The history of the Acadian people is one of both tragedy and triumph of the human spirit. It is a story is that began in the economic, political, and religious struggles of Europe in the 17th century. It was fueled by the hopes and inspirations of courageous people who were willing to forsake the security of their homeland and life as they had known it to pursue freedom and opportunity in the vast uncharted lands of America.

        The Acadian people endured hardships of every conceivable kind. While weathering the vicious storms of the north Atlantic, they risked death just making the journey reaching the sands of the new world. Once ashore, they faced the perils of a cold and sometimes hostile environment. Until stable harvests could be established, they endured starvation and disease, which took the lives of many, both young and old. Although they worked diligently to remain neutral in the political warfare of Europe, they nevertheless found themselves caught between the forces of a hostile England and pressures from the homeland of France, which at times seemed all too passive in its support of the Acadian settlers. Yet, with the help and friendship of Native Americans and with an ironclad will to survive, the Acadians prospered as a people.

        As the political fortunes of Europe changed, England became the predominant force in the exploration and settlement of America. Led by a group of rogue military officers, English forces seeking the rich farmlands of Acadia for their own expelled these hapless people from their homes, burning almost everything in their path and killing those who resisted. In the years that followed the deportation, thousands of Acadian men, women, and children died either in captivity or by disease and starvation brought about by the conditions that had been forced upon them. But as always has happened, political winds changed, hard hearts became softened, and the years of oppression finally came to an end for the Acadian people.

        While this was a time of rejoicing for many, the years ahead were to be ones that once again would challenge their will to survive. Over half of the Acadians had perished, and the rest were scattered across several continents. Those who chose to return to Acadia found little that was familiar to them. All that they had once owned had either been taken from them or destroyed. But, from these humble new beginnings, a spark of life had begun, and the Acadian people grew in number, vowing always to reclaim their proud and rich heritage.

        As descendants of the original Acadians, we have a lot for which to be proud and many things for which to be thankful. It is my sincerest hope that this story of our history will help kindle a feeling and spirit of pride, family, and unity; for it is these very things that have always bonded Acadians together as a people.
 
 

Donald E. Trahan
Beaumont, Texas
July 29, 1999
 
 

        During recent years, extensive efforts have been made to trace the roots of the Trahan family in Europe in the years preceding the voyage of Guillaume Trahan to America in 1636 (Massignon, 1969, Trahan, 1979). Additionally, the genealogy of the descendants of Guillaume Trahan has been researched and recorded in a large database maintained by Michael E. Conover (Conover, 2000). The number of documented descendants now exceeds 86,000, and the number is growing. Even so, records of our family in Europe remain sparse, with no clear documentation of our family prior to 1600.

        The earliest records of the Trahan family in Europe are those of Nicolas (Nicholas) Trahan who was born circa 1570 in Montreuil-Bellay, Maine et Loire, France. Nicolas married Renee Desloges circa 1590 in Montreuil-Bellay. Nicholas and Renee eventually had six children of whom we have record: Guillaume, Anne, Francois, Renee, Lucretia, and Nicolas. Perhaps our oldest legal document pertaining to the family is the baptismal record of their daughter Anne Trahan. Her baptism is recorded on February 4, 1605 in the parish records of Montreuil-Bellay. Over the next 30 years, numerous references to the family can be found in various church and civil records. In 1632, the signatures of Guillaume Trahan, may be found in the recordings of several marriages, including that of his brother, Francois Trahan to Renee Pinsonneau on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost in the parish of St. Germain de Bourgueil. Their father, Nicolas was present, and their origin was listed as being the parish of St. Pierre. Early church records also contain the baptismal acts of Renee Trahan, baptized February 28, 1612, and Lucrece (Lucretia), baptized November 14, 1614. Another son, Nicolas Trahan, who had married Lorande Belliard, had a daughter baptized here is 1633. Between 1624 and 1633, Anne Trahan, who married Pierre Mollay, had four children who were baptized in the area. Given the multiple references in local parish records to Nicolas Trahan and his wife Renee, as well as their children, over a period of 30-40 years, it is logical to conclude that the family had most likely been in the area for a generation or more. Unfortunately, searches for additional Trahan family have been unfruitful, except for records pertaining to Anthoyne Trahan who married Barbe Barault. Anthoyne and Barbe had three children baptized in the Montreuil-Bellay region between 1610 and 1616 (Massignon, 1969). While it is believed that Anthoyne probably was a brother to the older Nicolas Trahan, documentation proving this has not yet been found.

