The Godin Family In Canada

The following is transcribed by me from a typewritten history on paper written originally in French by the late Bishop Edgar Godin, handed down from my mother, Rose Marie Godin (maiden name) as it was handed down to her.

THE GODIN FAMILY IN CANADA

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Pierre Godin born at Chantillon-sur Seine, Champaige France, in 1631, was the son of Claude Godin. He married Jeanne Rousellere, daughter of Louis Rousellere and Isabelle Pane de Maeze, Mar. 25, 1653. Pierre signed a contract with Mons. DE Maisonneuve to come to Montreal with four other carpenters to do some building. DeMaisonneuve was the Gov. of Montreal. They left France June 20, 1653 and arrived in Montreal Nov. 16, 1653. Chantillon is now called Cote D'or au Canton de Mirabou.

Pierre's son Gabriel was born in Hotel Dieu Hospital in Montreal. He was Baptised in Hotel Dieu Chapel July 16, 1661. Gabriel married Angelique Andree Janner,
daughter of Robert Janner and Francoise Savard. A civil marriage was celebrated
July 19, 1690 and a religious marriage July 24, 1690.

Joseph de Villbon was made commander of Acadia, French territory in New Brunswick
Apr. 7, 1691. De Villbon had erected a fort at the junction of the Nashawaak river
as a point of resistance against the English. Gabriel was invited by Commander
de villbon to establish himself at the St. John River. In 1676 Gabriel had gone to
live on Port Royal and was well acquainted with the St. John River area. Gabriel
was made officer of French ships in Canada.

Gabriel was given a large parcel of land on which the city of Fredericton is
practically wholly built. Gabriel raised a large family. Eight sons were born.
They grew up, married and made their homes at the St. John River. Gabriel was called Sieur de Bellfontaine. The sons adopted one or two surnames, Charles Godin
Bellefontaine-Boisjolie; Jaques Phillipe Godin Bellefontaine-Bellefeuille; Jean-Rene Godin Bellefontaine-Valcour and so on. Fortunately none of the descendants retained the names.

Gabriel was grandfather to Jean-Baptiste but none of the documents at this
date can certify which son was his father. Geneologists who have researched the
family have concluded with professor Saindon, historian of Cocouna Que., that Jean-Baptiste was the son of Charles Godin. However since no documents were found to certify that decision, most geneologists have come to agree with the hypothesis of Father Adrian Bergeron, that Jean-Baptiste was the son of Jean-Rene Godin-Valcour.

During his life time Jean-Baptiste was a victim of the conflicts between France
and England, sometimes being a French citizen and other times a British subject.
The jurists were never sure of the status of the Acadians living at the St. John
River, the site of the ancient village of St. Anne. At times New Brunswick lying
between Nova Scotia and Quebec was often thought of as "no man's land".

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The news of the exile of the Acadians from Grande Pre was alarming for the
Acadians of the St. John River. Jean-Baptiste and his neighbors as well as the
other citizens of the St. John River, lived in a state of uncertainty and appre-
hension. In 1754(?) the lieut. Gov. of Nova Scotia, and Charles Lawrence had
agreed that the Acadian citizens of the St. John River should be banished.
This left the Acadians in a state of insecurity.

In 1758 Jean-Baptiste learned that the village of Grimrose, the actual site of Gagetown, had been pillaged. In 1759 Moses Haden pillaged and burned the village of Ste Anne. Jean-Baptiste saw the chapel burned and destroyed, his cousin
Joseph Godin, a military major, with his wife and son taken prisoners. The
massacre of his cousin's wife, Anastasie, also the wife of Eustace Pare. There is
no record of where Jean-Baptiste lived for a few years following this attack.

In Cocouna, Jean-Baptiste was living about 5 kil. east of la Riviere du Loup,
near the St. Lawrence River. The date of his arrival is not known but in 1764 a
daughter, Rosalie, was baptised in the parish of St. Louis in Kamouraska Que.
Cocouna was in the parish of St. Louis. Aug. 15, 1765, Jean Baptiste was given
a grant to the land which he had been occupying in Cocouna. In a declaration
which he had made to the Studholme Commission in 1783 Jean-Baptiste declared
that he had served in the Canadian army under the French. The army was composed
of regulars and reserves. Men between 16 and 60 were obliged to serve but could
remain in their home village. Thus Jean-Baptiste could have been in Cocouna before
1765.

Cocouna was an ancient Indian Reserve as was Ste. Anne Village on the St. John
River. No doubt Indians from St. Anne were acquainted with the Indians on the
reservation in Cocouna and travelled there after the destruction of
Ste. Anne. Many Acadians from the St. John River went to Cocouna and were the
founders of the parish of St. Louis, especially Michel Saindon, a lawyer, Louis and Pierre Saindon, Joseph Bergeron, Jean and Ambroise Godin sons of Jean-Rene
Godin and Jean-Baptiste Godin. The close association of Jean-Baptiste to sons of Jean-Rene, further strengthens the belief that Jean-Baptiste was a son of Jean-Rene.

