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HI'roHi:.\l. ikHTLIIKS OF HAKKISON COUNTY
liic jurisli of Viloxy, from the best information I could collet, may be estimated at 420; that of the parish of Pascagoula, 350, principally French and natives of Louisiana, a people more innocent and less offending than any I ever saw. They seem to regard nothing, but the immediate necessaries for the support of life, and are much pleased at being attached to and protected by the United States. How sensibly have I been impressed with the advantages, that part of Louisiana (which has lately been taken possession of) is to the United States, and particularly to the inhabitants of the Mississippi. The high sandy soil covered with pine and the beautiful bays and rivers which empty into the sea from Lake Pont' chartrain to the Bay of Mobile, seem to promise full recompense for the unhealthiness of the climate of New Orleans. It is my opinion, in a military point of view, for the protection of the country and insuring health to the officers and soldiers, the Pass of Christian and mouth of Pascagoula cannot be surpassed nor equalled in the Mississippi territory or that of Orleans.” (Journal of Governor Claiborne.)
After this report was filed, Governor Claiborne turned the matter over to Mississippvthen’T'TETrrctJfy^vhose authorities immediately took^Karge of affairs. \
The following/year, 1812, the two Parishes, Pascagoula and Biloxi, wer^'formed into Counties and callea\ Jackson and Hancock, AVe being in Hancock County knew/little of these counties | except that the courthouse was by/ned with most all of thv^records of Hancock County^/
Wc do knou^kowever, that the line-dividing these two counties began at the old fort on Fort Bayou called Fort M.ivircpas, and extended north to the northern base line of t!:c county. This base line extended south, cut off a part of wh.i? i: now Ocean Springs, at one time callcd Lynchburg, i	linr	proved to Unobjectionable to both coun-
1	■jcjti ijtrr the line u.-u moved three miles wes:
•	< v, 1" f'. Jk j!>ui u hm :iiu line wai c\:riu!c.i
J 1RST SHTLEMENT
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south it was found that it would cut off Point Cadet and the eastern part of Biloxi' so the line stopped at the channel, then run south east following the channel out at the east of Deer Island, thus putting Deer Island, though it is opposite Ocean Springs, into Hancock County. This line seems to have been^satisfactory to all parties and has been undisturbed until-'ihe preseht day.
In 1841 Harrison County was taken from Hancock County, takina/in a territory of about 33 miles wide and s&Qjit 43 ja#es north and south, this measurement not including the islands of Ship, Cat and Deer, which are in Harrison County though Ship Island is a National Reserve.
The first organization meeting of Harrison County was held at Mississippi City in July, 1841. The men appointed to organize the county were as follows:
George Holley, Probate Judge; John Brill, Sheriff; Henry Krohn, Benj. Davis, R. Lemeuse, Sherod Smith, F.
B.	Hiern members of Board of Police, now called Board of Supervisors. Wm. A. Champlin, Clerk; H. Fritzie, Overseer of Roads; Pete Flanagan, first Police Patrol.
Mississippi City was chosen as county seat on July 27th,
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•The following are the minutes of the f irs trne c t ihgr—.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI HARRISON COUNTY
MINUTES—BOARD OF POLICE
Special session ordered by the acts of the Legislature, establishing said county.
Monday, July 5th, 1S41, at n o’clock the board was callcd to order by the sheriff, when the following members pre-irnted their credentials, (viz) Henry Krohn, Rcmc Lemeuse, F:n!cy B. Hiern, and Benjamin D.iv;<, nr.d it appearing that cf the circled (vj7.) Shenxi S:n;:!i, w.v; ab%c!U, the :r.eni-i‘'t* I'.'f-rnt j^rccd to adjoin until ; oV.\kn p. rn.