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History - Poboncou
(Pubnico)
The deportation in this area occurred later and was a less concerted
effort than those in the other Acadian centres of Nova Scotia. It would
seem that Lawrence either considered this region of less importance or
was not aware of the significant Acadian population there. The expulsion
did not occur here in 1755 but as a series of operations in 1756, 1758,
and 1759.
In 1756, Lawrence arranged for the first deportation in the Cape Sable
region. There was a contingent of soldiers in Halifax who had been brought
up from New England to help with the 1755 deportation efforts. These soldiers
were finishing their contract and were ready to return home. Lawrence
made arrangements with this group, under the command of Major Prebble,
to stop, on their return to Boston, at Cape Sable and arrest the Acadian
population there, confiscate their property, and destroy their dwellings.
On April 21, they arrived at Port laTour. 167 soldiers disembarked and
surprised the Acadians in their beds. They burned 44 buildings and captured
72 prisoners who were taken to Boston. The Governor of Massachusetts at
the time, William Shirley, had already accepted many Acadian exiles and
initially refused to let them stay. As a result, these Acadians were to
be sent to North Carolina. After a delayed departure from Boston and under
protest by the Acadians who wished to remain in Massachusetts, Shirley
allowed them to stay.
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