News and Reflections: Captain Roderick MacKenzie's observation of "half-breed Acadian Indians" in November of 1761 -- February 16, 2023

In the "Papiers Amherst (1760-1763) Concernant les Acadians" (Brun, 1970), we may read first-hand accounts about how Captain Roderick MacKenzie, as part of a British military operation, arrested "upwards of seven hundred" French Acadian Families from around the Bay of Chaleurs -- including Nepisiguit, Caraquet, and Shippagan, and other harbours where Acadians had lived.

Brun, R.S. (1970, April, May, June). "Papiers Amherst (1760-1763) Concernant les Acadians." La Societe Historique Acadienne. Cahier 27. Vol. III. No. 7. p. 306

Significant to Acadian history and genealogy research is Roderick MacKenzie's report, “List of Acadian Families lately brought in to Fort Cumberland,” 8 November, 1761, in the Amherst Papers, pp. 308-309" and his "List of Acadians inhabiting from Gaspay to Bay Berte not surrendered at Fort Cumberland," 8 November, 1761.

In his letter to his superiors, MacKenzie candidly notes that the lists he provided are "exclusive of the half breed Acadian Indians, whom I don't know which side to class with, and have therefore left alone."

Link to: Brun, R.S. (1970, April, May, June). "Papiers Amherst (1760-1763) Concernant les Acadians."  La Societe Historique Acadienne. Cahier 27. Vol. III. No. 7. p. 306 https://societehistoriqueacadienne.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/cahier27.pdf

Link to: LeBlanc, R.G. (2018). "The Acadian Refugee Camp on the Miramichi, 1756-1761." https://www.acadiens-metis-souriquois.ca/aams-blog/news-and-reflections-the-acadian-refugee-camp-on-the-miramichi-1756-1761-march-30-2018