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English translation of 1786 Land Grant, by Drs. Manuel Morales and Leslie Barry

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

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)

Related Materials

(See Map Case 47-03 for photocopy original in Spanish)

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection Repository

Contact:
Edith Garland Dupré Library
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
400 East St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette LA 70503 United States
337-482-6031