Alexis Landry
Pioneer of Caraquet

Alexis Landry was the most important Acadian Patriarch in the history of Caraquet. Born in Grand-Pré, Acadia on August 25, 1721, he was the son of Jean Landry & Claire Leblanc, daughter of the Notary René Leblanc.

Alexis Landry married around 1744, Marie Thériault, daughter of Jean & Madeleine Bourg & widow of Jean-Baptiste Cormier. In marrying the widow Cormier, Alexis took possession of her property and settled in Beaubassin.

Statue of Alexis Landry in Caraquet

In May of 1750, the British tried to take possession of the Village of Beaubassin but failed thanks to a detachment of the French Canadians. Furthermore, l'abbé LeLoutre, Missionary of the Micmacs continued to encourage the resistence of the Acadians and tried to incite them to move to the French territories of Île Saint-Jean (P.E.I.) or the south-east section of today's southern New Brunswick. The Acadians were hesitant to abandon their home and land to follow the passionate but risky judgment of L'Abbé Le Loutre. The French authorities were certain that the British would try to take Beaubassin again. To foil this attempt, the Micmacs under the guidance of L'Abbé LeLoutre set fire to the Village of Beaubassin, forcing the Acadians to seek refuge in Fort Beauséjour or Île Saint-Jean.

Alexis Landry and his family had to relocate to the small Village d'Aulac near Fort Beauséjour. This is where we find them on the 1752 census. That year, his family includes 2 girls and five boys (3 stepsons named Cormier). Following the fall of Fort Beauséjour in 1755, Alexis follows the coast like many other Acadians. They were hiding as fugitives in the Miramichi area. Barely able to survive under difficult conditions during the winter of 1756-1757, around 600 Acadians starved to death in the region of Miramichi.

Fort Beauséjour
National Historic Site

In 1757, Alexis arrives in Caraquet with a few hundred Acadians. They would settle in Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage, but tranquility would not last too long. A surprise expedition by the British Army would take place in the Fall of 1761. The settlers of Caraquet were able to escape because the British ships were filled to capacity by the Acadians in Nipisiguit. Left under the surveillance of Indian Chief Pekemouche, the British told them to remain until their return in the Spring. Needless to say, the Acadians did not ask their permission to leave Caraquet and saught refuge in Bonaventure on the North shore of the Baie des Chaleurs, an area that wasn't under the jurisdiction of the Government of Nova Scotia.

Alexis Landry and his family
Acadian wax museum - Caraquet, N.B.

This is how we find Alexis Landry and his family on the 1765 census of Bonaventure. He would then settle on Ile Miscou near a river that would be later named 'le ruisseau Landry'.

By 1769, the war was over for six years and Alexis Landry obtained the signed consent of the Magistrate of Nipisiguit to retake possession of his land in Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage near Caraquet. The Landry family moved from Ile Miscou to Caraquet the Spring of that year.

During his time spent on the North Shore of the Baie des Chaleurs, Alexis Landry had made some important contacts there with some British Merchants. He began to trade with them for supplies and thus became an important Merchant in Caraquet. As a carpenter, he also became a Master shipbuilder.

Alexis Landry and Marie Thériault had nine children. When Alexis was almost 60, he was concerned about growing old and he gathered his family on May 21, 1780, to settle this matter. All his children and their spouses were present as well as his stepsons Jean & Joseph Cormier. They were in agreement that the inheritor or inheritors of Alexis' estate would be responsible for taking care of him and his wife until their death. At the same time, he donated the land on which the church, presbytery and cemetery were situated.

In 1795 a fire detroyed the small colony of Sainte-Anne-de-Bocage including the barns and saw mills of Alexis Landry and two of his sons. He wrote the Bishop to ask for help and for a priest to be sent to the community in this time of need.

Alexis Landry died in Caraquet on March 6, 1798 at the age of 77. We are linked to this amazing settler through his eldest son Anselme Landry.

(Thériault 266-269)

Anselme Landry was born in Beaubassin on March 11, 1746, son of Alexis Landry and Marie Thériault. He married around 1775, Marie Brideau daughter of Louis & Marie-Thérèse Thomas. This couple had fifteen children. Anselme was a fisherman who settled first in Caraquet then in Grande-Anse.

Anselme died on December 16, 1806 at the age of 60. A few years later, his family lost three sons in a drowning accident in Grande-Anse while fishing, they were caught in a storm which capsized their vessel on June 22, 1814.

"Salt Banker" Painting by Nelson Surette

We are linked to this family through their daughter Hélène Landry who was Adolphe Pitre's paternal great-great-grandmother.

(Thériault 266-269)