Histories

"Assigned 39 families of 165 members. Three families (#37, #38, #39) failed to report at departure. Captain Pelletier made the voyage in 81 days. The voyage was a success in its freedom from storms, and from epidemics and sickness of any kind, and the first expedition of 36 Acadian families, comprising 156 persons, arrived in a healthy condition. Only one death, that of a child. [...] These people remained about a month recuperating in New Orleans. The expedition picked up 12 new members, 3 thru births, 9 thru new adherents (among which were Michel Leger, Simon Babin). It lost 12 members, 10 thru death and 3 thru desertions. Of 38 families now forming the expedition of 'Le Bon Papa,' 37 voted to settle in Manchac (area around St. Gabriel) on the banks of the Mississippi, and 1 family chose La Fourche (area of Plattenville south of Donaldsonville)." (Oscar Winzerling, "Acadian Odyssey," quoted in Donald J. Hebert, "Acadian Families in Exile," p. 11)