The Bonin Family

As part of my L'Ardoise Families History Project I will now present the "Bonnain" family story; as I know it. I pray that I can impart to you the reader an accurate accounting of the "Bona Family" of L'Ardoise, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

This story could not have been presented to you without the input and photos of
Rufine [nee Bona] Swan, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The research data of Mr. Steven White, a genealogist with the University of Moncton, New Brunswick and most importantly the research data supplied by Mrs. Maureen MacNeil, of Glace Bay, Cape Breton.

Photo courtesy of Rufine
[nee Bona] Swan

Left is a treasured photo of Rufine Briand holding her grandchild Rufine Bona up for the camera. Rufine played a very important part in the interest of Rufine Bona's family histories studies. Rufine Briand was born in L'Ardoise on June 1, 1884. She was an intelligent, strong, warm woman to whom others ran in times of need. Rufine, you see, was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was a person whose advice was sought and listened to.As a greeting, a tender term of endearment, her nephews and other family members often referred to her as "Petite Rufine". She was the rock of their family, "always there when they needed her".

The"Bona Family" (or Bonnain Family) of Acadia, through the efforts of Mr. Stephen White of the University of Moncton, New Brunswick has been traced back to one Sieur Pierre Bonnain.

Pierre was also known as Pierre "La Chaume". We find that he was a native of D'Angoulême, France. Pierre Bonnain is described in various records as the "sub-delegate" of the intendant of Île Royale ( Cape Breton Island ). As such he was the assistant commandant of the harbour of Saint-Esprit, which is located along the coast of Cape Breton Island, about halfway between L'Ardoise and Louisbourg. Pierre died at Saint-Esprit, and was buried in the church there, on Feb.14, 1730. This church was later destroyed by fire and no longer exists.

Georges Bonin Photo courtesy of Rufine
[nee Bona] Swan

We have been informed that recently acquired microfilm copies of material concerning Plaisance (Placentia, N.F.L.D.) and Louisbourg contain considerable information regarding the Bonnain family. For example early in the 18th century people who had property ordinarily made a marriage contract before proceeding to the religious ceremony. These contracts were oft-times more informative than the parish marriage records. According to Mr. Stephen White, in the case of Plaisance and Louisbourg (prior to 1722), such contracts are our only source of information, as the parish records no longer exists.

In our case, these records contain not one but two such marriage contracts made by our Pierre Bonnain. The first was passed at Plaisance. This contract reads something like:

Nov.12, 1712
A Contract of Marriage between Pierre Bonnain the son of Louis Bonnain a merchant and Francoise Chauvin of the parish of Sainte-Jacques I `Houmeau D'Angoulême, France and Bernardine Vrigneau daughter of Francois Vrigneau and Jeanne Aubert of Plaisance, Newfoundland.

One may presume that Pierre Bonnain/Bonin moved to Cape Breton Island after the cession of Newfoundland to the British in 1713. What became of Bernardine Vrigneau is unknown, at least for the present. Documentation has not as yet been found indicating that any children resulted from this first marriage. In any event, another record the gist of which is shown below, has been found providing evidence of a second marriage for Pierre.

Louisbourg Dec. 2, 1717
A Contract of Marriage between Pierre Bonin of Saint Espirt, the son of Louis Bonnain a merchant and Francoise Chauvin of the parish of Sainte-Jacques I `Houmeau D'Angoulême, France, [Pierre Bonin being the widower of Bernardine Vrigneau] and Marguerite Guyon a minor, the daughter of the late Captain of a merchant vessel Joseph Guyon and step-daughter of the merchant Francois Cresennet and daughter of Marguerite Dugas of l'Acadie.

From the documentation above, you can see that both were from families of substance. The second marriage contract also shows that Pierre Bonin was already settled at St-Esprit by 1717.

