Hilarion Thériault, aged 71, made a significant decision to draft a will, an unusual practice among Acadians in the 19th century. This was mainly due to the scarcity of property among Acadians following the deportation era and restrictions on Roman Catholics from owning property until the 1780s. Despite these challenges, Thériault was determined not to leave this world unprepared.
Colby Gaudet, a post-doctoral fellow at Dalhousie University, delved into Thériault’s will and 23 others from the tight-knit Acadian community in Clare, N.S., to explore how families managed legal and religious protocols during times of mourning. Gaudet highlighted the blend of resistance and conformity in how Acadians navigated existing Anglophone property norms while asserting their Roman Catholic identity.
Thériault’s will emphasized the settlement of debts, seeking reparations for any injustices, and ensuring peace within the family. Maurice Basque, a historian at l’Institut d’études acadiennes at the Université de Moncton, noted the societal alienation faced by Acadians during the period of great social ostracism.
The expulsion of Acadians in 1755 led to the confiscation of their lands by the Crown, which aimed to replace the Acadian population with settlers from New England. Despite some Acadians eventually returning, they encountered obstacles such as oath tests that barred them from influential positions by challenging their core Catholic beliefs.
Gaudet uncovered a language barrier in the legal system as all county judges overseeing wills were Anglo-Protestant, making it challenging for Acadians to draft wills in a language they were not fluent in. The wills, all penned by Priest Jean-Mandé Sigogne, served as a crucial link between the Acadian families and the judicial system.
The wills studied by Gaudet, predominantly left by community leaders like Thériault, reflected a strong Catholic influence due to the integral role of the church in their lives. Despite societal pressures, these individuals upheld their Catholic identities in their wills, invoking Catholic details such as references to saints and the Virgin Mary.
Furthermore, the examination of the wills shed light on the dynamic between Black individuals and Acadians. Notably, Amable Doucet’s will, which passed a Black slave named Jerome to his wife, and Étienne Thibodeau’s will, which involved a Black man named Anselm Hatfield, revealed intricate relationships within the community.
Gaudet’s research underscores the rich historical tapestry of Acadian wills, offering insights into how these individuals navigated legal, religious, and societal challenges during a tumultuous period in Acadian history.