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Bartram Trill
March 1st 1978
Page k
BRIEF HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNT (cont.)
After the establishment of the French at Mobile and along the coast of the Mississippi Valley the French came in contact with the Choctaw. By 1720 the land was occupied by the French, Canadians, Indians, and Spainards.
Forts had been established along the Gulf Coast and the first cultivation of soil began.
1763 West Florida continued to be governed by a general commandant at Pensacola. During this tine the Chacfcaws totaled approximately 2600. After the Peace of 1763 they enjoyed tranquility, unmolested in the heart of the wilderness hunting and fishing and trading.
During this tine until I78I1 the Captain General of Louisiana and West Florida contracted with King for supplying the Indians of West Florida with French goods.
Prior to 1781* was when William Bartram visited Hancock County.
The Government of West Florida created the Third District which was occupied by the French* This district was bounded to the southward by tha Oulph of Mexico, Including all the inslands withing six leagues of the Coast from the River Apalachicola to Lake Pontehartrain) To the Westward by the said Lake, The Lake Maurepas, and the River Mississippi} To the Northward by the Line # drawn due east from that part of the River Mississippi which lies in thirty-one degrees North Latitude, to the river Apalachicola or Catahoocheet and to the Eastward by the Said River*