M. about 1661 in Port-Royal, Acadia
Wife: Marie-Madeleine Martin
D. about 1690 in Ristigouche, New France
When we think of Acadia, the first thing that comes to mind is the tragedy of 1755, where English invaders sent thousands of French settlers into exile. But another Acadian, Pierre Morin dit Boucher, was forced to leave with his family many years earlier, and their banishment was at the hands of corrupt Frenchmen.
Pierre was born in about 1634 in Normandy, France; his parents are unknown. He migrated to Port-Royal, Acadia by 1661 where he married Marie-Madeleine Martin. They had 12 children born between about 1662 and 1686. The 1671 census of Port-Royal said that he was a farmer on 1 arpent of land, with 3 cattle and 4 sheep.
In 1680, Pierre moved the family to Beaubassin, a town on the isthmus that connects modern-day Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. It was founded by Michel Leneuf, who had power over the residents there. By 1686, Pierre had 30 arpents of land with 15 cattle, 8 sheep and 12 pigs — a comfortable life. But all that changed when in 1688, Leneuf's 17 year-old daughter became pregnant and Pierre's son Louis was named as the father. This had Louis charged with rape, and Leneuf sought to hold the entire Morin family responsible.
Pierre, his wife and all of his children, including some who were married with spouses, were charged, 19 people in all. Their punishment was awarded by a parish priest named Father Claude Trouve, who acted on behalf of Leneuf. He claimed that he took action against the entire family because one of Pierre's sons-in-law spoke out against him. All of the family's property was handed over to Leneuf and and the Morins were banished from Acadia. Louis was sentenced to a lifetime of service in the French Navy and put on a ship. The family never heard from him again.
In 1680, Pierre moved the family to Beaubassin, a town on the isthmus that connects modern-day Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. It was founded by Michel Leneuf, who had power over the residents there. By 1686, Pierre had 30 arpents of land with 15 cattle, 8 sheep and 12 pigs — a comfortable life. But all that changed when in 1688, Leneuf's 17 year-old daughter became pregnant and Pierre's son Louis was named as the father. This had Louis charged with rape, and Leneuf sought to hold the entire Morin family responsible.
Pierre, his wife and all of his children, including some who were married with spouses, were charged, 19 people in all. Their punishment was awarded by a parish priest named Father Claude Trouve, who acted on behalf of Leneuf. He claimed that he took action against the entire family because one of Pierre's sons-in-law spoke out against him. All of the family's property was handed over to Leneuf and and the Morins were banished from Acadia. Louis was sentenced to a lifetime of service in the French Navy and put on a ship. The family never heard from him again.
The other 18 Morin family members took refuge in a remote place called Ristigouche, an outpost on an inlet north of Acadia. Life there was very harsh, and this likely led to Pierre's death within a couple of years. Michel Leneuf and Father Trouve were unpopular men in Beaubassin after what they did to the Morin family. Their actions were reported to authorities in France, and they were forced to leave town. Lenuef is said to have died at sea in 1705.
Ristigouche: the place of Pierre's exile.
Pierre's wife and children eventually left Ristigouche and most of them settled along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, continuing the family lines there. In this way, Pierre became the ancestor of many people from Quebec, including Céline Dion.
Children:
1. Pierre Morin – B. about 1662, Port-Royal, Acadia; D. Apr 1741, St-Thomas, New France; M. Françiose Chiasson (1668-1724), 8 Nov 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia
2. Louis Morin – B. about 1664 Port-Royal, Acadia
3. Antoine Morin – B. about 1666 Port-Royal, Acadia
4. Marie Morin – B. about 1668 Port-Royal, Acadia; M. (1) Jacques Cochu (?-~1710), 8 Nov 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia; (2) Jean Pinet, 3 Feb 1710, Quebec City, New France
5. Anne Morin – B. about 1670 Port-Royal, Acadia; D. Aug 1745, Quebec City, New France; M. (1) René Deneau, about 1687, Beaubassin, Acadia; (2) Jean-Claude Louet (?-1739), 15 Jul 1707, Quebec City, New France
6. Jacques Morin – B. about 1671, Acadia; M. Marie-Anne Lavergne (?-~1754), 13 Feb 1699, Quebec City, New France
7. Charles Morin – B. about 1674, Acadia; D. about Jul 1724, New France; M. Anne-Therese Minet, 23 May 1719, Quebec City, New France
8. Marguerite Morin – B. about 1676, Beaubassin, Acadia
9. Jean-Marie Morin dit Ducharme – B. 10 Aug 1680, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. 30 Jan 1717, Quebec City, New France; M. Marie-Elisabeth Hubert (1697-1717), 17 Nov 1715, Quebec City, New France
10. Jacques-François Morin – B. 23 Sep 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia
11. Simon-Joseph Morin – B. about Jan 1685, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. before 1686, Beaubassin, Acadia
12. Jacques Morin – B. about Mar 1686, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. Apr 1757, St-Pierre-du-Sud, New France; M. Marie-Charlotte Robert-Jeannes (?-1734), 25 Aug 1704, Chambalon, New France
Sources:
"The Morins of Acadia," French-Canadian and Acadian Genealogical Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, Rev. Archange Godbout, translated by G.P. Hebert, 1968
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy (website)
1. Pierre Morin – B. about 1662, Port-Royal, Acadia; D. Apr 1741, St-Thomas, New France; M. Françiose Chiasson (1668-1724), 8 Nov 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia
2. Louis Morin – B. about 1664 Port-Royal, Acadia
3. Antoine Morin – B. about 1666 Port-Royal, Acadia
4. Marie Morin – B. about 1668 Port-Royal, Acadia; M. (1) Jacques Cochu (?-~1710), 8 Nov 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia; (2) Jean Pinet, 3 Feb 1710, Quebec City, New France
5. Anne Morin – B. about 1670 Port-Royal, Acadia; D. Aug 1745, Quebec City, New France; M. (1) René Deneau, about 1687, Beaubassin, Acadia; (2) Jean-Claude Louet (?-1739), 15 Jul 1707, Quebec City, New France
6. Jacques Morin – B. about 1671, Acadia; M. Marie-Anne Lavergne (?-~1754), 13 Feb 1699, Quebec City, New France
7. Charles Morin – B. about 1674, Acadia; D. about Jul 1724, New France; M. Anne-Therese Minet, 23 May 1719, Quebec City, New France
8. Marguerite Morin – B. about 1676, Beaubassin, Acadia
9. Jean-Marie Morin dit Ducharme – B. 10 Aug 1680, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. 30 Jan 1717, Quebec City, New France; M. Marie-Elisabeth Hubert (1697-1717), 17 Nov 1715, Quebec City, New France
10. Jacques-François Morin – B. 23 Sep 1682, Beaubassin, Acadia
11. Simon-Joseph Morin – B. about Jan 1685, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. before 1686, Beaubassin, Acadia
12. Jacques Morin – B. about Mar 1686, Beaubassin, Acadia; D. Apr 1757, St-Pierre-du-Sud, New France; M. Marie-Charlotte Robert-Jeannes (?-1734), 25 Aug 1704, Chambalon, New France
Sources:
"The Morins of Acadia," French-Canadian and Acadian Genealogical Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, Rev. Archange Godbout, translated by G.P. Hebert, 1968
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy (website)
