Deputy (Acadian)

The Acadian Deputy was a position in 18th-century Nova Scotia, Canada, created by the Nova Scotia Council to represent the interests of an Acadian community to the Council.

The deputy was more than simply a spokesperson for the community. Sometimes the duty of collecting quit-rents fell to the deputy. The deputies were much like justices of the peace and, like the justices of the peace, drew much of their authority form the willingness of the community to accept that authority.

The number in 1720 started at six, elected in the Annapolis Royal region in 1720, to 24 by the end of the decade: four each for Minas, Pisique, Cobequid.

12 April 1721, on the representation of Charles Robicheau, deputy of Cobequid, the number of deputies from that district was increased from one to four, (one only being required to attend on the governor.) At the same time the number of deputies from Mines was increased from three to twelve, (three only of them being bound to attend on the governor.) These deputies were to be annually chosen by the inhabitants, subject to the governor's approval. Their duties were to receive and put in execution the orders of the governor, and to report the names of persons disobedient. Their expenses in coming and going were to be defrayed by the inhabitants.

For greater detail of the role of the Acadian Deputy under British rule see Acadia: Governance under the British after 1710.

Charles Landry (born 1686) of Annapolis River married Catherine Brossard at Port Royal on the 29 October 1708. Arsenault lists 8 girls & 2 boys, the boys being: Charles (born 1710) & Francois (born 1716). Charles Landry was one of the four deputies of the Annapolis River region, chosen by the Acadians and approved by the English, in May, 1720; "whose duties it should be to promulgate the orders and proclamations of the government, and to see that their [English] directions were carried into execution." In September, 1727, Charles (with Abraham Bourg, Francis Richards, and Guillaum Bourgeois) was tossed into prison and "laid in irons" for refusing to take the oath. A "Charles Landry" shows up on the Oath of Allegiance signed by 600+ Acadians from "Mines, Cobequit, Piziquid & Beaubassin" in April, 1730.

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