CORMIER, JEAN-BAPTISTE père Jean-Baptiste Cormier[1], born 1706, son of Pierre Cormier and Catherine Le Blanc, married 11 August 1733 Madeleine Richard[2], born 1709, daughter of Martin Richard and Marguerite Bourg. A son, Jean-Baptiste Cormier fils, born 24 September 1734[3], was separated from his parents during exile and was imprisoned in Halifax [see separate writeup on him]. The rest of this family was deported to Georgia where on a prisoner list dated 23 August 1763[4] is found: Jean Cormier, his wife, 5 children [Jean Cormier age 57 Madeleine Richard age 54 Madeleine age 19, born 1744 Marie age 17, born 1746 Marie-Anne 16, born 14 November 1746[5] Marguerite age 13, born 1750 Anastasie age 11, born 1752][6] 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[7] 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[8]. 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[9], 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. They arrived on or just before 26 February 1764. Sometime after 6 April 1764, this family settled on the west bank of the Mississippi just down river from Verret’s Plantation. Jean-Baptiste Cormier fils came from Attakapas and rejoined his family after coming to Louisiana with Joseph Broussard in February 1765. Madeleine Cormier married 31 March 1766[10] Simon Mire, born 1744, son of Pierre Mire [Lemire] and Isabelle Thibodeau[11] and on the same date Marie Cormier married[12] Michel Poirier, born 1738, parents unknown. In the 29 June 1766 Cabaanocé Lower Coast (Verret’s Company) census [13] is found: [Jean-Baptiste] Cormié man age 60 Madeleine [Richard] woman age 57 [Jean-Baptiste] Cormié [fils] man age 30 Marianne girl age 19 Marguerite girl age 16 Annassetazie girl age 14 In the 9 April 1766 Cabaanocé Upper Coast census[14] are found: Simon Mire age 22 Magdelaine Cormier wife age 22 Michel Poirier age 28 Marie Cormier wife age 20 In the 14 September 1769 Cabaanocé Upper Coast census[15] are found: Family #99 Michel Poirier age 31 Marie Cormier, wife age 24 Pierre Poirier, son age 3 Joseph, son age 8 mos. Marie [Poirier], orphan, age 16 [orphan of Abraham Poirier and Marie- Josèphe Bourg] Family # 100 Simon Mirre age 25 Magdelaine Cormier, wife age 25 Joseph, son age 8 mos. Marie, daughter age 2 [1] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 406. [2] Ibid. p. 1380. [3] Reider Milton and Reider, Norma Acadian church records v. 2 p. 44. [4] Jehn, Janet ACADIAN EXILES IN THE COLONIES p. 231. [5] Reider Milton and Reider, Norma Acadian church records v. 2 p. 118. [6] The information in [….] is personal interpretation. [7] No. 38, p. 2. [Microprint American Antiquarian Society, Worchester, Mass. 1968] [8] Pp. 320-321. [9] No. 46, p. 2. [10] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206. [11] White, Stephen A. DICTIONNAIRE GÉNÉALOGIQUE DES FAMILLES ACADIENNES p. 1522. [12] CABAANOCÉ MARRIAGES AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 206. [13] 29 JUNE 1766 CABAANOCÉ LOWER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 202, folio 225-227. [14] 9 APRIL 1766 CABAANOCÉ UPPER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 219-224. [15] 14 september 1769 CABAANOCÉ UPPER COAST CENSUS AGI, PAPELES DE CUBA, Legajo 187A, folio 220-231. TO BE CONTINUED Roger A. Rozendal rogroz@swbell.net