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From: "Richard J.Saunders" <>
Subject: Re: Descendants of Jean Pitre #1
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 21:59:25 -0500
References: <MB08A3dTeKsYiYstqX800002bcc@MB08.myfamilysouth.com>


Descendants of Jean Pitre




Generation No. 1


1. JEAN1 PITRE was born Abt. 1636 in Flanders, Mer-du-Nord, France, and died
Bef. 1689 in Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie. He married MARIE PESELET
Abt. 1664 in Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie, daughter of ISAAC PESELET
and BARBE BAJOLET. She was born Abt. 1645 in Port Royal, Acadie.

Notes for JEAN PITRE:

>Jean Pitre

His name may have been Jan Pietr. Either for social acceptance or by
mispronounciation, he became Jean Pitre. He was born around 1636. This
pioneer would be our first Pitre ancestor to set foot on this continent and
the progenitor of many Pitre, Lepitre, Pieters, Pieter, Pietre, Peters,
Peter, Peete, living in Acadie, Québec, Canada and the U.S. today.

The first trace that is found of our ancestor is in the 1671 census of Port
Royal, Acadie. Jean's trade is mentioned as edge-tool making which consists
in the fabrication of sharp tools and irons used by farmers.

The pioneer of the Acadian Pitre family is Flemish according to a statement
made at Belle-Île-en-Mer, France after deportation by his grandson Claude
Pitre.

However, in his Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes Professor
Stephen White also cites Père Clarence d'Entremont (genealogist) who
believed that it is more likely that he was English, based on An account of
the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets where it is said that
Peters, a toolsmith in England was of English origin.

Many hypotheses have been brought forth as to how Jean Pitre arrived in
Acadie. It has been speculated that he arrived with the Sir ThomasTemple
Expedition on May 1, 1657.

There is no list of settlers from this expedition but it coincides with Jean
Pitre's arrival in Acadie.

On the other hand, Leopold Lanctot suggests that Jean Pitre first came as a
pioneer to the Dutch colonies of Fort Orange (now Albany, N.Y.) or New
Amsterdam (now New York, N.Y.). When the British took over those Dutch
colonies Governor Temple would have recruited Dutchmen to take them to
Acadie.

Another story that was told on the origins of Jean Pitre was published in
The History of St. Anthony's Parish 1803-1980 which relates to the
descendants of Jean Pitre in Prince Edward Island, most of which have taken
the name Peters. This account would have him in Permambuco, Brazil and
escaping the Dutch wars in South America by hopping a schooner up to Acadie.

Still another story would have a named Peter (maybe Jean Pitre's father)
arriving during the Scottish occupancy between 1621 and 1632. This last
story is found in The Acadian Miracle by DJ Leblanc who states that Peter
later changed his name to Pitre and remained in Acadie after the French
retook possession in 1632.

Unfortunately all of these are just theories and speculations and we really
don't know how and when Jean Pitre arrived in Acadie. For all we know, he
could have arrived as a child with his parents or even been born in Acadie
of parents who arrived earlier since there were not many documents kept in
the early 1600's.

We know that he was in Port Royal around 1665 when he married Marie Pesseley
because the following year, their first child Marie was born.

In 1671, Acadie is part of France again and the population has reached 360.
In this first census taken in Acadie, we find the following:

>Jean PITRE

edge tool maker, 35, wife Marie Pesseley; Children: Claude 9 months and 2
daughters, Marie age 5 & Catherine age 3; cattle 1, no ploughed land.

The first census list our ancestor with his young family. At this time, he
is one of the few Acadians with no farming land and would have had to
concentrate on his skills as a toolsmith to provide for his family. By 1678,
his family has grown and has added 2 acres of ploughed land and one more cow
to help feed them.

It is through their fifth son François that our Pitre lineage is continued.
François is listed in the 1686 census as being 4 years old.

In 1689, war was declared between France and England. Boston's New
Englanders took advantage of this by trying to invade Acadie one more time.

Admiral Phipps arrived in Port Royal in 1690 with 700 English soldiers. The
fort was defended by 70 French soldiers who eventually surrendered.

