2007-02-09
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St. Francis — This is the history of how the Connors batteau came into being..I will begin with my great, great grandfather, Davis Connors , born 1795, in Pictou, N. S.H e was a boatyard blacksmith. His oldest son John Connors. my great grandfather, worked in the boat and ship yard , in his younger years, also in Pictou, N. S. building fishing Dories.
John , then migrated to St. John River area , IN 1858-59, where there was demand for river driving batteaus, this emerged the Connors Batteau pattern.
Next came my grandfather, David Connors, who lives in St. Francis, Me. who continued on the tradition , building Connors Batteaus.These batteaus were used excusively for the St. John River , river drives, from approx. 1895-1949..Totaling 300-350, river working craft.
With the development of the outboard motor, came the motor boat.What a developement, a working boat, with power, vs oars and paddles.The motor boats shared much the same material, and construction technique.The motor boat , having a square stern.
I, John Connors, being a fith generation of the Connors family, acquired the batteau building expertise, from watching my grandfather, David Connors, building batteaus , from a young boy, to adulthood.
The Madwaska Historical Society had a desire for an authentic river batteau , to use in their yearly reenactment of the arrival of the Acadians to the St. John Valley, and also for display, during that time.Being asked to offer my assistance and technical ability to construct a batteau, I was happy to oblige.
Comments and photos about this story
Feb 12, 2007 8:38 PM
It was so nice to come across this article on the batteau by Mr. Connors. My Dad, John Sinclair, learned to bring a batteau down the St. John as a young man working in the woods. He knew Mr. Connors and, I'm sure, appreciated the workmanship in the boats his family built. I once had the fun of watching Dad pilot a batteau in the Kenduskeag race in Bangor. While canoes were struggling all around, Dad piloted a crew through the rapids with calm and grace. I'm glad the art of making and using batteaus lives on.
Feb 10, 2007 10:50 AM
Thank you for the story of the Connors Batteau. Enjoyed the history of the batteau..
