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