448 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



As already stated the dispersion of the Acadians of Sainte Anne 

 was a voluntary one. The reasons that led to it we shall presently 

 consider. It was not hurriedly undertaken and the locations selected 

 were sought out by the Acadians themselves. We have already 

 seen that the settlement of Madawaska was established about the year 

 1785 under the leadership of Louis Mercure, Pierre Duperré and Joseph 

 Daigle. The settlement received an important addition when the 

 Thibodeaus, Theriaults and Violets of French Village in Kings County 

 removed thither. The reasons that inspired these families to seek 

 a new location are stated in their memorial to the Governor. This is 

 in the hand writing of Elias Hardy, of St. John, an eminent lawyer 

 and a member of the Provincial Assembly: 



To His Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esq'r., Lieutenant Governor of 

 His Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, &c, &c. 



The Petition of Olivier Tibodo, Sen'r., Joseph Tarrio, Sen'r. and François 

 Violet, Sen'r. — humbly sheweth — 



That your Petitioners are descended from the early Settlers of Acadia at 

 the time it was under the dominion of France and have been educated in the 

 Roman Catholic persuasion. 



That they are at present Inhabitants of a place called the French Village 

 on the little Kennebecasis 1 where they possess small lots of Two Hundred 

 acres each. 



That your petitioners are incumbered with large Families for whose settle- 

 ment in life they look fcrward with much anxiety and it is their earnest wish to 

 see them settled around them on Lands of their own, which' they cannot expect 

 !n the part of the Country where they now dwell. 



That your petitioners are informed that Government offers encouragement 

 in Lands to such persons as shall settle high up the River St. John, which your 

 petitioners are desirous of doing, not only in order to obtain such lands for 

 their Families, but that they may have the assistance of a Priest in the perform- 

 ance of the rites and ceremonies of their religion and in the superintendance of 

 their children's education. 



That having always demeaned themselves since the cession of Acadia to 

 Great Britain as faithful, peaceable and industrious subjects and settlers, 

 your petitioners humbly pray that Lands proportioned to the number of their 

 Families may be granted to them and their childern (a list whereof is annexed) 

 at a place called the Madawascas, between the Seven Islands and the River 

 Verte on the River Saint John. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound shall 

 ever pray, &c. 



The mark + of Olivier Tibido, senr. 

 Witness The mark + of Francis Violet 



E. Hardy. The mark + of Joseph Tarrio Junr. for his father 



Joseph Tarrio, senr. 



Olivier Tibodo's Family consists of Olivier Tibodo, Senr. His Wife — 8 sons 

 named 



By the Ashburton treaty in 1842 that part of Madawaska west of the Saint John 

 was given to Maine. 



1 The stream is now better known as Hammond River. 



