POIRIER, JEAN-BAPTISTE Jean-Baptiste Poirier[1], born 20 February 1733, son of Jean-Baptiste Poirier and Marie Cormier, married 1759 Madeleine Richard, born 1741, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Richard[2] and Catherine Cormier[3]. A son Jean-Baptiste was born 20 May 1760[4] and a son Joseph was born 12 June 1762[5]. This family was deported to Georgia where on a prisoner list dated 23 August 1763[6] is found: Jean Poirier, his wife and 3 children [Jean Poirier age 30 Madeleine Richard, wife age 22 Jean-Baptiste age 3 Joseph age 1 Child, name unknown, nothing further is known of this child][7] This family along with 3 other close knit families, boarded a ship in December 1763 to leave Georgia. In the [Savannah] GEORGIA GAZETTE dated December 22, 1763[8] 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. Sailed for Mobile Dec. 21, Sloop Savannah Packet, John Somerville [Master] These Acadians arrived in Mobile on or just before 22 January 1764 where the marriage of Jean-Baptiste 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[9]. 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[10], 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. From Mobile, they went on to New Orleans arriving on or just before 26 February 1764. On 26 February 1764, Jean-Baptiste’s sons Jean-Baptiste and Joseph were baptized in St. Louis Cathedral. POIREZ (sic for POIRIER), Joseph (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. Feb. 26, 1764, born June 12, 1762, sponsors Jean RICHARD, the infant’s grandfather and Marie COLMIER [sic for Cormier], the infant’s maternal first cousin (SLC, B5, 40)[11] POIREZ (sic for POIRIER), Jean Baptiste (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD) bap. March 1, 1764, born May 20, 1760, sponsors Jean Baptiste DEVILLE DEGOUTIN and Marianne COUTURIE (SLC, B5, 40)[12] Sometime after 6 April 1764, this family settled on the west bank of the Mississippi just down river from Verret’s Plantation. On 6 March 1765, a son François was born. POIREZ [sic for POIRIER], Francois (Jean and Magdeleine RICHARD), bap. March 6, 1765, born March 6, 1765 sponsors Jean RICHARD and Cecile POIRRIER [sic for Poirier] (SLC, B5, 84)[13] In the 29 June 1766 census of Cabaanocé Lower Coast (Verret’s Company) [14] is found: [Jean-Baptiste] Poirier man age 33 Madeleine [Richard] age 25 [Jean-Baptiste] Poirier boy age 6 François boy age 1 Joseph, born 12 June 1762, is missing from the 1766 census [died?]. In the 1 January 1777 St. James census[15] is found: Jean[-Baptiste] Poirier age 40 [sic] Magdelaine Richard, wife age 35 Jean [-Baptiste], son age 17 Francois, son age 12 Michel, son age 3 Marie, daughter age 10 [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 1336. [2] Ibid. p. 1381. [3] Ibid. p. 405. [4] Woods, Earl & Nolan, Charles eds. SACRAMENTAL RECORDS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS v. 2, 1751-1771 p. 229. [5] Ibid. p. 229. [6] Jehn, Janet ACADIAN EXILES IN THE COLONIES p. 231. [7] The information in […..] is personal interpretation. [8] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worchester, Mass. 1968] [9] Pp. 320-321. [10] No. 46, p. 2. [11] Woods, Earl & Nolan, Charles eds. SACRAMENTAL RECORDS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS v. 2, 1751-1771 p. 229. [12] Ibid. p. 229. [13] Ibid. p. 229. [14] [14] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 202, folio 225-227. [15] 1 JANUARY 1777 ST. JAMES CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 190, folio 192-205. Roger A. Rozendal rogroz@swbell.net