In 1984, as part of the preparation for the 1985 reunion, my son Steve
and I planned a trip to the Annapolis Valley to find the location of Girouard
Village. We followed the river southward bound where we thought both François
Girouard's sons, Alexandre and Jacques had settled. The excellent 1733
map based on Mitchell's survey, with corrections from other maps of 1753,
which I obtained at the National Archives in Ottawa, made it easy for us
to locate the area originally known as Girouard Village in 1733. This location
was also written down as Girroir Village on another early map of this period.
Later, referring to La Ferme Marsh, (a name given during the 1700's of
the Girouardville Farm), I was able to obtain original documents from the
Western Region land Information Center in Lawrencetown. With a GPS compass
I was able to follow accurate coordinates for what appeared to be most
of the Girouard foundations shown on the 1733 Mitchell map. These documents
registered in 1784 the selling of this farmland, forty-eight rods in width,
by William and Lydia Lawrence to Joseph Rice and ancestor's of Marion Inglis.
Marion Inglis' Farm
Since this visit in 1984, I have learned much more about Girouard Village
through the help of Marion Inglis who is the present owner. This land has
been in their family since 200 years. Mrs Inglis is also chairperson of
the Tupperville School Museum. Her committee consists of very active and
knowledgeable citizens pertaining to the history and heritage of her community
and the Acadian Girouard known as first pioneers of her community. Girouard
Village is the area known on today's maps as Tupperville south of the Annapolis
River in front of Belleisle.
Novacadie
I was introduced to Marion Inglis by Richard Laurin, former Tour Guide
for Parks Canada at Grand-Pré. Richard presently owns and operates Novacadie,
a tours guide company at Port Royal and other locations in Nova Scotia
and New-Brunswick then called Acadia. These tours are specially designed
for Acadian families who wish to know more about their routes and roots
and the original locations of their first ancestors, then called Acadia.
Archaeological works
A certain Jonathan Fowler, an archaeologist in NS has devoted a great deal
of time researching Acadian sites in NS is very interested in the Girouard
Village site and has indicate to me that he would like to proceed with
some initial exploration of the sights this spring. Just across the river
from the Girouard Village, Belleisle is the site of the first Archaeological
digs under the direction of the NS Museum. An exciting find for the Girouard
and more to come!