Pierre Bonin's parentage therefore is well documented and as well we have confirmed the birth dates of his brother Michel, and as well their sisters, through the "Mairie D'Angoulême Archives Municipales" in France." This was with the assistance of L'Archiviste Mme C. Constantin, on March 28, 1986, per Rufine Swan. Thus once again verifying the fact that this ancestral Bonin family were members of the Parish of Saint-Jacques I'Houmeau of D'Angoulême, France. It is through these records that we find, that the children of Louis Bonnain and Françoise Chauvin were indeed as follows:

CHILDREN du LOUIS et FRANÇOISE

Catherine born Feb. 4 or 5, 1683,
Jeanne born April 09, 1686,
Marguerite born July 09, 1687,
Marie born May 31,1689,
Michel born Nov.16,1694,
Pierre born ca.1695,
Anne born April 1, 1697.

Pierre and Marguerite as written earlier lived at St. Espirit, Cape Breton and had five children that we know of. These were a son Pierre, born ca.1718; died March 17,1745 at Saint-Esprit, aged 27 yrs. unmarried. A second son Georges, was born ca.1724, at Saint-Esprit; we believe married ca.1750 , Marie Dihars. A third son François [our forefather], was born Sept. 07, 1726. François married (1) ca.1748, Madeleine Fougère, daughter of Jean Fougère and Marie-Madeleine Belliveau; François married (2) ca.1750, at Port Toulouse (now St. Peters, Cape Breton), Marguerite Lavandier, daughter of Antoine Lavandier and Françoise Lavergne. A 4th, unamed child a daughter, was born before 1724 and died before 1734. The couples 5th child also a daughter, whom they named Angèlique, was born in 1730 and baptised on July 24, of 1730, at Saint-Esprit; Angèlique married ca.1751, Mathurin Picard.

By his first wife, Madeleine Fougère, François had only one child, a daughter Barbe Bonin. Barbe married Charles Boudrot, son of Joseph Boudrot and Marguerite Dugas, ca.1766. Charles and Barbe had a large family and lived in Petit de Grat on Île Madame, Cape Breton. François Bonin married (2) ca.1750, Port Toulouse to Marguerite Lavandier.

Prior to his death in about 1755 François and Marguerite had two sons that we know of, Jean-François Bonin born about Sept.1751, and Jean-Pierre Bonin born in 1752. Jean-Pierre Bonin is the forefather of all the Bonins that went to Chezzetcook. François married about 1770, Marguerite Josse, daughter of François Josse and Marie-Marguerite Dardy. Because there were no priests in Cape Breton at that time, Jean-Francois and Marguerite were first married before witnesses. When the missionary Charles-François Bailly visited the area the following year, Jean-François and Marguerite renewed their vows in his presence, Sept.16,1771, at Gabarus. Thus allied to the Josse family by marriage, Jean-François Bonin moved with them to D'Escousse, about 1776, and settled there permanently. D'Escousse had been the Josses' home before the Dispersion of the Acadians; in fact, Jean-François Bonin's father-in-law's family is shown there in the census of 1752. The 1811 census shows Jean-François "Bonin" as a fisherman at D'Escousse.

In a petition of 1815 [Copy below] Jean-François stated that he had shared a certain peninsula at D'Escousse with his wife's brother-in-law, Guillaume [William] Cordeau, for the purpose of curing fish, from 1778. Actually this peninsula was in Lower D'Escousse (now Poirierville) , at a place called Le Goulet.

1094 BONAT (BONHAM, BONHOMME) JOHN

1815 Petition to Swayne: A native of Cape Breton John has resided at D'Escousse 38 years and has brought up a large family there. He and the late William Curdo occupied a certain peninsula for curing fish, a fence dividing the property. Since the death of "Old Curdo" his part of the lot has been occupied by a son, John, the other part by petitioner and his son with whom he lives. He asks a title to the part of the lot he occupies. He has occupied this lot since 1778, and has cured from 3 to 500 quintles of fish annually.

Report: Crawly to Crowdy
Ten acres, lot at Little Discousse.
Duplicate plans 1815

It is said 'from Jean-François Bonin and Marguerite Josse then, that the Bona, Bonin, Bonnain line descends from on Cape Breton Island'.

Descendants of Jean Francois Bonin and Marguerite Josse