As was the case with many Massachusetts towns, Marshfield began to receive Acadians in the fall of 1755.
As the influx of Acadians into the province grew, the legislature was forced to find places to accommodate the new visitors. Among those arriving in Marshfield was the Michel family, consisting of seven members. A later arrival, the Meuse family, although unassigned to the town by the legislature, was permitted to reside in the town in order to provide for its own support.
The Michel Family
Originally farmers from the area of Annapolis Royal, the Michels claimed to have been friends of the English in Nova Scotia, having provided wood and provisions to the nearby garrison. They arrived in Marshfield in the fall of 1755. Placed in a local schoolhouse, likely because of a lack of available housing, they were provided for by the selectmen of the town.
Only several months after their arrival in the town, the Michels received a visit from the selectmen, advising them that their two eldest sons had been indentured—Francis, 23, to local farmer Anthony Winslow and Paul, 15, to mariner Nathaniel Clift. Both the family and neighbor Caleb Tilden voiced their disapproval of the indenture, but to no avail. In response, the boys’ father, Joseph Michel, petitioned the General Court.
With the exception of the two eldest sons, who were relocated to Plymouth in 1760, the majority of the family remained in Marshfield, Joseph Michel dying there in 1763. The rest of the family continued on and it is likely that they integrated themselves into town life.
The Meuse Family
Hailing from Cape Sable, the Meuse family arrived in Massachusetts sometime between the summer and fall of 1756. Residing in Plymouth, the Meuses provided for their own support, yet when this became difficult they petitioned the General Court, complaining that they were not being provided for by the town as were other Acadians.
The response of the General Court was to assign them to the town of Wareham, but while waiting for its answer the Meuses contracted with Nathaniel Ray Thomas of Marshfield in order to provide for their support. Permission was given for them to remain in Marshfield.
Complaining of mistreatment by Thomas, the family’s indenture was cancelled and the entire family was moved to Easton. Unable to support themselves, several of the sons left the town to seek employment while Charles Meuse, father of the family, complained again of a lack of support by town officials. Unhappy with Massachusetts life, the Meuses requested permission to go to France and, later, Quebec. It is assumed that they eventually left the province.
Petition of Joseph Michel,
March 30, 1756
March 30, 1756
Unlike the Meuse family, which willingly entered into an indenture, Joseph Michel’s eldest sons were forcibly indentured by two of the selectmen of Marshfield. Unhappy with this turn of events, Michel sought intervention from the General Court, arguing that since the boys had found their own employment the contract should be considered null and void.
Massachusetts Archives
Read a Transcript of the letter
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To his Excellency William Shirley Esq; Captain-General
& Governour in chief in & over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England The Honble the Council & House of Representative in
Genl Court assembled March the 30 th A.D. 175[6]
Humbly shows Joseph Mitchel One of the Neutral French Inhabitants late belonging to Nova Scotia now residing at Marshfield in the County of Plymouth That your Petitioner was a Dweller near the Garrison at Annapolis & had a good Farm there & above thirty Head of Cattle & always Lived in a friendly Manner with the English & used to supply the Garrison with Wood & a considerable Quantity of Provision which he had to spare annually - That by Reason of the Late Misconduct of the French who Lived near Minas your Petr was a great sharer with them in their Misfortunes tho not in their Crimes, and thereby Lost his whole Estate both real & personal, & in this distress'd condition was brought to Marshfield aforesd with his wife & Family of Children the Last Fall where He has ever Since resided & has been provided for so as that He, his Wife & Children have been upheld in Life to this Time -
That his Eldest Son Francis, being Twenty Three Years old, Labored this Spring with one Caleb Tilden a near Neighbour to your Petitioner, To whom ^ he Your Petr hired Himself out for a Pistarene a Day till the first Day of May next, after which he was to have more, and both He & his Master Tilden were well contented -
That the Last Week John Little Esqr & Seth Bryant Two of the Select Men of the Town of Marshfield Came & by Force, utterly against the Will of your Petr & his Said Son, took away your
your Petrs sd Son & put him out to Anthony Winslow of sd Marshfield, When at the same Time sd Tilden offered to bind his Estate to Save sd Town & the Province free from any charge on his Account -
That sd Select Men at the same Time bound out another of your Petrs Sons named Paul about Fifteen Years of Age, to Nathaniel Clift of sd Marshfield Mariner, whom by force they dragged away & sent to Sea, notwithstanding diverse persons would gladly have taken Him to work on Shore at Farming Business to which He was used, & tho at the same Time he begged he might work on Shore because the Sea did not agree with Him - In short all your Petrs and his Wife's Intreaties were in vain, the sd Paul was by Force taken from them & Sent to Sea - And the sd Select Men took Security for Thirty Pounds as the Price ^ of sd Lad -
Your Petr being a Stranger in a Strange Land has no where to go for Relief but to your Excell. & Honrs - Tho He has Lost all his Estate he do[es] not desire his ^ children should be chargeable to any Body while they are able to work, but that such Places may be found for those under age as may be agreeable to 'em, & That those, who are of full Age, may provide for Themselves, at such places as the Lik[e] best -
Wherefore you Petr prays That the Indenture of your Petrs Said Sons may be declared null & void, & That They may be allowed to maintain Themselves, or, That such other Relief may be granted as you Excy & Honrs shall think fit And your Petr as in Duty bound shall pray & c
Joseph Michelle
[Petition submitted to the General Court of Massachusetts by Joseph Michel, 30 March 1756. SC1, Series 45X, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, vol. 23, page 51. Massachusetts Archives.]
