Jean Dominique Melanson

• General Notes
  • Date: 1708; Location: Grand-Pre; Location precision: Saint-Charles-des-Mines;
    Surname: Melanson; Name: Jean; Precise Location: Saint-Charles-des-Mines; Wife:
    Marguerite Dugat; Number of children: 1, Paul Melanson
    Source : Parish register of Saint-Charles des Mines (Grand-Pre) 1707-1748
    Type : register
    
    Jean MELANCON, habitant of Mines, son of Pierre & Marguerite MIUS, inhabitants of Mines, marriage contract dated 11 Jan 1701, with Marguerite DUGAS, daughter of Claude.
    * Donald J. Hebert, ACADIANS IN EXILE; 1755-1785; Cecilia, LA, Hebert Publications, 1980; p. 323;
    
    In 1714 Jean & Marguerite were recorded as living at Mines in Grand Pre, Acadie with their 5 children.(ARS)
    
    * (Reference: Port Royal: Notarial Acts: G3 2040).
    
    * Stephen A. White, DICTIONNAIRE GENEALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES L’ACADIENNES; 1636-1714; Moncton, New Brunswick, Centre d'Etudes L’Acadiennes, 1999, 2 vols.; pp. 1149 & 1156; #8:
    
    Jean Dominique and his family were among the Grand-Pre deportees and some of the first Acadians to be imprisoned and sent into exile at the onset of the "Lé Grand Derangement".
    
    Among his children to be imprisoned and deported was Alexandre Minquoin and his wife Osite Hebert who were shipped to Snow Hill, Maryland and held in exile there by the British until 1766 when they were allowed to transport to St. James Parish, Louisiana and given a pioneer settler's land grant by the pre-Louisiana Purchase, Spanish Governer, Antonio de Ulloa .
    
    Notes of Grand-Pre: Site of the British Imprisonment of the French Inhabitants in preparation for deportation - Le Grand Deportation
    
    From Societe Promotion Grand-Pre at <http://grand-pre.com/>:
    
    The National Historic Site is home to an interpretive centre, exhibit hall, theatre and boutique. An on-going excavation of archaeological remains of a pre-Deportation Acadian village spearheaded by Saint Mary’s University is underway on site.
    
    Almost one hundred years later Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote Evangeline: a tale of Acadie that immortalized the tragedy that marked the lives of the Acadians.
    
    Grand-Pre National Historic Site commemorates the Deportation of the Acadians. The Site also commemorates the national significance of this centre of Acadian activity from 1682 and largest community in 1755. Finally, Grand-Pre National Historic Site commemorates the strong attachment that remains to this day among Acadians throughout the world to this area, the heart of their ancestral homeland and symbol of the ties which unite them.
    
    An agreement in 1956 between the Canadian federal government and the Societe Nationale l'Assomption, acting on behalf of the Acadian people, acknowledged that:
    
    "the Grand-Pre Park is considered the most important historic Site by the Acadian people, that it recalls their saddest and most heroic moments and must remain for future generations the example of courageous people whose culture and actions shall enrich more and more the Canadian nation".
    
    Le Grand Derangement - Acadian Deportation - First recorded mass genocide and attempt to erase a culture
    
    The year 1755 is a crucial date in Acadian history. After the Acadians at Minas Basin had their boats and guns confiscated and the french, Fort Beausejour (renamed Fort Cumberland) ,  was captured by the British, Governor Charles Lawrence commenced with the deportation of the "French Neutrals" of Acadie, Nova Scotia. He had Acadian delegates, in Halifax to present a petition imprisoned. He ordered Colonel John Winslow to imprison the Acadian population at Grand-Pre and General Robert Mounton to begin collecting Acadians in Chignecto.
    
