A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST ALEXIS PARISH

When in 1755 the dastardly edict went forth which commanded the the expulsion of the Acadians from Grand Pro on the shores of

the Bay of Fundy, six families, more fortunate than the others, managed to keep together. They suspected treachery underlying Captain Murray's proclamation which was set for them at Grand Pre. They did not repair to the church, but concealed themselves in the woods and from their hiding place they witnessed their homes burned and their flocks scattered. Having prepared some large canoes, they made their way across the strait to "lie St Jean" and

landed at Point Prim. These people were John and Ambrose Bourque and their families, Joseph Pitres and family, Honore Michel (Black smith) and wife, no family, -- Leblanc and family, -- Chaisson and family. When they arrived at Point Prim, they knelt down and gave thanks to God for having delivered out of the hands of their enemies, and for bringing to a place of refuge. After which, so tradition says, theymade the best feast they could to cheer every- body. Finding after a short sojourn at Point Prim that they

were not safe from the English, who at that time were stationed at Port-la-Joie, they took their canoes and paddled up to Bay Fortune where they were Joined by five or six families from

St Peter's Harbour.

These people had been suffering from the measles when their unfortunate countrymen were shipped from St Peter's, and, being too ill to be moved, escaped expatriation. A few families of Chiveries, D'Aigles, and others who were concealed or lived at Savage Harbour removed later to Little River to the south of

Bay Fortune<Now Little Pond). During the first few few years that these Acadians spent in Bay Fortune they refused to take the oath of allegiance and were regarded as prisioners of war.

Every Spring officers from Port-la-Joie would come in the name of the king to take account of the seed that they sowed and in the Autumn thes same licensed oppressors would arrive to relieve the poor Acadians of their hardly won crops, leaving them barely sufficient to sustain life throughtout the cruel winter.

Some of the women of Bay Fortune determined to evade the injustice; as fast as the grain was threshed, they would conceal a portion

of it in their clothing and carry it away to the woods where they would hide it and thus secure an extra store. After some years, seeing that there was no other course open to them they submitted to the inevitable, took the oath of allegiance and werggraciously permitted to have undisputed possession of the fruits of their industry. They, however, made one proviso, that they should

never take up arms against the King of France.

In the year 1798, the proprietor of Lot 43, William Townshend,

an Englishman, came to claim the land surrounding Bay Fortune.

The Acadian settlers refused to acknowledge Mr Townshend's claim

to the land on the grounds of their being possessed of a letter

of recommendation from the British officer who had administered

to them the oath of allegiance. This paper specified that they were re-instated in their property as securely as when they held

it under Louis XVI of France. The matter was taken to the courts and Mr Townshend won; the Acadians were forced to leave Bay Fortune.

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