Michel Pitre
1704 Acadia – 13 December 1758 shipwreck
Michel Pitre was born about 1704 in Acadia, the 4th son of Jean Denis Pitre and Francoise Babin. He was one of seven sons born to the couple along with his five sisters. The family moved around somewhat as in 1708 they were at Cap Sable and in 1717 on Ile Royale.
Around 1727 Michel married Marie Madeleine Doiron, the eldest daughter of his father’s long-time friend Noel Doiron. They had four sons and three daughters.
By 1750, wary of the political climate, they sought refuge on Ile St. Jean. They were found there in the 1752 census at Pointe Prime, listed as Michel Pitre, ploughman, native of Acadia, aged 46 years. His wife was Marie Magdelaine Douaron, native of Acadia, aged 44 years. They had four sons and two (sic) daughters: Francois 19, Charles 17, Paul Michel 14, Simon 13, Theotiste 21, Marie Magdelaine 16, and Eufrosinne 8. They owned two oxen, one cow, and six pigs. Their land was given to them verbally by Monsieur de Bonnaventure. On it they had made a clearing for the sowing of ten bushels of wheat and eight bushels of oats for the coming spring.
By the time of the deportations in 1758, daughter Marie Madeleine had married Jean Baptiste Naquin and they had a son. All were deported to France. Michel and his wife perished in the shipwreck of the Duke William. No trace has been found of Theotiste, Charles, Paul Michel, Simon and Euphrosine, therefore it might be assumed they died on Ile St. Jean or also in the shipwreck.
Daughter Marie Madeleine survived the journey, but lost her son during the crossing and her husband died a month after their arrival. Her brother Francois died 10 years later at the hospital in Bordeaux.
Continuation of tree (4th child of Jean Denis Pitre/Francoise Babin); all known surname descendants:
3 Michel Pitre b: Abt. 1704 Cobequit, Acadia; d: Abt. 13 December 1758 in the shipwreck of Duke William on way to France
+Marie Madeleine Doiron b: 28 September 1707 Grand Pre, Acadia; m: Abt. 1727 Acadia [Noel/Marie Henry]; d: Abt. 13 December 1758 in the shipwreck of Duke William on way to France
4 Theotiste Pitre b: Abt. 1731 Acadia; d: Aft. 1752
4 Francois Pitre b: Abt. 1733 Acadia; d: 4 May 1768 Hospital, St. Andre, Bordeaux, France
4 Charles Pitre b: Abt. 1735 Acadia; d: Aft. 1752
4 Marie Madeleine Pitre b: Abt. 1736 Acadia; d: 12 March 1763 la Ville du Rochet, France
+Jean Baptiste Naquin b: Abt. 1729 Acadia; m: Abt. 1757 [Francois/Angelique Blanchard]; d: 25 February 1759 St. Malo, Bretagne, France
*2nd Husband of Marie Madeleine Pitre:
+Gregoire Maillet b: 6 December 1724 Port Royal, Acadia; m: 5 August 1760 Plouer, Cotes du Nord, France [Jacques/Madeleine Hebert]; d: Abt. 1808 Cheticamp, NS
4 Paul Michel Pitre b: Abt. 1738 Acadia; d: Aft. 1752
4 Simon Pitre b: Abt. 1739 Acadia; d: Aft. 1752
4 Euphrosine Pitre b: Abt. 1744 Acadia; d: Aft. 1752
The Sinking of the Duke William and of the Violet Taking the Acadians into Exile - An article by the late Rev. Clarence d'Entremont [website of Michele Doucette]
Back one generation to parents of Michel Pitre
Last updated: 13 August 2011.