Acadian Slang or Chiaque

For the ones who do not know what Acadian Slang is ,well the Acadians had their own language. Many kept their language from their old homeland, but as time went by and other languages came along, many words were mixed together with their own. Another word for the slang was Chiaque , this language was spoken a lot in New Brunswick, especially the Moncton area and Shediac. I came across the following letter written in Chiaque in 1897 by a Dr Philippe Leblanc . Regis Brun the historian had this letter in one of the SHA books at the genealogy center in Moncton. I tried to find who this Doctor Philippe LeBlanc was, apparently he went to the St Joseph College in Memramcook then studied medecin in Detroit Michigan, went to the Klondike Gold Rush ,stayed a few years and returned home. I found two Philippe Leblanc born in St Anselme, one was baptized as Philip White, the other as Philippe LeBlanc. I am not sure if he was one of these two. Anyway he wrote a letter from Alaska dated 9 march 1897 to his parents, I am going to add it as he wrote it then I shall translate it into English.

Chers parents;

Ah! Ah! Me voila enfin rendu parmi les Indians. Je suis dans notre tente et on est tres confortable. Mom compagnon avec notre homme sont aller avec un voyage a 10 milles d’ici et je suis chef du camp ,cuisinier ent tete. Mon bill fare pour souper ce soir est bacon, beans, rice, rice bread and coffee. Je suis tres bien et je mandate tres bien a nos conditions en tente. Les choses sot tres encourage ante. Maintenant il nous faux hauler notre stuff 55 milles avec nos chiens et chevaux. On a 15 tonnes de stuff. Ne soyez pas en peine de moi. J’ecrirai a chaque fois que jaurer chance. Le pays est tres interessant et picturesque. Notre tente est dans une bocage pres de la route. On a un pied d’branche et notre poele de cuisine. Nos lits sont des sacs 7 pieds de long avec material de canvas waterproof. Ces sacs sont doubler avec fur peltrie de sorte qu’on porrait coucher dehors sans avoir froid. On est habilles en vrai Alaska way. C’est moi qui a soin des chevaux, forgeron, etc. On a notre foin et avoine ,unstrument,fers pour les ferres. Deux chevaux que j’ai acheter a Seattle qui me coute rendu ici, $50.00 chaque un. On a refuser $100.00 pour un. On mettait bien 3 toiles sur 6 traines et un cheval menait cela sur la glace. J’ai pour table a ecrire une boite qui nous fait aussi pour table a manger. On s’ammuse bien. On est happy. Mes amities a la famille et amis. Philippe

Translation:

Ah, ah, here I am among the Indians. I am in a tent where we are quite comfortable. My partner along with another man have gone on a trip about ten miles from here. I am the head chef at the camp. My menu for supper is bacon, beans, rice, rice bread and coffee. I am quite well and I am growing accustom to our tenting conditions. Things are very encouraging. Now we have to haul our stuff 55 miles with our dogs and horses. We have 15 tons of stuff. Don’t worry about me. I shall write as often as I can. The coutry is very interesting and picturesque. Our tente is in a wooded terrain near the road. We have a foot of branches and our kitchen stove. Our beds are bags 7 feet long with waterproof canvas material. These bags are doubled with   some kind  feathers, that we could even sleep outdoors without being cold. We are dressed in true Alaska way. It is I that tends the horses, blacksmith. We have our hay and oats,tools, horse shoes etc. Two horses that I bought in Seattle cost me fifty dollars each, we refused one hundred dollars for one. We would put three toiles (canvas?) on six sleds and one horse hauled that on the ice. I have a box for a writing desk that also serves as a kitchen table. We amuse ourselves well. We are happy. Best wishes to the family and friends. Philippe.

Now this was translated by me so it may not be exact word for word but you get the idea what the letter said. Think about it, this was written in 1897 when Dr Philippe Leblanc went to the Yukon during the Gold Rush. Have a great day ,thanks for stopping by, now here are some of my latest creations you can find at http://www.zazzle.com/allicor

Last will of Firmin Cyre

A few days ago I went to the genealogy center and while I was there, I searched for something that I thought may be interesting for my readers. Lo and behold I found the last will and testament for a Firmin Cyre. Let me first tell you that he was the son of Joseph Cyre and Marguerite Thibodeau. Joseph Cyre was the son of Jean Baptiste Cyre and Marguerite Cormier. So my story starts with Jean Baptiste Cyr and Marguerite Cormier. I found the following article on line and want to share
From the English translation of Thomas
Albert's l'Histoire du Madawaska, by Doucette and Doucette,
Madawaska Historical Society, 1990. (The original French
version was printed in 1920)

