Inr.um. toru The year seventeen hundred fifty

Inr.um. toru
The year seventeen hundred fifty-four, the third day of December,
in the forenoon , at the req11est o,f' Ca thertne Cheval, Widow of Sieur
Etienne, Bosseron, known as Major, in.his lifetime a resident of Pointe
Co 1-pee, in her own name on account of the com'71on ownership of assets
be tween the said Deceased , her husband, and hersel,f, as well a s because
of her being guardian of Etienne , aged seven years , of Pi e rre, aged
six years , and of Jean Pierre , aged about fOllr years , ell minor children
of the said Deceased and herself, except as she has accepted it if she
deems i ·t appropriate 1;,pon cotmsel, or renounced it, insofar as the
community of property between her and the said deceased is concerned ,
and in the presence of Louis Renaud Duval, rna terna 1 r1.ncl e, snper·ior
guardian. of the said minors, t he said Catherine Cheval and the said
Lon is Renaud Duval
tl18 said commies ton (responsibility)
on the advice o.f' relatives a nd friends of the said minors , con..{iT'f'Tied
by the act of guardianship of this day , as a consequence of wJz.ich the
act of acc(Jptance o.f the commission which they have made is ac c> epted
by Char·les Benoist , carrying 012t the functions o ~f Recorder and Notary
in the said locality, on the same day, th~ said minors capable of
bearing them.~elves as heirs of the sai d deceased Etienne Bosseron ,
the tr .father.
(blurred from preceding page)
inventory and exact description of all the movable and immovable eqr:tipmen t, utensils, clo thino., 1 inens, garments, wearing apparel,
minted and un'71inted 8 tive ~,
livestocK,
letters ,
and paper, instructions and other
things left after r-he death of the deceased Etienne Bosseron and which
were the common property of him and the said Tiidow on the day of his
death , found in the h07J,Se where the said Widow ts resid i ng, and in which
the sa trJ. deceased died the twen ty-seoond o.f last September, shown and
exhibited to the said Notary by the said Catherine Cheval, Widow of
the said Deceased Bosseron, anii after an oath taKen bll her be.fore the
said Notary in the presence o,f u. Claude Trevannay (?) Chanfret, Ju.dge
and
the sc id port of Pointe Co ·pee, to lnve shown
and exhtbt ted all the said assets wi tho11t hiding or divertin,q anything ,
subjecting herself, !f it should be .fou,nd o therwtse, to the penal ttes
prescribed in S11c h a case, wh to h have been expla i ned to her b 1 the sa td
Notary, items estirr.a.ted and a rprotsed by Messrs Pierre Ricard, Henry
Girard, and Francois Emond, all three residents o.f the said place ,
acting as appraising bailiffs, who have appraised and estirrnted them
in their sonls and consctences, having due regard fort he present time
(i . e . , contemporary values) , as follows (in the body of the inventory) ,
ant they have sig ned thq droft of the present doctmwnt with the exception of the said Fro nco is Emond, who has declared himself nnable
to write or to sign this doc1;,ment as is c·1stomary. Thue si pned by
Ca thertne Cheval, Duval, Ricard, Gerorvt, 2'revanna y, Cho nfre t , and
Char·les Benoist, Jvotary, with flonrisn (i . e . , adrierJ to signatnre) .
