33 Facts About Simon Favre

Simon Favre was an interpreter of the Muskogean languages, particularly Choctaw and Chickasaw, for the French, British, Spanish and Americans in the part of West Florida that became part of the states of Mississippi and Alabama.

The son of another prominent interpreter, Favre spent the late 18th century in the vicinity of Mobile and the Tombigbee River, which changed hands from French to British, and then Spanish control.

Simon Favre became well versed in the language and culture of the Choctaws, and was involved with several treaties between the Europeans and natives.

Simon Favre died in 1813, leaving many minor children and a substantial estate of more than 5000 acres of land and 57 slaves.

Simon Favre had 13 known children with three different women, and leaves numerous descendants.

Simon Favre's associations with property owners and prominent officials demonstrate that he was a person of very high social standing.

Simon Favre's grandfather, Jean Baptiste Favre, came from Royan, France, and by tradition was a cabin boy when Pierre D'Iberville placed him on shore near Biloxi to make contact with the natives.

Simon Favre's father was a government interpreter who was commissioned to explain the terms of the Treaty of Paris to the natives upon the conclusion of the French and Indian War.

Favre's father had just died the year before this treaty, and Simon Favre followed his father's career, inheriting his father's plantation on the Pearl River, though continuing to reside in Mobile near his mother.

Simon Favre spent his early adult years among the natives along the Tombigbee River, being initially employed by the French as an interpreter of the Choctaw language, but soon coming into the employ of the British and later the Spanish.

Simon Favre understood the Chickasaw language, but at one point his translation was challenged by James Colbert, who had married into the Chickasaw tribe, replaced Simon Favre as interpreter.

Simon Favre was said to be a confidant and personal friend of the celebrated Choctaw Indian chief Pushmataha.

Genealogist Heitzmann relates that at one point Simon Favre acted as the interpreter between Pushmataha and the military commanders Andrew Jackson and General Thomas Hinds.

Simon Favre is the best one of the province, with a great influence over the minds of the Indians, and he knows how to lead them firmly whenever necessary.

Choctaws were chiefs Franchimastvbe' and 6 Towns Chief Pushmataha, while Simon Favre signed as a witness.

De la Villebeuvre felt that these actions were being instigated by the Americans, and Simon Favre was sent to the Choctaw villages to assess the feelings of the natives.

Simon Favre then became an important interpreter in the service of the Americans, as well as continuing to work for the Spanish who were eventually compelled to give up control of their Florida lands.

Simon Favre provided intelligence and military maps to the Spanish concerning the activities of not only the Americans, who were applying pressure from outside the jurisdiction, but rebels along the Pearl River and nearby coast.

Under the Spanish, Simon Favre became known as the commander of the District of Bay St Louis.

Many of the land titles that were awarded by Simon Favre were later reviewed by the United States government and appear in the collection of American state papers.

In 1808 the United States Postmaster wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury that Simon Favre, who was still a Spanish subject, served as an agent for the post office, forwarding the mail passing through Spanish lands.

Just as his father had made the transition from French to British rule, Simon Favre likewise had little difficulty changing his allegiance from the Spanish to the Americans, and he continued to hold a prominent position in the region.

Simon Favre's carefully crafted words, presented under Claiborne's name, provide an example of the diplomatic skill with which Simon Favre was able to address the language and culture of the Muskogean tribes.

Simon Favre held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Hancock County militia, and early in the War of 1812 he was able to negotiate with the Choctaws to provide assistance against Britain's Creek allies.

Simon Favre died in the summer of 1813, and though he was living along the Pearl River, court testimony by Peter Moran in 1845 stated that he died in Mobile, and had not been there long before his death.

Simon Favre sired at least six children with Pistikiokonay, the first of whom was born in about 1784, and includes Alexander Farve, who later married Cuna.

In 1806 Simon Favre began cultivation of land on the Pearl River in what became Hancock County, Mississippi.

Simon Favre acquired 57 slaves shortly before his death, as they were not mentioned in his will, but later became prominently mentioned during the settlement of his estate.

Simon Favre's earliest known children were with his Choctaw mistress named Pistikiokonay.

Simon Favre had six known or suspected children with her, the earliest born about 1784, and the last possibly born about 1805, though without birth records there is uncertainty among most of the birth years.

Simon Favre's youngest child with his Choctaw mistress appears to be Jean Baptiste, usually just called Baptiste, who was born about 1805, married a woman named Toshowahoke, and had two children.

In 1800, Simon Favre had an illegitimate son with Rebecca Austin, a native of Tombigbee in the District of Mobile.

Simon Favre had six children with his legal wife, Celeste Rochon, the oldest of whom was Jean, born August 2,1802, died January 7,1888, and married Dianna Edwards.