Joseph Broussard (abt. 1702 - 1765)

Born about 1702 in Port-Royal, Acadie, Nouvelle-France

Ancestors

Husband of Agnès Thibodeau — married 11 Sep 1725 in Annapolis Royal, Acadie, Colony of Nova Scotia

Descendants

Died Oct 1765 at about age 63 in Camp Beausoleil, Broussard, Louisiane, Nouvelle-Espagne

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Biography

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JOSEPH BROUSSARD dit BEAUSOLEIL is on the Wall of Names at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, Louisiana, on Plaque 2-R. Listed with him are his children, Francois, Claude, Amand, and Francoise. ^[1]

Joseph Broussard is Notable.

Joseph Broussard migrated from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Louisiana.

Joseph Broussard, dit Beausoleil was a settler, a member of the militia, and an Acadian hero. His grandest exploits came during the Grand Dérangement and in bringing Acadians to Louisiana. ^[2] He is "still revered today, particularly by the Acadians in Louisiana where he has become a legendary figure for his bravery as leader of the resistance of the Acadians in the upper reaches of the Petitcodiac River at the time of the deportation."^[3]

Joseph was born around 1702 in Port-Royal, Acadie, Nouvelle-France (now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada) and his parents were Catherine Richard and Jean François Broussard.^[3][2] He was listed in the 1703 census of Port-Royal at the age of one, the fifth of five sons and sibling as well to three girls in the family.^[4]

in 1724, when Joseph was around 22 years of age, he was accused of rough treatment by Louis Thibeau.^[5][6]

On 11 September 1725 in Annapolis Royal, Joseph married Agnès Thibodeau, 19 years of age, daughter of Michel Thibodeau and Agnès Dugas. Their witnesses were Jean Brossard, brother of the groom; Louis Giroard, son of Alexandre Giroard; Michel Tibaudeau, father of the bride; Claude Tibaudeau, uncle of the bride.^{[7][8][9][3][10][11]} One year after his marriage, he was accused of fathering and abandoning an illegitimate child by Marie Daigre, which Joseph denied; he spent some time imprisoned for refusing to provide for the child's maintenance.^[3][5]

Joseph and Agnès later settled in Chipoudy (Shepody, New Brunswick), as did his brother Alexandre. It was a settlement that their father helped create, with Pierre Thibodeau.^[3]

Leader

He participated with Nicolas-Antoine Coulon de Villiers’ troops at the battle of Minas in early 1747. William Shirley, governor of Massachusetts, outlawed Joseph as well as eleven others on 21 October 1747 for having supported the French troops.^[3]

In the 1755 census at Petitcoudiac, Joseph, Agnès, and two children were listed. His brother Alexandre was nearby, with his two sons and their families.^[12]

In 1755 he participated in French skirmishes against British forces near Fort Beauséjour. The British were disputing the possession of the Chignecto Isthmus with the French, at which time they laid siege to Fort Beauséjour (near Sackville, New Brunswick) in June 1755. Joseph captured a British officer while fighting the invaders.^[3] Louis-Thomas Jacau de Fiedmont, a French officer, testified about Joseph's activity, after which he was recognized as one of the bravest and most enterprising of the Acadians.^[3][2]

Joseph went on to attack the British camp, supported by only 60 French and Indigenous people on 16 June 1755. The same day the fort surrendered. The group lost only one man. Two days later, Joseph proposed that he act as mediator between the British and the members of the First nations on the condition that he be granted amnesty. Colonel Robert Monckton agreed, so long as approval was gained from Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence.^[3]

He managed to escape deportation in 1755 and organized Acadians in present-day New Brunswick into a resistance movement.

He moved his family to the Miramichi River area.^[3]

The Acadians were being pushed out and deported from the area, so Joseph and his family likely fled to the forest to live for a time. Aided by his four sons, he fought small battles, trying to regain ground, but eventually realized things were going poorly, as many were on the brink of starvation. He, his family, and a group of Acadians still in the area surrendered to the British around 1762.

In July 1762 he was on the rolls as a prisoner of war at Fort Edward, Nova Scotia. ^[13][14] He was subsequently moved to detention camps at Halifax, Nova Scotia,^[3][2] but his wife and children remained at Fort Edward. They were all released in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris.

Later that year, Joseph was found in possession of a letter urging the Acadians to remove to France. He was imprisoned again, for another year. Upon his release in 1764, he led a group of about 200 Acadians to Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), where the weather and tropical disease were too much for many of the immigrants. He led the survivors on to Louisiana.^[3][2] Broussard and his followers arrived at the port of New Orleans in February 1765. His wife did not survive the ordeal.

