Hillsborough River (Prince Edward Island)

The Hillsborough River, also known as the East River, is a Canadian river in northeastern Queens County, Prince Edward Island.

After the Siege of Louisbourg (1745) during King George's War, the New Englanders also captured Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island). The New Englanders had a force of two war ships and 200 soldiers stationed at Port-La-Joye. To regain Acadia, Ramezay was sent from Quebec to the region to join forces with the Duc d'Anville Expedition. Upon arriving at Chignecto, he sent French officer Boishébert to Ile Saint-Jean on a reconnaissance to assess the size of the New England force. After Boishebert returned, Ramezay sent Joseph-Michel Legardeur de Croisille et de Montesson along with over 500 men, 200 of whom were Mi'kmaq, to Port-La-Joye. In July 1746, the battle happened near Northeast River (Hillsborough River). Montesson and his troops killed or imprisoned forty New Englanders. Montesson was commended for having distinguished himself in his first independent command.

According to the 1752 census, the Acadians arrived in Riviere Nord-Est, Ile St. Jean (present day Hillsborough River) in 1750. The influential Acadian Joseph-Nicolas Gautier dit Ballair and his family moved from Annapolis Royal to River North-East (Hillsborough) at the location today Scotchfort.

As well, Jean Pitre's family and many from the Henry family arrived from Maitland, Nova Scotia in Hants County as part of the Acadian Exodus to escape hostilities after arrival of Protestants in Nova Scotia and the establishment of Halifax (1749). The whole community of Acadians died during the French and Indian War in the Ile Saint-Jean Campaign (1758). They were deported on the Duke William, which sank in the English channel. The sinking of the Duke William was one of the worst marine disaster in Canadian history (as measured by Canadian lives lost)--see list of Canadian disasters by death toll.

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