In 1806 Favre began cultivation of land on the Pearl River in what became
Hancock County, Mississippi.
[2] Favre's land holdings were extensive, and his will mentions eight different plantations totalling over 5000 acres in area.
[1] He also 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.[1] The October 1814 inventory of his personal property includes a list of the 57 slaves, giving the name, age, and value of each.[1] The oldest was 80 and valued at $5.00, while the most valuable was a 30-year old "cow hunter" valued at $900.[1] Collectively, the slaves were valued at just under $15,000. The inventory also mentioned 6200 arpents (5247 acres) of land valued at $2410, a schooner named Pearl, and 450 head of cattle.[1]
One of Favre's properties on the Pearl River was originally settled by his father in 1767, and was inherited by Favre upon his father's death in 1782. This plantation later became known as the town of
Napoleon, and Favre kept a store there that later became a part of the community's church.
[5] In 1961 all the residents of the town were moved when the property was declared within the
buffer zone of the
John C. Stennis Space Center. Another one of his Pearl River properties became the town of
Pearlington, Mississippi, where many of his children, including those of his Choctaw mistress, lived.
[5]
Though Favre lived in Hancock County in West Florida, and died in Mobile, documents concerning his estate were also filed in New Orleans, probably by his Hancock County attorney, Rutillius Pray of Pearlington.
[1] By 1826 the estate had been partially settled, and during the October court term Pray submitted a final settlement showing total sales from the estate of just under $27,000 (including nearly $22,000 for slaves), while total debts amounted to nearly $33,000.
[1] However, taking into account unsold assets, the estate appears to have been solvent.
[1]