| Notes |
- Once deported to Massachusetts (1755) along with his wife and children, two of Claude's daughters, ages 23 and 17, received public aid as indigents. The Amesbury Selectmen found employment and subsistance for them; Claude said they were his children and were to remain in his house at work which he supplied. The Selectmen arrived with witnesses and assistants; although Claude offered resistance, the Selectmen brought the daughters to the prospective home were they were to work (endentured). Claude brought the daughters back to his house. The Selectmen cut down on what they were giving the family, so Claude petitioned. Other families were not so fortunate in that when their children were endentured, sometimes their "owners" would move them to one of their other homes so that their fathers could not find time. We must remember that some families were never reunited again.
Claude BOURGEOIS' wife was Marie LEBLANC daughter of Pierre and Madeleine BOURG. Claude secured special protection against the Amesbury Selectmen
The petition to the council reads as follows:
To the Honorable His Majesty's Council of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. May it Please your Honours.
Claude BOURGEOIS, your Petitioner, one of the late French inhabitants of Nova Scotia, was sent with his family to Amesbury by order of the General Court, where he has resided constantly with his wife and his children; and begs leave to represent to your Honours, that about four weeks ago then twelve men came and took away from him two of his daughters, one of the age of 25 years and the other of 18, that his daughters were at that time employed in spinning for the Family, the poor remains of the Flax of wool which they had saved from Annapolis. Your Petitioner having fetched his Daughters home again, the Town have withheld their subsistence so that fourteen Days past he has received nothing at all to prevent them from starving, and the owner of the house where he lives threatens that he shall pay the rent of it by his children's labour. Your petitioner prays your Honours to relieve him under these circumstances, and your Petitioners shall ever pray, etc.
The mark of + Claude BOURGEOIS
Boston, May 4th, 1756.
Sources:
(1) Massachusetts State Archives Collection (1629-1799), French Neutrals, Vol 23, Page 63.
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ArchivesSearch/RevolutionaryDetail.aspx?VolNbr=023&Page=063
(2) Canadian Archives, Sessional Papers No. 18.
(3) Book entitled "Acadian Genealogy and Notes Concerning the Explusion by Placide Gaudet.
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