Cutrer: West Florida Revolt (Louisiana)

In 1803 the United States purchased France’s territory west of the Mississippi River including New Orleans. Along with coastal counties in Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida, the Louisiana parishes pictured in red below were not part of the Louisiana Purchase and remained under Spanish rule. This area stretched from the Mississippi River east to the Pearl River.

The Florida Parishes by JW1805 at Wikipedia.org

About this same time, Joseph Cutrer and his wife Mary Ann Pendarvis* were moving from Orangeburg, SC, to Spanish West Florida in the red shaded area just south of the Mississippi line. They arrived in 1804.

 Joseph Cutrer (1772-1829)

“Things were peaceful until 1808, when Spain appointed Col. Charles Delassus as governor. The inefficiency and corruption of officials under him threatened the prosperity of American colonists in West Florida, who presented demands for political reform. Delassus pretended to go along, while secretly plotting to arrest the ringleaders.” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-the-short-lived-independent-republic-of-florida-28056078/)

The Law Library of Louisiana presents a nice timeline of events (https://lasc.libguides.com/c.php?g=683636&p=4847561#:~:text=In%20the%20early%20hours%20of,star%20on%20a%20blue%20field.):

West Florida Revolt

June through September 1810 - groups of men dissatisfied with Spanish rule met both secretly and openly.

September 23, 1810 - during the early hours, rebels under the command of Philemon Thomas attacked Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge. After a brief firefight, the rebels controlled the fort. They then raised the flag of the new Republic of West Florida, a white star on a blue field.

The Republic of West Florida (Lone Star) Flag made by Melissa Johnson in 1810. Picture by Wolfmaster2 at Wikipedia.org

October 27, 1810 - President Madison issued a proclamation declaring his intent to take possession of the territory. Soon afterward, the governor of the Orleans Territory, William C.C. Claiborne, and the governor of the Mississippi Territory, David Holmes, prepared to annex the new republic.

November 7, 1810 - the citizens of the new republic elected a bicameral legislature, and a governor, Fulwar Skipwith. His inauguration took place November 29. Governor Holmes went to their new capital, St. Francisville, and persuaded most leaders to surrender. Skipwith and others left for the stronghold in Baton Rouge.

December 7, 1810 - Governor Claiborne issued an ordinance designating the land comprising the Republic of West Florida as the county of Feliciana.

December 10, 1810 - that afternoon the last defenders of the Republic of West Florida marched out of Fort San Carlos and laid down their arms. The takeover was complete.

However, the U.S. was slow to officially annex the region. On November 20, 1811, Joseph Cutrer was one of 411 signers of a petition sent to both houses of Congress asking that the area be attached to the Mississippi Territory. Their reasons were based on the “difference of people, language, manners, customs, and politics.”  (Sources: 1. Cadastral Patterns in Louisiana: A Colonial Legacy, Carolyn Oliver French, 1978, https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4200&context=gradschool_disstheses, Appendix I, page 198; 2. Chapter 8 - West Florida Republic at https://www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety.com/history/early-history-hancock-county--ms)

Looks like their petition was ignored, but thanks to the tireless efforts of the “rebels” in the West Florida Revolt, Louisiana was finally admitted as a state in 1812. There are no U.S. Censuses until 1820. However, tax lists compiled from the property owners in Washington, St. Tammany and eastern Tangipahoa Parishes for the years 1811-1812 show Joseph Cutrer and his brothers: Henry Cutrer, Isaac Cutrer, and John Cutrer. (From https://sites.rootsweb.com/~lawashin/history.html)

Louisiana parishes once part of the Republic of West Florida are:

East Baton Rouge Parish

East Feliciana Parish

Livingston Parish

St. Helena Parish

St. Tammany Parish

Tangipahoa Parish

Washington Parish

West Feliciana Parish

Today, these are still referred to as the “Florida Parishes”.

Here’s the lineage back to “rebel” Joseph Cutrer:

9) Joseph Cutrer b. 29 Sep 1772 Orangeburg Co., SC d. 28 Oct 1829 Washington Par., LA m. Mary Anna Pendarvis b. 11 Sep 1778 Orangeburg Co., SC d. 5 Mar 1844 Spring Creek, Tangipahoa, LA

8) Joseph Cutrer b. 4 Jul 1806 St. Tammany (now Washington) Par., LA d. aft. 1880 Washington Par., LA m. Rachel Jane Varnado b. 1812 Pike Co., MS d. 1880 Pike Co., MS

7) Hiram Harper Cutrer b. 5 Aug 1847 Osyka, Pike, MS d. 2 Sep 1929 Pike Co., MS m. Sarah Jane Fortenberry b. 21 Jun 1846 Marion Co., MS d. 15 Dec 1886 Pike Co., MS

6) Isaac Omer Cutrer b. 8 Sep 1871 St. Helena Par., LA d. 31 Jan 1941 Washington Par., LA m. Fannie Rebecca Smith b. 16 Sep 1881 LA d. 21 Jan 1923 Progress, Pike, MS

5) Ollie Lee Cutrer b. 11 Oct 1903 Osyka, Pike, MS d. 6 Oct 1996 St. Francisville, West Feliciana, LA m. Laura Mae Robertson b. 18 Oct 1911 AR d. 28 Mar 1955 New Orleans, Orleans, LA

4) Robert Lee Cutrer b. 8 Nov 1927 New Orleans, Orleans, LA d. 26 Apr 2002 Lacombe, St. Tammany, LA m. Mary Elaine Healy b. abt. 1929 New Orleans, Orleans, LA d. 31 May 2008 Lacombe, St. Tammany, LA

3) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)

2) Private (information withheld) and Private (information withheld)

1) BAC, my son-in-law (living - information withheld)

*For more on Mary Ann Pendarvis, see Across the Pond: Cutrer > Zanin aka Jennings - Switzerland.