Answer · confidence: partial
Do ship lists match the different numbers of Acadians sent away and houses burned?
Research question: Do ship manifests, passenger lists, and mortality records from the 1755-1764 deportations reconcile the differing totals of about 11,500 deported, more than 12,000 expelled, and 6,000 destroyed houses?
The records indicate that by 1764, 11,500 Acadians had been deported from a prewar population of 14,100 5. This total aligns with the initial expulsion of 6,000 to 7,000 people in 1755 and the subsequent deportation of approximately 3,500 more in 1758 78. While the sources confirm that hundreds of homes were torched to encourage deportation, they do not provide a specific count of 6,000 destroyed houses to reconcile that figure 9.
Checked 2026-10-15. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] documented
The Nova Scotia Archives holds a collection of primary-source documents relating to the Deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia between 1714 and 1768.
"Acadian Heartland: Records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, 1714-1768 The largest and most complete online presentation of primary-source documents relating to the Deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, digitized and fully searchable."Acadians - Nova Scotia Archives
[2] supported
The Nova Scotia Archives holds records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, as well as records of early settlements dating back to 1632.
"Nova Scotia Archives holds records of these early settlements and people, the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, and present-day communities."Acadians - Nova Scotia Archives
[3] supported
The Acadian Cemeteries Research Collection contains photographic negatives of 60 Acadian cemeteries from after the Deportation (after 1764).
"The Acadian Cemeteries Research Collection consists of black and white photographic negatives and contact sheets of 60 post-Deportation (after 1764) Acadian cemeteries."Acadians - Nova Scotia Archives
[4] documented
The parish registers of St.-Jean-Baptiste, Annapolis Royal, contain records of baptisms, marriages, and burials from 1702 to 1755, representing the last generations of Acadian French living at Annapolis before the Deportation.
"A fully searchable database containing information for over 3500 baptisms, marriages and burials recorded in the parish registers of St.-Jean-Baptiste, Annapolis Royal, 1702-1755. These two volumes are Nova Scotia's earliest surviving church registers, and a tangible link to the last generations of Acadian French living at Annapolis before the Deportation."Acadians - Nova Scotia Archives
[5] supported
By 1764, 11,500 Acadians had been deported out of a prewar population of 14,100.
"By 1764, 11,500 Acadians out of the prewar population of 14,100 had been deported from the Maritimes."The Acadian Expulsion of 1755 and the Deportation That Changed North ...
[6] supported
Nearly 5,000 Acadians died from disease, shipwreck, or battle during the deportation period.
"Nearly 5,000 died of disease, shipwreck, or in battle."The Acadian Expulsion of 1755 and the Deportation That Changed North ...
[7] supported
In the fall of 1755, the British forced between 6,000 and 7,000 Acadians to leave Nova Scotia.
"Throughout the fall, the British forced around 6,000–7,000 Acadians to leave Nova Scotia by the British."The Acadian Expulsion of 1755 and the Deportation That Changed North ...
[8] supported
In 1758, approximately 3,500 additional Acadians were deported to France, with several hundred perishing during the crossing.
"Around 3,500 more Acadians were deported on ships directly to France, and several hundred perished during the crossing."The Acadian Expulsion of 1755 and the Deportation That Changed North ...
[9] supported
The British torched hundreds of homes and farmsteads to encourage deportation and deprive refugees of shelter and food.
"Over the course of the war, hundreds of homes and farmsteads were torched by the British and American militiamen. This was done for two main reasons : to encourage the Acadians to agree to deportation and to deprive any of the remaining Acadian refugees of shelter and food."The Acadian Expulsion of 1755 and the Deportation That Changed North ...