Don Sharp recently sat down for an interview sharing more details on the lives of Gilberto Guillemard and Morgan Edwards (Hewitt). With the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, he feels it is important to recognize these two men and their families.
He tells about Guillemard's work in designing and building the three most iconic buildings in Louisiana, how and why he moved to Pensacola, FL, who he married and his only son's accomplishments. Millions of tourists visit New Orleans each year and marvel at Guillemard's buildings: St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere.
The story weaves in and out with yellow fever outbreaks and the volatile period of time after the Louisiana Purchase and its repercussions throughout Spanish West Florida. It involves the surveying and improvements of St. Michael's Cemetery in Pensacola, where Guillemard was most likely buried a few years after he completed the survey of the cemetery.
Characters involved include Governor Claiborne of Louisiana, General Andrew Jackson, and a host of others from New Orleans. It is a story of government ineptitude, failed financing, and broken promises, plus a few personal victories and disappointments along the way.
Click on the "Play Triangle" in the video below to watch his report.
The Boisdore Geneaology Chart
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Guillemard Moves To Pensacola
Guillemard was born in Longwy, France, on September 17, 1746. He died at Pensacola, FL, on November 29, 1808. He was most likely buried in St. Michael's Cemetery, the same cemetery that he had been hired to survey when he first arrived in Pensacola.
It is believed that Vicente Sebastian Pintado, another surveyor and map maker, hired Guillemard to survey this cemetery and also put together what became known as the Pintado Plan, a street map of Pensacola. It helped locate public buildings and churches.
In honor of Guillemard's work, Pintado named a central square in Pensacola the Guillemard Square. There is also a Guillemard Street in the city. St. Michael's Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Pensacola, and it is said to contain the bodies of many yellow fever victims. In all likelihood, Guillemard died of yellow fever himself even though his obituary does not mention it.
St. Michaels Cemetery location, downtown Pensacola
Google Street View
Although he was well-known throughout New Orleans and the northshore, mainly for his surveying work and designing and building St. Louis Cathedral, he and his wife had to move to Pensacola to be with his son when the politicians of New Orleans failed to pay him what they owed him. He was very familiar with the Gulf Coast, having drawn a map of Pensacola back in 1787.
Although his grave is not marked, Don Sharp believes he is buried in the same area with his son Arnould and other members of the Boisdore family (his wife's family.)
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