Wallisville in Chambers County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Joseph Blancpain's French Trading Post
Photographed By Jim Evans, October 13, 2012
1. Joseph Blancpain's French Trading Post Marker
French trader Joseph Blancpain established a trading post in this vicinity in August 1754. He had been living in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was the owner of a mercantile store.With a small group of men, Blancpain arrived in August and soon opened trade with the Atakapan and related Indian tribes of this region. He had entered Spanish territory, and the Spanish soon received word of his presence. The Spanish governor ordered a detachment of soldiers to arrest the French. Aided by the Bidai Indians, the Spaniards located the settlement and attacked on October 10. The Frenchmen were imprisoned in Mexico City, where authorities concluded that Blancpain was an agent of the French government. He died in prison in Mexico on March 14, 1756, and the other members of his party were imprisoned in Spain for life.
The Spanish established Presidio San Augustin de Ahumada and Mission Nuestra Senora de la Luz on the site of Blancpain's trading post. The complex was destroyed in a 1766 hurricane. One hundred years later the archeological remains of both the French and Spanish settlements were uncovered and were later entered in
this page online
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9083.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1754.
Location. 29° 50.303′ N, 94° 44.18′ W. Marker is in Wallisville, Texas, in Chambers County. Marker is on Feeder Road to Intersate-10, 0.3 miles west of Wallisville Liberty Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker may be visible from I-10, but is best viewed from the eastbound feeder road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20136 I-10, Wallisville TX 77597, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mission Nuestra Senora de la Luz del Orcoquisac and Presidio San Agustin de Ahumada (here, next to this marker); Mission Nuestra Señora de la Luz (here, next to this marker); Site of Old Wallisville (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Emily Methodist Church (approx. 4.8 miles away); Turtle Bayou Resolutions (approx. 5 miles away); Chambers County Youth Project Show (approx. 5.2 miles away); Lone Star Canal
Photographed By Jim Evans, October 13, 2012
2. Wallisville Heritage Park Museum
Four historical markers are near this building.
Also see . . . Joseph Blancpain in the Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on October 15, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,136 times since then and 91 times this year. Last updated on May 7, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
