D'Happart, J. L. (Joseph Leger)

Joseph St. Leger d'Happart spent eighteen months in a French prison before immigrating to the United States. D'Happart claimed to have served Louis XVI, but the voracity of this claim is dubious. He arrived in Boston early in 1796 and obtained United States citizenship. D'Happart became a clerk in 1797, but he soon quarreled with his employers. D'Happart married Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Brigadier General William Thompson (c.1725 to 1781) of New Castle, Delaware. According to materials in the collection, the couple had at least three children, including a son and a daughter. D'Happart and his wife lived in New Castle for a short time, and subsequently resided throughout Pennsylvania. D'Happart made his living in the mercantile business, and was involved in a variety of colorful international business ventures. Between 1798 and 1801, d'Happart made three trips to the Dutch colony of Suriname for the William & Read Co. and the Rocheteau firm. From 1804-1805, d'Happart made an extended trip to France during which he arranged for the import of French goods which d'Happart, Joseph Thebeaud and Simon Chaudron & Co. sold in the United States. While in France, d'Happart met L. F. Babin, a Frenchman who assisted d'Happart in his lawsuit against the French government for the return of d'Happart's family property, which had been confiscated during the Revolution. D'Happart gave Babin power of attorney to complete the return of his property. D'Happart returned to the United States aboard his ship the Brig Betsy , of which L. F. Babin owned a quarter share. The ship was boarded by the British and taken to Newfoundland where all but a few items hidden by d'Happart were confiscated. In 1806, Babin accused d'Happart of owing him money. D'Happart was arrested in Pittsburgh in September of 1807, and taken to a Philadelphia debtor's prison to await trial. According to d'Happart's deposition, Babin sold d'Happart's French properties and fled France with the money. Furthermore, d'Happart claimed that he could account for all of the goods for which Babin claimed to be owed. The facts of this story remain unclear. After his release from prison in June of 1808, d'Happart and his family lived in Philadelphia until October. They later moved to Chambersburg in early November, and settled at Somerset a month later. D'Happart and his wife separated in 1812, and Elizabeth was granted a divorce by the governor of Pennsylvania in 1815.

From the description of Papers of Joseph St. Leger d'Happart, 1794-1815. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 31509152