| 1500s |
- By
this time the Quapaw tribe located to a series
of
villages along the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers.
|
| 1541 |
- Hernando
de Soto was the first European known to have visited
the territory which is now the state of Arkansas.
|
| 1673 |
- Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet explored
the territory as far south as the Arkansas River.
|
| 1682 |
- Robert Cavelier,
Sieur de la Salle visited the country of the Arkansea,
so
called by the Indians of the territory.
While on the Arkansas River one of la Salle’s
lieutenants, Henri de Tonti, asked for and was granted
a seigneury of land.
|
| 1686 |
- De Tonti established a trading
post, staffed with six on the north side of the Arkansas
River, adjacent
to the Quapaw village of Osotouy. A cabin and a large
cross were erected. It was named “Poste de
Arkansea”.
|
| 1687 |
-
March La Salle is assassinated
by one of his own men. His Texas settlement fails in
the following months.
- July 24 Survivors of La Salle's
expedition to Texas, come across Arkansas Post while
making
their way north. One
of the party, Henri Joutel, later writes the first
description of the Post.
- By this time only two men
remain at the Post. The other four returned to Canada
for news and supplies.
|
| 1689 |
- A site was granted to Father Claude
Deblon, a Jesuit priest, for a chapel and mission
at the Post. It is highly likely that this chapel was
never developed.
|
| 1690 |
- While traveling the Mississippi River,
Henri de Tonti makes a short visit to Arkansas Post.
This may be the
only time he visited the settlement that he helped to
create.
|
| 1700 |
- At about this date the original Poste de Arkansea
was abandoned.
|
| 1717 |
- The French government grants Scottish
financier John Law's Compagnie d'Occident complete commercial
and political
control of the province of Louisiana.
|
| 1719 |
- John Law expands his company to
include the French colonies in China and the East Indies.
The
company is renamed the Compagnie des Indes to reflect
this largest role. By this time Law had also gained
control of France's finance ministry; in effect, Law
was now at the head of Europe's most successful conglomerate.
|
| 1720 |
- "The Mississippi Bubble" - The value of stock in Law's
company rose so rapidly that, combined with Law's control
of the French monetary system, massive inflation was
seen throughout Europe.
|
| 1721 |
- September Share
prices in Compagnie des Indes deflate to their original
value. The
fall in the price of the stock led to a takeover of
the company and brought an end to Law's ambitious plans
to develop the Louisiana Colony, including the settlement
of German colonists at Arkansas Post.
- Representatives of John Law's Compagnie
des Indes begin construction of an agricultural colony
near the site of the first Post,
on
the north
bank of the
Arkansas
River. This colonial effort ultimately failed, but
formed the basis for later permanent settlements.
- Construction for the Law Colony
site is done by indentured servants and slaves.
|
| 1722 |
- By order of the Regent of France, authority was given
for a settlement at the Poste de Arkansas and an officer
named M. De La Boulaye was sent to command the garrison.
- French explorer Bernard de La Harpe visits Arkansas
Post at the beginning of his expedition up the Arkansas
River.
|
| 1723 |
- The Inspector-General of the colony visits Arkansas
Post and reports that only 14 Frenchmen were living there.
|
| 1727 |
- Jesuit Father du Poisson arrives at
the Post to serve as a missionary to the Quapaw and attend
to the spiritual
needs of the French community there (numbering about
30 by this time). The murder of Father du Poisson by
Natchez Indians puts an end to this missionary effort,
and for the next several years Arkansas Post was without
a resident missionary.
|
| 1729 |
- Natchez Revolt Natchez
Indians attack the French settlement of Fort Rosalie
(near present-day Natchez, Mississippi)
and killed 250. Encouraged by the French, the Choctaw
and Quapaw turn against the Natchez.
|
| 1733 |
- First Ensign de Coulange, commanding Arkansas Post,
reports that the Post was "menaced from all sides" as
11 hunters on the Arkansas River had been killed by the
Osage during the year.
|
| 1738 |
- The French government enlists the aid of the Quapaw
to wage war against the Chickasaw Indians, allies of
the British.
|
| 1744 |
- A census taken this year shows the population of Arkansas
Post as 12 soldiers and 10 slaves.
|
| 1748 |
- A census taken this year shows the population of Arkansas
Post as 31 Frenchmen and 14 slaves.
|
| 1749 |
- One hundred and fifty Chickasaws, led by Payah Matahah,
raided the Post. Six Frenchmen were killed and the Indians
withdrew when their leader was gravely wounded. Following
this incident, the Post is moved upriver to the Ecore
Rouge site
|
| 1750s |
- Arkansas Post serves as a jumping
off point for French travelers to New Mexico.
- Governor Kerlerec strengthened the
French alliance with the Quapaw by inviting the Quapaw
chief to New
Orleans.
|
| 1756 |
- Removal of the Post to its lowest
site on the Arkansas River, at a point only five miles
up from the mouth of the river. This relocation
was most likely done to make the Post most useful to
French military efforts during the French and Indian
War.
|
| 1758 |
- May & June Significant flooding
occurs along the lower Arkansas River in the area of
Arkansas Post. During the
year that the Post was at this lowest site on the river,
flood waters were a constant aggravation.
- 32 British prisoners of war are temporarily housed
at the Post.
- Father Carette, the last Jesuit priest to serve at
Arkansas Post abandons the mission here.
|
| 1759 |
- A census taken this year shows the population of Arkansas
Post as 40 officers and men.
|
| 1763 |
- February End
of the French and Indian War (Seven Years War). French
holdings east of the
Mississippi
River were given
to England; the Louisiana Territory and New Orleans
were ceded to Spain. Many French soldiers stayed on
and
swore
allegiance
to Spain.
- October A census taken
this year shows the population of Arkansas Post as
31 officers and men.
|
