Person:Lazare Couvain (1)

According to Alvin D. Covin, Sr. in his booklet, 'The Covin Family in America':

Lazare Couvain came to America with Lafayette as a sailor (officer) aboard Lafayette's ship "The Victoire", which arrived in Georgetown, South Carolina, on June 13, 1777. Aboard were 10 officers and Baron DeKalb, a German. Lafayette sent his ship to Charleston t opick up a cargo of indigo for the return trip to Bordeaux, France. The ship wrecked in a storm leaving Charleston harbor and while half of the officers were drowned, Lazare Covain was saved and made his way to New Bordeaux, South Carolina where he enlisted in the French Militia. He fought in the Revolutionary war until he was woundedat the Battle of Cowpens, January 7, 1781. Shortly after this he was discharged and went back to New Bordeaux. Prior to his death, Lazare Couvain changed his name several times because the record keepers' spelling reflected the common manner of pronouncing it. Records exist for Couvain, then Couven, then Couvin and finally Covin. Some of these spellings still exist today.