(Signed)
Charles Beno tst
Notary
(a
Firstly, within the hor.lse wher-e the said Major died , are found :
Six old straw stuffed chairs, estimated at twenty-five sons each 7:10
An old armchair, estimated at three pounds
3:
An (clerical error) armoire of cypress,
estimated at fifteen po~nds
15:
A wlnut sideboard, :vith loc"'K o nd two drawers, estimated
at thirty five pounds
35:
A walnut annotr with ironwork anrJ lock, estimated at
one hundred fifty pounds
A ~ozen tin pla t es with
and three pans (basins)
three pounds , est tma ted
ma "Ires fa rt y-n i n,e pormds
150:
three platters (or trays)
weighing, togethe r, thirty
at thirty sorU3; the to tal
ten so us
49: 10
~hree copper chandeliers ~ i t h candle-snufrerhol~ers, estimated , in all, twelve p011.nds
12:
Two cypress tables, estimated ten pormde tor both
10:
A small
~
7:10
ter-jar estirna ted seven pozznds ten sotlS
A powder mill , out of service, as a keepsa"'Jre
(no valne)
3:
A lantern (beacon) of tin, estimated at three pounds
A syringe, estimated a,t ten po,znds
10:
A pair of and irons, with a scoop and tongs, estimated
together at twenty pounds
PO:
A mirrcr wt th carved and gilded frame, esttma. ted at
twen~y pounds
PO:
'l1hree rifles,a pistol, and a cuff (?), all
estimated at thirty-five pounds
35:
A si lver goblet weighing two and one-half otmces,
estimated at twelve po1.1,nds ten sous
12: 10
In rrJJnted silver and in neQotiable assets
(or '~eposit receipts, etc.), three hundred poun,ds
300 :
\,
Two pairs of breeches of (illegible word) , somewhat worn,
an1 estimated at seven po~nds ten sous pe r pair
Two ;ta irs of breeches of gray 1 inen, ro the r new,
es tin a ted at ten pounds for the two
I'
15:
10:
(3
Thre e ~ t rs of new breeches,
pounds ten sous
estt~~ted
at twelve
An old JXl ir of same, estimated at three pozmds
37:10
3:
Three UXJ. is tcoa ts , one of Calen.derie (?) , one of 1 in.en.,
and one of dimity, all estimated at thirty-seven pounds
ten sous
37: 10
A cload of cadto (cloth or style?), estimated at
thirty-five pounds
35:
A unistcoa t of donble thicknesses of red serge,
estimated at twenty-five pounds
25:
A lMlistcoast o~f black calrnande (?) estimated
at twenty-two pounds ten. sons
22:10
Six decorated shirts, estimated at twelve
pounds ten. soua each
75:
Five shirt.a of Jinga (?), estimated at four
fnan.cs (sic) each
20:
Fou.r pairs o.f long breeches, estirrnted at
three pounds fifteen soua each
15:
Four cotton caps , new, estimated at three
pounds each
12 :
Two cotton. caps, rather worn. , estimated at forty
sous each
4:
A tortoise-shell snuff-box, ornamented
wi th Pilver, estimated at twenty-five pounds
25:
A pair of silver buckles , of which the tong:UJ (I')
is steel, estimated at ten pounds
10:
A wicker chest, of which the handle is silver,
estimated at twenty pounds
20:
t.:··(, pairs of stockings, one of silk and the other
oj' (cotton.) thread, the two ;ooirs estimat~i at
ten. pounds
10:
Six blrle cotton. handkerchiefs, esttma ted at
fonr froncs (sic) each
24:
Six small oo tton. ha nditerchiefs, est inn ted at
thirty sous each
9:
A dozen. an.:i a half plates, esttma ted at five
pounds oor dozen.
7:10
A dozen. cups with their saucers, estimated ot
fifteen pounds
15:
(4
Two fine tablecloths, estimated at seventeen
pou.nds, ten so us
35:
A spit, a frying pan , a gridiron, two kettles , one
small and the other medium, estimated
at seventeen. pou.n.ds
17:
Eighteen tablecloths, of which stx, embroidered,
ro ther worn, and the other twelve o,;" or>dinary
cloth, also worn , all estimated at forty-fonr p07lnds
44 :
Eight nap?dns, err,bro idered and worn, a .Zl estimated at thrt3e po,~.nc'ls
3:
'l'welve joinea (?) napkins, estirnt7 ted at
six pounds
6:
A ;;u. i r of shoes estimated at .five pounds
5:
A
at three pounds
, ro.. the r- 1.zsed, e f' tima ted
3:
Ten C'lr·tains of heavy cloth, rother worn,
et: t ima ted at five ,:ou.nds per piece
(half curtain) making
Forty quarters of
in groin. , estimated
at five ponnds per UJUarter, rr.aking
Fo1.zrteen quarters of
five po•mds ~er Q'Ulrter , ma"lrtng
50:
200:
estima t Prt at
Two hu,ndred bundles of tobacco wei,qhtng seven.
