Pirates or Heroes? The Case of Jean-Baptiste Guédry and His Son

by Marty Guidry

During the summer of 1726 Joseph Decoy, an Acadian coasting vessel pilot from Cape Breton, and his son docked in the Boston harbor to trade with the English. For an unknown reason the English detained Joseph's son. After unsuccessfully attempting to secure his son's release, Joseph reluctantly left Boston for Cape-Breton. On his return voyage he stopped on September 4th at Merliguesh (today's Lunenburg) on the southeastern coast of Acadia. Living at Merliguesh among the coastal Indians were several Acadian families including the Jean-Baptiste Guédry, père and his family. Jean-Baptiste was the son of Claude Guédry and Marguerite Petitpas and the husband of Madeleine Mius.

While at Merliguesh, Joseph Decoy told the Acadians of his misery at having to leave his son behind in Boston. With a heavy heart he convinced them that the only way that he could ever rescue his son would be to capture one of the numerous New England fishing boats that came to Merliguesh and to hold the boat and its crew as hostage until the English returned his son.

Opportunity presented itself shortly. On the very next day Captain Samuel Daly from Plymouth, Massachusetts entered the Merliguesh harbor to obtain a supply of water. Seeing Jean-Baptiste Guédry, père on shore, Captain Daly invited him aboard. Jean-Baptiste and his son (also Jean-Baptiste) approached the vessel in their canoe and boarded. After a brief discussion between Captain Daly and the two Guédry's on the recent peace that had been concluded between the English and the Indians, Captain Daly invited Jean-Baptiste into his cabin for a drink. Meanwhile Jean-Baptiste Guédry, fils took his canoe and returned to shore.

After a short while Captain Daly, his mate John Roberts and three of his crew took the vessel's canoe and also went ashore to get a supply of water. Jean-Baptiste, père declined to go with them - saying he would call to his son to come fetch him. Speaking in French, Jean-Batpiste, père called to his son. His son came to him with several Acadians and Indians including Philippe Mius d'Entrémont II and his son Jacques, who was a Métis. Immediately Jean-Baptiste Guédry, père took charge. Taking down the English flag, he wrapped it around his waist and placed a pistol in it. Seeing what was happening from shore, Captain Daly sought Jean-Baptiste's mother, Marguerite Petitpas, and appealed to her to intercede for him. Hesitantly, she agreed, but she could reach no compromise. Jean-Baptiste ordered Captain Daly to sail.

Early the next day Jean-Baptiste, père went down into the cabin with three Indians. Ever vigilant, Captain Daly immediately took advantage of the situation - shutting the cabin door and easily overcoming Jean-Baptiste, fils, the other Acadians and the Indians on the upper deck. With Captain Daly firing into the cabin the three Indians jumped into the sea and escaped capture. The English captured Jean-Baptiste, père, his son and three Indians.

Captain Daly brought his five captives to Boston where the Court of Admirality on October 15th, 1726 tried them, found them guilty of piracy and sentenced them to die by hanging. Trying to save their lives, the three Indians claimed the French incited them to commit this dastardly act and asked that their Indian nation be warned of this. Even old Jean-Baptiste, a bitter enemy of the English, asked that his friends live in harmony with the English. All of this was to no avail, however, as on November 13th, 1726 Jean-Baptiste Guédry, père, his son Jean-Baptiste and the three Indians were hung at Boston.

And so were Jean-Baptiste Guédry, père and his son really pirates or were they true heroes - giving their lives while trying to free an Acadian child from the ruthless English?