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Notes on Barthelemy Lafon « Russell Guerin
http://www.russguerin.com/history/notes-on-barthelemy-lafon/
344: July 7, 1817: District court indicted Jean Lafitte, Lafon and Duparc for not paying duty on some guns; in 1826, after they were dead, court went after Lafon’s estate for unpaid sureties and nine years interest at 6%
348; Carmelita, captained by Lafon, returns to abandoned Galveston with Lafitte aboard. Lafitte had brought with him about 40 Baratarians.
From 500 Years of Maps
p. 126: See brief bio. Lafon lost fortune after war:
“Lafon is fascinating figure in the history of La. cartography. Trained as an engineer and architect, he emigrated from France to NO in 1790, established an iron foundry on the lower part of Canal St. shortly after his arrival. Lafon also served as the chief deputy surveyor for Orleans Parish, prepared the first NO city directories, and was an officer in the 2nd Regiment of the US Militia of the territory of Orleans.”
It is further stated that he prepared many maps for Claiborne and as engineer during war. After losing fortune, joined Lafittes, first at Barataria and then Galveston, where he prepared unpublished map of Galveston Bay.
p. 132: Wilkinson ordered Lafon to build Fort Petite Coquille. [This was before War of 1812, and Fort Pike had not been built. Petite Coquille was other side of peninsula from Pike, and commanded view down Rigolets from the Lake Pontchartrain side. Lafittes already knew area well and gave advice. Latour later joined Lafon and Lafittes as Spanish secret agents, surveying and mapping the southwest frontier for Spain. [Question: did S/W frontier include Miss Gulf Coast?]
[Another curious piece of info comes out about spying for Spain in that Fra Antonio Sedella also was spy for Spain. This was the much beloved rector of the cathedral, Pere Antoine.]
139: Lafon's 1806 map - #66 - is one of “earliest comprehensive maps of any state or territory in US.” [See also maps 79, 173, 82 to 85.]
180: Lafon served as chief engineer for American forces during Gulf campaign in War of 1812.
298: Lafon was influenced by classical design when he surveyed his subdivisions, naming streets in his faubourgs for Greek gods and muses [see map # 173]
317: Map 173, made in 1816. Shortly after, Lafon joined Lafittes at Galveston. He had lost his fortune after the war. [I do not know how, but it may have had to do with Spanish titles that could not be proved.]
rbg
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