History

2008-06-01T06:42:00.001-07:00

I'm not an expert at computers, but I will give it a shot. So the story goes the Vocelle (Vaucelle) name originated near Thure, France in the Village of Saint-Genest-d'Ambiere, located about 5km west of Chatellerault, 30km north of Potiers, or about 200km South, Southwest of Paris. In the 1600's two brothers emigrated to the French Colony of Acadia located in present day Nova Scotia.

In 1713, France lost Acadia and the English took over the rule of the lands and renamed them Nova Scotia. For the next 45 years, the Acadians lived relatively peacefully under English rule.

In 1755, the English began what was to be known as Le Grand Dérangement or The Great Disturbance. Thousands of Acadians were forced to flee the area. Over 6,000 fled by boat while thousands of others fled on foot with some ecaping to Quebec which then fell to the British in 1759. Many of the deportees went south to the Carolinas and Georgia. One of the main reasons for their expulsion was the English government's desire to take over the rich lands of Acadia. One of the other reasons was their Catholic faith - and their refusal to abandon it.Some sources claim that 20%-50% of the Acadian population died during this time. The main causes of death include starvation, exposure, and disease. The Acadians were refused refuge by every colony, including Georgia, except Maryland. Reasons for the state's turning their backs on these refugees may range from religious differences, the colonies being heavily Protestant (except for Catholic-heavy Maryland), to an unwillingness to get in the middle of an French-English feud. Some local accounts state that it was the Acadian's own need to travel that caused them to not settle in Georgia. During this time, apparently in an attempt to blend-in, some Acadians changed their names. LeBlanc became Whites, Bruns became Browns.

The French government decided to build a colony on the island of Saint Domingue or Santa Domingo. The wandering Acadians were sent for and eventually some made it to the island. Here they were promised adequate food, housing, and work. Instead they were starved, mistreated, and forced to work for the Crown building a Naval Port. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 20% died while en-route, via ship, to Santa Domingo. Their bodies were dumped at sea without ceremony. By 1765, some Acadians were asking to leave. Some Acadians actually made it out legally. Others fled by any means possible.

In the 1790s the native Haitian people revolted against the French. Mistreated, malnourished, and landless, the Acadians that were able fled to other areas, including the southeastern United States. This time, Georgia welcomed them into the state. While most Acadians moved on to other parts of the country, such as Louisiana, a few settled in St. Marys, Camden County, Georgia.

Margurite Comeau, who died in 2/1/1829 and is buried in St. Marys Oak Grove Cemetery, is the only settler who was actually born in Acadia. The others, her descendents, were born either in France, Santa Domingo, or in Georgia. She married Joseph Desclaux (1757-4/28/1826). Joseph was born in Therault, France. He was in Santa Domingo and fled with other Acadians. Their daughter, Francoise Angelique Desclaux (1/12/1804-6/3/1864) married Jacques Vocelle on 11/26/1829. Jacques, who was also born in Santa Domingo, died on 11/18/1869 at 82 years of age. All are buried in St. Marys Oak Grove Cemetery. James T. Vocelle is descended from these Acadians.

James T. Vocelle, a descendent of the Acadians, was born in 1897 in Camden County, Georgia. He wrote a book on local history, A History of Camden County, as well as the books Triumph of the Acadians and Reminiscences of Old St. Marys.
The Acadians and their descendents found peace, acceptance, and a secure life in Old St. Marys. Here they lived, worshiped their Catholic religion, married, and died. Many are buried in the old Oak Grove Cemetery in downtown St. Marys. Some of their gravestones, which lie behind high brick walls, are in French but are understandable even to those untrained in the French language. Several local families married Comeau descendents. Many of the surnames of descendents are recognized as local: Vocelle, Desclaux, DuBois (DuBose), DuFour, Arnow (Arnau), Bachlott, Flood, Baratte, Fox, and others.

James T. Vocelle

According to my research, one branch of the Vocelle's went to Quebec where their decendants remain today. the others were deported the the island of Dominica and ultimately to Charleston, S.C. and then to Saint Marys, Ga. where our Patriarch, James T. Vocelle was born in 1897. He moved to Vero Beach, Florida in 1924 thus establishing the "Florida Vocelles". There is also a family of Vocelles in and around Michigan which appear to have emigrated form the Quebec side of the Family
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The purpose of this blog is to reconnect with the other Vocelles to combine our family history, research and geneology, and reconnect with each other!

Vocelle Geneology

History