Reference H19
Guillaume Petitpas

The first bulletin of "Le Foyer paroissial" was published on January 1, 1924. Émile SASCO was a renowned man. He did much to gather, preserve and establish the local archives in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. He died on August 19, 1944, his biography is a preface to the 1970 reissue of his work publication titled “Un peu de notre Histoire”. L’Arche Musée et Archives de la Collectivité Territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon has that collection of Émile SASCO online. The following are two excerpts from it. They are about Guillaume Petitpas who fled to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon after the 1763 Treaty of Paris:

Foyer paroissial, N° 22 : octobre 1925, pages 170-171.
Excerpt (pdf page 28):
Quel fut le sort de ces familles à la capitulation de Louisbourg ? Il est probable que les vieux, très avancés en âge, étaient morts ; mais que devinrent leurs enfants ? Comme des milliers de leurs compatriotes, furent-ils conduits en France ou en Angleterre ? C’est possible ; cependant il peut fort bien se faire qu’ils réussirent à gagner l’île St-Jean (Île du Prince Édouard) en attendant une nouvelle exode provoquée par les Anglais.

Quoi qu’il en soit de la triste odyssée de ces malheureux, nous ne retrouvons, en 1766, à Miquelon, que trois garçons de Jean Coste : François Pierre et Jean ; un des garçons de la veuve Petitpas, Guillaume, alors âgé de 29 ans et François Boy, 31 ans, avec sa femme Françoise Desaleur.

Above translated freely: What was the fate of these families at the capitulation of Louisbourg? It’s likely that the old, very advanced in age, were dead; but what became of their children? Like thousands of their compatriots, were they taken to France or England? It's possible, however, it may well be that they succeeded in reaching l’île St-Jean (Prince Edward Island) while awaiting a new exodus provoked by the English.

Whatever the sad odyssey of these unfortunates, we do find, in 1766, in Miquelon, only three boys of Jean Coste: François Pierre and Jean; one of Widow Petitpas' boys, Guillaume, then 29, and François Boy, 31, with his wife Françoise Desaleur.

Foyer paroissial, N° 27 : mars-avril 1926, pages 51-52.
Excerpt (pdf page 35):
Quelle fut l’odyssée de ces famille lorsque les Anglais, chassant, pourchassant les malheureux colons, eurent fait de l'île du Cap Breton et de l’île Saint-Jean une deuxième et une troisième Acadie ? Dieu le sait ! Disons seulement qu’en 1764, un seul Petitpas, Guillaume, l’un des fils de Barthélemy, arriva à Miquelon avec sa femme, née Marguerite Saux, du petit Degras. La première naissance est enregistrée l’année suivante, celle de Magdeleine ; puis suivent : Jean-Baptiste, en 1768, marié en 1791 ou 1792 avec Marie Vigneau ; François, en 1770 et Paul en 1772.

Survient la guerre de l’Indépendance. Nous sommes dépossédés encore une fois de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. La population est embarquée pour la France ; et Guillaume Petitpas et sa famille sont dirigés sur La Rochelle où vient au monde le cinquième enfant, Pierre en 1783. En 1785, les Petitpas étant de retour à Miquelon, le sixième enfant arrive qui reçoit le nom de Louis.

Above translated freely: What was the odyssey of these families when the English, hunting, chasing the unhappy settlers would have made Cape Breton Island and l’île St-Jean a second and a third Acadia? God knows that! Let’s just say that in 1764, only one Petitpas, Guillaume, one of Barthélemy’s sons, arrived in Miquelon with his wife, née Marguerite Saux, of Petit Degras. The first birth is registered the following year, that of Magdeleine; then followed: Jean-Baptiste, in 1768, married in 1791 or 1792 to Marie Vigneau; François in 1770 and Paul in 1772.

The War of Independence comes. We are again dispossessed of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. The population is on board to France; and Guillaume Petitpas and his family are headed to La Rochelle where the fifth child, Pierre is born in 1783. In 1785, the Petitpas being back in Miquelon, the sixth child arrives who receives the name of Louis.

During this research, not much was uncovered or found of the fate of Guillaume Petitpas' brothers and sisters. The seven year war ended with the signing of the 1763 Treaty of Paris. That time and events were a big factor regarding their whereabouts and well being. In 1763 Madeleine Petitpas would have been about 46 years old, Joseph Petitpas 40, Jean Petitpas 35, Pierre Petitpas 32, Claude Petitpas 29, Pelagie Petitpas 25 and Paul Petitpas 23.

However, there is valid information about Guillaume Petitpas' younger brother Paul Petitpas. It appears that at a young age he was captured and exiled by the British. The 1752 voyage by Sr De La Roque involved a census of the colony of Île Royale (now – Cape Breton Island). Only one person named Paul Petitpas age 12 was recorded. He was Guillaume Petitpas' younger brother.

The Acadian-Cajun Genealogy & History website by Tim Hebert has a Paul Petit Pas (Petitpas) (top center column – third name from bottom) listed on his exile to bristol web page^H20.

Tim Hebert's research source was from the Monsieur de La Rochette papers. His above information about Paul Petitpas probably can be found at LAC from microfilm - web page Acadian - Monsieur de La Rochette, 1755-1787, (MG 18 F14, vol. 1 p. 388-429 and vol. 2, p. 427-429) Lists of Acadians and prisoners of war.

Also, the census of 1752 by Sr De La Roque shows only one person named Pierre Petitpas age 21. He was the older brother of Guillaume and Paul Petitpas. The Archives register view 344^H18c from the Royal Hospital of Rochefort France tells us that a sailor from Île Royale Pierre Petitpas died on August 17, 1758:

Les Nommés Petitpas
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