Chipman's Corner is located at the intersection of Middle Dyke Road and Church Street in Port Williams, a 10 minute drive from Starr's Point. Although the site might appear to be an otherwise ordinary intersection, you will find yourself situated in a location rich with history. From 1689 to 1755, the Acadian Church Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-aux-Canards stood on this site.
A monument explains that this old parish extended from the Cornwallis River to the Pereau River and that 180 families lived there at the time of the Deportation. This site emphasizes the importance of religion in the history and culture of the Acadian people.
Don’t miss : Handley Chipman, the first of his family to settle in the area, built a house in 1761 which is still standing on Middle Dyke Road, just before the intersection leading to the cemetery, if you are approaching the site from the south.
A bit of history
The cemetery is located exactly where stood the Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-aux-Canards Church, which was constructed by the Acadians and topped by an elegant bell tower. Prominent amongst the parish families were the Thériault, Comeau, Landry and Hébert families.
In his 1755 Census, John Winslow mentions this church and qualifies it as beautiful.
In 1768, the Planters arrived in New England and built their church in the same location. It would remain until 1874.
