Pierre Landry

• Sources:
  • Passenger List for La Bergère - May 14, 1785 - August 15, 1785 - Paimboeuf, France to New Orleans, Orleans, La Luisiana, New Spain (age: 48)
  • "Acadian Immigrants to Lafourche des Chitimachas/Valenzuéla, 1785-86" - http://www.acadiansingray.com
    • Exiled to Province of Virginia 1755, age 19
    • Deported to England 1756, age 20
    • Repatriated to France aboard L'Ambition, arrived St.-Malo 22 May 1763, age 27
    • At St.-Servan-sur-Mer, France, 1763-72
    • In Poitou, France, 1773-75
    • In Third Convoy from Châtellerault to Nantes, France, Dec 1775
    • On list of Acadians at Nantes, Sep 1784, listed as Pierre Landri
    • Sailed to la Luisiana on La Bergère, age 48
    • Valenzuela, la Luisiana census, 1788, age 54
    • Valenzuela, la Luisiana census, 1791, listed as Pierre Landri, age 56
    • Valenzuela, la Luisiana census, 1795, listed as Pedro, age 60
    • Valenzuela, la Luisiana census, 1797, age 61
    • Valenzuela, la Luisiana census, 1798, age 64

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• Notes:
  • Arrived in current day Louisiana Aug 1785

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Birth - Around 1736 in Acadia region of North America, exact location unknown. Acadia had been conquered by Britain in 1810, however the Acadians refused to pledge allegiance to Britain and continued to aid France.

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Deportation -
In 1755 at the age of 19, Pierre was deported from Nova Scotia, first to Virginia then on to England. This was part of the "Great Expulsion" of 1755-1763 as a result of increasing hostilities between Britain and France during the French & Indian War. More than 14,000 Acadians were deported, with 1/3 of them dying. Their lands were confiscated and their homes burned. HW Longfellow's poem "Evangeline" is a famous tribute to this expulsion. The plan was to disperse them amongst the 13 colonies. However, some colonies such as Virginia refused to accept them. Pierre's ship was forced to stand offshore for weeks before being sent to England as prisoners of war. Due to lack of preparation on the part of the British government, these Acadians were required to wait three days on wharves with no shelter during the winter. They were then distributed to districts in segregated quarters in cities along England’s coast.

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First marriage -
Around 1761 in Southampton UK, he married Marthe Leblanc

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Freed -
The Acadian prisoners were eventually repatriated to France following the Treaty of Paris in 1763. On 18 May 1763 Pierre was freed from England and travelled to St Malo, Bretagne (Brittany), France, on the ship L'Ambition, arriving on 22 May 1763.

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Residence in France -
From 1763 to 1772, Pierre lived in St Malo, St Servan Parish, Bretagne (Brittany) France. On 7 Dec 1775, he sailed from Chatellerault for Nantes in the Third Convoy. He lived in Nantes and worked as a carpenter.

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Emigration to Louisiana -
At the age of 48, he departed with his family from France on the ship "La Bergere", arriving in Louisiana on 15 Aug 1785. His family included wife Marthe LeBlanc (49), son Joseph (19 - engraver), son Jean-Raphael (17 - printer), daughter Marie-Marguerite (15), and daughter Anne-Susanne (9). Many other Landry's were also on La Bergere. They settled in Ascension, Left Bank. About 1,600 former Acadians sailed from Nantes to Louisiana in 1785.

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Sold land -
On 27 June 1793, he sold 3.5 acres on the Left Bank of Bayou Fourche for $300 to sons Joseph and Raphael.

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Death -
Died on 3 Sept 1798 at the age of 62 in Assumption Parish, LA.

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The Seven Ships (France to Louisiana 1785) -
The largest group consisted of over 700 Acadians who came from England in 1763, where they had been detained since being deported to Virginia and forwarded to England. Although their ancestry was French, the Acadians in France did not feel that France was their home. After shuffling around in poverty for years, many of them agreed to go to Louisiana when the opportunity arose. After years of preparation, Spain paid for about 1600 Acadians to travel from France to Louisiana, which was now a Spanish colony. Spain wanted settlers in the land to protect against English invasion. In 1785, seven ships brought the Acadians to Louisiana. Once there, there were given free choice of where to go. The earlier Acadian settlers had taken the land along the Mississippi River north of the German Coast.and had formed the Acadian Coast. But the land along the river was now occupied and they had to look elsewhere to settle. Most of the 1785 settlers decided to go to the Bayou Lafourche area or along the River towards Baton Rouge. Some went to the Attakapas/Opelousas area. The government gave them money and paid for medical help, supplies, and housing. Each group stayed in New Orleans for about a month to recuperate while representatives scouted for the best place to settle. They were allowed to go where they chose. La Bergere had 268 people onboard, of whom 242 settled in the La Fourche area.

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About La Bergere -
La Bergere There were 73 families (273 people) scheduled to take the 300 ton La Bergere. It left France on Saturday, May 14, 1785 and arrived in Louisiana 93 days later on August 15, 1785. Besides the Acadians, there were five French passengers. On the way, there were 6 deaths and 7 births. While in New Orleans (till October 4), the group further increased by 10 (5 births, 5 adults) and decreased by 10 (9 died, 1 deserted). There were also 4 marriages. There were 74 family groupings (268 people) when it came time to settle down: 6 families (23 people) settled at Attakapas, 1 family (3 people) settled in the area around St. Gabriel along the Mississippi River, and the remainder chose to settle along Bayou Lafourche.