Sometime between 1751 and 1771, Marie Balle had
passed away. A marriage record validated at Gabarus by L'Abbe Charles-Francois
Bailly on 16 Sept 1771 showed Pierre Biret, widower, marrying again:
| Pierre Biret veuf de La paroisse de St Nicolas Diocese
de Nantes, avec Marie Joss fille de Francois Joss et Marie Langlois. |
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Pierre and his second wife, Marie Amable Josse moved to the D’Escousse area
of Cape Breton. By 1805, ‘Marie Biret,’ now a widow, petitioned the
government for a grant of land.
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| Item No. 173 Grantee: Mary Biret Year 1805 Mfn:
15789
Petition to Despard: Petitioner's family have lived at Disgouse in
the Bay of St. Peter's, Isle Madame, for 25 years. Her two sons
and three daughters are all married and have families. She asks a
warrant of survey. Name also spelt "Buret" or "Birit" |
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The two sons mentioned in the petition of ‘Mary Biret’ were Pierre
and Athanase Biret. Pierre, or Peter, Birette (widower) is
enumerated in the 1811 census of Cape Breton, District no. 4, at Petit de Grat.
He is seen again in the 1813 Militia Roll for Men Capable of Bearing Arms in
Cape Breton, 2nd Regiment, Fifth Military Division, Barachoua and Petit Degrat.
Peter is listed, at age 34, born in Cape Breton, fisherman, residing in Petit
de Grat, with one woman (possibly a new wife?) and four daughters. He also
petitioned the Government for land in 1816 in Petit de Grat.
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| Item No: 1261a Grantee: Peter Birette Year: 1816 Mfn:
15793
Petition to Fitzherbert: Petitioner, age 35, native of Cape Breton,
is a widower with four children. He asks a grant of the land he
occupies at the upper end of Petit Degrat. |
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Pierre's 4 daughters, Ludvine, Angelique, Olive, and Victoire, all appear in
the L’Ardoise church records, where they were married. Many of the Pate/Pottie
family and Martel family members can trace their roots to three of the
daughters of Pierre Biret.
Athanase Biret was the other son of Pierre Biret and Marie Amable Josse.
Athanase married Ludvine Samson, daughter of Pierre Samson and Marguerite
Landry. Athanase can be found in the L’Ardoise area in the 1813 Militia
Roll.
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Captain Anthony Maubourquet's Company
First Military Division, 2nd Regiment,
Cape Breton Militia
June 1st, 1813
Thenase Birette
Thenase is listed as being 49 years old and as having been born on
Cape Breton Island. He is listed as being a fishermen living on 5
acres of land at L'Ardoise. With Thenase lives 1 adult women, 3 boys
and 3 girls. Thenase at this time has no horses and 1 oxen. Thenase
does not hold title to the land he is living on.
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Also listed in this militia roll are 2 of Athanase’s sons. They were shown
as men who could bear arms but had no property:
- Joseph Bairette 21
- Peter Birette 25
They were both listed as fishermen by trade. Although Athanase did not hold title to the land he was on in 1813, he did
petition the government twice for land in the L’Ardoise area, first in 1816,
then again in 1822.
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| Item no. 1262a Tharase Birette Year 1816
Mfn: 15793
Petition to Ainslie: Petitioner, age 49, born in Louisbourg, has a
wife and seven children. He asks a lot west of that occupied by
Justinian Sampson, St. Peters. Note: Granted. |
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Item No. 2810 Grantee: Anathanase Birette
Year 1822 Mfn: 15798
Report of D.B. McNab, D. Survetor: 100 acres, Lower Ardoise. Plan. |
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Many variations of the Biret name have developed in L’Ardoise since that
time, (Biret/ Birrett/ Birrette/ Berrette/ Barrett) but all can trace their
roots to the first Biret to settle the L'Ardoise area, Athanase Biret.
The link below will take you to the 'Biret' family as they appear in my
records. I have limited my report to the direct Biret line to keep the page at
a manageable length. I have deliberately cut off the reports around 1900 to preserve the
privacy of living relatives. Any corrections and additions would be
appreciated. I can be reached at: lardoise@ns.sympatico.ca
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Descendants of Pierre Biret
(PDF Format)
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