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Sullivan points out that after the Federal Road fell into disuse, “a more direct route from Mobile...to Jackson County Courthouse, thence southwestward to Favre Farm (Pearlington) became the new primary east-west artery.” Additionally, he states that this became known as Wire Road because in 1848 this was the route of the first telegraph line between New Orleans and Mobile.
(Here extract from Wailes : August 13 trip to Gainsville by carriage, and on the “trace” to Napoleon to'Pearlington, and then to Shieldsborough.)
But there are persistent legends involving Jackson’s troops along the Gulf. Indeed, Jackson had another engineer, Major A. Lacarriere Latour, who wrote A Historical Memoir of War in West Florida and Louisiana, 1814-1815. In this he includes a map clearly showing an American troop encampment in the vicinity of what is now Pass Christian. Also there is a story of fires being continued by Indian allies at Jackson’s Ridge (now Buccaneer Park) to make the British believe that Jackson’s forces had not progressed toward New Orleans. And then, our maps still commemorate the Jackson Landing site on Mulatto Bayou, believed to be an American observation point, as “British Lookout”.
The latter two attributions to Jackson the general, it is believed by this author, should more correctly be tied to Andrew Jackson, Jr. In another chapter, it is discussed that Andrew Jr. purchased Clifton and Sea Song Plantations in the 1850s. Clifton is the location of Jackson Landing, consisting of the Indian shell midden from which he had hoped to sell shells for paving the streets in New Orleans. Jackson Ridge was so named because it was the site Sea Song, the e, name given by Sarah Jackson to the Russ Place.
In the absence of local maps from earlier periods, smaller roads can also be puzzling.
Archaeologists know that some local roads had previously been Indian paths.
Also there is historical information regarding a road cut under the supervision of General Zachary Taylor.
1820 Lt. Col .Zachary Taylor and his 8th Regiment builds road from Pearl River to Western shore v/ of Bay St. Louis; medical officer describes bayside strip of homes and summer cottages, 3-4 miles along the shore at the little village of Shieldsboro.
A Sea Coast Echo article of March 12, 1912, happily details some^major improvements to the road system of western Hancock County. It must have been a result of the coming of motor vehicles and the advent of the 20th century. That article is reproduced here in its entirety. While it does not identify all roads by name, modem maps help to delineate at least two of the older roads.
These are Lower Bay Road, sometimes known as Old Pearlington Road, and Old Gainsville Road. The latter is one block south of Highway 90 on current Hancock County maps, but is shown running only a short distance east and west from the eastern end of Lower Bay Road.
C. Settlers /
/ ^^KLogtown Section 9 1835-1839
a)	80v%-aGFes, W Vz NE V* Asa Russ 22 November 1839 # 6875.
b)	80.23 acres, E ¥2 SE Va William J. Poitevent 13 September 1835 #2876
c)	40 ¥2 acres NW ¥2 NW ¥4 John Parker 5 November 1835 #2494
d)	40.11 acres, SW ¥4 NW ¥4 John McLaughlin 21 November 1835 # 2587
e)	80.23 acres, W !/2 SE lA John Parker 16 June 1836 # 4486
f)	160.47 acres E ¥2 NW ¥4 and E ¥2 SW ¥4 John Parker 16 December 1835 # 2876 (?)
g)	80.23 acres W Vi SW V* John Parker 9 May 1835 # 1588.
2. Anthony L. Carroll.
Claims recommended for confirmation 24 May 1828 Pearl River, Report no. 3


Old Spanish Trail Document (053)
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