A group headed by Joseph settled along Bayou Teche near St.Martinville, Attakapas, Louisiana, arriving 27 February 1765.^[15]

On 8 April 1765 Louisiana's French colonial governor, Charles-Philippe Aubry, appointed Broussard as the Militia Captain and Commander of the Acadians in Attakapas.^[3][2][16] He headed there with the Acadians in late April 1765 and settled, with his brother Alexandre, in the Fausse Pointe area.

Death and Legacy

Joseph Broussard, dit Beausoleil died around 19 October 1765. According to the registry of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, Louisiana, he was buried on 20 October 1765 in Camp Beausoleil in the Attakapas District of Louisiana.^{[2][11][17][16]}

Recently, interested people in Louisiana have been doing archaeological research to see if the graves of these early Acadian immigrants to Louisiana can be located for preservation. ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ The Wall of Names at the Acadian Memorial, Wall of Names Committee, Jane G. Bulliard, Chair, eds., (Opelousas, LA: Bodemuller, 2015) p.14.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} "1755 L'Histoire" by Centre d'Études Acadiennes, University of Moncton: English story & French Story
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12} C. J. d’Entremont, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 3 (University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003) accessed 28 Aug 2014; pp. 87-88 for Joseph Brossard (Broussard) dit Beausoleil; English version and version Française
4. ↑ Tim Hebert; Transcription of the 1703 Acadian Census, at Port-Royal, Acadie 1703 Census Transcription. The original census can be found at Acadian Census microfilm C-2572 of the National Archives of Canada “Acadie Recensements 1671 – 1752,” Images 212-220.

   Francois BROSSARD, his wife, 5 boys, 3 girls, 1 arms bearer.

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Karen Theriot Reader Joseph Broussard citing ORIGINAL MINUTES OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL AT ANNAPOLIS ROYAL; 1720-1739; ed. by Archibald M. MacMechan, (Halifax: [Public Archives of Nova Scotia], 1908) pp. 67-69, 112-113 & 121-122.

   At a Council dated 10 Aug 1724 Lewis TIBEAU complained against Joseph BRUSAR "for Maltreating & Using him Unjustly." When THIBAULT tried to deliver orders to BROUSSARD to appear in answer to the charge, "he not only Beat him, but took the Orders & Despitefully throw [sic] them on the Ground." Summoned once more, Joseph did not appear, despite the Governor's order. The Acadian deputies were called to account, and responded that "they were Extreemly [sic] Sorry for Such Misdemeanours of Some amongst them But were apt to belevie [sic] all Tibeaus affidavit was not true... And Acknowledged that for his Contumacy he Deserved to be Severely punished," but asked for pardon. The [Lt.] Governor [John DOUCETT] answered that for his "Audacious Impudence in Disobeying his Orders, and Other Rebellious practices against this His Majestys Government," BROUSSARD would have to appear before the Board.

   Two days later, Joseph and two other men were brought to the Council by the Deputies, but upon apologizing and promising "Dutifully to behave themselves in all Respects to the Government" were set free.

6. ↑ Archibald MacMechan, Original minutes of His Majesty's Council at Annapolis Royal, 1720-1739, (Halifax Nova Scotia: McAlpine publishing co. limited, 1908) pp. 67-69 (Lewis Tibeau); 112-113 & 121-122 (Mary d'Aigre); accessed at https://archive.org/details/originalminutes00coungoog/page/n74
7. ↑ Library and Archives Canada, Fonds de la paroisse catholique Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Port-Royal, N.-É.)-1870 C-1870 (image 83) https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c1870/83?r=0&s=5
8. ↑ The Registers of St. Jean-Baptiste, Annapolis Royal, 1702-1755, register RG 1 volume 26 page 222; online database with images, Joseph Brossard and Agnes Tibaudeau marriage 11 September 1725, accessed August 2023.
9. ↑ Marriage record, Joseph Brossard and Agnes Tibaudeau.
10. ↑ Stephen A. White, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes, (Moncton, N.-B.: Centre d'études acadiennes, Université de Moncton, 1999), part#1 (1636-1714) pp. 284-287;

    1517; bride @19yrs.

