The Last Few Years of Gilberto Guillemard

 Gilberto Guillemard is one of the most historic Louisiana personalities, having served as architect on three outstanding structures at Jackson Square in New Orleans: the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Presbytere. 

According to historian Don Sharp, he was not truly appreciated by the politicians of the day. His life story is complicated, and much controversy revolved around him not getting paid in full for his years of work designing and building those three buildings, possibly the most famous buildings in Louisiana. He left disheartened for Pensacola, FL, where he died a few years later. 

"It is an important story," Sharp said. "for New Orleans, for Louisiana and the nation. Guillemard was a Frenchman by birth, but a loyal soldier in the Spanish Army. His work as a surveyor and architect was essential to early New Orleans, especially his work on designing and building the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytere."

A postcard of Jackson Square

He even conducted an important survey of the young community of Mandeville on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. That survey was done to settle a dispute about land grant boundaries between Morgan Edwards and Jacob Miller. 

His Crescent City Contributions

Thousands of people come to the French Quarter every year and visit those three historic buildings, Sharp said. They enjoy the history of them and their beauty. Guillemard was also active in doing projects for the city regarding street work and drainage. 

 While there is no clear history of Lt. Col. Guillemard and the last few years of his life, Sharp has pieced together a convincing narrative: that he left the city in 1805 after not being paid in full for his work on the three historic structures. He went to Pensacola where he died a few years later, as recorded in the Sacramental Records of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Sharp believes that Guillemard died in Pensacola in 1808, most probably of yellow fever, and is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery there. He has contacted cemetery officials and reports that they are in the midst of a thorough examination of the gravesites using new technology so that an accurate map can be generated of the graves.

Here is a short interview with Don Sharp recorded on September 13, 2023, in which he explains his research and his conclusions about the last few years of Guillemard's life, his final resting place, and his impact on Louisiana history, especially regarding his highly accurate and detailed survey of Mandeville in its infancy. 

Don Sharp Talks About Architect Gilberto Guillemard

Click on the "Play" Triangle above to view the video

Gilberto Guillemard and Early Mandeville Settlers

 In this 47-minute interview historian Don Sharp tells about several key characters instrumental in the early development of Mandeville, even before Bernard deMarigny got involved with his large residential subdivision project. In fact, DeMarigny bought several pieces of land from these early settlers.

Link to the Video Interview is located several paragraphs below. 

Those several individuals included the Goodbees, Thomas Spell, and Morgan Edwards. Also involved  was the famous Gilberto Guillemard, the architect of the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère at Jackson Square. Guillemard was active in surveying land in early Mandeville, and by using his surveying skills, he helped early Mandeville landowners stake their claim, settle court cases, and begin the long process of selling off pieces of inherited land. 

A portion of the 1798 Guillemard map 

Click on the image to make it larger

For a larger more detailed look at the map, CLICK HERE.

There's no doubt that Guillemard is one of the most historic Louisiana figures, having three outstanding examples of his work at Jackson Square in New Orleans, but he was not truly appreciated by the politicians of the day. His life story is complicated, and much controversy revolved around him not getting paid in full for his years of work designing and building those three buildings, possibly the most famous buildings in Louisiana. He left disheartened for Pensacola, FL, where he died a few years later. 

St. Louis Cathedral

Don Sharp also tells of his research into the real name of Mandeville pioneer Morgan Edwards. According to Don Sharp's research, he was the adopted son of Morgan Edwards, a Baptist preacher. His story is quite interesting as well. The well-educated Morgan Edwards surveyed his own land, but his handwriting on the survey seems to match the penmanship on the famous "Oath of Allegiance" signed by northshore settlers, the first oath that anyone made to the new colonial government in the American Revolution. Edwards sailed with Captain William Pickles of the famed "Battle of Lake Pontchartrain" skirmish. 

Sharp covers a lot of territory in this presentation, but he ties it all together, spotlighting the early history of Mandeville and those who helped make it what it is today. 

To view the video, click on the Play Triangle below.

For more details on the subjects covered, here are two PDF text documents. 

Click this link for The Pontchartrain Posts

Also discussed in the video is the Thomas Spell Cemetery

Click this link for info about The Thomas Spell Cemetery
With Edgar Sharp The Old Pelican

The Thomas Spell Cemetery, also known as the Chinchuba Cemetery, is one of the oldest and most historic burial grounds in southeast Louisiana. 

Edgar Sharp, caretaker,  at the cemetery

Much of the information in the video program is covered in more detail in Don's book on the history of Mandeville. 

 

The History of Lighthouses

 Historian Don Sharp talks about the history of the lighthouse system, on the East Coast, along the Gulf Coast, and on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. 

Click on the "Play" Triangle to view the video