Habitation at Port-Royal

The Habitation at Port-Royal was an early French colonial settlement. Today it is a National Historic Site in Port Royal in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

The settlement
Port Royal was founded by the French explorer Champlain after half of his men had died of Scurvy in his first settlement. Champlain worked with the Algonquain tribe to found Port Royal and, in return, fought with them and the Hurons against the Iroquoians. 

In May, 1613 the Jesuits moved on to the Penobscot River valley and in July, the settlement was attacked by Samuel Argall of Virginia.  Argall returned in November that same year and burned the Habitation down while the settlers were away nearby.  Poutrincourt returned from France in spring 1614 and found Port-Royal in ruins. The settlers were living with the Mi'kmaq.  Poutrincourt then gave his holdings to his son and returned to France.  Poutrincourt's son gave the settlement to Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour upon his own death in 1623.

Replica construction
A replica of the settlement was built in 1939-1940.  Today, this replica serves as the cornerstone of Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada, and together with the nearby Fort Anne National Historic Site of Canada in Annapolis Royal, continues to remind of this important historic region for Canadians and visitors.

Other websites

 Censuses of Canada - 1665 to 1871 - Early French Settlements 
 Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada 
 Acadian Ancestral Home - repository of Acadian history and genealogy
 Saint Croix Island International Historic Site
 An Essay on Port Royal 

Category:History of Canada