Vignettes - People

The Influenza Epidemic of 1918

The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed an estimated fifty million people worldwide.  In fact, one-fifth of the world’s population was affected, and this disease killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.  Erroneously referred to as “Spanish” flu because Spanish newspapers initially reported its pervasiveness, it was not confined to this one country. … (read more)

Notes on the Yellow Fever Epidemic

From “The New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal” July 1851 by A.P. Merrill Notes taken by Emma Clay of Medical Officer with 8th U.S. Infantry who was not named. An epidemic occurred not named but believed to be Yellow Fever. At the time of the appearance of this epidemic I held a commission in the… (read more)

The James Copeland Gang

Many people express the opinion that crime is more prevalent now than ever before in the history of Hancock County.  At first glance this might appear to be true, but investigation shows that conditions are different.  When one examines the available records of crime more than a century ago and makes a comparison with today’s… (read more)

The Sisters of Saint Joseph

Their story began in Bay St. Louis, MS, on January 6, 1855, with the arrival of three sisters from France at the request of Father Buteux, the pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Church.  “They arrived on the day of the Epiphany—what a beautiful coincidence….Are not these sisters the star which comes to lead… (read more)

Henry Weston (1823 – 1912)

Did you know that this October 29th will mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Henry Weston, one of the most successful and well-known businessmen in the history of Hancock County? Born in Skowhegan Island, Maine, in 1823, Henry Weston moved to New Orleans in early 1846 looking for business opportunities and a healthier… (read more)

John Law (1672 – 1729)

Controller General of Finance who presided over the boom and bust of the Bank of France and the Mississippi Company in early colonial days.   FAILED MILLIONAIRE-FINANCIER John Law, mathematician, financial genius and gambler, is depicted in most history books as the arch villain who brought down the Louisiana colony with his wild schemes. He… (read more)

Eliza Poitevent Nicholson – A Woman Ahead of Her Time

(From Along the Gulf.) “One of the most noted residents of Waveland is Mrs. Eliza J. Nicholson—better known under the nom de plume of “Pearl Rivers”—the proprietor of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, one of the most popular and powerful journals in the South.  Mrs. Nicholson’s summer home, called “Fort Nicholson,” is situated on the… (read more)

Letter of Henry de Tonti, left for La Salle with Indians in 1685

Letter of Henry de Tonti, left near the mouth of the Mississippi river for René Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, with Indians in 1685.  Source: Iberville's Journal of the Badine.   March 31, 1699.  Iberville writes in his journal that his brother (Bienville) brought him a letter for M. de La Salle, which Tonti… (read more)

Service Record of Thomas Shields

Navy Department Bureau of Navigation Washington D.C. 11 December 1931 PURSER THOMAS SHIELDS, UNITED STATES NAVY, DECEASED 1804 Jan 2 Midshipman warrant 1804 Jan 20 Accepted 1804 Mar 21 Ordered from Middletown D. to Washington 1804 Apr 6 Attached to the CONGRESS 1804 Apr 10 Ordered to Baltimore under Lt. Gardner 1807 Dec Returned to… (read more)

Thomas Shields 1783-1827

Thomas Shields, purser of New Orleans, (my 3rd great grandfather) was born at Bohemia Manor, Delaware in 1783.  (Transcription of note regarding Thomas Shields and brothers; "Article on the original grave of Thomas Shields, Purser").  His father was Thomas Shields who was  a merchant in Delaware, left there when his sons Samuel Bayard Shields and… (read more)