de Sainte Famille" located next to the church. "La pariosse de Sainte Famille de Pisiquid" was founded in 1722, when "la pariosse de l" Assomption de Pisiquid", the first Catholic parish of Pisiquid founded circa 1698, was divided into two, one on each side of the river at Pisiquid. "La pariosse de Sainte Famille" was located on the west bank of the river across from Fort Edward and present day Windsor(which is on the east side of the river), Nova Scotia.
"La pariosse de Sainte Famille de Pisiquid" is the church where a lot of the Louisiana Landrys’ ancestors attended Mass, were baptized, married and buried. Most of the Acadians from the Minas area, Pisiquid in particular, were transported to Maryland and later emigrated to Louisiana. This means that a considerable number of Louisiana "Cajuns" have a direct connection to "la paroisse de la Sainte Famille de Pisiquit".The church was destroyed as the British burned it during the Expulsion of 1755.
It is believed that some of the burials in the cemetary could date back as far as 1685 and possibly contains the remains of 300 to 400 people of the parish of Sainte-Famille, who were buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Barbara LeBlanc, President of the Federation Acadienne de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, has formed a committee from various organizations ie: West Hants Historical Society, la Societe nationale de l"Acadie, les Ami(e)s de Grand Pre, Hants Regional Development Authority, la Societe historique acadienne, les Affaires acadiennes de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, le centre d’etudes acadiennes, Parks Canada and the Municipality of West Hants.
During an interview, Barbara Leblanc captured the sentiments of many who care about the history and hertiage of Acadians:"This will be a momentous occasion for the Acadian descentants, especially those who can trace their family to Pisiquid".
Lot #7, which makes up about 70 percent of the site of the Sainte-Famille Cemetery, has now been purchased by the committee and needs to be developed into a suitable memorial. The remaining 30 percent of the site located on Lot #6. Finances were borrowed for the purchase and the Committee for the Preservation of the Sainte-Famille Cemetery and a fund-raising campaign has begun to help pay for this project.
According to Barbara Leblanc, Lot #8 is believed to be the site of the Sainte-Famille parish church that was burnt after the 1755 Acadian Expulsion. A house currently sits on the church site; however, the committe does not want to inconvinence anyone else with another archaelogical dig. One of the goals of this committee is to preserve this site and the other rich historic landmarks of the area and build an awareness about Nova Scotia history. Plans are to create "a cultural tourism trail" featuring these precious historical treasures and enhanced by the proximety of the Grand Pre and Fort Edward National Historic Sites. Peter Landry has been involved with the preservation of this site and has a website with great pictures at http://www.blupete.com/Genealogy/Pictures/Piziquid/index.htm
The skeletal remains that were unearthed during the excavation and archeological digs were carefully removed from the site and placed in safe keeping at the Nova Scotia Museum. On August 13th, 2000, these remains were reburied at the site during a special ceremony. This was a momentous occasion for Acadian descendants, especially those who can trace their family to Pisiquit,and whose ancestors were members of "la pariosse de Sainte Famille de Pisiquid" and were baptized, married and buried there. Joyce B.Rivette has put together a database of some individuals who were born or died in Pisquid. She may be emailed at jrivette@hal-pc.org; otherwise, some of the information from her database may be viewed by following this link to her database.
John D. Wilson, President of the West Hants Historical Society, delivered the following opening remarks at the ceremony:
- "From this special time and place at the beginning of the 21st century, please join me in a journey from the beginning of this story in the 17th century.
For centuries the Pisiquid river has been the highway for native people coming and going from their village where the salt water meets the fresh water at high tide. But this time the incoming tide carries different people. They are descendants of the settlers at Port Royal, and they are scouting for farm land. Along the way, perhaps at the Mi'kmaq village at the mouth of Halfway River, perhaps at the meeting place near the junction of the Pisiquid and Saint Croix Rivers, they meet with the natives to ask permission to enter their territory. The Acadians and Mi'kmaq are long time allies and friends.
As they move up this beautiful river valley on the rising tide, they see virgin forest covered hills rising gently from the river. They see small streams flowing down from the high ground, along which are bountiful meadows. They also see vast stretches of salt marsh. This is what the Acadians are looking for - they have the technology to harness the salt marshes and turn them into rich farmland. The streams will provide power for their grist and saw mills. The forests and waters will provide game and fish for their table. Protected from the cold winds and waters of the Bay of Fundy and from marauding pirates and raiders, they decide to settle the valley that the Mi'kmaq call Pisiquid.
All but forgotten and ignored by governments, the settlements prosper and grow in number. Wars, treaties and political intrigues blow over like the north winds across the mountain tops, but rarely touch them.
Settlements are most often located above the flood plane near where streams join the river, or beside meadowland along larger streams. The settlements often carry the surname of a family leader such as; Forest, Landry, Babin, Breaux, Thibedeau,Vincent, Trahan.
During the first years they are visited on occasion by troops of soldiers in blue jackets speaking their language, then by troops in red jackets speaking a foreign language, but other than seeking shelter and buying provisions, neither cause them trouble or pay them much heed. The settlers are nearly self sufficient, trading their excess products indiscriminately to New Englander traders and the French fortification at Louisbourg. The population of Pisiquid district grows to 3,000.
The settlers did not forget their religion, the parish of Assumption is established in 1698 on the east side of the Pisiquid near Windsor and in 1722 the parish of Saint-Famille is established on the west bank of the Pisiquid. The parish church is built in the village of Babin, on a hill overlooking the lower river ford on the trail to Grande Pre. A cemetery is located nearby, on the very spot we stand today. Life is good.
Then, suddenly all is swept away. The struggle between France and England for control of North America comes to this peaceful valley. There follows 10 years of bloody guerrilla warfare during which the Acadians are deported, their villages burned or abandoned and their Mi'kmaq allies decimated.
Over the next 250 years all surface traces of Sainte-Famille cemetery are erased under generations of the farmer's plow. But the first European settlers of this valley are not forgotten. Acadian historians and genealogists keep a candle burning. The saga of the Acadians is kept alive in the folklore of those settlers who replaced them in this valley. Passionate local historians, like Roland Meuse, collect anecdotes and artifacts of the period. Then, in his township books, our dear departed friend and inspiration, John Victor Duncanson, provides a history of Acadian settlements in Pisiquid district, including the location of Sainte-Famille cemetery.
The recent accidental disturbance of the site brings it to the attention of Provincial authorities, which leads to its purchase by the Committee for the Preservation of Sainte-Famille Cemetery. With this purchase the site is preserved in perpetuity. The people of Falmouth now have a historic site of national and international significance dedicated to the first European settlers in this valley.
For their hard work and persistence in bringing this project to fruition, members of the Committee for the Preservation of Sainte-Famille Cemetery and the West Hants Historical Society, particularly Lucille Amirault, Donna Doucet and Cheryl Adams, deserve our deepest thanks and gratitude.
I would also like to recognize Cathy Greeno who has worked diligently throughout the summer in the planning and organization of this event.
To all of those who have assisted and to you ladies and gentlemen, for your support and encouragement - Thank You.
Following are a couple of sites that help you keep abreast of cemetery news:
http://www.geocities.com/acadiancemetery/indexfrench.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/acadiancemetery/EnglishVersion.html