GAUDET
Family of Ben Gaudet ~ Famille de Ben Gaudet
(devote to the descendants of Benjamin and Evangéline Gaudet)
Disclaimer: Please take note that this webpage is not a Gaudet genealogy/history webpage, but instead a webpage dedicated to the descendants of Benjamin and Evangéline Gaudet. Though we have a great amount of historic data on the Gaudet family, we have choosen to limit information to our close generations. With this said, we encourage all Gaudet researchers to take great care when researching family information online and beware of those wanting to sell data, family crest or family histories.
This is how our story starts...
Benjamin "Ben" Gaudet was born on 19 September 1871 in Concession, Nova Scotia, to Pierre Marcel and Monique LeBlanc. Ben married Eva (Evangéline Rose Deveau) on 19 September 1899 in Corberrie. Eva was born on 30 May 1875 and was the daughter of Alexander Deveau and Charlotte Robichaud.
Children (Ten):
Loretta 06 March 1901 - Abt. 1927
Néri ("Henry") 15 September 1902 - 01 August 1986
Hilda 16 November 1904 - 15 February 1994
Leah 17 January 1907 - 14 September 1933
Lucie 26 February 1909 - 02 February 1997
Daley 04 August 1910 - 07 November 1987
Marguerite 28 June 1912 - 02 August 2001
Angès 30 May 1916 - 01 April 1990
Irving 28 May 1918 - 27 March 2009
Virgine 26 May 1920 - 16 November 1998
Family Line of Benjamin (Ten Generations):
Benjamin (Ben) - (1871-1952) Married: Evangeline Deveau(Eva) Children: 10
à Pierre Marcel - (1842-?) Married: Monique LeBlanc Children: 11
à Eusèbe ("Bayo") - (1803-?) Married: Juliette Jeddry Children: 7
à Nicolas - (1761-?) Married: Anne Marie Theriault Children: 7
à Joseph (dit John) - (1732-1802) Married: Anne Gertrude LebBlanc Children: 14
à Pierre (dit Pitre) - (1698-?) Married: Marie Belliveau Children: 8
à Bernard - (1673-1751) Married: Jeanne Terriot Children: 8
à Pierre (l'Ainé) - (1650-1714) Married: Anne Marie Blanchard Children: 11
à Denis - (1625-1709) Married: Martine Gauthier Children: 5
à Jehan (Jean) - (1575-1671) Married: Marie Daussy? Children:3+1
Benjamin Gaudet passed away on 18 May 1952 and Eva passed away on 19 November 1956. They are buried in the St. Jean de Baptiste Catholic Cemetery in Corberrie, Digby Co., Nova Scotia.
Ben & Eva Gaudet
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Ben Gaudet
(Ben à Pierre Marcel - Corberrie NS)
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Daley & Marguerite Gaudet
(front: Norman, Shirley, Robert, Doris / back: Hilda, Anita)
circa 1950s. Little Brook, NS
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An early family gathering in Nova Scotia
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Some of the Decendants of Ben & Eva
(standing: Robert, Hilda, Anita, Norman, Doris, Shirley, Ruth, Richard / front: Jason, Donald)
August 2004. Meteghan, NS (CMA- Gaudet Reunion)
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Three Generations of Gaudet
(left to right: Norman, Robert, Benjamin, Jason)
December 2006. Robert is holding his great-nephew Benjamin (son of Jason, grandson of Norman)
Benjamin Jason Gaudet was born on October 12, 2006 and his named after his great-great grandfather Benjamin
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Robert's Retirement Party - May 2007
(left to right: Doris, Shirley, Norman, Anita, Hilda, Robert)
In May 2007, everyone came together to celebrate Robert's retirement, as well as Robert's wife, Brenda's birthday.
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Anita's Birthday - July 2007
(left to right: Norman w/ Ben, Doris, Hilda, Shirley, Robert and Anita sitting)
In July 2007, our family gathered to celebrate Anita's 62nd Birthday.
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Brief "Gaudet" History Overview:
Most research suggest that the Gaudet family originated from Piotou-Charentes region of France. Within this region is a place called "Martaize" (located south of the town of Loudun). It is believed that around 1575, Jehan (Jean) Gaudet was born there.
