Pierre Gibault

Gibault often exchanged Spanish milled dollars for an equal amount of continental promissary notes, and by 1783 estimated that this cost him 7,800 livres.

Gibault and Jean-Baptiste Laffont (surname variations include LaFond, LaFont)[10][11] left Kaskaskia on 14 July 1778 and converted an overwhelming majority of Vincennes residents to the American cause.

When Lt-Governor Henry Hamilton retook Fort Sackville and Captain Leonard Helm, Gibault found himself confined to Vincennes.

Gibault conducted Sunday mass, then led his entire congregation to Fort Sackville, where he informed Hamilton that all supplies would be denied to the garrison until Vigo was released.

Gibault soon returned to Kaskaskia, and blessed a force of Canadians and Virginians led by Clark to re-capture Vincennes in February 1779.

[14] For his services to the Americans, Gibault was viewed disfavorably by his fellow clergy, who had remained loyal to the British government.

Gibault actually requested a move to Quebec in 1788, but was denied by the Bishop due to a disadvantageous opinion that the government had formed of him.

He asked, as a "concession," that the United States would legally grant some land in Kaskaskia- which had traditionally been used by priests- to him and his successors.

The request was forwarded on and granted by President George Washington, but the newly appointed American Bishop objected.