ACADIAN HERITAGE

Ships of the Acadian Deportation from Pisiquid

Acadians from Piziquid were deported on five ships with innocent, even friendly-sounding names: Three Friends, Dolphin, Ranger, Neptune, and Seaflower.

The first four ships left Fort Edward on October 27, 1755 but were caught in a fierce storm and forced to put in at Boston on November 5. Authorities ordered an inspection, found all ships overloaded, and required some Acadians to be taken off each of the ships before they could continue. There seems to be no record of the fate of the Acadians "taken off" in Boston.

Three Friends, an 89 ton sloop, carried 156 Acadians and arrived in Philadelphia December 8. Dolphin and Ranger, 80 and 90 ton sloops, carried 230 and 263 Acadians respectively and arrived in Annapolis, Maryland on November 30. Neptune, a 95 ton schooner, carried 207 and arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia on October 27.

The fifth ship, the Seaflower, actually sailed from Grand Pré but transported Acadians who had been brought there from Piziquid. It appears that owner, Captain Nathaniel Donnel, had come to the Minas Basin to collect a debt and his ship was chartered by Captain Murray to carry Acadians on the return trip. The Seaflower, an 81 ton sloop, sailed to Boston under Captain Samuel Harris with 206 Acadians on board.

A total of 1062 Piziquid Acadians were deported on these five ships. For those who survived, it was only the beginning of the terrible ordeal.

Sources:
www.blupete.com/Hist/Gloss/AcadianTransports.htm
www.landrystuff.com/ExpulsionShips.html