DRAWINGS BY A. DeBATZ IN LOUISIANA, \72>2-\7y:> 



Bv DAVID I. BUSHNELL, JR. 

 (With Six Plates) 



A. DeBatz, by whom the drawings were made, appears to have been 

 an architect or engineer and he may have been connected with the 

 miHtary forces of France then stationed in Louisiana. The time of 

 his arrival in Louisiana is not known, nor has it been ascertained 

 when, if ever, he returned to France. But a document recently dis- 

 covered in New Orleans may reveal the location of his earlier home, 

 before he came to America. This is a marriage contract, dated New 

 Orleans, October 27, 1736. It is written in French but the first part, 

 translated, reads : " There were present in their own persons sieur 

 Adrien de Bat called Ricard a master mason of New Orleans, son of 

 Sieur Alexander de Bat and Jeanne Ricarde the wife and mother. 

 Native of Montaterre in Picardy, diocese of Beauvaise, party of the 

 first part " (Numbered 6199.) 



Alexander de Bat, the father, mentioned in the contract, is believed 

 to have been the author of the sketches. The spelling of the name 

 difl:"ers but that is of little importance. Consecjuently it may be 

 assumed he migrated from Montaterre in Picardy to Louisiana, and 

 that he arrived soon after the settlement of New Orleans. Dates and 

 legends attached to drawings and documents make it possible to trace 

 his movements during a brief period. Thus he was at the Acolapissa 

 village, on the Mississippi above New Orleans, April 15, 1732; in the 

 Natchez country May 13, 1732 ; in New Orleans June 22 and July 29, 

 1732; in New Orleans January 24 and April 30, 1735; in Mobile 

 September 7. 1737. 



In addition to the drawings belonging to this collection, five docu- 

 ments bearing the signature of DeBatz are known. These are : 



Plan of a church in New Orleans. Original drawing is now in the 

 National Archives, Paris. Dated New Orleans, July 29. 1732. 



Petition to sell a piece of land in New Orleans. Original now in 

 the Louisiana State Aluseum, New Orleans. Dated New Orleans, 

 January 24, 1735. (Numbered 5202.) 



Marriage contract witnessed by DeBatz. Original now in the 

 Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans. Dated New Orleans, April 

 30, 1735. (Numbered 5294.) 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 80, No. 5 