General Court Committee Report,
April 26, 1756
April 26, 1756
In response to the petition of Joseph Michel, a joint committee was appointed to investigate. Its advice, approved by the legislature, declared that forced indenture was contrary to legislative intent in cases where Acadians were willing to work and were not agreeable to indenture. Massachusetts Archives
Read a Transcript of the report
The Committee appointed to take under consideration the Petition of Joseph Mitchell are unable to make enquiry into the truth of the facts mentioned before the dissolution of the Court by reason of the distance of Place where they are alledged to have been done and therefore ^ thus are of opinion that the consideration of the Petition be referred until the next session of the Court. The Committee are further humbly of opinion that it would be acting very different from the intention of the Legislature if any Selectmen in the Province should cause any of the children of the French from Nova Scotia to be disposed of for any sum of mony or other consideration except for the immediate use & benefit of such child or children and that where any child or children are able & willing to support themselves, or ^ where their parents or friends will undertake for their support
such child or children ought not to be separated from their parents or friends and that the Selectmen should as far as may be consult the inclination of the Parent & children in the service for which ^ any children they may be disposed of
T Hutchinson p order
In Council 20 April 1756 Read & accepted & Ordered that the Selectmen of the several Towns where any French are placed govern themselves accordingly
Sent down for concurrence
Thos Clarke Dpty Secry
In the House of Reps April 20. 1756
Read and Concurred
T Hubbard Spkr
Consented to
W Shirley
[Massachusetts General Court Committee report on the petition of Joseph Michel, 26 April 1756. SC1, Series 45X, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, vol. 23, pages 56-57. Massachusetts Archives.]
As did other towns, Marshfield regularly voted on methods of support for the Acadians. These entries record payments made for wood for cooking and heating, the use of a cow for milk, and even the funeral of Joseph Michel in 1762. Courtesy of the Marshfield Town Clerk’s Office
A wealthy inhabitant of Marshfield, Thomas entered into a contract with Acadians Charles Meuse, his son-in-law Paul Clement, and their families.
