July 28, 2023
Today is known in North America as the Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval. It has already been twenty years since my friend Warren Perrin, of Lafayette and Erath, Louisiana, was successful in having Queen Elizabeth II acknowledge and apologize for orders issued on July 28, 1755 that set off many tragic chapters of history. Thousands of Acadians were initially deported to the British colonies along the eastern coast of North America and to England; some evaded authorities for a while by hiding in the woods. A long period of exile and displacement radically changed the lives of a unique people. Because of the Seven Years’ War, France’s loss to Britain, and economic hard times that followed, many Acadians lost their livelihoods and lives; many others adapted the best that they could to new lands, customs, and political authorities.
As time passed, the Acadian diaspora included resettlement in the Caribbean, Guyana, the Falkland Islands, Louisiana, Europe, and other parts of eastern Canada. Disillusion caused many to redirect their steps forward when conditions allowed. A few did remain in the original American colonies and participated in our own revolution. I have spent a half-century looking at one small region – my adopted state of Maryland.
I am thankful to all those who inspired my journey in recognizing the strengths and challenges involved. I learned much from the experiences of my earliest ancestors in Port Royal, Beaubassin, and Québec and from amazing, dedicated friends, scholars, and acquaintances in Louisiana, Maryland, and New Brunswick.
This summer, I am pleased to announce a greater expansion of this website. With assistance from my daughter and grandson, several new articles have been added to the blog. In addition, Vol. 2 of Becoming the Frenchified State of Maryland now has an outlet to grow as more research is processed. Under the rubric “LAGNIAPPE” there are three new appendices (57-59) and more to come. A “button” has also been set up to share corrections and clarifications to the two volumes.
For those interested in journals, I am also proud of Judy Riffel’s review of my work in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, March 2023, pp. 77-78 and the inclusion of a 10,000-word excerpt from Chapter Six of Vol. 1 that has recently appeared in the Spring/Summer edition of the Maryland Historical Magazine, pp. 65-91. For the excerpt, it was a great pleasure partnering with Dr. Martina Kado, who wears many hats at the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
As always, a tip of the hat to fellow historian Marty Guidry, of Baton Rouge, and to Francis O’Neill and Micah Connor in the library at MCHC. Their friendship and helpful assistance are invaluable as I continue adding to the research online.
Francophones in Maryland 