Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/40

'Twas in December, 1755. The once prosperous and flourishing Acadian villages and hamlets in what are now Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Colchester and Cumberland counties, in Nova Scotia, were no more. An unmerciful soldiery had turned them into flames, and most of their inhabitants were transported on board of vessels to the four points of the compass.

In the depth of the forest could be found here and there small groups of Acadian families, who had escaped deportation by taking refuge in the woods. Others had fled to the St. John, Miramichi and Restigouche rivers, and even to Quebec. Some had crossed to Cape Breton and Isle St. Jean. A few from Annapolis river had reached Yarmouth county, whilst others had taken refuge on the shores of St. Mary's Bay, where they remained during the winter of 1755–6.

In the beginning of the month of December a caravan of one hundred and twenty Acadians landed on the south of Belliveau's Cove, Digby county, on a small island, which afterwards was called Ile-des-Piau (Piau's Island—pronounced Peeo), in honor of the leader of these unfortunate fugitives. His name was Pierre Belliveau, but he was better known by the nickname of Piau, given him by his father when a little babe. He was born at Lower Granville, nearly opposite Goat Island, Annapolis county, in August, 1706, and was therefore forty-one years old at the time of the expulsion. Married on the 12th of January, 1728, to Jeanne Gaudet, he settled near Bridgetown, Annapolis county, and had by her nine children, of whom eight were daughters and one a son. The latter, called Joseph, was born on the 18th of December, 1747, and