Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/346
Annapolis and gave them good service. James LeBlanc, who may have been the oldest son of Daniel, was one of the deputies for Annapolis River in 1720. Three residents of Annapolis River named LeBlanc, Paul, Joseph and Jean Simon, signed the oath of allegiance of 1730. René LeBlanc of Mines, who may have been the original René or his son, seems to have been a good deal employed by the government. He was en-gaged to build a barracks at that place, but this work was stopped by the Indians, who abused and insulted him. This was in 1732 when René LeBlanc would be 75 years old. Major Cope related to the council at Annapolis that "On Thursday evening, the 13th July, 1732, there came into Renée LeBlanc's house at Mines three Indians, Jacque, son to Winaguadishnick, Antoine his brother and Andress his cousin, all living upon Piziquit River, who in a most villanous manner and with opprobious language, insulted the said René LeBlanc and Peter his brother, saying that all the LeBlancs were dogs and villians except François, and that as for René, he had a dagger for him for that he was going to build a fort for the English." Major Cope added that René LeBlanc had often beer. insulted in like manner for no reason that he could discover but that he was employed and trusted by the government.
Claud LeBlanc was one of the dupties from Grand Pre, who went to Halifax to meet Governor Cornwallis in 1749. There were ten families named LeBlanc at Beausejour in 1752, refugees from other parts of Acadia, and fifty-eight families of the name were deported by Winslow from Mines in 1755. The LeBlancs, however, did not lose their hold on Acadia, and they are now one of its leading families and have contributed members to the legislature and to Parliament.