The number of Acadian families who returned after the deportation established themselves in three seperate regions (Bay Fortine, Rustico and Malpeque). In 1798, forty years following the Deportation, a new census showed 21 Acadian families residing in Bay Fortune. These families were: Chaisson, Pitre, Michel, Cheverie. Longuepee, Landry and Bourque. To mark the site of the old Acadian cemetary at Bay Fortune, the Acadians of Saint Alexis erected a monument in 1929, which would bear witness for future generations to this once small Acadian Community. Two grave stones are its only remnants. The stone reads:
MARKS THE PLACE OF THE LITTLE CEMETARY WHERE THE FIRST FRENCH SETTLERS IN BAY FORTUNE WERE BURIED. R.I.P.

There is an old bell in the belfry of St. Alexis Church. It was made in France in 1723, and buried at North St. Peter's Church in 1758 just before the deportation.

On August 9, 1870 a farmer was plowing a field near the site of the old church of "St. Pierre du Nord", which dated back to the period of the French Regime in Prince Edward Island. Suddenly the plough struck an obstacle. The resulting shock aroused the curiosity of the tiller. They discovered he had found a bell buried in the ground 113 years.

During the French Regime in P.E.I. (1720-1758), St. Peter's Harbour was named "Havre Saint-Pierre". At the time of the British takeover of "Ile St. Jean", the Acadian Village of "Havre Saint-Pierre" was destroyed, and its inhabitants were deported. Tradition relates that when the residents of "Havre Saint-Pierre" had received word the enemy had entered "Port Lajoie", the capital of the colony, they prepared for the coming troubles. They removed everything they could from the church, vestments, sacred vessels, bell, etc. and buried them so as to preserve them from the enemy.

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