by Bruce Murray
Benjamin embraced me and promised to make his annual visit to Annapolis at harvest time. We all had tears in our eyes as we left, even Jeanne.
As we set sail from Grand Pré, it was Jeanne who lamented, “I’m sincerely sorry to leave this place. There’s such a feeling of contentment and joy to be found in Benjamin’s world. He is an extraordinary young man. Everyone wishes to be the best they can be in his presence. I recognize the depth of feeling you share with one another. You speak in half sentences when you are together, so complete is your understanding. This place has clearly nurtured an extraordinary bond between you. It is a gift that God has granted you both. We should make this an annual visit.”
Jeanne’s appreciation of Benjamin pleased me immensely. It made me love her even more.
Chapter 15
There was a year overlap between Philipps’s arrival at Annapolis and Armstrong’s departure for England. We heard from Prudent Robichaud, who had been appointed to the council by Governor Philipps, that there was a battle royal going on at the fort between Major Cosby, Philipps’s brother-in-law, and Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong. They now held the same rank in the colony, and to add to their already existing antipathy, Cosby was designated president of the Governor’s Council. For once, the uproar was confined to the fort and its regiments. Acadians on either side of the river could do nothing but look on with amusement and relief that we were not involved in the controversy. Of course, Cosby was certainly our favourite.
Our friend Prudent Robichaud was also quick to describe an altercation between Mangeant and Major Cosby out in the public square. Cosby rebuked Mangeant in front of the regiment and the townspeople, and came close to striking him. Armstrong intervened and complained to the governor. Later, Governor Philipps confided in Robichaud, who was now president of the Acadian Council, that he had written to the Duke of Newcastle in England describing Mangeant as a man of very bad character, who had inappropriately been granted the power to advise the lieutenant-governor. He further wrote, with some vehemence, that Mangeant “would make an excellent Minister to an arbitrary Prince!” Armstrong and Mangeant did finally set sail for Britain, and an easiness descended upon the entire colony.
Governor Philipps began to set things right at Annapolis by recalling Father Breslay from the wilderness where he had been exiled to live with the Native peoples. Breslay was extremely popular with the Acadians on the upper and lower river. He was permitted to reopen the Chapelle St. Laurent, thus enabling the residents of Belle Isle, Paradise, and Gaudet Village to worship and receive the sacraments without travelling miles downriver to Annapolis.
One of his first duties was to officiate at the marriage of Jean to Jeanne’s sister Madeleine. They had finally overcome their reserve in order to commit themselves to a life together. Their union was a true love match. The father of the bride, Bernard Gaudet, rejoiced, describing the marriage as an act of divine intervention. His declaration was accompanied, of course, with his customary full-bodied laugh.
More good news came from Grand Pré in the winter of 1730. Alexandre Bourg, who was the husband of Uncle Pierre’s daughter Marguerite, was appointed attorney to His Majesty, responsible for Minas, Pisiquit, Cobequid, and Chignecto. These were all the regions situated on the Bay of Fundy and the Avon River. Alexandre was known for his intelligence, his sense of justice, and, most of all, his incorruptibility. This appointment made him responsible for overseeing and regulating land transfers, which meant seeing that no land was seized except where necessary and wills were properly probated.
As one could imagine, René and Benjamin were ecstatic with their family member Alexandre’s selection. Having one of their own working on their behalf was comforting for the French-speaking people living on the Fundy shores.
So much was Governor Philipps respected and trusted, he managed to persuade hundreds of Acadians to take the oath of allegiance within a year. There was never any discussion of the fact that the clause about taking up arms in times of war was missing. He nevertheless played up his success in his letters to Britain and New England, boasting that he had been able to accomplish what no other governor had been able to achieve with the king’s Acadian subjects.
