Who was Morgan Edwards and why is he a key figure in Mandeville history? That was the question that history researcher Don Sharp has tried to answer, only to find out that while Mandeville's "Morgan Edwards" was the American who wrote the famous Oath of Allegiance for Mandeville area residents in 1779, his last name was actually Huett (Hewitt.)
The first Morgan Edwards was actually a famous Baptist minister born in England and active during the American Revolution on the east coast. He was the mentor and/or benefactor of Morgan Edwards (Hewitt). While adoption papers were probably not filed in Dublin, Ireland at the time, Sharp's research revealed that the Baptist preacher "adopted" the young Morgan Edwards (Hewitt). He is the one that went on to play a key role in Mandeville history.
"And since the family name Edwards has played such a large part in Louisiana history," Sharp said, "This development is important as we approach the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution next year."
Click on the "Play Triangle" in the above video to
hear more about Don Sharp's research into the real Morgan Edwards
Hewitt was the man who penned the famous "Oath of Allegiance" to the United Stated signed by 19 Mandeville area residents in 1779. That oath made its way to the Continental Congress and was introduced as the first declaration by a group of people in Louisiana to swear allegiance to the new United States.
Mandeville's Morgan Edwards hired New Orleans surveyor Gilberto Guillemard to survey early Mandeville to settle a land boundary claim. This was after his important role in the months following the "Battle of Lake Pontchartrain." More information on that at this link.
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.
