Destruction Beaubassin

beaubassin/ fort beausejour cathedral bell

beaubassin located @ site of strategic military importance. peace , prosperity of beaubassin ended rivalry between britain , france control of canada in mid 1700s. acadia comprised of maritimes, parts of québec, , northern maine. 1713 treaty of utrecht, part of acadia today known peninsular nova scotia became british colony on eastern seaboard. area known new brunswick remained under french control, did now known prince edward island (then known Île saint-jean) , cape breton island (then known as Île royale).

due disagreements in interpretation of treaty provisions delineating acadia s boundaries, ownership of new brunswick disputed. informal dividing line established on isthmus of chignecto @ missiguash river, near site of beaubassin.

in may 1750, british dispatched major charles lawrence, along 800 troops, seize control of isthmus of chignecto , construct fort near french post of point beauséjour, future site of fort beauséjour.

as british arrived, french , allies burned town prevent use enemy. forty-five buildings burned. acadian population abandoned village , sought refuge on other side of missaguash river on point beauséjour. major lawrence , troops later built fort lawrence near site. bell saved notre dame d assumption church , put cathedral @ fort beauséjour.