Olivier Blanchard, son of René Blanchard and Marguerite Thériault, is considered a pioneer of Caraquet, New Brunswick. In 1752, he married Catherine Amirault dit Mirau from the Peticodiac River, where they settled and had their two first children. In 1756, when their village was destroyed by the British, the Blanchards fled by boat. They settled on the banks of the Restigouche River, but in 1760 they again had to flee from the British soldiers. In 1761, living in Népisiguit, they were unable to avoid Captain MacKenzie's raid. Their boat was taken from them and they were imprisoned in Fort Cumberland, previously Fort Beauséjour. Finally, in 1772, they settled in Népisiguit for a few years, then moved to Caraquet, where their ninth and last child was born.