After the British had taken Quebec and Montreal in 1760, Canada was under
British rule. In order to obtain his legal rights Jean-Baptiste had to sign
allegiance to King George III of England. He was then considered a loyal citizen
and was elected under-Bailiff in the territory of Riviere du Loup. The duty of
the bailiff was to assist the jurist in political matters.

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After an absence of several years Jean-Baptiste and neighbors longed to return
to the place of their birth, Ste. Anne at the St. John River. In a contract
signed by Michel Saindon, Jean-Baptiste sold his property to Pierre Saindon,
a son of Michel Saindon. This contract was signed in 1779. The property was on lot 60, the selling price 1200 Francs, for the lot, 500 Francs for house and barn. The buyer paid 350 francs down, 348 francs during the summer, the final payment being
made Aug. 5, 1799.

The distance Cocouna from Fredericton was 350 kil. through forests, lakes and
rivers. The departure for St. John River was not hurried. Preparations had to be made for family, furniture and personal belongings, the wife Angelique and children Jean Baptiste jr., Michel, Josephte, Louis and Marie-Anne. The journey could take between 10 to 15 days. The preparations were complete and the Godin Caravan travelled the old road which ran along the lake, approximately 8 kil. west of Rivierre du Loups, which led to the St. John River. Sons Alexandre and Francois also joined the family.

Marie Anne was destined to be chosen to participate personally in a memorable event, the first Holy Mass celebrated in Petit Rocher. Marie Anne was married to Joseph Ardeneau June 24, 1798. They established their home at S. Petit Rocher. They had the honor of accommodating Msgr Plessis, archbishop of Quebec who was making a pastoral visit to the Chaleur Bay territory. The first mass in Petit Rocher was celebrated in the home of Marie-Anne and Joseph. Mgr. de St. Vallier also visited the Bay Chaleur and in his memoirs wrote "He who gives his home for the celebration of the divine mysteries is esteemed happy and honored". Joseph Arsoneau and Marie-Anne also shared their frugal menue with the Bishop and all who attended Holy Mass, also supplying the ship in which the Bishop travelled. The Arseneau home was on lot 34, which bordered on the S. shore of the Madisco River. Lot 34 is part of a grant to Joseph Arseneau dated June 3, 1812. Part of this land is now owned by Les Prere du Sacre Cosur. (sp?) The erection of a monument to commemorate this event is being deliberated.

With the arrival of the loyalists, which occured after the American colonists won their freedom from the English, many changes were made in the St. John River settlement. Ste Anne Village was now named Fredericton and under British rule emanating from Halifax Nova Scotia which was at that time the seat of government since the Treaty of Paris, in 1763. New Brunswick and ancient Acadia were integrated with Nova Scotia. The St. John River Territory was named County of Sunbury in 1765 and the Acadians returning from Cocouna Que. and elsewhere were then in British territory and became British citizens.

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The rules of colonization were made by heads of government in Halifax. The St John River society was founded in 1765 with plans to colonize the St John River. The society obtained five townships which comprised most of the west coast of the St. John River as far as Mataquac and the east coast of Grand lake Nashwaaksis. The St. John River society as stipulated by the government in Halifax, ruled that only protestant requests for grants of land would be considered, language did not matter. Beamsley Glasier wrote that French colonists who pledged allegiance to the King of England could obtain Grants, but Jean-Baptiste being a catholic could not be granted land in the territory of the ancient village of Ste. Anne. Jean-Baptiste decided that since he had squatted in Cocouna he could do the same in the St. John River area.

After the Treaty of Paris, several families who returned from Cocouna and elsewhere established themselves on the east coast of the St. John River between the Keswick and Nashawaaksis rivers. Jean-Baptiste was one of the last arrivals and established himself at the extreme south of this colony. After choosing his land Jean-Baptiste was busy building a home and improving the land. The Studholme report of 1783 states that Jean-Baptiste Godin had made considerable improvements on the land which he occupied.

The Loyalists, having remained loyal to the King of England, were welcomed by the government in Halifax, on their return from the American Colonies. They went to live in Novia Scotia and New Brunswick and many were given grants in the St John River territory. There were many problems. It was decided to make New Brunswick an autonomous province. This was officially proclaimed at St. John Nov. 22, 1784. Two days later on Nov. 24, the legislative council recognised Jean-Baptiste's request for a grant to the land which he was occupying and had made his home. The council advised that his request would be studied. After a wait of 14 months the request was granted. The long wait was not surprising as there were as many as 1697 requests for grants at this time. The grant consisted of 200 acres and was one of the first grants given by the Province of New Brunswick. The date of the grant is Jan 13, 1786.

Jean-Baptiste accepted the grant with mixed feelings of apprehension and satisfaction. The Loyalists were coming to New Brunswick to live, happy that it was under English rule. They had left the American colonies because they were loyal to England and and wanted to remain British citizens. Their coming was a source of worry to the Acadians of the St John River territory. They were fearful of being dispersed again. Their fears were realized. The Loyalists were given land on the St. John River's west coast regardless of the fact that this land was occupied by Acadians.

