Jacon Meyers was from Pittsburgh, Penn., and was the father of Benjamin
Meyers. Joseph McCourtney was a native of Ireland, and married a daughter of
John Prickett, who came from Virginia. David Gray was from Massachusetts;
his wife, Dinah Gray, obtained a legal seperation from her husband, and for
many years kept up a sort of boarding house in New Madrid. She is said to
have been a woman of more than ordinary intelligence.
John Lavallee,
the last commandant under the old regime, has several descendants still
residing in New Madrid County. He was the father of Charles A. Lavalle, and
a man of intelligence and education. He was reccomended by De Lassus as
follows: "He is a zealous and skillful officer, recommended for a long time
for captain. I appointed him commandant ad interim of New Madrid. He was
recognized by the Government, and I think would have been retained but for
the change. Every time I employed him he gave me great satisfaction in the
manner in which he acquitted himself. He speaks and writes Spanish, French
and English, and is a firm, brave and prudent man." He remained at New
Madrid until his death, and served for three years as judge of the court of
common pleas.
In July, 1789, Gov. Miro sent Lieut. Pierre Forcher,
with two sergeants, two corporals and thirty soldiers, to build a fort, and
to take civil and military command of the post at New Madrid. Upon his
arrival, Forcher laid off a town between Bayou St. John and Bayou de
Cypriere, and built a fort upon the bank of the river, which he named Fort
Celeste, in honor of the wife of Gov. Miro. Lieut. Forcher was a man of
energy and administrative ability, and soon established order and prosperity
in the community. He was recalled, however, in about eighteen months, and
was succeeded by Thomas Portell.