    Lawrence's decision to deport the "French Neutrals", or Acadians, was the first recorded attempt at mass genocide and an attempt to erase a unique and proud culture of people on the North American continent. The  Acadians were forcably removed from Nova Scotia, their homes and properties burned and confiscated, and their families dispersed throughout the British colonies to the south, from Massachusetts to Georgia where they were to endure extreme racism and hatred for the "French Neutrals" for roughly a decade until the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. Nearly three quarters of the Acadian population of Nova Scotia were dispersed throughout the British lands in North America and thousands were transported to France and other areas around the globe. Gradually, some managed to make their way to Louisiana, creating the Cajun population and culture after mixing with others there.
    
    Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow arrived in Grand-Pre with troops on August 19, 1755 and took up headquarters in the church. The men and boys of the area are ordered to assemble there on September 5. Winslow tells them that all but their personal goods are forfeited to the Crown and that they and their families are to be deported as soon as ships arrive to take them away.
    
    "Thus it is peremptorily his Majesty's orders that the whole French inhabitants of these Districts be removed; and I am, through his Majesty's goodness, directed to allow you liberty to carry off your money and household goods, as many as you can without discommoding the vessels you go in. I shall do everything in my power that all those goods be secured to you, and that you are not molested in carrying them off; also, that whole families shall go in the same vessel, and make this remove, which I am sensible must give you a great deal of trouble, as easy as his Majesty's service will admit; and hope that, in whatever part of the world you may fall, you may be faithful subjects, a peaceable and happy people. I must also inform you, that it is his Majesty's pleasure that you remain in security under the inspection and direction of the troops that I have the honor to command."
    
    The Minas Basin Area and specifically Grand-Pre: On September 5th, 418 Acadian men were held prisoner in the church and 183 men were held at Fort Edward. On November 1st, more than 1,500 men, women an children were crammed aboard vessels and deported to Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
    
    from "the journal of John Winslow of the Provincial Troops While Engaged in Removing the Acadian French Inhabitants from Grand-Pre and the Neighbouring Settlements, In the Autumn of the Year 1755":
    
    September 5th.
    After delivering these things I returned to my quarters and they the French inhabitants soon moved by their elders that it was a great grief to them, that they had incurred his Majesty's displeasure and that they were fearful that the surprise of their detention here would quite overcome their families whom they had no means to apprise of these their melancholy circumstances and prayed that part of them might be returned as hostages for the appearance of the rest and the bigger number admitted to go home to their families, and that as some of their men were absent they would be obliged to bring them in. I informed them I would consider of their motion, and report.
    
    And immediately convened my officers, to advise, who with me all agreed that it would be well that they themselves should choose twenty of their number for whom they would be answerable viz: ten of the inhabitants of Grand Pre and village and other ten of the river Cannard inhabitants and they to acquaint the families of their districts how matters were and to assure them that the women and children should be in safety in their absence in their habitations and that it was expected the party indulged should take care to bring in an exact account of their absent brethren and their circumstances on the morrow.
    
    September 5th.
    The French people not having any provisions with them and pleading hunger begged for bread on which I gave them. And ordered that for the future they be supplied from their respective families. Thus ended the memorable fifth of September, a day of great fatigue and trouble.
    
    1755, September 7.
    Proved a very busy day, advice arrived from every quarter which I answered as well as I could in the foregoing letters. The French remained in quiet. We mounted guard with half our party, Captain Adams and Osgood doing duty by turns. Captain Hobbs sick. We all lay on our arms since detaining the French here. Kept a good look out and I not wanting in turning out at all times when I awoke so that I was on both watches.
    
    September 10th.
    The French this morning discovered some uncommon motions among themselves which I did not like. Called my officers together and communicated to them what I had observed, and after debating matters it was determined, nemo contra dissente, that it would be best to divide the prisoners, and that as there were five transports idle which came from Boston, it would be for the good of his Majesty's service and that it tended to the better security of the whole, that fifty men of the French inhabitants be embarked on board each of the five vessels, taking first all their young men, and that Captain Adams in the Warren be desired and directed as he was a vessel of force and in his Majesty's service to take the transports under his directions and when the prisoners were embarked to give such orders to the masters of the transports as would be best for his Majesty's service, and also determined that six non-commissioned officers or private men be put on board each transport as a guard and that Captain Adams and the masters be immediately ordered to get things in readiness for that service after which I sent for Father Landrey their principal speaker who talks English and told him the time was come for part of the inhabitants to embark and that the number concluded for this day was 250 and that we should begin with the young men and desired he would inform his brethren of it.
    
