French ship Bon Papa facts for kids
The Bon Papa was a French frigate, a type of fast sailing warship, from the late 1700s. It weighed about 280 tons, which is like saying it could carry a lot of cargo or people. The name "Bon Papa" is French and means "good daddy," but it's often used to mean "grandfather."
This ship is mostly remembered for its important role in moving a group of people who would later be known as Cajuns.
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The Ship Bon Papa
The Bon Papa was the first of seven ships that helped move the Acadians from France to Spanish Louisiana in 1785. At that time, Louisiana was controlled by Spain. The Acadians were French-speaking people who had originally lived in what is now Canada. Many of them were forced to leave their homes and eventually settled in Louisiana, becoming the Cajuns we know today.
A Special Journey: The Acadians
On May 10, 1785, the Bon Papa set sail from Nantes, a city in France. Captain Pelletier was in command. The ship carried 34 families, which was a total of 156 Acadians, all heading for Louisiana.
The Voyage to Louisiana
The journey across the ocean took 81 days. The Bon Papa arrived in New Orleans on July 29, 1785. The travelers were lucky to have good weather for most of the trip, and there were no major outbreaks of sickness on board. However, one sad event occurred: a young daughter of Eustache Govin passed away during the crossing.
Life After Arrival
After arriving in New Orleans, the group changed slightly in size. Twelve new people joined them (three babies were born, and nine adults joined the group). Sadly, 13 people left the group (ten died, and three decided to leave).
When it was time to settle down, the 38 families found new homes. Most of them, 37 families, settled near St. Gabriel, Louisiana, along the famous Mississippi River. One family chose to settle along Bayou Lafourche, another important waterway in Louisiana.
