Person:Claude Coste (1)

Claude and Marguerite were living in Arichat, Cape Breton in 1771. By the late 1780's they were among the first colonists at Havre Boucher. Claude's name appears on the list of persons who paid a poll tax at Havre Boucher in 1794.1752 census at Port Toulouse. He is listed as single, age 22 with his parents. He may have married later that year or in early 1753.

In later years, the Americans (including Captain John Paul Jones) repeatedly raided and devastated the fishing settlements of île Madameand the southern coast of île Royale. The inhabitants of the Arichatarea were forced to relocate (some temporarily). These Acadians settled at Chezzetcook (east of Halifax), and Prince Edward Island. Claude and his family may have spent a few years at Fortune Bay, PEI (although they never resided there). The marriages of two of his children may have taken place there. Claude appears to have established his family at Havre Boucher (on the east end of George's Bay near the Strait of Canso) by at least 1784 and is generally regarded as the pioneer settler at Havre Boucher.

1. ↑ Letter -research by John DeCoste, Aylesford, Nova Scotia.
2.   Lloyd Boucher. research compiled from Antigonish Co.: Roman Catholic parish records of St. Peter question s, Tracadie, & St. Paul question s Havre Boucher;.
3. ↑ Registre de L question Abbe Charles-François Bailly; Ed Galvin question s loose English translation.
4.   Karen DeCoste Perusse. The Wonderful World of Decoste's. (Name: DeCoste Family Web Site URL: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/p/e/r/Karen-D-Perusse/ DATE: 9 Apr 2000;).
5. ↑ Inspection Voyage of Sieur de La Roque.