Don José Vidal was the Spanish grandee

Grandee

Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....

 who held many official titles during Spanish rule of the Mississippi Territory. One of the titles he held was secretary to Manuel Gayoso de Lemos

Manuel Gayoso de Lemos

Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos Amorín y Magallanes was the Spanish governor of Louisiana from 1797 until his death in 1799. Born in Oporto, Portugal on May 30, 1747, to Spanish consul Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos y Sarmiento and Theresa Angélica de Amorín y Magallanes, he received his education in...

, the Spanish Governor of the Natchez District

Natchez District

The Natchez District was one of two areas, the other being the Tombigbee District, that were the first to be colonized by British subjects from the Thirteen Colonies and elsewhere in what was West Florida and would later become the Mississippi Territory. The district was recognized to be the area...

 from 1792-1797.

Life in Spanish territory

While Bienville established Natchez across the Mississippi River

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 from Vidalia in 1716, it wasn’t until 1798 that the area that was to become known as Vidalia saw successful settlement. At that time, the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 was in the process of taking over Natchez and the Mississippi Territory

Mississippi Territory

The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....

 from Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

.

José Vidal, wishing to remain on Spanish territory, petitioned the Spanish Governor-General Manuel Gayoso de Lemos

Manuel Gayoso de Lemos

Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos Amorín y Magallanes was the Spanish governor of Louisiana from 1797 until his death in 1799. Born in Oporto, Portugal on May 30, 1747, to Spanish consul Manuel Luis Gayoso de Lemos y Sarmiento and Theresa Angélica de Amorín y Magallanes, he received his education in...

for a land grant across the Mississippi River from Natchez. The petition was granted with the stipulation that Vidal erect a “strong house” (fort) on the property, which Vidal did. Don Jose moved his family from Natchez across the river and became the Spanish Commandant of the new Post of Concord.

Vidal lived in Vidalia until his death in 1823 and he is buried in the Natchez City Cemetery.

Don Jose Vidal has few living male descendents. Remaining are Alfred Vidal Davis V (Natchez, MS), Robert "Radd" Addington Leonard, Jr. (Brusly, LA), Buck Alexander Beatrous (Mandeville, LA), Britton Postlethwaite Beatrous (Mandeville, LA), Robert Coleman Leonard (Brusly), Connor McDavid Leonard (Brusly, LA), Hays Addington Leonard (Brusly, LA), Will Trott (Birmingham, AL), Henry Lathrop Leonard-Rhodes (Crescent City, CA), Conner House (Natchez, MS), James D. Gammill II (Natchez, MS), Preston Inman (Gulfport, MS), Mason Inman (Gulfport, MS), William Holden Britt(Prairieville, LA), Jacob Davis Britt(Prairieville, LA) and Hayes Denker (Missouri City, TX)