English translation of 1786 Land Grant, by Drs. Manuel Morales and Leslie Barry
Scope and Contents
This collection initially consisted of a portrait and a land grant. Azema Demarais, the granddaughter of Louis George Demaret and raised at the old family home on the Bayou Teche, is the subject of the portrait that is currently displayed in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room. There is a little damage on the left edge facing the portrait, which according to oral family history, was inflicted by a Union soldier. The 1786 land grant is written in Spanish. An addition donated in 2023 contains photographs of descendants, birth and marriage records, correspondence (including a copy of a 1788 letter), and various genealogy materials relating to the Demarais and Navarro families.
Dates
- 1724 - 1995
Language of Materials
Señor Gobernador General
Don Luis Jorge Desmaretz, con el debido
Respeto a vuestra señoría. Dice: que deseando formar una vaquería,
Y habitación en el distrito de Atacapas
A vuestra señoría suplica se sirva concederle cinquenta
Arpanes de tierra de frente, con la profundidad ordinaria, de las Realengas, en el
Pasaje que encontrará mas á propósito, y que le señalaría el comandante de dicho puesto en
La forma acostumbrada: Gracia que espera
de la notoria Benignidad de vuestra señoría. Atacapas 12 de Julio de 1786.
(signed) Louis Desmaretz.
Nueva Orleans 20 de Julio de 1786
El Agrimensor de la provincia Don Carlos Laveau Trudeau establecerá esta parte sobre
Los cinquenta arpanes de tierra de frente que solicita
Con la profundidad ordinaria de quarenta, en el
Puesto de Atacapas estando vacantes y no
Causando prejuicio alguno, con las precisas
Condiciones de hacer el camino y desmonte
Regular en el termino perentorio de un año, y
De quedar nula esta concesión si al expirar
El preciso espacio de tres, la tierra no se hallare
Establecida y de no poder enajenarla en los
Mismos, bajo cuyo supuesto se extenderán
A continuación las diligencias de apeo que
Me remitirá para proveer al interesado del
correspondiente titulo enforma
Estevan Miró
En vertu du decret et sa seigneurie (*my*-illegible) Miró Governador General
Mister Governor General
Don Luis Jorge Desmaretz, with due respect to your Honor.
Says that wishing to form a dairy and a room in the Atacapas district
Begs your Honor to grant him fifty arpens front, by ordinary depth, of Crown property in the place you consider more suitable, and that the commander of said post would indicate in the usual way:
Waiting for your graceful response and the notorious benignity of your lordship.
Atacapas
July 12, 1786.
New Orleans July 20, 1786
The surveyor of the province Don Carlos Laveau Trudeau will grant the land you are requesting consisting of fifty arpens front, by the ordinary depth of forty arpens in the Atacapas post provided that they are vacant and that it will not cause any prejudice, with the precise conditions of making the road and clearing the field regularly in the peremptory term of one year, this concession will be nullified if in the precise term of three the land is not set, and it cannot be sold in the same (terms), is under this assumption that the land is granted. Below are the proceedings for survey that shall be returned to me to provide the interested party can with the corresponding title.
Estevan Miro (Signature)
En vertu du decret et sa seigneurie (*My* – unreadable) Miró Governador General
Extent
From the Collection: 1.25 Linear Feet (1.25 linear feet plus oversized folder and art work)
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection Repository
Edith Garland Dupré Library
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
400 East St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette LA 70503 United States
337-482-6031
speccoll@louisiana.edu