Courtesy of the Marshfield Historical Commission
Meuse Family Indenture,
February 28, 1757
February 28, 1757
Written in French, this document served as the Meuse family’s contract with Nathaniel Ray Thomas. In exchange for laboring on his farm, Thomas agreed to provide them with housing, food, and clothing. Massachusetts Archives
Read a Transcript of the indenture
Cette agriment Les partis etant consentantes acté passé Le vingt huitienne jour de fevrier Lan de nostre seigneur mil sept cents cinquante sept entre Charles mius et marie marth mius tout deux Du Cap Sable Dans La nouvelle Ecosse Village de Mistiguette Dans Le passage De L est Eentre Paul Clermon et Marie Josephe mius touts Deux Du meme endroit Et Charles amant mius, et anne mius fils et Fille du premier mais pour Le present habitant De plimouth De La nouvelle angleterre pour une part et Entre Monsieur Nat Ray thomas gentilhome De Marshfield pour Lautre part Se moigne et Certfie que Le dit Charles mius et marie mius Sa femme paul Clermon et marie josephe mius Sa femme Charle Aman mius et anne mius Bartelmie Magdelaine felicité Liszete mius Tous enfants de Charles mius En Consideration de Larrangement et De La Convention mentioné Ci apres Du Cote De monsieur Nathr Ray thomas sont tous Dun Comun accord en faveur De Luy ses enfants et ses heriters de travailler pour Luy sur sa ferme en qualite De fermiez ou De Laboureur Ce c a sa ferme de Marshfield ou Dans Telle endroit quil jugera apropos autande temps quils demeurerons Dans La nouvelle angleterre soit que cesoit Bientôt ou plus tard Le quelle temps est a comaneer en La Datte Du present jour
Et monsieur Thomas En Consideration Decette Agriment Sengage De fournire a charles mius marth mius paul Clermon et Les autres enfants trente Livre de viande de beuf et De pork par semaine Comme aussi Les autre provision qui Leur seront necessaire, et aussi De Leur fournire Les Habillement qui Leur Seront necessaires comme ils se sont accordé ensemble et De Leur fournire une maison et Du bois et tout ce qui leur Serat necessaire pour Leur Besoin et Le dit Charles Mius et marie Sa femme et tout Le reste De La famille sont Consentant De recevoire Cette proposition ci dessu specifeé Comme une recompense ou payment pour Leur travaille et pour Le service de quelque nature quil soit et ils ne sabsentrent jamais De La maison De monsieur Thomas Sans Sa permission
[1]
En te moignage De quoy ils ont signe ou mis Leur marque ordinaire le 28em jour de fevriere 1757
Signez et Deliveré Charles Mius Sa marque X
en presence De nous Marie marth
mius Sa marque X
Charles francois Paul Clermon Sa marque X
Langlois Marie josephe mius X
James McNamara Sa femme
Pelham Winslow La marque De Charles Aman X
mius
Anne mius Sa X
marque
Signd By Nath Ray Thomas
[upside-down] This Indenture By Party made this twenty eight day of Febry Anno Domini 1757 By & Between
[2]
[Although a literal translation is not provided, this document is an indenture between Charles Meuse and Paul Clement and their families, former inhabitants of the village of Mistiguette at Cape Sable, Nova Scotia and Nathaniel Ray Thomas of Marshfield. In exchange for housing, firewood, clothing, and food, they agree to work on Thomas' farm and not to leave his house without prior permission.]
[Indenture of Charles Meuse and family, 28 February 1757. SC1, Series 45X, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, vol. 24, page 8. Massachusetts Archives.]
Petition of Charles Meuse and
Paul Clement, January 12, 1758
January 12, 1758
Claiming that Nathaniel Ray Thomas had not fulfilled his end of the contract and complaining that “the women [of the family] are almost naked as also some of the men,” Charles Meuse and Paul Clement petitioned the General Court seeking their assistance in the matter. Massachusetts Archives
Read a Transcript of the letter
To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esqr Governor of the Massa Bay
To the Honourable Gentlemen of the Council & House of Reprves of Boston &
The Memorial of Paul Clermont and Charles Mieus sheweth that they with 8 Men and Women have hired to serve Mr. Thomas of Marshfield a Year upon condition that they should have two suits of cloths each in the year, a house to live with all necessary food and household furniture provided, but their sd Master having faild in almost every article of agreement and the Time almost expired they applied to him but he absolutely refus'd giving them any thing more tho the Women are almost naked as also some of the Men, he hav given only the first some old coats his spouse could wear no longer and two course shifts each & to the Men only one jacket & breeches and two course shirts therefore in this misable condition they apply to your honours for redress and in full assurance of the same they shall as in Duty Bound for ever
Pray his
Charles X Mieus
mark
Boston 11th January 1758
[Petition submitted to the General Court of Massachusetts by Charles Meuse and Paul Clement, 12 January 1758. SC1, Series 45X, Massachusetts Archives Collection, 1603-1799, vol. 23, page 393. Massachusetts Archives.]
This early nineteenth-century lithograph of the farm of Nathaniel Ray Thomas depicts how the farm may have appeared when Charles Meuse and family performed their indenture. The family of Joseph Michel was also cared for by Thomas for a brief time, although not under such terms. Courtesy of the Marshfield Historical Commission