At some point, likely in the late 1840s or very early 1850s, Pierre Benoit arrived in Bay St. George. Based on the church records and the census records for Bay St. George, Pierre was born about 1835 in France, which means that he most likely arrived in Bay St. George via the French fishing fleet, which frequented the West Coast fo Newfoundland at that time. Pierre was one of the many young frenchmen that jumped ship, to escape the misery of the french fishery. They were considered deserters by the French, but were now free.

The first mention of Pierre Benoit in the records is when Pierre is a Godparent at the Baptism of John Young on January 21, 1851. Pierre was about 16 years old at that time. He would sponsor 3 more children by 1855.

From “Les Acadiennes de Terre-Neuve”
by Thomas W. Leblanc published : 15 April 1948

Paul Longuépée, married to a Decosta, crossed over to Newfoundland in a launch without bridge. He had as crew members his wife, two children, Marie-Anne and Louis, who was crippled. Paul Longuépée settled in Flat Bay, where his sister was married to Germain LeBlanc. Marie-Anne Longuépée married Pierre Benoit from Flat Bay, close to St. George’s and became grandmother and great grandmother to one hundred Benoit from Flat Bay and elsewhere. Louis Longuépée died very young. The precise date of the arrival of Paul Longuépée in Newfoundland is unknown, but it was probably about 1850. He came from Mabou, near Port Hood, Cape Breton.

Pierre Benoit and Marie-Anne Longuépée were married at Sandy Point on November 17th, 1857. Their first child Thomas was born on 22 October 1858. Over the next 20 or so years, Pierre and Anne-Marie would have 10 more children. It is believed that the family lived in Flat Bay.

Thomas Benoit – born 22 Oct 1858
Jean Baptiste Benoit – born 12 Aug 1860
Paul Benoit – born 6 May 1862
Peter Benoit – born 28 Oct 1864
Joseph Benoit – born 19 Oct 1867
Elizabeth Benoit – born 23 Nov 1869
Susan Benoit – born 27 Feb 1871
Frederick Benoit – born 26 Jul 1873
Mary Ann Benoit – born 18 Apr 1876
William Benoit – born 26 Jul 1873
David Benoit – born 1 Mar 1880