Just as we were beginning to relax after two years of benevolent governance at Annapolis, the unexpected happened. From the fields and orchards of Melanson Village we observed a ship bearing the Union Jack sailing past Goat Island. At the time, we were unaware whom that ship was carrying. It was not long, however, before the unwelcome news spread to both sides of the river and beyond.
Armstrong and Mangeant returned to Annapolis in the summer of 1731, triumphant. The former had been able to convince the Board of Trade in London that Philipps was mismanaging the colony; the board consequently ordered the governor to return to London to answer for his misdeeds. In addition, Mangeant somehow had manoeuvred a royal pardon from the king of France while he was away, and his murder charges had been dismissed. The fates had, for the time being, ruled in their favour.
So began the next chapter of Armstrong’s arbitrary rule in Acadia. Once again we would be forced to return to our sidestepping existence under his governance. Little did I understand at the time that Armstrong’s return would usher in the beginning of the dark time in my life, a time that would continue to worsen until I, my family, and my community were almost devastated.
One of the first communities to be affected by the happenings at Annapolis was Grand Pré. Before too long, Alexandre Bourg was informed that his position as attorney was to be reduced to deputy, and his duties were to be confined to collecting rents. Shockingly, it was François Mangeant who replaced him. This news sent shivers through the people of Minas. They had lived in peace for a generation, free from the daily dictates of the governor and his council. Now Armstrong’s favourite was coming to live in their midst, forcing them to become a watched people.
Benjamin and René were visiting Annapolis on business when the lieutenant-governor sailed into Annapolis Basin. They had arrived early in July for the baptism of our second child, Jeanne, born in April. René’s properties in the lower town were now completed and were being rented to some of the English residents. Before they sailed back to Grand Pré in early August, all had been put into place. Mangeant would be arriving before summer’s end. It would be up to René to carry the discouraging news to Alexandre and the Acadians at Minas.
I warned Benjamin and his father, expressing my deep concern. “Having Mangeant live among you, without any restraints on his power, is a great calamity for the community of Grand Pré. Armstrong and the favourite share the same evil spirit and you will have a spy in your midst. Neither man has any scruples, but at least the governor must work within the law. Despite what the king of France says, Mangeant is a convicted murderer and an evil presence in the colony. His intelligence and ability to connive makes him doubly dangerous outside the control of his master, Armstrong.”
“Do you not believe he can be outwitted, Piau? Perhaps he is vain enough to be manipulated by flattery,” suggested René.
Benjamin pondered in silence.
“Benjamin, what are your thoughts on the matter?” asked his father.
There was a long pause. Benjamin then spoke. “There is little we can do about this situation. It is a fait accompli. We must brace ourselves for his arrival and make our neighbours aware of the truth about Monsieur Mangeant. Only knowledge of your enemy, and that is exactly how we should view him, can prevent him from destroying the existence we have treasured for over sixty years. Deference and compliance, if only feigned, are the only solution.”
Governor Philipps departed the colony, as he had been ordered to do by his superiors in London. Although he continued to bear the title of governor of Acadia for another eighteen years, he never again returned to Annapolis. His brother-in-law, Major Cosby, who held the title of lieutenant-governor alongside Armstrong, refused to serve under his adversary. He threatened to
leave Annapolis with his family and move to Boston, but somehow that transfer never occurred. Armstrong became acting governor and president of the council, relieving Cosby of his former position. Cosby continued to promote goodwill with the Acadians and never ceased to be a sharp thorn in the side of Armstrong.
Chapter 16
Mangeant! Mangeant! Mangeant! The sound of his name pierces my soul like a sword made from the finest steel. The mere remembrance of that vile name resurrects many dark and powerful emotions. He was the man who materialized out of the mist like some spectre destined to bring pestilence to the land and grief to its inhabitants. He must have been an agent of the Fallen Angel himself.
