Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin facts for kids

Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin (born 1689 – died 1720) was a French military officer who served in a region called Acadia. This area is now parts of Eastern Canada and the United States. He was known for being part of a group of privateers, who were like government-approved sailors who captured enemy ships during wartime. Bernard-Anselme also led both French and Native American forces to protect Acadia during a major conflict known as Queen Anne's War.

Who Was Bernard-Anselme?

Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin was born in 1689. His birthplace was a place called Pentagouet, which is now Castine, Maine in the United States. His father was Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin, a French nobleman. His mother was Pidianske, an Abenaki woman. This meant Bernard-Anselme had both French and Abenaki heritage.

He also had a brother named Joseph d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin. Joseph was an important military leader in Acadia. When their father left for France in 1701, the relationship between the French and the Abenaki people started to become difficult.

Defending Acadia

In 1704, when Bernard-Anselme was just 15 years old, the Governor of Acadia, Brouillan, asked for his help. The Governor wanted Bernard-Anselme to gather his Abenaki tribe to protect Acadia from British attacks.

This request proved very important a few years later. In 1707, Bernard-Anselme bravely helped defend Port Royal. This was during a major attack by British colonial forces, known as the Siege of Port Royal.

On October 31 of that same year, Bernard-Anselme married Marie-Charlotte Damours de Chauffours in Port Royal. In 1708, he was promoted in the military. He became a lieutenant.

A Privateer's Adventures

In 1709, Bernard-Anselme joined a group of privateers. These privateers were very successful. They managed to sink 35 British ships and captured 470 people.

While Saint-Castin was away at sea in 1710, a big change happened. Port Royal was attacked again and fell to the British. The British then renamed the town Annapolis Royal. Bernard-Anselme did not know about these events. When he returned from his privateering trip, his ship was captured. However, he managed to escape into the nearby woods.

After this, Saint-Castin was given a very important job. He was put in charge of all of Acadia's military forces. His mission was to try and drive out the British. He was also ordered to keep the First Nations people against the British. Soon after the Battle of Bloody Creek in 1711, his Abenaki forces tried to attack Annapolis Royal, but they were not successful.

End of the War and Later Life

In 1713, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. This treaty officially ended the war. During the winter of 1713-14, Saint-Castin lived with his tribe near the Penobscot River.

In 1714, Saint-Castin and his wife sailed to France. They arrived in a region called Béarn later that year. Bernard-Anselme d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin died there in the autumn of 1720.

Bernard-Anselme and Marie-Charlotte Damours de Chauffours had three daughters. Their names were Marie-Anselme, born in 1711 in Quebec, Brigitte, and Louise, born in 1716 in Pau. His wife, Marie-Charlotte, lived in Pau until 1734. She died there after being involved in a legal case.