Inhabitants of Port Royal and 'Des Mines', locked in the church and with the
threat of burning down their houses, were forced to sign a Declaration of
Fidelity to the Crown of England, but still refused to bear arms against
their French comrades.

Even though the French settlers had given in and signed the Declaration, for
twelve days afterwards the New Englanders destroyed Acadie. The Church and
Presbytery were razed. Cattle was destroyed, houses pillaged and 28 of them
burned to the ground. The settlers were in a disastrous situation and they
moved to Jemseg on the St-Jean River.

It was around that time that our first Ancestor, Jean Pitre, passes away in
Port Royal. He would have been in his mid-fifties when he left his wife and
nine children in mourning. Their youngest Jeanne was only 5 years old.

------------------------------------------

OUR FRENCH HERITAGE

THE FIRST FAMILIES OF Acadie - CENSUS OF 1671

Jean PITRE, edge tool maker, 35; wife Marie PESELET 26; Children: Marie 5,
Catherine 3, Claude 9 months; cattle 1.

-----------------------------------------

1671 Census:

Jean PITRE, edge tool maker, 35, wife Marie MAYOLS (first wife, Marie
PESELET); Children: Claude 9 months and 2 daughters; cattle 1.

----------------------------------------

1678 Census

Jean PITRE & Marie PESSELET

2 acres & 2 cows

4 boys 10 1668

5 1673

3 1675

1 1677

2 girls 14 1664

11 1667

-

1678 CENSUS

Jean Pitre & Marie Pesselet

2 acres & 2 cows

4 boys: 10 1668 Claude; 5 1673 Marc; 3 1675 (son); 1 1677 Pierre

2 girls: 14 1664 Marie; 11 1667 Catherine;

---------------------

1686 Census:

Jean PITRE 61, Marie PESELET 45; children: Claude 16, Mare 12, Pierre 9,
Jean 6, Francois 4,

one girl 2, one girl 1 month.

**

More About JEAN PITRE:

Burial: Abt. 1689, Port Royal, Annapolis, Acadie

Notes for MARIE PESELET:

PESSELEY, Marie, came from Paris and married Jean Pitre, who was originally
Flemish, according to her grandson Claude Pitre (Doc. inéd., Vol. III, p.
28). Marie's father, Isaac Pesseley, was a passenger aboard the Saint-Jehan,
which left La Rochelle bound for Acadia April 1, 1636. Prior to that he and
his family had lived at Piney, in Champagne. Isaac's wife Barbe Bajolet and
their children who were then living did not accompany him in 1636, but it is
known from the contract of her second marriage that his widow returned to
France from Port-Royal in 1646 (see DGFA-1, pp. 1034, 1288-1289). It
consequently appears more likely that Isaac and Barbe's daughter Marie was
born in Acadia, rather than at Paris, although as has been seen it is
certain that both of her parents came from France.

More About JEAN PITRE and MARIE PESELET:

Marriage: Abt. 1664, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie


Children of JEAN PITRE and MARIE PESELET are:

i. MARIE2 PITRE, b. Abt. 1666, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie;
d. Aft. 1726, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; m. FRANCOIS
AMIRAULT, Abt. 1683, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie; b. Abt. 1644.

More About FRANCOIS AMIRAULT and MARIE PITRE:

Marriage: Abt. 1683, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie

ii. CATHERINE PITRE, b. Abt. 1668, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia,
Acadie; d. Feb 1721/22, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; m.
CLAUDE BERTRAND, Abt. 1685, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie; b. Abt.
1651, Acadie; d. Abt. 1726, Acadie.

More About CLAUDE BERTRAND and CATHERINE PITRE:

Marriage: Abt. 1685, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie

iii. CLAUDE JEAN PITRE, b. Abt. 1670, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia,
Acadie; d. 07 Mar 1775, Belle Ile En Mer, France; m. (1) MARIE ANNE COMEAU,
Abt. 1697, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie; b. Abt. 1678, Port Royal,
Annapolis, N.S.; d. 09 Jul 1707, Port Royal, Annapolis, N.S.; m. (2) ANNE
HENRY, 17 Feb 1709/10, St. Jean Baptiste, Port Royal, Acadie; b. Abt. 1688,
Mines, Acadie; d. 29 Nov 1757, Québec, Canada.

