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In 1785, Spain paid for 7 ships to transport Acadians to settle in Louisiana. For Spain, it meant settlers to buffer the zone between Spanish land and the British land. For the Acadians, it meant a chance to join their fellow Acadians and to regain some of what they lost during the Exile.

Le Bon Papa
     The first ship left France on Tuesday, May 10, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on July 29, 1785 after 80 days at sea.

La Bergere
     The second ship left France on Saturday, May 14, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on August 15, 1785 after 93 days at sea.

Le Beaumont
     The third ship left France on June 11, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on August 19, 1785 after 69 days at sea.

Le Saint-Remi
     The fourth ship left France on Thursday, June 27, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on September 10, 1785 after 75 days at sea.

L'Amitie
     The fifth ship left France on August 20, 1785.  It arrived in Louisiana on November 8, 1785 after 80 days at sea.

La Ville d'Archangel
     The sixth ship left France on August 12, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on December 3, 1785 after 113 days at sea.

La Caroline
     The final ship left France on October 19, 1785. It arrived in Louisiana on December 17, 1785 after 54 days at sea.

     Six of the ships left from Nantes (though actually the point of embarkation was Paimboeuf).  The seventh (Archangel) left from St. Malo.
     These lists are available in print. The list of names appeared in Winzerlings' Acadian Odyssey back in 1955.  Milton & Norma Reider first published The Crew and Passenger Registration Lists of the Seven Acadian Expeditions of 1785 that first transcribed the entire lists (ie. with ages, jobs, etc.).  The lists can also be found in Gerard Braud's From Nantes to Louisiana.
     Rev. Don Hebert recently published a book (Acadian Families in Exile - 1785) listing both the embarkation and debarkation lists. The first part of Father Hebert's book gives the lists in 4 columns: embarkation list, disembarkation list, possible lineages, and a combined list.  The second part of the book is an index to some of his and Albert Robichaux's works.  This is the best work on the subject.

     Copies of the original passenger lists (on white or natural art paper) are available if you'd like to frame your ancestors' entries or would like to see the actual entries.  Go to the ACADIAN-CAJUN.COM Merchandise page.