"Jean Baptiste Cyr "dit" Crock, and Marguerite Cormier, are the
ancestors of the most prolific family of Madawaska. Jean was
born at Beaubassin in 1710. From there he migrated to
Beausejour around 1750
where other Cyrs were numerous. At Beausejour he became involved
with the energetic and shrewd Father Joseph Laloutre who saw in
Jean Baptiste the characteristics of a soldier. He participated
in the weak and sloppy defense of Fort Beausejour. ... In 1763
he, along with his wife and eleven children were political
prisoners ... This Jean-Baptiste is also known as Jean-Baptiste
"Crock". He earned this nickname either for his habit of always
carrying a pitch fork or for saying that he would chew his
enemies. (trans. note: from "croc" meaning a hook or a from of
pitch fork and "croquer" meaning to crunch or devour). Whatever
the origin of this nickname, it is very widespread in Madawaska
... Jean
Baptiste had settled near the settlement of Ste-Anne when
evicted by loyalists who arrived after the American Revolution.
By that time, he was an old man who had suffered through all
the Acadian misfortunes. He is reported to have walked through
his farm one last time. There, bowed with age and discouraged
with grief, he is reported to have cried out: "My God! can it
be true that there is no place left on earth for a
"cayan"(Acadian)? He died shortly thereafter. ... Not far from
the stream at Ecoupag, near the St. John River, the location of
the first church can still be seen. A hundred feet from that
location, on a hill opposite a ravine is the ancient cemetery.
There are no markers, no crosses, no names, not even a fence to
identify it from the other fields. ...There, in this unknown
and isolated corner of the world lie the ashes of many
ancestors of Madawaska. Freed from the turbulent past and lost
in oblivion they are now united in glory as they were once in
hardship. In isolation with only the songs of the birds and the
murmur of the river, the hardy pioneers who never harvested the
fields they sowed for others now rest. In this quiet valley,
they are silent sentinels guarding the land from which they can
no longer be evicted ... Beneath the sacred soil trampled by
their tired, exiled feet, a soil on which they lived only a
short time before entering the only haven left to them - the
grave - they sleep their final sleep. Here rest the sons of
Acadia whose names are as unknown as their grave but whose
virtue has been rewarded. On this mound, bare as calvary,
appearing like a long scar, fugitive Acadia landed on January
29, 1759 ... The pain is now gone but the wound remains.
Memories of the heart are indelible. To this place Acadians
from the New World and Ancient France, from the shores of the
Atlantic ... from the St. River ... from the confines of
Louisiana, from Belle-Isle-en-Mer and Poitou ... today's
Acadians should come with laurels, kneel piously and with
trembling lips recite a few prayers. Indeed, if Port Royal was
the cradle of Acadia, Grand Pre the exile, then Ste-Anne was
the catacomb. Madawaskans, product of this catacomb, should
make pilgrimages to this holy place ... and amid the desolate
but highly cherished graves, offer
a prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs".
it with you before I add the will.
Now Jean Baptiste Cyr and Marguerite Cormier had nine sons, one of them was Joseph Cyr married to Marguerite Blanche  Thibodeau. Here is what I found on Marguerite Blanche Thibodeau, again this was found online:
Many Acadian pioneer families who arrived in the Madawaska region between 1785 and 1820 suffered from famine since resources were very limited. The year of the "misère noire", 1797, was particularly difficult for the Madawaska region's inhabitants, early snow having buried their harvests. Oral accounts relate the exploits of an exceptional Acadian woman, Marguerite-Blanche Thibodeau, wife of Joseph Cyr. Reputed for her courage and physical strength, she went from door to door asking those who could afford it to give to the poor. She also saved the lives of numerous sick individuals by seeing to their essential needs. The people of the Madawaska nicknamed her "Tante Blanche", as she became a source of moral support in the community with her numerous acts of kindness. When she died, her body was interred inside the church of Saint-Basile, cradle of Madawaska, which, at the time, was a great honour.
Now Joseph and Marguerite Thibodeau had children, one of them was Firmin Cyre who married his cousin Euphrosine Cyr ,(consangnity second degree). Firmin died in 1803 and the following is his last will and testament:
Cier Firmin Jr (Madawaska 1803)
In the name of God, Amen,I Firmin Cier junior of the parish of Madawaska in the county of York, and province of New Brunswick,Yeoman, being very sick and weak in body, bot of sound mind, memory and understanding (blessed be God for the same) but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:
Principally and first of all  I commend my immortal soul into the hands of God, who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and christian like manner, at the discretion of my Executors herein after named, and as to such worldly estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit.
First I hearby nominate and appoint my wife Mary (Frosinne) and my dear brother Loriant (Hiloarion) Cier of the aforesaid parish,county and province to be the executors of this my last will and testament and trustees for my children>
Secondly I the said Firmin Cier give to my dearly beloved wife, her heirs and assigns for ever, the full third of my lands and tenements, lying and being in the aforesaid parish,county and province consisting of lands, with buildings, improvements and all the other appurtenances their unto belonging, and the full third of all the rest of my furniture, goods and chattels and personal estate whatesoever; the remained of my estate give and divise the same unto my five children Henry (Thomas) Soloma and Margaret the fifth is yet in its mother's womb; or the survivor or survivors of them and their heirs of such survivor or survivors, equally to be divided between them except one black horse reserved for  the purpose of being sold after my death for to have prayers said for the benefit of my soul, the stove is to be  my beloved wife's as long as she shall live, a bed and its bedding is and shall be my said wifes her heirs or assigns forever. And lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my said wife and my dear brother Lorient Cier of the aforesaid parish, county and province to be the executors of this my last will and testament, and trustees of my children hereby revoking all other wills, legacies and bequests by me heretofore made, and declaring this, and on other, to be my last will and testament. In Witness whoreof, I have signed, sealed, published ,pronounced and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as witnesses, this twenty second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two and in the forty second year of his Majesty's Reign George the Third. Fimin Cir Jun
Witnesses P Duperrie, Pierre Lizotte and Simon Balleu.
Hope you have enjoyed todays blog, a note I found the information on Marguerite Thibodeau on the University of Moncton site. Now I would like to share a few of my products which you can find at http://www.zazzle.com/allicor*

