Castorland Journal: An Account of the Exploration and Settlement of New York State by French Émigrés in the Years 1793 to 1797

Castorland Journal 1793

1 1 July 1793 Are named as the Company’s American commissioners Messrs. Pharoux and Desjardins. To M. Chassanis, Director,1 Pharoux gives his receipt for the property titles and receives the sum of one thousand livres in assignats for travel expenses.2 Desjardins receives his instructions, and, as the shares were not yet printed, he entrusts M. Chassanis, on his recognizance, with M. Lambot’s receipts for sixty shares. That evening left with his brother in the coach for Le Havre de Grace, leaving Pharoux authorization to pick up his brother’s passport, which had not yet been sent to the Department. 2 July 1793 Arrived in Rouen. Stayed to meet with M. Le Normand and settle several shipping accounts.3 Pharoux deposited with M. Lambot receipts for twenty whole shares, of which he is to keep as security only the twenty coupons of undivided shares, and is to deliver the twenty coupons of divided shares to his legal representative. 3 July Received at Rouen the passport for Desjardins the younger,4 with a letter from Pharoux. Messrs. Desjardins left for Le Havre in the evening. Pharoux’s departure is made ready. 4 July Arrival of Messrs. Desjardins at Le Havre, where they rejoined Mme. Desjardins and their family. M. de Longuemare had already arranged with Captain Macdougall passage on the American ship Liberty, 180 tons, for M. and Mme. Desjardins, two children and two servants, at the rate of five thousand livres. Desjardins arranges Pharoux’s passage for one thousand livres. Castorland Journal 1793 arrival and first explorations 2 castorland journal Through M. Le Ray,5 Pharoux receives in Paris the letters and packages of Mr. Morris, the American ambassador,6 and at five o’clock in the afternoon, leaves in the coach with his father. 5 July The belongings of Messrs. Desjardins and of their family are put on board. Desjardins goes to Montivilliers to get information on the Acadians . In the evening, Pharoux arrives in Rouen and sets out again by coach for Le Havre. 6 July The commissioners meet in Le Havre. Pharoux does not find his portfolio,7 requests of Messrs. Baudry and Boulogne that they make arrangements for his belongings, which had not yet arrived, and gives them the keys to his trunks.8 The Commissioners go to see M. de la Motte, the American consul, to present the titles in order that he collate and legalize the copies of them made by M. de Crèvecoeur.9 7 July Desjardins takes Pharoux to see M. de Longuemare, who pays his passage, 1,036 livres, for which he gives him an order for payment upon M. Le Ray. Belongings put on board. Stops by the office of the Marine to have our passports registered. Saw again M. Delamotte, who refuses to legalize and collate the copies of M. de Crèvecoeur, promises to send us the originals on the first boat without fail and to send the legalized copies to M. Chassanis. In the evening, departure of a large convoy for Cherbourg. The departure of this convoy had detained all foreign ships in the port for a month. Our departure set for the next day. 8 July Embarking and departure from the harbor of Le Havre at eight in the morning. On three separate occasions the ship is inspected by the National Guard. Showing of our passports.10 Had to remain in the harbor to wait for the captain, who was suing one of the passengers. Much trouble in settling forty passengers in a ship suitable at most for twelve. Distress of Mme. Bancel, wife of the litigant, on not seeing her husband return. At eight in the evening, the captain returns. We receive by the same sloop the Constitution of the Company , a letter from M. Lambot, and a farewell note from M. Pharoux, the father. 9 July 1793 At daybreak, departure from the roads. Thunder, bringing with it bad weather, which continues until the 14th. While emerging from the Channel, we can see the coasts of England, Lands-End and Cape Lisard. 13 July In the south-west, we can see a fleet escorted by ships of the line. We hear heavy cannon-fire. 14 July Near Bordeaux, encounter with an English privateer from Guernsey, carrying twenty-four guns, who, under a French flag and speaking 1793: Arrival and First Explorations 3 French, claiming to be from St. Malo...