11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Steven Cormier, Acadians in Gray: Broussard
12. ↑ Acadian & French Canadian Ancestral Home, website of Lucie LeBlanc Consentino,1755 Census p. 7 of 32.
13. ↑ Lucie LeBlanc Consentino, List of Acadian Prisoners at Fort Edward, 1761-1762, Acadian & French Canadian Ancestral Home, Original record, online database with images, Isaac Deschamps, Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 258 item 18 - p. 100-105 (5 October 1761 to 11 October 1762) Original Record, page 3-4 of 6, accessed July 2023.

    Joseph Broussard, 5 people

14. ↑ Régis Sygefroy Brun, "Listes des Prisoniers Acadiens au Fort Edward," Cahiers de la Société Historique Acadienne, vol. 3, #4 (cahier #24, 1969) pp.158-164; vol. 3 #5 (cahier#25, 1969 pp. 188-192.
15. ↑ Jane Vincent Erickson, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Genealogical Institute, vol. 5, (Louisiana State University and Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society, 1962) p.15.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Donald J. Hébert, Southwest Louisiana Records, 1750-1900, compact disk #101 ("SWLR CD"), (Rayne, LA: Hébert Publications, 2001; reprints by Claitor's Publications), (and revised edition SWLR vol.1A, p.137);

    citing St. Martin de Tours Church (St. Martinville, LA) record, folio #B-1 funeral):

    - BROUSSARD, Joseph dit Beausoleil - Capitaine Commandant des Acadiens aux Atakapas buried: 20 Oct 1765 at place called Beausoleil, Record entered: 25 Nov 1765. Fr. Jean FRANCOIS, Cappucin. (SM Ch.: Folio B-1, Funeral)

    - BROUSSARD, Joseph dit Beausoleil - "Capitain Commandant des Acadiens des Atakapas" [Commanding or leading captain (Leader) of the Acadians of Atakapas]; buried: 20 Oct 1765 at the Camp [place or location] named Beausoleil; recorded 25 Nov 1765. Fr. Jean FRANCOIS (SM Ch.: v1 p78)

17. ↑ Donald J. Arceneaux, The Initial Acadian Settlement (Archived Link): A New Look at the Initial Acadian Settlement Location in the Attakapas, accessed 13 Oct 2017.
18. ↑ Quest to find Beausoleil’s burial site

See also:

• Ronnie-Gilles LeBlanc, "Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil", Cahiers de la Société historique acadienne, 1986, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 52-57 https://societehistoriqueacadienne.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/1702_total.pdf

• Wikipedia: Joseph Broussard

• L.-T. Jacau de Fiedmont, The siege of Beauséjour in 1755; a journal of the attack on Beauséjour, written by Jacau de Fiedmont . . . , ed. J. C. Webster (N.B. Museum, Historical Studies, no.1, Saint John, 1936), p. 41.

• Knox, Historical journal (Doughty), I, app., 3–4. Mémoires sur le Canada, depuis 1749 jusqu’à 1760. Northcliffe coll. N.S. Archives, III.

• Régis Sygifroy Brun, “Les papiers Amherst,” La Société historique acadienne (Moncton), 27e cahier (1970), pp. 304, 307. https://societehistoriqueacadienne.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cahier27.pdf

• Arseneau, Hist. et généal. des Acadiens. Antoine Bernard, Histoire de la Louisiane de ses origines à nos jours (Québec, 1953 ) pp. 157-158, 410.

• Dudley LeBlanc, The true story of the Acadians (Lafayette, La. 1932) p. 65–67

• Beamish Murdoch, History of Nova-Scotia, or Acadie, vol II, (J. Barnes, Nova Scotia, 1866) pp.117, 314, 431. Google Books

• J. C. Webster, The forts of Chignecto; a study of the eighteenth century conflict between France and Great Britain in Acadia, (1930) pp. 55, 71, 87, 113.

• Warren A. Perrin, Acadian Redemption: from Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen's Royal Proclamation (Andrepont Pub., 2005)

• "Acadian Genealogy Exchange" v41 @2 (Oct. 2012) Genealogy Gophers, Oct 2012, p. 67

• Acadian Memorial for Joseph Broussard (Brossard)

• Geneanet Family Tree by Tim DOWLING for Joseph Broussard

• Entrevue avec Maurice Basque, historien. “Joseph « Beausoleil » Broussard, héros têtu de la résistance acadienne.” Aujourd'hui l'histoire avec Jacques Beauchamp. Radio-Canada Ici Première, diffusion Novembre 23, 2019, écoute en ligne à: Entrevue Maurice Basque

• "Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil," Cision, website, published 15 August 2023, accessed 16 August 2023 Article

Acknowledgements

Karen Theriot Reader Geneanet.org

Jacqueline Girouard

Abby Glann