When Hilarion Thériault, aged 71, sensed his time was near, he made the unusual decision to draft a will, a practice not common among Acadians in the 19th century. This was largely due to the fact that many Acadians had little property to pass on, having lost their land and homes during the Acadian deportation. Moreover, Roman Catholics in the region were not permitted to own property until the 1780s, leading to struggles in acquiring land titles even for those who worked and lived on the land.
Thériault, however, was determined not to depart unprepared, as stated in his will. Colby Gaudet, a post-doctoral fellow at Dalhousie University, delved into Thériault’s will and 23 others from the tight-knit Acadian community of Clare, N.S., to explore how certain families managed the legal and religious aspects associated with death and grief.
According to Gaudet, the act of drafting wills by Acadians was both a form of resistance and conformity, combining existing Anglophone property norms with a clear affirmation of Roman Catholic beliefs. Thériault’s will emphasized the settlement of debts, seeking reparations for any injustices, and aiming to bring peace to his family.
Maurice Basque, a historian at l’Institut d’études acadiennes at the Université de Moncton, highlighted the social marginalization of Acadians during the period these wills were written. The Acadian population faced great adversity following the deportation order issued by Lt.-Gov. Charles Lawrence in 1755, leading to the loss of their lands, which were subsequently distributed to settlers from New England in a concerted effort to replace the Acadian community.
Despite some Acadians returning in later years, they encountered significant obstacles, including oath tests that impeded their access to positions of power. Gaudet noted that all county judges overseeing wills in the area were Anglo-Protestant, creating a language barrier for Acadians unfamiliar with the language in which they were required to draft their wills.
The wills examined by Gaudet primarily belonged to community leaders like Thériault, who played pivotal roles in their parish. The strong influence of the church and Catholicism in their lives was evident in their wills, reflecting their commitment to their faith even in the face of societal disapproval.
Gaudet’s research also shed light on the interactions between Black individuals and Acadians. Notably, the will of Amable Doucet, who bequeathed a Black slave named Jerome to his wife, revealed the complex social dynamics of the time. Another will mentioned Étienne Thibodeau selecting neighbors, including a Black man from New York who had previously been an indentured servant and was now a free member of the community.
