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thE FAYARD F AM ILY
^bmitted by Brother Jerome Lepr^, S.C.
This paper represents a continuation in a series of short histories of the First families of the French colony of Louisiana with strong Gulf Coast roots. So much credit a to be given to these two pioneers of the Gulf Coast area that even in a short historical jfcetch such as this, at least some recognition can be given to members of that hardy band of pioneers, who fought the elements, politics and native Americans to construct the beginnings of a heritage wnich all of us now share. In this case the two individuals are Jean FAILLARD dit LaLANCETTE and Francoise FISSEAU.
Now and then a family name appears wnich, if followed through, might completely disappear from the records. This disappearance is not because of a lack of male descendants or a complete exit from the area by the whole family; rather, it is often the result of a peculiar system used by several European countries, which allows an individual to adopt a second name and simply attach it to his own, thereby literally giving that person two family names. The French were great in this respect, permitting a man who had done a service for his country to add a second name, or, probably in some cases, who themselves simply adopted an alias or second name and wrote the whole name, or one name or the other, as his signature. This is particularly true in the case of Jean FAILLARD dit LaLANCETTE, Jean FAILLARD called (known as) LaLANCETTE.
Jean FAILLARD dit LaLANCETTE was a soldier in the service of France in Louisiana during the late 1730's, 1740?s and possibly the 1750's and later. During the administration of Governor VAUDREUIL, between 1743 and 1753 several censuses of the Louisiana colony were taken, and, ostensibly, all citizens were registered. One such census involved the military, taken in 1745, which gave the name of each soldier and his alias or nickname or second name, whichever was the case. Jean is listed in this census as Jean FAILLARD dit LaLANCETTE . (The Vaudreuil Papers, Bill Barron, Polyan-thos Press, New Orleans, La., p. y9.)
Jean FAILLARD dit LaLANCETTE's family background is not known. However, for what it is worth, the following information regarding a family of Lalancettes is recorded in First Families of Louisiana, by Glenn R. Conrad.
1.	"Lalancette, soldier, his wife with him" on the boat Le Philippe,
1-26-1719, Vol. I, p. 36.	?
2.	LaLancette - died October 11, 1721, soldier and barber, Vol .11, p. 79.
3.	Death of Charles LaLancette - buried Septemc>er 5, 1726, aged 3, of unknown parents, Vol. II, p. 99.
4.	Death of Jeanne LaLancette - February 5, 1727, aged 26 or 27, native of Dunkirk, Vol. II, p. 105.
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