New Brunswick Historical Tidbits

The Spy of Beausejour

By Mitch Biggar

Perhaps the secondest most notorious traitor in New Brunswick history was a man named Thomas Pichon. Pichon was educated in Paris and served with the French Army in Europe. In 1751 Pichon became secretary to Governor Jean-Louis de Raymond. Then in 1753 Pichon found himself serving at Fort Beausejour.

At Fort Beausejour Pichon acted as chief clerk for stores and served as a scribe to the officers. Pichon even helped Le Loutre edit his letters. It was his scribing duties that gave him access to official documents. Pichon began to sell information to the British. Pichon received money for providing Captain George Scott and other officers at Fort Lawrence with copies of official French documents.

Pichon provided the British with many documents including the Acadian census, military plans and warnings of French attack. Pichon even gave the British the necessary plans needed to overtake the Fort. It is believed that Robert Moncton would have never been able to take Fort Beausejour without Pichon's help. After the fall of Fort Beausejour Pichon continued to spy in Halifax and then in London.

This page was designed by Irene Doyle September 1999