Chronicles of a Spy in Acadia: The End of Pichon and Acadia

Foreword

This episode is the finale of a three-episode series of “Chronicles of A Spy in Acadia”: a student-produced podcast researched, written, recorded and edited by the students of Brock University’s History 4P11 class. The podcast centers on Atlantic colonial Canada in the 18th century by looking at the events through the eyes of a real-life historical spy: Thomas Pichon.

This episode closes our interview with Thomas Pichon, his memories of the Acadian Expulsion, as well as his internalized despair, regretting his life choices and feeling sorry for himself in his old age. The major themes of this episode include religion, the Acadian expulsion and diaspora, historical literature based on the Acadians and their forced abandonment of their territory, as well as our group's sincerest thank you for your interest in our work.

Filled with quotations and the memories of Thomas Pichon’s letters and memoirs, listeners gather an understanding of the many emotions and motivations of Thomas Pichon as he spied for the British against the French and assisted to damage the lives of hundreds of innocent Acadians.

Links

Beaubassin: On the Edge of Empires

Brock University Department of History

Student podcast gives voice to Acadian spy, Brock News, Jan. 27, 2022.

Sources

Crowley, T.A. “Biography: PICHON, THOMAS, Thomas Tyrell,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, University of Toronto, 1979.

Webster, John Clarence. Thomas Pichon “The Spy of Beausejour,” An Account of His Career in Europe and America with Many Original Documents. Translated by Alice Webster. Shediac, NB: 1937.

Credits

Interviewer 1- Yannick
Interviewer 2- Micayla
Narrator- Erin
Ghost of Thomas Pichon- Dexter