A member of a prominent Massachusetts family, Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow was the commander of the New England troops sent to deport the Acadians from Grand-Pré in 1755. The following excerpts are taken from his journal:

"Journal of Colonel John Winslow, of the Provincial Troops." Report and Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society 3 (1883): 71-110.

Letter to William Shirley, August 22nd, 1755

…Have taken up my Quarters between the Church and Chapel yard, having the Prest House [priest's house] for my own accommodation and the Church for a Place of Arms…

Letter to William Coffin, August 22nd, 1755

… have Incampt here having the Church on my right of which I have Made a Place of Arms. the Church yard on my left have 313 men officers Included and Exspect to bee soon reinforced. am Picquetting in my Incampment to Prevent a Supprise …

Letter to Captain Murray, August 24th, 1755

Yesterday I Reced a months Provissions for 400 men which I have repositted in the Church. Pitched my Tents & Lodged my men in them, if my Palasades hold out Shall Finish my Picquetting this Day. There is a Smal house within the Picquetts of which I have Made the Captains Quarters…

Journal entry, September 5th, 1755

… ordered the whole Camp to Lye upon their arms this Day.

Att Three in the afternoon The French Inhabitants appeard agreable to their Citation at the Church in Grand Pre amounting To 418 of Their Best Men upon which I ordered a Table to be Sett in the Center of the Church and being attended with those of my officers who were off Guard … Delivered them by Interpretors the [deportation order]…

GENTLEMEN,

I have Received from his Excellency Govenor Lawrance. The Kings Commission which I have in my hand and by whose orders you are Convened together to Manifest to you his Majesty's Final resolution to the French Inhabitants of this his Province of Nova Scotia who for almost half a Centry have had more Indulgence Granted them, then any of his Subjects in any part of his Dominions. what use you have made of them you your Self Best Know. The Part of Duty I am now upon is what thoh Necessary is Very Disagreable to my natural make & Temper as I Know it Must be Grevious to you who are of the Same Specia. But it is not my Buisness to annimedvert, but to obey Such orders as I receive and therefore without Hessitation Shall Deliver you his Majesty's orders and Instructions vizt. That your Lands & Tenements, Cattle of all Kinds and Live Stock of all Sortes are Forfitted to the Crown with all other your Effects Saving your money and Household Goods and you your Selves to be removed from this his Province. Thus it is Preremtorily his Majesty's orders That the whole French Inhabitants of these Districts, be removed, and I am Throh his Majesty's Goodness Directed to allow you Liberty to Carry of your money and Household Goods as Many as you Can without Discome-moading the Vessels you Go in. I Shall do Every thing in my Power that all Those Goods be Secured to you and that you are Not Molested in Carrying of them of and also that whole Familys Shall go in the Same Vessel. and make this remove which I am Sensable must give you a great Deal of Trouble as Easey as his Majesty's Service will admit and hope that in what Ever part of the world you may Fall you may be Faithfull Subjects, a Peasable & happy People. I Must also Inform you That it is his Majesty's Pleasure that you remain in Security under the Inspection & Direction of the Troops that I have the Honr. to Command. and then Declared them the Kings Prisoners.

Journal entry, September 5th, 1755

Grand Pre Septr 5th, 1755. … The French Inhabitants to repair to their Quarters in the Church at Tattoo and in the Day time not to Exstend their walks to the Eastward of the Commandants Quarters without Leave from the officer of the Gaurd & that one half of the Gaurd Take Shelter under my Markee [tent]. A Pattrole of a Serjant & Twelve men To walk Constantly round ye Church. The Centry's Every where Doubld.

JOHN WINSLOW.

Journal entry, September 10th, 1755

… Determined … that it would be best to Divide the Prisoners, and that as there was Five Transporte Idle … That Fifty men of the French Inhabitants be Embarkd on Board Each of the five Vessels, taking First all their young men…

I Sent for Father Landrey Their Principal Speaker who Talks English and Told him the Time was Come for part of the Inhabitants to Embarke… and Desierd he would Inform his bretherin of it. he was greatly Surprised… I Told him it must be Done and … ordered our whole Party to be under Arms and Post them Selves between the Two Gates & the Church in the rear of my Quarters, …

The whole of the French Inhabitants where Drawn together In one Body their young men … on the Left. I then orderd Capt Adams … to Draw of from the main Body to Gaurd the young men of the French … and order ye Prisoners to March. they all answered they would No go without their Fathers. I Told them that was a word I did not understand for that the Kings Command was to me absolute & Should be absolutely obeyed & That I Did not Love to use Harsh Means but that the time Did not admit of Parlies [talking] or Delays and Then ordered the whole Troops to Fix their Bayonets and advance Towards the French, and Bid the 4 right hand Files of the Prisoners Consisting of 24 men … to Divied from the rest … one of whome I Took hold on (who oposed the Marching) and bid March.

he obeyed & the rest followed. thoh Slowly, and went of Praying, Singing & Crying being Met by the women & Children all the way (which is 1 1/2 mile [2.4km]) with Great Lamentations upon their Knees praying &c.

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