Before sharing the photos of the Acadian Mural in Nantes France, I would like to tell you a little more about the Acadians.
During the Grand derangement or Exile, the Acadians were sent all over the world. Some were exiled to New England, South Carolina,Virginia,Georgia,New York ,and England. The Acadians who were in England eventually were sent to France. The Acadians remained in France for about ten years, all the while most of them yearned to go back to America, to their families and friends. Peyroux de la Coudreniere saw the Acadians in Nantes and envisioned them being relocated to Lousiana. When he returned to Louisiana he presented his idea to Count of Arganda who said he would seek approval in Madrid. Deciding that he needed a intermediary with the Acadians, Peyroux sought the service of Oliver Therrio, a shoemaker in Nantes, and gave him the duties of inspiring the Acadians to petition Aranda to speak on their behalf with the Spanish King, Charles the third. Even tho only only four person signed the petition, Peyroux sent it on to Aranda who in turn signed it and sent it to the king in Madrid. The king accepted his plan and also agreed to pay all the expenses. In 1784 Peyroux spent all summer in Nantes to enlist volunteers. He obtained over 1000 signatures. Almost all the Acadians in Nantes said they wanted to go to Louisiana. In other ports Peyroux wasnt as successful, of around 500 Acadians around St Malo only 81 signed up. Finally the Acadians were ready to go to Lousiana , on May 10 1785 the first of seven vessels left for Louisiana.

The following are the Acadian Murals that are now in Nantes and situated on Rue Acadie ,depicting the Acadians leaving Nantes France for Louisiana. The Paintings are the work of Robert Dafford an artist in Louisiana, and the Acadian Mural is twinned in St.Martinville near Lafayette.
I would like to thank Louis LeBlanc for sharing his photos that he took while in Nantes France with me, and allowing me in turn to share them with you.

The following names are suppose to be the models in the paintings
Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil,Pierre Arsenault,Olivier Benoit,Marguerite Martin, Joseph Landry,Madeleine Robichaud,Elizabeth Thibodeau,Auguste R.Boudrot,Rose LeBlanc,Salvador Mouton,Pierre Guidry, Michel Trahan, Charles Dugas, Amand Thibodeau, Anselme Blanchard, Joseph Sonier,Alexis and Honore and Firmin Breau, Pierre,Marguerite, Elizabeth and Marie Richard,Ambroise Terrio, Claude Martin, Marie Aucoin, Genevieve Robichaud,widow of Jean Bourg (Jeanne), Madeleine Broussard ,Joseph Moulaison, Pierre Pitre and others.

Waiting for the spanish ships to arrive

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