Acadians Who Found Refuge in Louisiana, February 1764-early 1800s

ARCENEAUX

[AR-seh-no]

ACADIA

Pierre Arsonneau, Arseneau or Arsenault, a coastal pilot born perhaps in the hamlet of La Flamancherie, Saintonge, France, in September 1646, may have come to Acadia from La Rochelle aboard L'Oranger in 1671. He married Marguerite, daughter of Abraham Dugas, in c1675. They had two sons, both of whom created families of their own. After Marguerite died, Pierre remarried to Marie, daughter of Francois Guérin, in c1686. They had seven children, including five more sons who added substantially to the Arseneau clan. Pierre was a pioneer of the Acadian settlement at Chignecto, where all of his sons were born:

Oldest son Pierre, fils, by his first wife, born in c1676, married Marie-Anne, daughter of Jean Boudrot, probably at Chignecto in c1697. They had 10 children, including six sons who married into the Cormier, Breau, Hébert, Bourgeois, Boudrot, and Nuirat families. Their daughters married into the Daigre, Desroches, and Delaunay families. The family moved from Chignecto to Île St.-Jean, today's Prince Edward Island, in the early 1700s.

Abraham, born in c1678, married twice, first to Jeanne, daughter of Pierre Gaudet l'aîné, probably at Chignecto in c1701, and then to Marie-Thérèse, daughter of Emmanuel Mirande and widow of Pierre Caissie, in c1752. He fathered 18 children by his first wife, including five sons who married into the Hébert, Poirier, and Cyr families. His daughters married into the Chiasson, Poirier, Vigneau dit Maurice, Hébert dit Boudiche, Bourel, Dugas, Hébert dit Canadien, and Boudrot dit Miquetau families. They remained at Chignecto.

Charles, by his second wife, born in c1690, married Françoise, another daughter of Emmanuel Mirande, probably at Chignecto in c1712. They had 10 children, including six sons who married into the Poirier, Cyr, Gaudet, and Bugeaud families. Their daughters married into the Girouard, Poirier, Bernard, Derayer, and Vigneau dit Mauricefamilies. According to Acadian genealogist Bona Arsenault, one of Charles's sons, Vincent, was at Port-Toulouse on Île Royale, today's Cape Breton Island, in the early 1750s.

Jacques, born in c1692, married Marie, daughter of Michel Poirier, at Chignecto in c1720. They also moved from Chignecto to Île St.-Jean in the early 1700s.

François, born in c1694, married Marguerite, daughter of René Bernard, at Chignecto in c1719. They remained at Chignecto.

Claude dit Ambroise, born in c1699, married Marguerite dite Magitte, daughter of Martin Richard, probably at Chignecto in c1725. They moved from Chignecto to Île St.-Jean in the early 1700s.

Youngest son Abraham dit le Petit Abraham, born in c1702 married Marie-Josèphe, daughter of François Savoie, probably at Chignecto in c1731. They also moved from Chignecto to Île St.-Jean in the early 1700s.

In 1755, descendants of Pierre Arseneau could be found at Chignecto or on the Maritime islands of Île Royale and Île St.-Jean, especially the latter.

from http://www.acadiansingray.com/Appendices-ATLAL-ARCENEAUX.htm