Much of what took place at Grand Pré after Mangeant’s arrival there was related to me by others — René, Alexandre, and, most distressingly, by Benjamin. I say most distressingly because from the time Mangeant settled at Minas, it was my cousin Benjamin he targeted. I can only imagine how Mangeant viewed Benjamin, a young man of twenty-two with every gift that God can bestow on a single human being, a man also possessed with exalted standing in the community. He lived in a grand house, with all the power and privilege it conveyed on him, as master of Uncle Pierre’s estate. The lofty position that Benjamin held was an affront to Mangeant, a challenge to his sense of entitlement and authority. And any challenge to the favourite’s authority at Grand Pré had to be corrected. Mangeant came to see Benjamin’s very existence as opposition, and over time he relentlessly set out to eliminate it.
Mangeant’s first visit to Grand Pré was merely a reconnaissance. He arrived with a coterie of the governor’s militiamen by sea and called upon Alexandre Bourg, the acting magistrate. He received no formal welcome in the community. This was his intention. He had chosen to arrive without any forewarning. Most interpreted this as his desire to intimidate the residents of the village. He succeeded in his own mind, but Benjamin had already prepared his neighbours in advance of Mangeant’s arrival. He had described the favourite in great detail, and the community had mapped out strategies for surviving his arbitrary behaviour when he came to dwell among them.
Alexandre, as acting magistrate, felt obliged to give Mangeant a tour of the greater Grand Pré community, describing its farms, orchards, and produce. The favourite was introduced to few of the inhabitants of these farms, for he showed little interest in those who worked the land. He was, however, decidedly interested in visiting the Manor House. Meeting its master was worthy of his future position as magistrate. Benjamin’s formal introduction to the new magistrate marked the beginning of a complex and antagonistic relationship that was to last for the next six years. Only one of the two men would survive the encounter.
Mangeant examined the exterior of the Manor House as though it was his own possession. Before knocking on the front door, he felt the masonry on the front of the building. He removed the glove on his left hand to feel the texture of the stone. According to Alexandre, Mangeant gave the impression of someone examining the work of a master sculptor. He did not utter a word but exhibited an air of appreciation.
Mangeant then moved aside and gave way to Alexandre, who, at that point, realized that he must be the one to announce their arrival. Before they could declare their presence with a knock, however, the great door opened ceremoniously. Benjamin stood tall in the entrance, wearing a scarlet waistcoat that he had inherited from his grandfather. Despite his youth, he looked every bit the English country gentleman. Alexandre was somewhat shocked by Benjamin’s appearance. He was expecting his nephew to be in his usual casual dress. But the master of this house was elegant in his lord-of-the-manor attire. This, combined with his handsome face and figure, created such an impression that both visitors remained speechless for a long moment.
“Welcome to Grand Pré, sir,” Benjamin declared in perfect English, directing this courtesy at Mangeant alone.
He turned to Alexandre. “Good day, Uncle. It is an auspicious day for you both to be touring the domains of Grand Pré. The weather is glorious and our valley’s bounty is more than evident today.” Then, facing the other, he continued, “Monsieur Mangeant, I presume. Our community has been anxiously awaiting your arrival. Please enter, gentlemen.”
Benjamin had taken control of the situation, and Alexandre was certain that this made Mangeant doubt the genuineness of his welcome. However, he showed no outward sign of this.
“Vous êtes très gentil, monsieur,” the favourite emphatically responded in French. “Est-ce que nous pouvons parler français?”
“We have always spoken English in this household, monsieur. My grandfather, who was the lord of this manor, was an English gentleman, born and raised in Yorkshire. He was almost an adult when he arrived in Acadia. We have always spoken French to our neighbours in the community, but within these walls English is the preferred language. I trust your English is excellent.”
“It is indeed, sir. I accept the rules of your home, with pleasure.” He revealed no sign of annoyance, but Benjamin could see a distinct twitching in Mangeant’s left hand.