hundred por.mds at the rote of seven so•J,S ner
porznd , ma 7dng
70:
245:
A cask of tobacco estimated at one hundred
fifty po1mds
150:
Al so , fifteen. bundles of tobacco weighing
forty-five pounds, at seven sous, making
16:15
In the Smithy
Two clamps (?), an anvil , a bellows, five hamrners,
three (pairs of) tongs, estimated together at the
sum of five hundred fifty pounds
550:
Three hundred pou.n.d.~ o;r ingot iron, at the rote
of thirty ;francs (sic) Der hrzndred , making the
s1un o.f ninety PO ':lnd&
90:
Seven plaq1zes estimated at ten pounds, ma"J.t;ing the
sum of seventy pounds
70:
(8
Th r ee axes , estimated at s e ven
each , making
pou~is
ten sous
2 2 :1 0
Six p i ck axes at two pounds ten so·zs each , TTIC'ktng
1 5:
One hay scythe, estimated at five po1mris
5:
Four dozen poker·s (?) , estimated at
t·,;enty-five sous each, ma7dn,q
5:
Fi ve rifle lock.s at five po1.znds each
31 :5
Six padlocks estimated at two pounds
ten sous ~a~h, making
1 5:
Two rolls of material estirrnted at three
por.m ds each, m.a.king six pounds
6:
Pt.fty ponnds of lead at four sou.s each ,
rr.a k t ng ten po•;,nds
10:
A millstone, with its handle , estimated
at seven teen po,znds
1 7:
Twelve files nr.all as well os large ,
estimated at twenty f ive sous each , TMking
1 5~
Forty .flasks of wine at forty sons per flask ,
rna lring eighty fr'ancs (sic)
80:
Fortu empty bottles at .forty
francs in all, mnktng
16:
Five empty gl ass demijohns , estimated at six
ronnds five so t~s each , TT'.aktng
31:5
.A ( blurred) estima t ed at five pounds
(?)
(?)
5:
estimated at two
Two
pounds ten sous each
5:
S i x ail containers, estinnted at ttventy
sous each, making
6:
Because of the fact that it is noon we have stoppe~ inventorying
t he contents for the interi m; everything hos been left in the keepi ng and poseessi on of the 1sa tr~ Widow of the Ma,jor, with the consent
of the said Guardian, who (she) t s vol lntarily responsible for it ,
a nd ~fiB promised to report everything when and to whom it may be
c onvep"i en t ( apnroprta te) , and they have s tgned , wt th the except ion
of t.hrJJ said Emond , who decla red that he does not kno.u a n y t hing
1
(
1
(6
abou.t this inqu.iry, and these have signeil. the d raft of this docu.ment:
Catherine ChPz.ml, !)'.J..val, Ricard, Geror'~, Trevannay, Chanfr'et , nncl
Charles Benoi['t, Notary, with flourish (bel ouJ signa trJ.re)
Charles Benotst
Notary
And at the en a of the said day and year at t'..l'o o ' c.l ock in the a,tternoon we have, in the presence of the 8(1 i "~ Widow and Guardian and
Appraisers, we have continued the preJXI.rotion of the Inventory and
they have signed with the exception of the said Emon~, who has declnr•ed himself unable to write nor to sign this Inqr.liry according to
( abbrevia tton) and these have signed the dro.ft of the present rfocumen t: Ca thertne Cheval, Du.ool, Ricard, Gero.rd, Treoonnay, Ohanfret,
a nd Charles Benoist, Notary, with flourish .
Charles Benois t
Notary
Acttve Debts
The sa t d Iltdow declares that there ts Olh'Bri to her by, S t eur Farragtn (?),
accor-ding to ri8 note of the thirtieth of last October, the Sllln of
seventeen p011.nds, designated A
17:
By Sieur Normand, according to his note of the 12th of last
September , the
S 1Jm
of twenty-two pounds, detJ .
B
22:
Also the sa td Normand owes, for two chests and a JX1. tr of
pictures, the sum of sever1. po•;,nds ten sotJ.s, des . 0
7: 10
By George Baron, according to his note the sum of fortyseven pounds ten sorJ.S, des . D
47:10
By Da.vtd, according to his no te o.r the 8th o.f laE;t
Au;ust , the B7JJn of thirty-five pou.nds , des . E
35:
By the one called Goguet, traveller, according to his
note of the 21st o-r laEt August, the sume of one
hundred pounds, de~ . P
,By Stenr Perthuto, J·zntor, according to his note of the
2nd of l:lst September·, the S7.lm of thirteen pounds ,
des .