Notes for CLAUDE JEAN PITRE:

Details on Claude Pitre NB:

Date: Nov 17, 1723

Location: Port-Royal

Surname: Pitre

Name: Claude

Comment:

Wife: Anne Henry

Type : baptism

Source : Baptisms, marriages and burial sites; parish register of St Jean
Baptiste du Port Royal (for all this table)

-------------------------



More About CLAUDE PITRE and MARIE COMEAU:

Marriage: Abt. 1697, Port Royal, St-Jean Baptiste, Acadie

More About CLAUDE PITRE and ANNE HENRY:

Marriage: 17 Feb 1709/10, St. Jean Baptiste, Port Royal, Acadie

iv. MARC PITRE, b. Abt. 1674, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; d.
Aft. 1714, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; m. JEANNE BRUN, Abt.
1699, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; b. Abt. 1676, Port Royal,
Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; d. Aft. 1714, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova
Scotia, Acadie.

More About MARC PITRE and JEANNE BRUN:

Marriage: Abt. 1699, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie

v. PIERRE PITRE, b. Abt. 1676, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie.

vi. JEAN DENIS PITRE, b. Abt. 1680, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia,
Acadie; d. Aft. 1724, Cobequid, Acadie; m. FRANCOISE BABIN, Abt. 1698, Port
Royal, Acadie; b. Abt. 1681, Port Royal, Acadie.

More About JEAN PITRE and FRANCOISE BABIN:

Marriage: Abt. 1698, Port Royal, Acadie

vii. FRANCOIS PITRE, b. Abt. 1682, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia,
Acadie; d. 05 Dec 1725, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; m. ANNE
PREJEAN, 27 Jul 1705, St. Jean Baptiste, Port Royal, Acadie; b. Abt. 1687,
Port Royal, Acadie; d. Aft. 1714.

Notes for FRANCOIS PITRE:

François dit Nordest Pitre

Son of Jean Pitre and Marie Pesselet, François dit Nordest was born around
1682 in Port-Royal. He was still young in 1690 when Phipps and his Soldiers
arrived in his region. At the age of 11, in 1693, he lost his father and his
family lived through difficult times.

By 1697, peace returns to Acadie with the Treaty of Ryswick , which makes
Acadie French soil again and the New Englanders leave.

François lived during the period considered as the Golden Age of Acadian
History. At the age of twenty-three, François Pitre marries Anne Préjean in
Port Royal on July 27th, 1705. The young couple settles in Port Royal where
all their children are born. François Pitre and Anne Préjean are not found
in the census of 1707 or 1710 but it is most likely that they lived with or
near Anne's family. They are listed on the 1714 census as the immediate
neighbours of Jean Préjean dit le Breton.

After five years, this family finds itself in danger again when the New
Englanders seized Port-Royal. Even with the resistance of 258 soldiers, the
Fort was lost in mid-October of 1710. The 481 inhabitants again surrendered
to the English.

Three years later, by the Treaty of Utreck in 1713, Acadie becomes Nova
Scotia but the surrounding Ile Royale (Cap Breton) & Ile St-Jean (P.E.I.)
and part of what is now New Brunswick, remained part of France. Acadians
were given the right to practice their religion, own and keep their
properties, but they became British Subjects.

As British Subjects, François Pitre and his family lived a relatively
peaceful life for the next few years.

However on December 6th, 1725, François passed away leaving his wife and ten
children in mourning. Like his father before him, he died young, at only 43
years old.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Details on François Pitre NB:

Date: March 1, 1713

Location: Port-Royal

Surname: Pitre

Name: François

Comment:

Wife: Anne Prijean

Type : baptism

Source : Baptisms, marriages and burial sites; parish register of St Jean
Baptiste du Port Royal (for all this table)




More About FRANCOIS PITRE:

Burial: 06 Dec 1725, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie

Notes for ANNE PREJEAN:

Anne Préjean

Anne would have been 18 years old when she married François Pitre in that
summer of 1705 in Port Royal. She was the daughter of Jean Préjean le Breton
and Andrée Savoie.