    He was greatly surprised. I told him it must be done and that I should order the whole prisoners to be drawn up six deep, their young men on the left, and as the tide in a very little time favored, my design could not give them above an hour to prepare for going on board, and ordered our whole party to be under arms and post themselves between the two gates and the church in the rear of my quarters, which was obeyed, and agreeable to my directions. The whole of the French inhabitants were drawn together in one body, their young men as directed on the left. I then ordered Captain Adams with a Lieutenant 80 non-commissioned officers and private men to draw off from the main body to guard the young men of the French amounting to 141 men to the transports and order the prisoners to march. They all answered they would not go without their fathers. I told them that was a word I did not understand for that the King's command was to me absolute and should be absolutely obeyed and that I did not love to use harsh means but that time did not admit of parleys or delays and then ordered the whole troop to fix their bayonets and advance towards the French, and bid the 4 right-hand files of the prisoners, consisting of 24 men which I told off myself to divide from the rest, one of whom I took hold on (who opposed the marching) and bid march. He obeyed and the rest followed though slowly, and went off praying, singing and crying, being met by the women and children all the way (which is 1 1/2 mile) with great lamentations upon their knees praying
    
    September 10th
    Determined … that it would be best to Divide the Prisoners, and that as there was Five transporte Idle … That Fifty men of the French Inhabitants be Embarkd on Board Each of the five Vessels, taking First all their young men…
    
    The whole of the French Inhabitants where Drawn together In one Body their young men … on the Left. I then orderd Capt Adams … to Draw of from the main Body to Gaurd the young men of the French … and order ye Prisoners to March. they all answered they would No go without their Fathers. I Told them that was a word I did not understand for that the Kings Command was to me absolute & Should be absolutely obeyed & That I Did not Love to use Harsh Means but that the time Did not admit of Parlies [talking] or Delays and Then ordered the whole Troops to Fix their Bayonets and advance Towards the French, and Bid the 4 right hand Files of the Prisoners Consisting of 24 men … to Divied from the rest … one of whome I Took hold on (who oposed the Marching) and bid March.
    *journal of John Winslow of the Provincial Troops While Engaged in Removing the Acadian French Inhabitants from Grand-Pre and the Neighbouring Settlements, In the Autumn of the Year 1755;
    From: Report and Collections of the Nova Scotia Historic Society for the Years 1882-1883, Vol. 3; Halifax, N.S., Printed at the Morning Herald Office, 1883 : p71-196 "
    
    "The preparations having been all completed, the 10th of September was fixed upon as the day of departure. The prisoners were drawn up six deep, and the young men, one hundred and sixty-one in number, were ordered to go first on board of the vessels. This they instantly and peremptorily refused to do, declaring that they would not leave their parents; but expressed a willingness to comply with the order, provided they were permitted to embark with their families. This request was immediately rejected, and the troops were ordered to fix bayonets and advance towards the prisoners, a motion which had the effect of producing obedience on the part of the young men, who forthwith commenced their march. The road from the chapel to the shore, just one mile in length, was crowded with women and children; who, on their knees, greeted them as they passed with their tears and their blessings, while the prisoners advanced with slow and reluctant steps, weeping, praying, and singing hymns. This detachment was followed by the seniors, who passed through the same scene of sorrow and distress. In this manner was the whole male part of the population of the District of Minas put on board the five transports, stationed in the river Gaspereaux, each vessel being guarded by six non-commissioned officers, and eighty privates. As soon as the other vessels arrived, their wives and children followed, ... "
    THE WHOLE HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR or TRUE STORIES FROM NEW ENGLAND HISTORY, 1620-1808; APPENDIX TO PART II - ACCOUNT OF THE DEPORTATION OF THE ACADIANS - FROM "HALIBURTON'S HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF NOVA SCOTIA."; Nathaniel Hawthorne, published 1840