Amand Pfister

Amand Pfister was born in 1752 in Alsace, France - as noted on his gravestone in Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama. He was an emigre from France, and later, the revolutionary era in Saint-Domingue (Haiti). Amand arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sometime before 1795 with many of his compatriots and it was his contacts there that inspired the the Pfisters to leave the Bahama Islands for Alabama about 1818. (Daughter Augusta Elizabeth Pfister, in fact, married Nicolas Basile Meslier, Philadelphian colonist and agent of the French Emigrants Association, at Christ Church, Nassau in 1813.) Amand married Maria Josephine Rys or Ris 5 February 1795 in Philadelphia. They resided there until 1800-1801 when the Pfisters moved to New Providence, Bahamas. They had children - all but three born and baptized in Nassau, Bahamas - Aimee Maria Catherine, Augusta Elizabeth, Amand Daniel, Amanda Susannah, Amand Philip, Amantilda Maria Augustine, Amandteus Stevens, Amantinette Maria, Amantine Rebecca Barbara, Amasilia Augusta, and Ameda Robert Pfister. The Pfisters bought an interest in the land that the U.S. Congress allocated in Alabama to Domingan/French exiles in 1817 as part of the Vine and Olive Colony centered around Demopolis. Amand planted vines and also became proprietor of a hotel in the new town. As it became clear that neither wine nor olives were suited to the climate, many grantees dispersed. Amand and his family moved to Mobile. The cotton planters in the Colony flourished. Amand Pfister died 30 November 1835 - in the 84th year of his age - in Mobile, Alabama. He is buried with his daughter and son-in-law. He wrote a will 22 May 1832.

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 24 2018, 22:41:19 UTC