Anne was 38 when her husband of 20 years dies on December 6, 1725. He left
her with ten children. Anne had just burried her twin babies, Théotiste and
Anne who were born in August. Théotiste had died after one month and Anne
after 2 months.

On April 16, 1732, a widow for seven years, Anne Préjean marries a widower
named Michel Boudreau, the son of Claude & Marie Thibodeau. The previous
year, one of Anne's daughters Marguerite had married François dit Lami
Boudreau, son of the same Michel Boudreau. Later, one son and two other of
Anne's daughters, married children of her second husband.

Marguerite Pitre married François dit Lami Boudreau around 1731

Jean-Baptiste Pitre married Cecile Boudreau around 1733

Agnès Pitre married Jean-Baptiste Boudreau around 1738


The children of François Pitre dit Nordest and Anne Préjean

Antoine Pitre born July 19, 1706, married around 1731 to Anne Comeau,
daughter of Jean le jeune & Catherine Babin Antoine Pitre died sometime
between 1755 and 1763

Marie Josephe Pitre born Dec. 28, 1708, married 1º on Feb. 12, 1730 in Port
Royal, Charles Simon dit Boucher, 2º on June 16, 1744 in Port Royal Charles
Girouard, son of Jacques & Marguerite Gautrot and widower of Anne Bastarache
3º Sometime after 1751, Charles Bourgeois, son of Charles & Marguerite
Cormier and widower of Anne Poirier Marie Josephe died before January 19,
1767

Jean-Baptiste Pitre born in January of 1711 married around 1733 Cécile
Boudreau, daughter of Michel & Cécile Leblanc

Marie Madeleine Pitre born March 1, 1713, married Pierre Gaudet, son of Jean
& Elisabeth Bourg on May 30, 1728 in Port Royal

Marguerite Pitre born June 16, 1715, married around 1732 1. François dit
Lami Boudreau, son of Michel & Cécile Leblanc 2. on January 11, 1768 Simon
Provencher dit Villebrun, son of Sébastien & Marie Massé, widower of
Madeleine Lefabvre in Nicolet

Simon Eustache Pitre born on May 20th 1717 in Port Royal, married around
1737 Anne-Marie Hébert

Agnès Pitre born on June 10, 1719 married around 1738, Jean-Baptiste
Boudreau, son of Michel & Cécile Leblanc. Died on June 2, 1781,
Ile-aux-Coudres, Québec

Judith Pitre born October 13, 1721 in Port Royal, married around 1745 1.
Rene Boudreau of Michel & Cécile Leblanc 2. on November 10, 1760 in
St-Joachim, Joseph Lord le jeune, son of Alexander & Marie Françoise Barriau
Died on May 1, 1790 in Ile aux Coudres, Québec

François Joseph Pitre born July 31st, 1723

Anne Pitre (twin) born August 30th, 1725, died October 7, 1725

Théotiste Pitre (twin) born August 30th, 1725, died November 10, 1725

More About FRANCOIS PITRE and ANNE PREJEAN:

Marriage: 27 Jul 1705, St. Jean Baptiste, Port Royal, Acadie

viii. MARGUERITE PITRE, b. Abt. 1683, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia,
Acadie; d. 12 Jun 1747, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie; m.
ABRAHAM COMEAU, Abt. 1702, Port Royal, Acadie; b. Abt. 1679, Port Royal,
Acadie; d. 12 Jun 1747, Port Royal, Acadie.

More About ABRAHAM COMEAU and MARGUERITE PITRE:

Marriage: Abt. 1702, Port Royal, Acadie

ix. JEANNE PITRE, b. Abt. 1685, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie;
m. JEAN PIERRE PIAT, Abt. 1701, Port Royal, Acadie; b. Abt. 1680.

More About JEAN PIAT and JEANNE PITRE:

Marriage: Abt. 1701, Port Royal, Acadie

x. JEANNE PITRE, b. Abt. 1688, Port Royal, Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Acadie.

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