Census of Sieur de La Roque 167

not having been able to procure more owing to their poverty.

Most of the settlers were married and they mar- ried young; some as early as sixteen ; but in general on attaining their majority. There were many widows and widowers with large families; but even these had the habit of marrying again. Only one case of separation is recorded, that of a soldier whose wife had left him.

The care with which the officials of New France and Acadia watched the cradles is clearly revealed in the census:

Jean Henry dit Le Neveu, Junior, native of l’Acadie, aged 21 years, has been in the country two years. Mar- ried to Marie Pitre, native of l’Acadie, aged 21 years. They have no children, being married in the month of January only.

Live stock: two pigs.

Again:

Charles Pitre, ploughman, native of l’Acadie, aged 28 years, has been in the country fifteen months. Mar- ried to Anne Henry, native of l’Acadie, aged 21 years.

They have no children, being married in the month of February only.

In live stock they have one cow, two pigs and one sheep.

Evidently Jean Henry had given his twin sister in exchange for his wife; and the two new families thus created awaited the future in confidence. Their live