Cooney, the early historian of the 1800's, says that long before the 17th
century there was a settlement at Richibucto situated a short distance
above, or in the vicinity of the courthouse. This was a French settlement
contained upward of 40 homes, which naturally would contain at least
200 people. These people are believed to be part of the emigrants who
arrived on our shores with Champlain in 1604. We may well be the first
community with European habitation in all of Canada.
This early Richibucto settlement mysteriously
disappeared thereby concealing its secret forever.
There was no sign of these houses when
the French from Bretange and Normandy settled in the Aldouane later
in the same century.
Mr. Cooney said that perhaps the terrible
ferocity of the Richibucto Indians might possibly have prevented these
French settlers from remaining in Richibucto. When we consider the date
of the attack on Canco, in 1723 and that they were then and long afterwards
engaged in predatory war. We are strongly inclined to believe that settlement
had been made at Richibucto years before the taking of Baie-Vert and
that these colonies had been destroyed by the Indians.