        Although references to Guillaume Trahan may be found in early 17th century records in the Montreuil-Bellay region, the date of his birth can only be estimated from available census records. The Acadian Census of 1671 listed Guillaume's age as being 60, which would place his year of birth in the 1610-11 time frame. However, no actual birth record has yet been found. Very little is known about Guillaume's childhood. We do know that as a young man he became interested in the metal trade. In Europe at that time, the traditional way of learning skills of this type was to serve as an apprentice to a master already skilled in the trade. Gaining mastery in a skilled occupation often took a number of years to accomplish. By the time that Guillaume was in his mid 20's he was already designated as a Master Craftsman. His trade was listed as "mareschal de trenchant" or toolsmith. His specialty was making cutlery.

        Around 1630 Guillaume and his brother moved from Montreuil-Bellay to the Bourgueil region of France. It was there that he met his first wife, Francoise Charbonneau (also spelled Corbineau). He and Francoise were married July 13, 1627 at St. Etienne de Chinon. Their daughter, Jeanne Trahan was born several years later (i.e., circa 1631) at St. Germain de Bourgueil. Jeanne was later to marry Jacob (Jacques) Bourgeois in 1643 at Port Royal, Acadia. Jacques is believed to be the patriarch of the Bourgeois family in America, thus making Jeanne Trahan the family matriarch. Guillaume and Francoise also had another daughter, although her name and other specific information are not presently known. Historians, however, have speculated that the unknown daughter may have been the mother of Jean Francois Broussard dit Beausoleil, the patriarch of the Broussard family in America.

        As a young man in Bourgueil, Guillaume managed to get himself into minor legal difficulties by cutting wood without permission from the forest of the Abbot of the Royal Abbey of St. Pierre of Bourgueil, Leonore d' Estampes. The sentence was handed down by the precentorship of Chinon in 1634. Guillaume was among several residents charged and fined. Guillaume himself was fined 20 livres and ordered to pay an additional 70 livres for the value of the timber he cut while clearing two arpents of land for his house. Some historians have speculated that Guillaume's legal problems may have played some role in his decision to leave France and sail for Acadia two years later. The answer to this question may never be known with certainly. However, Guillaume and his young family were still in the Bourgueil area the year following the judgment against him (Massignon, 1969). Furthermore, of all the defendants charged, Guillaume alone elected to leave France and sail for the new world.

        Another issue to consider is that Guillaume's move to Bourgueil in 1630 brought about other changes in his life. Perhaps the most notable is that he moved to an area that was the home of the Razilly family. Izaac Razilly was one of France's leading naval commanders. When the decision was made by French leaders to colonize Acadia, Razilly was chosen as the leader. When Commander Razilly was making preparations for the journey to Acadia in 1636, it was only natural that he recruited skilled laborers and colonists from his home area. Thus, Guillaume's skills as a Master Craftsman in the area of metals may have filled a vital role in Razilly's plans for building a colony in Acadia. Whatever the reasons may have been, Guillaume, his wife, and two daughters sailed from France on the St. Jehan on April 1, 1636 to seek freedom and opportunity in the new world. The passengers they sailed with included the first full families to settle in Acadia. Their fellow passengers, Pierre Martin and his wife, gave birth to the first French child born on Acadian soil, Mathieu Martin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Copyright 1999 by Donald E. Trahan