Generation 4

François Comeau dit le jeune

François Comeau was born around 1750 probably in Chipoudy, the youngest son of Ambroise & Marguerite Cormier. Many events must have marked his childhood as he grew up through the most difficult period in Acadian History.

From the registers of the Parish of St-Joseph-de-Carleton on July 27th, 1778, we find his marriage to Marie Beaudry, daughter of François and Marie-Madeleine Boissel. Seven children were born of this couple in Carleton, Québec. François Comeau was a tenant farmer.

The following petition was signed in the name of François Comeau by his parish priest in Traquadièche (Carleton).

To his Excellency Governor Cox, The named François Commeau the younger, humbly request that his Excellency grant him land in the area known as 'La Nouvelle', where the same has done much labour, even closed in, and on which land he would already be established for a long time if the natives would have allowed him to do so. Of which the undermentioned begs his Excellency to take this under consideration. The undersigned certifies that the above named has declared only the truth to his Excellency JOSEPH MATH. BOURG, Priest, At Tracadièche, August 7, 1784

(Gallant)

Around 1797, after the death of his wife, François Comeau dit le jeune will live in Bathurst West where he was married a second time to Élisabeth/Isabelle Boudreau, daughter of Athanase & Félicité Orillon, and widow of Michel Frénette.

De ce deuxième marriage, cinq autres enfants seront nés. Le 14 février 1818, François Comeau dit le jeune bought from Alexis Frenette in Beresford, the southern half of lot 15, next to lot 14 left to the young Joseph Athanase Boudreau, his brother-in-law.

Frédéric Comeau, son of François Comeau le jeune & Élizabeth Boudreau will inherit the said lot.

(Robichaud 129)

Selon le Généalogiste, Père Placide Gaudet, François Comeau dit le jeune décédera à Pointe-aux-Pères en 1832.

François the elder or the younger

François was 12 years old at the time of the deportation of the Acadians. One day, during the autumn of 1755, he went, in the company of a young Bourg, to search for cows in the forest. When he returned that evening to his village, he was amazed to find that the English troops had captured the inhabitants and were preparing to deport them. He immediately began searching for his parents, was taken prisoner by the soldiers and was brought to an English warship. François Comeau was at the Battle of Quebec City in 1759 and was wounded. Two years later, he was about 18 years, having learned that his parents lived in Carleton (Tracadieche), he deserted the English navy and fled, with much difficulty to Carleton.

This story told by Father Camille, O.C.R. in his book À l'ombre du Petit Rocher is already known by many acadian genealogists. In fact, Father Patrice Gallant in his book 'Les registres de la Gaspésie' makes the following translated statement:

What can be made of this history of Francois Comeau? Father Camille concluded from the age mentioned at the death of Francois Comeau that he was born in 1743 and consequently was 12 years at the time of deportation....

...According to the census of Carleton, François Comeau was still a bachelor at that date at 27 years of age which makes him born around 1750 and he would not have been more than 5 years at the time of the deportation and 10 years in 1760; this was a little young to draft him into the English militia. It appears that there may have been confusion with his brother of the same name who was four years older.... François Comeau dit l'aîné or the elder.

(Gallant 83-85)

Whether it was the François dit l'aîné (the elder) or le jeune (the younger), if we believe this story, our ancestors Ambroise Comeau and Marguerite Cormier will have suffered the disappearance of their young son among many other miseries during this period of Acadian history.

Seven children were born of the first marriage of François Comeau dit le jeune to Marie Beaudry

1. Céleste Comeau, born in Carleton on July 20, 1779, baptized October 10 ; married Charles Pitre, son of Michel & Marie-Josephe Orillon, on April 4, 1796. This mariage is written in the registres of Caraquet. Céleste Comeau died August 12, 1811 at the age of 31 ans. Her tomb was blessed on April 18, 1812 in Bathurst.
2. Raphaël Comeau, born and baptized in Carleton on May 7, 1781. According to Placide Gaudet, he was a navigator.
3. Julienne Comeau, born and baptized in Carleton on March 2, 1783; married Isaac Frélat, son of Jacques dit Jean Frélat on January 23, 1808 in Carleton; deceased on November 2, 1835 in Petit-Rocher
4. Charles COMEAU, born and baptized in Carleton on June 18, 1785; married Marie-Osite BERNARD, daughter of Jean-Marie and Marie-Lutine Babin, on January 8, 1810 in Bonaventure; farmer, he established in Petit-Rocher.
5. Jean COMEAU, married Marguerite JOHNSON daughter of Michel & Geneviève Doiron.
6. Isaac Comeau, born in Carleton, January 5 and baptized on February 23, 1788; married Héloïse Frénet, daughter of Michel & Élisabeth Boudreau
7. Rosalie Comeau, born in Carleton on July 24 and baptized on August 7, 1790; married October 30th, 1809 Bénoni Frélat son of Jacques dit Jean and Catherine Savoie.

Six other children were born of the second marriage of François Comeau dit le jeune & Élisabeth Boudreau

Last update: September 22, 2000