On September 5, 1755, John Winslow, under orders from Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence, announced to the Acadians that their homes and property were forfeit to the Crown and that they were to be removed from the colony.
Purportedly to protect British interests in Nova Scotia, Governor Charles Lawrence had decided that the Acadians should be removed and dispersed throughout the American colonies. They were held under guard until hired ships arrived to transport them and what few items they could carry. Their homes and farms were burned to prevent those who escaped from supporting themselves if they remained.
Forced to wait until October, many were in danger of starving. Upon arrival of the ships, the Acadians were herded on board, in many instances being separated from friends and family, despite assurances to the contrary. Initial transports were bound for Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. Later ships delivered Acadians to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Georgia.
Colonel John Winslow (1703-1774)
Resident of Marshfield, Winslow served as commander to the provincial troops enlisted for the expedition to Nova Scotia. He was instrumental in the capture of Fort Beausejour and played a major role in the detention and physical removal of the Acadians in the Grand Pré region. Courtesy of the Historic Winslow House Association
Proclamation read at the church at Grand Pré
Although required to announce to the Acadians plans for their deportation, John Winslow found it “very disagreeable to [his] natural make & temper.” Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Read a transcript of John Winslow's Proclamation
Gentlemen/
I have Received from his Excellency Governor Lawrence the King's Commission which I have in my hand and by whose orders you are convened together to manifest to you his Majesty's Final resolution to the ^ French inhabitants of this his Province of Nova Scotia who for almost half a centry have had more Indulgence Granted them then any of his subjects in any part of his Dominions, what use you have made of them you your selfs best know -
The Part of Duty I am now upon is what tho necessary is very disagreeable to my natural make & temper as I know it must be grevious to you who are of the same specie -
But it is not my business to annimedvert but to obey such orders as I receive and therefore without hessitation shall deliver you his Majestys orders and instructions viz -
That your land & tennements cattle of all kinds and live stock of all sortes are forfitted to the Crown with all other your effects saving your money & household goods and you your selves to be removed from this his Province -
Thus it is preremptorily his Majestys orders that the whole French inhabitants of these districts be removed, and I am thro his Majestys goodness directed to allow you liberty to carry of your money and household goods as many as you can without discommouding the vessels you go in, I shall do every thing in my power that all those goods be secured to you and that you are not molested in carrying of them of and also that whole familys shall go in the same vessel and make this remove which I am sensable must give you a great deal of trouble as easey as his Majestys service will admit and hope that in what ever part of the world you may fall you may be faithfull subjets a peasable & happy people -
I must also inform you that it is his Majestys pleasure that you remain in security under the inspection & direction of the troops that I have the honr to command and then declared them the Kings prisoners
[John Winslow journal, 1744-1757, pages 178-179. Massachusetts Historical Society.]
List of Acadians confined by
Col. John Winslow, 1755
Col. Winslow, 1755
Following the deportation order, Acadian men were confined to prevent their escape. This detailed list enumerates each man’s family size and livestock holdings as well as listing his home village. Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Memorandum for Capt. Murray, 1755
A letter from Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence to Captain Alexander Murray directing him to “take an eye for an eye…in short a life for a life” in cases where Acadians molested the troops or caused “mischief” while awaiting deportation.
Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Read a transcript of John Winslow's Proclamation
Memorandum for Capt. Murray
That he use his Umost Endeavor to Prevent the Inhabitants or any of them from Escapeing out of the Countrey -
That he prevent as much as in him lyes their removing their effects or Hiding them in the woods. to order the Inhabitants to Proceed in the Cutting their Hay and Corne and in all their Husbandry affairs as they were to remain in the Country Otherways they will be Treated with the Utmost Severity when they Come to Embarque - - To Keept Parties Continually Scouring the Country for the Purposes aforementioned and to get Information of Every thing that Passes among the Inhabitants who now will be Imployed Chiefly in Scheming & Intriguing -
That if Capt. Murray Suspects the Inhabitants having Fire Arms stil Amongst them he is to use his Utmost Endeavor to lay his hands on them, when the Inhabitants remove they will be allowd to carry nothing with them but their money and Houshold Furniture. that they be Kept in the Dark as to their Distination as much as may be for they should be of Opinion Privatly (and I beleve they certainly are) that the Government will Not after all remove them from their Possessions they have the Less temptation to be Doing Mischeif whilest the Transportes are Getting round. Suffer as Little as Posable any Communication between the Inhabitans & Soldiers and between ye former and Mr Maugers People and above all things Keep from their Knoledge the News relating to General Braddock
Immediately on the arrival of Colo Winslow at Mines who I would have Quarter his People Immediately round ye Church or in it if he should think that most Safe & Convenient Let Capn Croxton return with his Detachment to this Place and if you think your own Proper Detachment too weak afterwards to do the Duty you will have on your hands apply to Colo Winslow for the assistance of Forty or Fifty Men. Send heither by the first safe conveyance Either Land or water both the Preists and take up and put in Confinement any Inhabitants you expect to be an Haranger or an Intriguer amongst the People Such fellows are Dangerous at this time and suffer from the Inhabitants in General Not the Least Insolence Particularly after the arrival of Colo Winslow but when they behave amiss punish them at your Discretion. if you have ocation to Confine any of the Inhabitants within your Forte Keep a watchfull Eye over them and order their Familys or Neghbours to Feed the During their Confinement otherwise they will be Expensive to the Publick which as it is unnecessary I Can by no Means allow of
Show these Memorandums to Colo Winslow as Soon as he arrives take an opportunity of Requainting the Inhabitants that if any attemps by Indians or others to Distroye or otherways Molest his Majestys Troops you have my order to take an Eye for an Eye a Tooth for a Tooth and in short life for Life from the nearest Nighbour where such Mischiefe is Performed. if the Mouth of Chibaauadre[?] River Could be Visited before Colo Winslows arival it would be well afterwards there Can be no Difficulty in doing it both by Land & water. it is by that rout (if at all) the Inhabitants Convey away their Cattle and Effects, if the Warren Proceeds to Chignecto with ye Dispatch I now send Capn Gorham with one of your officers and some men may make an excursion with the whale boats to Chibairadie - if the Warren be not with you when he arives he must in the whale Boats for Chignecto with a part of his Detachment as you will Perceive by his orders
Halifax Aug 9 th 1755
Charles Lawrence
A True Coppy W Murray
[John Winslow journal, 1744-1757, pages 148-149. Massachusetts Historical Society.]
Taken from a contemporary map of Bermuda, these images depict two distinct styles of ships that were used to transport the Acadians to the American colonies. Generally mercantile in nature, they are (left & right) a snow and a sloop. Courtesy of the Hart Nautical Collection, MIT
October 8th - began to embarke the inhabitants who went verry solentarily and unwillingly. the women in great distress carrying their children in their arms. Other[s], carrying their decrept parents in their cartes and all their goods in great confusion & appeared a seen of woe & distres.
”Courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Map of destinations of deported Acadians
Displayed are the destinations of deported Acadians in 1755 and 1756. Massachusetts Archives