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The families settled between the Keswick and Nashawaaksis rivers were very concerned. Was it possible that they would again be dispersed also? Could they resist the assimilation of protestant settlers, would they again have to leave their homes and travel to unknown regions? There was much consternation among the Acadians. Finally the Acadian families decided to leave, but where should they go for safe refuge? The question was where could they establish a permanent home for their families. Some went to Memremcooke others to Madawaska and Mirimachi Bay and Chaleur Bay. Many requested land grants before leaving the St. John river, but Jean Baptiste's name does not appear on the list of requests. It seems that Jean Baptiste liked to choose a location to his liking before applying for a grant. It seems that the land at the St. John river had been chosen with great care. The land chosen was a gentle sloping terrain from about 12 mtrs. down to the shore of the St. John river. The site of the house was on the hill and lush pasture was along the river below. Not far from shore there was Bear Island which Jean-Baptiste, although not given a grant to the island, nevertheless had all privileges for its use granted to him. The island was covered with magnificent elm trees and green pastures. Son Alexandre and the Pinots settled on the island. Fishing was abundant especially salmon. The foundation of a barn built by Jean Baptiste was still seen as late as 1977.

The barn was built on a stone and mortar foundation. The walls were built to conform to the level of the land. A cellar was built under the barn floor, 10 meters long, 10 meters wide and 2 meters high. The barn was built on the river bank with a door on the river side. The stone walls testify to the ability and ingeniousness of the Acadian and French style of fabrication. The French cellar so named by the Clements family, who purchased the property from Jean-Baptiste before he left the St. John river territory for the second time. The date of the sale to Capt. Clements, a Loyalist, was May 9, 1786. Although Jean-Baptiste did not have a grant to Bear Island he had occupation rights which he had shared with neighbors the Pinots and Leblancs and son Alexandre. These rights he transferred to Peter Clements with the sale of his property. The selling price was 62,10,0 English pounds. The farm consisted of 60 acres, a house and barn. There has always been a member of the Clements family living on the estate. The last inheritant is Stella Stickle (born) Clements. The French cellar is about 100 meters from her home.

The Thereaults and Pinots having requested land grants before leaving the St. John river were given permission to establish their home at Caraquet N.B. July 7, 1786. After arriving in Caraquet, Jean-Baptiste lost no time in applying for a grant to the land he had selected. After the long journey to Caraquet along rivers lakes and portage roads they longed to establish a permanent home.

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They chose land in Upper Caraquet, built a home and applied for land grants for Jean-Baptiste and sons Alexandre and Francois, although son Jean-Baptiste Jr. was not mentioned in the land request, he was granted lot no. 1 and lot no. 2 for Jean Baptiste Sr. dated April 25, 1787. Jean Baptiste was also given by the executive council of New Brunswick grant to lot 14, jointly with his sons Alexandre, Jean-Baptiste Jr. and Francois. These lots fronted on Caraquet Bay in the parish of Bertrand. Two years after his arrival in Caraquet Jean-Baptiste was involved in litigation pertaining to fishing rights. Salmon used to come up the stream and fish were plentiful and added to food for winter. This came to an end in 1787 when two men barred the river and no more salmon came upstream. Jean-Baptiste sent a request to the government asking that their fishing rights be protected. It is not known what the outcome was. They were told that fishing rights were regulated by the executive council. Jean-Baptiste and neighbors also asked that the access to the channel be kept open. They wanted to protect their riparian rights. Their lands bordered on Caraquet Bay.

Jean-Baptiste lived 23 years in upper Caraquet. Not much is known of his activities during these years, but his neighbors seemed to have a special respect for him. According to Parish registers between the years 1786 to 1795 in the absence of missionaries Jean-Baptiste conditionally baptized 10 children.

On November 11, 1809, the remains of Jean-Baptiste Godin, widower of Angelique Bergeron were interred in the small cemetery of St. Anne de Boucage, a small ancient cemetery in the parish of Saint Pierre aux Liens, Caraquet, New Brunswick. The celebrant was Urban Orfroy from Angiers France. While the funeral cortege approached the cemetery the church bell tolled. It was the first church bell in the whole region of northern New Brunswick. Since the blessing of the bell July 1792, by Father Bourge for the first chapel in Caraquet, it had resounded the joys and sorrows of the parish. Listening to the bell the Pinots, Thereaults and Godins recalled with nostalgia the bell in the chapel of the Indian mission of St. Anne at the St. John river which had for a dozen years announced the arrival and departure of the missionaries. They had heard it for the last time in 1786 when they left their birth place and traveled to the Chaleur Bay seeking a place to raise their families in safety and security. Michel and Jean-Baptiste Jr. were sorrowful that their brothers Alexandre and Francois were not present. Alexandre had been dead for 10 years and Francois lived in Petit Rocher. No doubt communication in those days was not easy. This is the story of the Godins in Canada which I have translated from the French as written by Bishop Edgar Godin.

The End