G
By Steur Soileau, according to his note dated the 30th
of July, 1753, the 18th of F'ebruaray and the 31st of
tMay Of la:Jt year, and by an undated letter, tn which
he acknowledges receiving a ''pteoe d 'Inde '' (a certa. i.n
100:
30:
(7
type of sla ve) t he whole amoun ting to t hree hundred
seventy- two pou,nds, des . H
By the one called Al vi n acco rd ing to his notes dated
the 18th of last March, the sum of' forty-two pounds
ten sotJS, des . I
372:
4 2 : 10
By N. Benoist, according ta his note of the 22nd of
last March , the swn of one hundred t wen tu pou.nds ,
des . L
120:
By the one named Gall i e n , according to his note of
the 25th of last March , the snm o.f one hu,ndred pou.nds,
des . H
100:
By the one named Peraul t , acco r d i ng to his note of the
15th of 1JJst Apr il , the swn of ten pou.nds , des . N
10:
By the one named Boulo, acco r ry, i ng to his note of
the lOth of Jttly (anpJ. rently) , 1753 , thB quanti ty
of t " • ~:erhtdes, estimate!' at t wenty soud eac h ,
des . 0
10:
By M. de Nantonil l et the swn of fifteen pounds
15:
By N . Papi on the
BI)}Tl
of seven pounds ten sous
7:10
By Sieur Gerard the swn of ten po•mds
10:
By d ' Er bonne s ixieen pou.n.ds ten so1zs
16:10
By the Widow Relatte for n i ne
of twenty- two po,:md:g ten sous
pot~
of oil ,
the
S7Mm
22:1 0
From a sheet of paper servi ng as an aocormt of furnis't i ngP a nd work
done by ihe :::o id Major for varions individuals o.f tl?. i ~ port, amounti ng a l togethe r to the swn of three hundred sixteen ponnds , n i l"e
s ous
31 6 . 9
Deb t s Paz.piJ1e
The Wi dow of th:> J.fajor declares that she owes to Germa i n the s um of
two thor.zsan1 pot:mds
2000:
Xo Fro nco is Mayeux tha
IJ
( 8nl''l)
of ten pounds
To Jean, Decuir (?) that of ten pounds
To 'l
.. Sicard
that of eight pounds
.'.Co Sieur Gera .,-.d tha. t o.r fo.,-.ty pounds
j
I
'
I
i
~
To S ieur Drw a l that of five pou,nds
10:
10:
8:
40:
5:
(8
S1av~s
The one named George, "piece d'Inde", with Suzanne , his wife,
the to tal estimated at the s1un of three thonsand five hnndred
pounds
3500 ; 00
'I'he one named Be.Zler·ose, and Angelique, his wife, estimated
together at the liJWn of one tho,lsond eight hlJ.,ndred ponncs
1800:
The one named Nicolas, In~ian (savage), estimated at the
szzm of one thorzsand two hundred pou,nds
1200:
Lives took
A pair of young oxen, 1zn.tamPd, estimated together at the
sum of on,P h•.mdred twenty ponnds
120:
Eight mother cows, estima ter? tocether at the sum of four
hundred eighty ponnds
480:
Two bulls, two calves, and two heifers, estimated together at the s~m of one hundre1 eighty pounds
lBO:
Four hogs, of which one is large and three medium,
estimat?d together at ihe sum of forty-seven pounds
47:
Fifteen tobacco cor·ds (?)with linens , estimated
together at the sum of forty ;francs (sto)
40:
Forty chickens, hens, and capons, estimated at twentyfive sous each, ma.ldng
50:
Five turkeys, o,f which there are a cocJt" and fom·· females,
Gstimated at four por;,nds each, rr.aking
22:10
Lands and Buildings
Fo1zr a rpen ts of land, approximate 1 y, by frontage, with the usual
depth, on which there are a hou.se of thir'ty feet in length by sixteen
feet in depth, of posts in the gr'or.znd, walled in with mud (adobe)
all around, planking of stakes high an0 low, covered l ikewise, a
cabin se.,.ving as a kitchen, enclosed with stakes covered 1 ikewise;
a srr~ll builcing se.,.ving as a smithy, enclosed as above and covered
the same u:ay, a shed of sixty feet in length, a.lso covered u;i th
stakes, two poor cabin€, of which one ser've:= cs a henho•1.se, estiTln ted all toge the.,. at the sum of one tho•1.sand five hundred pounds ,
1, 500 :
·And on the said third day of December' of the said year , before u~,
Claude T.,.evannay Chanfr'et, judge an~ sub-del~gate of the said poit of
I .
I
(9
Pointe Cor::,pee, there has appeared the said Catherine Cheval , Widow
of the said Stear Etienne Bosseron, known os Ma.jor, who, after an
oath ta~en by her to tell the truth, has declared that ehe has no
~nowledge of other l'arnishtngs or effec~s o.f the stz.ccesston and community property between her and the so tr1 deceosed than those contained in the present inventory, amounting to the sum of fourteen
thousand seven hundred ninety-nine no•1.nds fonrteen so u.s, of which
declaro tion we have given h6r certificate, and in conseq1zence havq
considered the tnventor·y as closed, and the said JXIrties have signed,
with thP. exception of the said Emond, who has declared that he ~068
not know ho.v to write or to sign the inq1ziry according to law (apparently), onfi thus these have siqned the dr-a,tt of the present document: Catherine Cheval, Duva.l, r.icard, Gerord, Trevanny Chanfret,
and Charles Beno tst, Notary, w1: th flour ish.
Cha. rles Be no tst
Notary
(other faderl notes at bottom)