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Subject: [LASTLAND-L] More Acadian History
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 20:42:26 EST

Just about the time that the Acadian Exiles began to go to Louisiana, Nicholas
Chauvin de LaFreniere, Fils. Son of Nicholas Chauvin, a Courier du Bois, who
along whith his brothers settled in Louisiana and became wealthy palntation
owners.

Nicholas Chauvin, who added de LaFreniere to his name, had sent his son to be
educated in France and was appointed Attorney General of Louisiana by the king
of France.

Soon after he arrived in Louisiana and took over the post of Attorney general,
the Louisiana colony was ceded to Spain France, on November 3, 1762, by
Treaty of Fontainebleau. Partially for the purpose of compensating Spain for
her losses and for her aid to France in the French and Indian War and had lost
Havana and Manila.

So when the Acadians arrived in Louisiana, Louisianawas a Spanish colony, but
Spain had delayed in taking control of the colony, leaving Louisiana still in
control of the French authorities.

On March 5, 1766, Don Antonio Ulloa arrived in New Orleans with 90 men, 6
officers, 1 commissary and one contador to take possession of the colony for
Spain and serve as governor of Louisiana. He immediately began a survey of
the territory, starting at des Allemands, Pointe Coupee, Opelousas, Attakapas,
Natchitoces and the Acadian coast above des Allemands.

At the time of Ulloa, the census showed a total population of 5,556 whites,
5,940 slaves and 15,955 Indians capable of bearing arms. During the 30 years
of the Spanish period of Louisiana had a steady growth and one of the largest
groups to come and settle in Louisiana, during this period, were the Acadians.
Most of the Acadians, who were deported to the English colonies, finally left
the Colonies and settled in Louisiana with hopes of reunification of their
families, however, the Spanish authorities (Governor Ulloa) dispersed them
along the Mississippi in strategic sites to bolster the colonial defenses
against English encroachment, at St. Gabriel near Bayou Manchac and San Luis
de Natchez near present day Vidalia, Louisiana. This caused the Acadians to be
a little disgruntled.

Meanwhile Nicholas Chauvin de LaFreniere and some of the other rich merchants
and planters in New Orleans presented a petition to the French crown asking
that Louisiana remain French, or they be allowed to be Independent. In
otherwords, They wished to be "French or Free". This petition, was presented
by LaFreniere on October 28 or 29, 1768. Between 200 and 300 Acadians them
took up arms and joined in the march on the morning of October 29, 1768. And
on November 1, 1768 Lafreniere and his followers revolted against Ulloa,
setting his ship adrift down the Mississippi River.

The actions of Lafreniere and his followers angered the authorities in Spain
and on August 10, 1769, at 12:00 oclock General Alexandre O'Rielly arrived
with sufficient forces to take control of the colony. When Spanish control was
restored by Alexandre O'Reilly in August of 1769, the leaders of the revolt
were arrested, charged with sedition, tried and executed on October 25, 1769.

O'Reilly ordered a census of the Attakapas and a survey of the needs of the
colony on November 24, 1769. After hearing the grievances of the Acadians, he
allowed the Acadians in Natchez to migrate to Acadians settlements along the
Mississippi River. This move pleased the Acadians, and O'Reily gained the
respect and loyalty of the Acadians, who became loyal Spanish subjects for 40
years, when Louisiana was returned to France and immediately sold to the
United States.

Don landry

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