ACADIANS IN GEORGIA The Treaty of Paris ratified 10 February 1763 provided an eighteen- month period during which Acadians detained in British territory could relocate to French soil. Dated 23rd August 1763, a list[1] was prepared titled: Etat, et Liste des accadiens avec leurs Noms et la quantité des Enfans qu’ils ont fait dans la Caroline du Sud, ce 23rd Aoust 1763 [State, and List of the Acadians with their Names and the Number of Children that They Have in South Carolina this 23rd day of August 1763] A letter[2] attached to this list clearly that these are “Acadians from Savannah in Georgia that are in South Carolina”. This list of 185 persons has been transcribed[3] by Janet Jehn in “Acadian Exiles in the Colonies”. These are what is left of the 400 Acadians exiled to Georgia in 1755[4]. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE published in Savannah, Georgia, dated August 25 1763, is found[5]: Last week a number [120?] of the Acadians who have been here a few years, went on board a sloop for Monto Christi [Monte Cristi, St- Domingue]. Sailed for Monto-Christi August 21, Schooner Dolphin, W. Deadman [Master] It seems before the list was finalized and dated most of the Acadians had left. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[6] is found: Yesterday more of the Acadians, in number about 21, went in a vessel for Mobile, from which place they are to go to New Orleans. OUTWARDS for Mobile Dec. 17, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master] These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean Poirier and Madeleine Richard was blessed by the first priest they had seen in years. A copy of this ceremony is in Vidrine’s “Love’s Legacy[7]. Note this indicates a journey of about one month to Mobile. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated 26 February 1764, the return of the Savannah Packet to Savannah is noted[8], a return voyage of one month. This indicates the Acadians in Mobile boarded a different ship for New Orleans which could have been bound from New York to New Orleans. I will have more on this group of Acadians later. In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated January 12, 1764[9] is found: The Acadians have entirely left this place; 44 of them went for Cape- François [St-Domingue] on Friday in the brigt. Polly and Deborah, Capt. George Anderson In the GEORGIA GAZETTE dated February 9, 1764[10] is found: Arrived at Cape-François from this port, the Polly and Deborah, Anderson The Acadians who lately went from this [port] for Cape-François are to have settlements there, with plantation tools, and two years provision. It appears that all the Acadians had left Georgia by January 12, 1764, with the majority of them going to St-Domingue. However, there is evidence that some of those that went to St-Domingue a short time later, under the leadership of André Le Blanc, went to Louisiana and settled next to the first documented Acadians in Cabaanocé before the arrival of the Joseph Broussard group in February 1765. I will have more on this second group later. [1] ANF, Archives du Ministére des Affaires étrangéres, Correspondance politique, Angleterre, vol 451, fol 125-126. [2] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES English Supplement p. lxxxii. [3] Pp. 229-232, 237. [4] Brasseaux, Carl A. Scattered to the Wind p. 8. [5] No. 21, p. 3. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worchester, Mass. 1968] [6] No. 38, p.2. [7] Pp. 320-321. [8] No. 46, p. 2. [9] No. 41, p. 1. [10] No. 45, p. 2.