Don José Vidal

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Don José Vidal
Don José Vidal

Don José Vidal (born March 12, 1763 in A Coruña, Spain, died August 22, 1823 in New Orleans, Louisiana) was the Spanish grandee who held many official titles during Spanish rule of the Mississippi Territory. One of the titles he held was secretary to Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, the Spanish Governor of the Natchez District from 1792-1797. [1]

[edit] Life in Spanish territory

While Bienville established Natchez across the Mississippi River from Vidalia in 1716, it wasn’t until 1798 that the area that was to become known as Vidalia saw successful settlement.[2] At that time, the United States was in the process of taking over Natchez and the Mississippi Territory from Spain.

José Vidal, wishing to remain on Spanish territory, petitioned the Spanish Governor-General Manuel Gayoso de Lemos for a land grant across the Mississippi River from Natchez. The petition was granted with the stipulation that Vidal erect a “strong house” (fort) on the property, which Vidal did. Don Jose moved his family from Natchez across the river and became the Spanish Commandant of the new Post of Concord.[3]

Vidal lived in Vidalia until his death in 1823 and he is buried in the Natchez City Cemetery.[4]

Don Jose Vidal has few living male decendents. Remaining are Alfred Vidal Davis V (Natchez, MS), Robert "Radd" Addington Leonard, Jr. (Brusly, LA), Buck Alexander Beatrous (Mandeville, LA), Britton Postlethwaite Beatrous (Mandeville, LA), Robert Coleman Leonard (Brusly), Connor McDavid Leonard (Brusly, LA), Hays Addington Leonard (Brusly, LA), Will Trott (Birmingham, AL), Henry Lathrop Leonard-Rhodes (Crescent City, CA), Conner House (Natchez, MS), James D. Gammill II (Natchez, MS), Preston Inman (Gulfport, MS), Mason Inman (Gulfport, MS) and Hayes Denker (Missouri City, TX)

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Concordia Parish Courthouse (PDF) 5. LOUISIANA OFFICE OF CULTURE RECREATION AND TOURISM. Retrieved on 2008-02-06. “Settlement along the Mississippi in the area which would become Vidalia first occurred in the late 1700s when Don Jose Vidal received a large land grant from the Spanish government, which then controlled Louisiana. Part of Vidal's agreement with the colonial governor was that he would establish a military post and town at the site, which was located directly across the river from Natchez, Mississippi. Vidal named his town New Concordia. The post was first known as the Post of Natchez but by 1801 was called the Post of Concord. The Spaniards named Vidal military and civil commander of the post, a position he held until 1803 when the United States purchased Louisiana from France. It was Vidal who donated the strip of land next to the river where the community's civic buildings were eventually constructed. He also erected the first steam saw mill, owned a cotton gin and a blacksmith shop, and gave land for Concordia Parish's first school. The Louisiana Legislature renamed the town Vidalia in 1811.”
  2. ^ Gayarré, Charles (1854). "INTENDANT MORALES AND HIS MEASURES", History of Louisiana. Louisiana: Redfield, 649. “...the Spanish Commandant, Don Jose Vidal, gave the name of "Concord" to the fort which was erected on' the west side of the river, in front of Fort Panmure on the east side, and the present parish of Concordia derives its appellation from this circumstance. The village of Vidalia, now existing opposite Natchez, is so called from the old Spanish Commandant, Don Jose Maria Vidal.” 
  3. ^ Saldívar, Ramón (2006). "Life in the Borderlands", The Borderlands of Culture: Américo Paredes and the Transnational Imaginary. Duke University Press, 525. ISBN 0822337894. 
  4. ^ [The Natchez Democrat]. Natchez City Cemetery (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-02-06. “In this old part of the city cemetery were buried many notable people in the history of this city and state. And some from Louisiana and other states. Also the grave and monument of the Royal Governor when this state was part of Louisiana, namely: Don Jose Vidal, Born in the City Cowna, Spain, March 12, 1763, died at New Orleans, 22 of August 1823, Enjoyed the confidence of his sovereigns. He filled many offices of rank and trust in the Royal Government of the Province of Louisiana. Captain of Gragoons in the Spanish time; commandant of the Post of Concordia, consul of Spain at New Orleans.”