Beaubassin Burial Ground The recent mention of the 17 OCT 1934 plea for recognition of the Acadian settlement of Beaubassin brought to mind facts revealed to me as a result of my genealogical research 1961-1975. The building site of Fort Lawrence at the south end of what is now called Ft. Lawrence Ridge, just west of Amherst, NS, was the precise location of the third Beaubassin Acadian church which was torched by LeLoutre and his Indians in 1750 (along with the rest of the village) in an attempt to drive the Acadians across the Missaguash River to de facto French territory. The first two churches (burned in British raids on the community), named Notre Dame de Bons Secours were located west of the Missaguash on LaValliere Isle (now Tong's Island), but because the terrain was not suitable for the purpose there, the cemetery was always located on the east side of the river near what became the location of the third church (Our Lady of the Assumption). Funerals had to be held at low tide, given the width of the flooded Missaguash when the tide was in. Since Fort Lawrence was built on this site, it imposed itself on the old burial ground. Fort Lawrence has long been gone, but in the late 19th century when the railroad west of Amherst was being built, it cut through the southern portion of the Ridge, revealing human remains, those of a portion of the old Acadian Cemetery. The place had long had no indication that it had been a burial ground, and I do not know what was done with the remains found. I do know that the greater portion of the cemetery lies behind a barn on the Trenholm Farm. The owners are aware of, and respect, that area of their property for what it is. If one were to drive south down a small road from the present Visitor's Center, just before the RR bridge (near the farm mentioned) is a monument to the site of Fort Lawrence. This of course is also the site of the last church. Recent infrared aerial photographs clearly show the village of Beaubassin including the road through the village and evidence of the foundations of the homes and barns. To this day, the are no markers whatever in the area suggesting this was the site of the Village of Beaubassin, nor any indication that the graves of many of our ancestors are located here. My ancestor, progenitor of the Acadian DeVaux family Michel DeVaux and his wife Marie-Magdeleine Martin, are likely buried there. Cheers, John (NH-USA) http://pages.prodigy.net/gydvo/index.htm "History is genealogy...genealogy is history, always." JBD ==== NOVA-SCOTIA Mailing List ==== As of January 12, 2001, there were 1080 subscribers on this list!