Copper Pot Possibly Belonging To Claude Petitpas

Recently Howard Hennessy brought a copper pot to the Belleisle Hall Acadian Cultural Center (where the Broussard Reunion will be held on 14 August 2024) and left it there on loan. In the 1960's Howard found the copper pot at his father's (John Hennessey's) farm near the barn while digging for fishing worms. The farm was located in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia and was located in the area where Claude Petitpas owned property in the 1700's.

The copper pot is quite old, has an iron bail and copper sides and bottom. No seams are evident. The copper pot is large. The pot will be on display at the Belleisle Hall Acadian Cultural Center for folks to view and enjoy.

The 1707 map of the Annapolis River by Delabat shows a Claude Petitpas with property at the northern end of the Annapolis River where Bridgetown is today. It is uncertain which Claude Petitpas had this property. Claude Petitpas, husband of Catherine Bugaret, was born in 1624 in France and died in 1693. His son Claude Petitpas,born about 1663 at Port-Royal, married twice - first to Marie-Thèrése, a Mi'kmaq about 1686 and then to François Lavergne of Port-Royal on 7 January 1721. This Claude Petitpas died between 1731 and 1733. It is possible that Claude Petitpas, husband of Catherine Bugaret, owned this property and his son Claude obtained the property at his father's death and may have lived there at some point during his life.

[Information on the copper pot found on Facebook on 24 June 2023.]