Espiet de Pensens, Jacques d’ (1725-1732) (Commandant on lle Saint-Jean). Letters to the Minister of the Marine:

1725: 21 December. [PAC, AC, C“B, Vol. 7, fols. 381-382v]

1727: 12 August. [PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 9, fols. 48-48v]

1727: 20 November. [PAC, AC, C“B, Vol. 9, fols. 252-257]

1728: 31 October. [PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 10, fols. 157-161v]

1732: 5 March. [PAC, AC, C“B, Vol. 12, fols. 195-198]

By the time that he took up the post of commandant on lie Saint-Jean in 7726 (after the failure of the proprietaria/ venture of the Count of Saint-Pierre) Jacques de Pensens lb. .7 , d. 773 7) had already spent twenty-eight years in the New World in various military and administrative posts in Newfoundland lat Placential and Acadia (at Port-Royal and lle Roya/el. In a state of declining health, he was to spend most of the next ten years on the island — though often wintering at Louisbourg. During this period he made several reports to his superiors at Louisbourg and in France on the state of the settlement on l/e Saint—Jean. Some of these reports contain references to the island ’3 forests, especially in relation to difficulties encountered by the settlers in clearing the land, or as a source of masts for the French navy — a project that occupied Pensens in the first three years of his command. From the content of the letters and reports it would seem that Pensens had visited all of the places he refers to. His emphasis in his 7732 report an oak at Tracadie and especially at Ma/peque is not supported by the more extensive descriptions of his successors. Pensens returned to France in 1 736 and died shortly after.

REFERENCES:

Clark, A. H. (1959) Three Centuries and the Island. University of Toronto Press. p. 30.

Harvey, D. C. (1926) The French Regime in Prince Edward Island. Yale University Press. pp. c. 57-70. Maude, M. M. (1969) Espiet de Pensens, Jacques d’. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, ll: 218-20.

1725: 21 December

j’ay receu [l’ordre] de M'. de Saint Ovide de me tenir prest pour le petit printems et aller prendre possession de I’lsle Saint Jean au nom du Roy .

. j’ofre de doner toutes mes attentions pour les bois que le Roy voudra tirer pour A p’oPosa/ ’0 Construction on mattures, cette Ille en est fournie, il faudra a la veritté beaucoup des gig/ltcgfsﬂtifnber Soins pour Cella par raport a l’eloignement des bois qui ne se trouvent pas dans Ie ' port ou les vaisseaux peuvent aller, en ce cas je me charge de les faire transporter au Port La Joye qui est le seul port coneu ou I’on puisse mener de gros Batiments, cella faira deux biens a la fois, d’un cotté I'on fournira des Bois au Roy, et de l’autre cella facilittera I’establissement de l'llle par la quantité d’accadiens que j’y attireray pour la Coupe des bois, Come d’ailleurs les terres y sont bones l'objet du bois les engagera plus facillement a s’y etablir. [PAC, AC, CHB, Vol. 7, fols. 382-382V]

1727: 12 August [signed also by Sébastien Le Normant, King’s scrivener]

Aujourd’huy douzieme aoust Mil Sept Cent Vingt Sept, Nous Commandant a L’isle 8‘. Jean, de l’ordre de M'. de 8‘. Ovide gouverneur de L’isle Royalle, et LeNormant, Ecrivain du Roy de I’ordre de M’. de Mezi, Com'eordonnateur de la derniere isle, nous Etant transporter au haut de la Riviere du port Lajoie, accompagné de Me. Michel Galand, charpentier et habitant du d. port, pour Examiner les mats et matereaux que l'on pouroit tirer de cet endroit pour le service du Roy, Nous sommes Rendus Dans le portage du bout de Cette Riviere au havre a L’anguille du Costé du Nord de cette

A survey at Savage Harbour.