There is little documentation of Jean Gaudet (Jehan Godet). He is the subject of much debate amongst Gaudet and Acadian researchers. Some genealogist suggest he had at least two siblings, Francois and Aubin, both born after 1551. One source has Aubin accompanying Jean and his three children to Acadia in 1636. Jean's date of birth is estimated in the year 1575. Even more debate surrounds the topic of Jean's first wife. Some believe her name was Marie Daussy. However, current research disagrees with this theory therefore many documents should list her as "unknown". Jean had three children with his first wife, a daughter, Francoise, a son, Denis, and another daughter, Marie. All of these children were born in France. After his last child, there will be no further evidence of his first wife. Perhaps she died during child birth or on the voyage to the new world. Jean was the first of the Gaudet to arrive in Acadia (Nova Scotia) and probably arrive there in 1636. He is sometimes referred to as "Abraham of Acadia". In 1652, he married his second wife, Nicole Colleson in Port Royal. Again his family grew with the addition of his son, Jean, born in 1653. In the Acadian Census of Port Royal in 1671, Jean's age is listed at 96 years old and living on his farm with wife Nicole, then 64, and their 18 year old son Jean. He is in ownership of six cattle and nine sheep. It's believed that Jean died at about 97, in 1672. Roughly 10 per cent of all Acadians can claim ancestry to him. The two daughters of Jehan are sometime referred to as the "mother's of Acadia" since they would give birth to the families of LeBlanc and Herbert.
The Gaudet family, the descendants of Jehan, lived in peace in Acadia. We would find our family in the heart of Acadia, along the Annapolis River. Further up the river, many settled in a community known as "Ville de Gaudet (Gaudet Village)". This area is today is now the town of Bridgetown. From the 1707 census, we learn that Bernard and his father Pierre where living there. Several generations were raised along the river, until the incidents of 1755. In 1755, the year of the "Great Deportation", the Acadians were expelled from the British control area. Many families were shipped off to distant lands, such as Louisiana or Massachusetts, and many of these families were broken apart. In 1755, Pierre (dit Pitre) and his family (along with one of his son's, Joseph) were living in the Port Royal area. Some research suggest they fled towards Beaubassin, only to be imprisoned at Fort Beaujour (which was by then taken over by the British and renamed Fort Cumberland). Research shows that Joseph and his wife, Anne Gertrude LeBlanc (married 1757), had their first two children in New Brunswick (perhaps the Miramichi area) but return to Port Royal by the mid-1760s to have their third child (14 children in total?). Their second child, our Nicolas (dit Niclis), was born in the Miramichi area around 1761... imagine starting a new family and having to raise your children in such a turbulent time. Those few years must have been difficult for our family. The fear of being sent away, imprisonment and even death where likely concerns for Joseph and his new wife. For next several generations, our Gaudet family would move around the western shore of Nova Scotia (LeBlanc Cove, St. Mary's Bay, Church Point), and then settling between the two communities of Concession and Corberrie. Ben and Eva would make a home in Corberrie, raising 10 children their, and then lay to forever rest there. Their children would expand as far as Lynn, Massachusetts and as close as Little Brook, Nova Scotia.
When Daley Gaudet would leave Little Brook to visit family in Corberrie, he hitched up his oxen and the trip would take about three days (Today, it's a nice 15 minute car ride). The families worked on their farms and would at time work at the local mill or in the fishing industry.
In July 2007, we traveled to Bridgetown and to the site of Bernard Gaudet's property. It was a wonderful experience to walk the land that our ancestors live and work on so many centuries ago. Bridgetown, or Ville de Gaudet, was our home and should be viewed by all Gaudets as a centeral point in our family's history. Vive L'Acadie!
Gaudet Reunion 2004:
On August 1 & 2, 2004, many Gaudet families from around the globe gathered at Meteghan River, NS at the École secondaire de Clare for the 2nd Official World Gaudet Reunion. The reunion was part of the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004 (Acadian World Congress 2004) which was being held in Clare, Nova Scotia. On the first night of the reunion, there was a wine and cheese event at the high school in Meteghan River. The second day started with mass in Saulnierville and then with all-day events back at the high school. There were traditional Acadian/Cajan dishes, varitey show, music and as well as genealogical discussion (a vast family tree was posted on the gym wall and many of us researchers were able to sort and debate through). But the highlight was just meeting many other Gaudet families. Also there were many items for sale with the 'Gaudet' theme. As the descendants of Ben and Eva Gaudet, we had our own little reunion with the children of Daley, Irving and Henry gathering together. It was great to see Richard and Ruth from Lynn, Massachusetts who made the trip up to Nova Scotia to take in the events and visit with cousins.
The Descendants of Today:
Though much of the descendants of Ben and Eva Gaudet still remain in the Clare/Digby County area of western Nova Scotia, their flock has spread throughout North America. Several children, namely Hilda and Henry, moved to the United States and raised families there. Most of Hilda's descendants live around the Nashville, Tennesse area. Henry's descendants continue to live and work around Boston, Massachusetts, namely the community of Lynn. Several of Daley's children settled in southwestern New Brunswick, just across the Bay of Fundy. The old homestead, once belong to Ben and Eva and later to their son Irving, is still owned by Irving's son Donald Gaudet. You can view the old homestead by clicking here (via Google Maps).
©Jason Gaudet/Heritage Charlotte 2000-2021 | Updated: 20 July 2014
All material above, such as dates, names & photos, are for personal use only!
Not for use in genealogical/historical research. Contact Me? jason@gaudet.com