Benjamin led his visitors into the Great Room, where his sisters stood in anticipation of their introduction to Mangeant. Alexandre greeted his young nieces with a kiss on both cheeks. Marie Josephe and Elizabeth were both formally dressed for the occasion. Elizabeth in particular looked stunning in a pale blue summer frock. Benjamin’s younger sister was a radiant and beautiful young woman of fourteen. This fact was not lost on Mangeant. He gazed intently at the striking adolescent with a connoisseur’s eye and gave her a polite nod.
“May I introduce my sisters, Marie Josephe and Elizabeth?”
The two young ladies curtsied in unison, exhibiting an elegance and dignity that were rare in the colony.
“I am charmed,” Mangeant stated curtly.
The favourite perused the room, fixing his gaze on the library of books that lined the walls from floor to ceiling.
“Monsieur, I have rarely seen such a fine collection. These must have been acquired over many years.”
“Indeed, sir, many date back to Grandfather’s years in England. I have managed to continue to obtain volumes through trade. I have business connections, both in New England and Louisbourg, who provide the latest in literature from both England and France. I view the books as my treasury.”
“Quite right, Monsieur LeBlanc.” Mangeant paused momentarily then resumed: “You say you conduct trade with the French at Louisbourg? That is curious. Do you have close contacts with the French at Île Royale?”
Benjamin was aware that Mangeant was engaging in a subtle form of interrogation, hoping to unsettle his host.
“In these times of peace, I find it profitable to have commerce with anyone who is willing to trade goods. Exchange provides commodities, which are more valuable than pounds sterling, don’t you think?”
“Yes, monsieur, as long as that is all that is traded.”
Mangeant’s implication could not have been misunderstood by anyone in the room, but Benjamin decided to change the subject, not permitting the comment to take on a life of its own.
After escorting Mangeant and Alexandre to the high-backed chairs situated in front of the grand hearth, Benjamin directed his sisters to fetch a bottle of their finest claret and serve it to the guests.
“Be seated, gentlemen.”
Mangeant, Alexandre, and Benjamin spent the better part of an hour sipping their wine and discussing the community of Grand Pré and its many virtues. Throughout their lengthy discourse, Benjamin never lost sight of the fact that he was conversing with the enemy. It was obvious that Mangeant was equally aware that my cousin was the only person at Grand Pré who was likely to block his way at every turn. Their first meeting had a forced cordiality about it, but there was no doubt where each opponent stood.
Mangeant sailed the following day with the promise of returning with his family within the month. He had laid plans to build a home at Grand Pré o
n a favoured piece of land close to the home of Alexandre Bourg. He just had to find those that were willing to execute its construction in such a way that it met his high standards. Few in the community admitted to having the expertise to build such a structure. Most of the farmhouses were of a relatively simple construction. His would have to at least surpass these, given his future position at Minas.
As it turned out, Mangeant was forced to choose his construction crew from Annapolis, with considerable assistance from the militia. It was difficult enough to collect a group of skilled hands to complete the fortress, let alone manage a house at Minas. The militiamen agreed to work on Mangeant’s project under considerable duress. Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong insisted on it. He would have overseen the project himself if he had been willing to leave Annapolis for a time. But this was not an option, for he believed he must remain at the garrison to keep control of the ever-precarious political situation there. Armstrong was unable to trust Major Cosby long enough to venture anywhere beyond the town.
In the end, the lieutenant-governor reluctantly agreed to pay the Gaudet brothers a large sum to supervise the beam construction along with some masonry work. Although Benjamin was the most skilled mason in Acadia, he failed to volunteer his services, even for pay. He kept his distance and forever played his part as master of his domains at Grand Pré.
I, on the other hand, did not share his scruples. I was in need of the money. Armstrong was paying well. Besides, working on the construction of Mangeant’s house allowed me to spend time with Benjamin, since I was able to stay at the Manor House for the duration of the build. My father-in-law, Bernard, and his brother Denys were welcomed guests as well. It turned out to be a merry time indeed, with plenty of laughter and goodwill.