Acadian Prisoners in England

Today I would like to share a list of some Acadians who were prisoners in  England, I found this information in the Societe Historique Acadien (SHA), I quote "This is the results published in 1889 and 1890 in the Canada Francais (Quebec):
Marriages Saint Mary Wootton Liverpool May 9 1759 Petri Trahan (Pierre) and Marguerite Duhon.
Deaths in Saint Gluvias-Penryn  Falmouth 1756
Charles Granger oct 12
Alexis Trahan Sept 13
Charles Teriot Oct 23
Francois Granger Nov 3
Claude Granger Nov 28
Oliver Daigle Dec 9
Germain Thibodeau Nov 2
Jean Baptiste Granger Oct 23
Cyprien Theriot  Dec 8
Joseph Granger Jan 2 1757
Jean Baptiste Daigre Nov 12 1757.
If the declarations of the deaths at Saint Giuvias Penryn had given more details such as the names of the spouses we would be able to  prove who they were.
Other deaths of Acadians in England: according to the genealogy declarations in Belle Isle en Mer:
Anne Landry died July 15 1756 in Falmouth
Alexis Trahan died  July 1756 Liverpool
Pierre Trahan died Aug 10 1756 Liverpool
Jean Theriot died Aug 12 1756 Falmouth
Marguerite LeBlanc died Aug ? 1756 Liverpool
Fr? Trahan died Aug 1756 Liverpool
M Trahan and all her kids died Aug 1756 in Bristol
A Boudrot died Aug 1756 in Bristol
Anne Boudrot died Aug 1756 in Southampton
Marguerite Theriot died Aug 1756 Southampton (wife of Jean Babin)
M Leblanc died Aug 1756 Southampton
Francois Granger died Sept 1756 Falmouth
Anastasie Landry died Sept 1756 Falmouth
Joseph Trahan died Sept 1756 Falmouth
Joseph Vincent died Sept 1756 Liverpool
Marguerite Bourg died Oct 16 1756 Falmouth
Agnes Aucoin died Oct 1756 Falmouth
Judith LeBlanc died  Oct 1756 Falmouth
Charles Vincent died Oct 1756 Plymouth and also his wife
Francoise Ozide died Nov 22 1756 Falmouth
Marie Landry died Dec 5 1756 Falmouth
Jean Granger died 1756 Falmouth
Madeleine Landry died 1756 Falmouth
Marie Blanchard died 1756 Falmouth
Marguerite Theriot died 1756 Falmouth
Marguerite Babin and all her kids died 1756 Southampton
Pierre Daigre died 1756  Southampton
Joseph Daigre died 1756 Southampton
Marguerite Melanson died 1756 Southampton
J LeBlanc died 1756 Liverpool
Sylv LeBlanc died 1756 Liverpool
Joseph Trahan died April 1757 Liverpool
Joseph Trahan died June 1757 Liverpool
Ang. Melanson died June 1757 Liverpool
Jeanne Daigre died  June 1757 Liverpool
Marguerite Trahan died July 1757 Liverpool
M.Trahan died Dec 13 1757 Liverpool
Marguerite Landry died 1757 Liverpool
M. Trahan died 1757 Bristol and all her kids
M Trahan died Aug 39 1759 Liverpool
Elizabeth  Darois died 1759 Liverpool
Marguerite Landry died Jan 1917 61 Liverpool
Marguerite Landry died Feb 10 1761 Falmouth
Marie Joseph LeBlanc wife of ? Richard died April 12 1761 Liverpool
Charles Trahan died 1761 Falmouth
Marie Trahan died June 1763 Liverpool
Antoine Landry died (no date) Southampton
Marie Melanson died Southampton
Jean Leblanc died Southampton
Madeleine Theriot died Southampton
Anne Marie Hebert died Falmouth
Wife of Jean Melanson died in Bristol
FR Trahan died Bristol
Francois Thibodeau husband of A. Theriot died  died in Liverpool age 48
? Bonniere died in Plymouth
Marguerite Vincent  died in Plymouth
Jean Theriot died in England no name of place
Marie Daigre died England no name place
Marie Blanchard died in England no name place.
There was also a note saying that during these years the Catholic Irish were also in Liverpool because it is exactly in Liverpool that Madeleine Pelagie Hebert married Tiernay.
I hope this helps some of you readers out there. Now I want to add a few of my products from my store at http://www.zazzle.com/allicor*, Please stop by and have a look when you have time.