Succession of Jacques Lemelle

 Spanish Judicial Records for Louisiana

(from Louisiana Historical Quarterly, 1940, Vol. 23, Issue 1, p. 318- on)

 

 

Succession of Santiago Lemelle. Inventory and appraisement of the estate.  No. 3309. 165 pp.  Court of Alcalde Francisco Maria de Reggio   Assessor, Juan del Postigo.  Escribano, Fernando Rodriguez.    

 

The record opens with the formal announcement of the death of Santiago Lemelle.  It reads: In the city of New Orleans, on the twenty first of March of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, Francisco Maria de Reggio, Regidor Perpetuo, Alferez Real and Senior Alcalde Ordinario of this city and its jurisdiction for His Majesty, said: That now, which is about eight o'clock at night of this day, he has been informed of Santiago Lemelle's death, who has left absent heirs, and for the security of his property remaining this act to begin the process is drawn up, by which sufficient commission is given to the present Escribano to collect the keys and give the death certificate, and when the abovesaid has been done, bring the records to the Court so that the rest of the necessary decrees may be rendered. Thus the Alcalde has determined, ordered and signed, to which the Escribano attests.   (Signed) Francisco Maria de Reggio. Before Fernando Rodriguez. 

 

In New Orleans, on the said day, month and year (March 21, 1784), the Escribano, in virtue of the command in the foregoing act, went to Santiago Lemelle's dwelling house, and having entered one of the rooms he saw Mr. Lemelle stretched out upon a bed, to all appearances dead, and as such preparations were being made for his funeral.  Immediately after, the Escribano, in virtue of the Commission conferred upon him, asked for the keys left by the deceased.  Two were given to him by a negress, one of Mr. Lemelle's slaves.  In testimony whereof he sets this down as a matter of record. 

 

On March 22, 1784, Alcalde de Reggio rules:  Considering that the late Santiago Lemelle executed a will before the present Escribano, let a copy be placed at the end of this entry, and done return the records to the Court so that a suitable decree may be rendered.  The testator states he is the son of Francisco Lemelle and Maria Luisa Maret, both dead.  He was born in this city; his father was a native of Paris and his mother of Germany.  He gives and bequeaths to his brother, Francisco Lemelle, the sum of 3000 pesos, to be paid from the product of the sale of his property, as well as an armoire and its contents, now in his sleeping apartment, a writing desk, a large table, all new, and the one-half of his tablecloths and napkins. 

 

He wills to Agata and Maria Juana, called Tonton and Adelaida, children of Jacqueline, a free mulattress, a house on Royal Street, adjoined on one side by Mr. Dupre's property and on the other by Pedro Aragon's.  The testator wills a negress, named Francisca, aged 35, to Jacqueline, and bequeaths to Agata, Maria Juana and Adelaida, a negress, named Eulalia.  He further wills to Jacquelina, Agata, Maria Juana and Adelaida, 200 hard pesos, together with the other one-half of his tablecloths and napkins, the kitchen furniture, bed linen, bed, sofa, small household effects and his handkerchiefs.  He gives and bequeaths his clothes to his brother, Francisco Lemelle.  To his nephew, Santiago Braud (Breaud), he wills 200 pesos, besides all of his nautical instruments.  He gives to his grand-nephews, sons of the said Santiago Breaud, who live in France and whose names he does not know, 300 pesos.  He leaves to the Charity Hospital of this city, for the poor, 30 pesos. 

 

He declares it to be his will, under which he has made the donation to Jacquelina, Agata, Maria Juana and Adelaida, that the house and negresses will be for the use of Jacquelina, as well as her daughters, and cannot be sold nor alienated until after Jacquelina's death.  He declares that his brother, Francisco Lemelle, owes him 432 pesos 6 reales, on a note and he makes him a donation of this debt.  He declares himself to be a bachelor, therefore he has no legitimate heirs.  He specifies that what he owes, or what is due him, must be paid and collected by his Executor.  To Mr. Pain, Sr., he wills a barrel of wine and 2 barrels of flour, which he requests him to receive in remuneration for services rendered.  In order to carry out the stipulations of his will, he appoints Francisco Blache his Testamentary Executor, so that at his death he can sell sufficient property to fulfill the requirements of this his last testament. and extends the time of executorship beyond the period of one year in case it may be necessary, recommending that he continue to advise Jacqueline, Agata, Maria Juana and Adelaida and show them how to increase their property.  For the remainder of his estate, debts, rights and actions, he institutes and names as his universal heirs, the abovesaid Jacqueline, Agata, Maria Juana and Adelaida, so that at his death they may inherit with the benediction of God and his.  He revokes and annuls all other wills, codicils, procurations and dispositions that he may have made before, either in writing or by word of mouth, so that they may be of no value, nor have credit, save this which he draws up in due and proper form as his last will and testament.  This document is dated New Orleans, April 21, 1783.  It was executed before Fernando Rodriguez, in the presence of Guillermo Marre, Julien Vienne and Pedro Gonzales Villamil, witnesses.

 

The inventory included a walnut sideboard with cupboard above, an armoire, mahogany wardrobe, mahogany table, mahogany writing desk, walnut table,  7 straw chairs, 1 pair of andirons ( with shovel and tongs), cash, Treasury Certificates, a large telescope, and an octant with a book on navigation.  Clothing included 30 shirts, 22 handkerchiefs, 22 vests, 16 caps, 21 pairs of trousers, 10 pairs of linen drawers, 20 vests, 3 suits, 11 pairs stockings (thread, woollen & silk), a great coat with gold braid, 2 dress coats (taffeta & cotton velvet), 6 pairs of short trousers, and 2 hats,  

 

Other items included 6 coffee cups/saucers, 3 curtains, 20 napkins, 8 tablecloths, 6 pairs of sheets, 3 razors, 2 cypress cots, 4 mattresses, a woollen blanket, 1 quilt, 2 pillows, 3 mosquito bars, 1 sofa, a copper clock, 4 pounds of candle wax, 30 pounds of soap, 2 chests, a day-bed, 1 blanket, a demi-john full of wine, a barrel three-quarters full of salt, 15 small bottles of wine, 1 demi-john containing a little brandy, 1 necessary with 1 china night vessel, a box of soap, 2 trunks, 24 table napkins, 4 compasses for navigation, 3 empty demi-johns, 38 bottles filled with wine, 3 half barrels of sour wine, 43 empty bottles,  14 plates, 2 dishes, 2 soup-tureens,  3 crystal salt-cellars, a wine cruet, 1 glass, 1 tin-plate pot, 2 tin-plate pitchers, 1 earthenware jar,  2 china night vessels, 4 pots, 2 tubs, 1 bucket, 2 copper candlesticks, 4 cups, 1 gold ear-spoon,  6 spoons, 1 soup-ladle, 7 forks,  7 knives, 1 pair of pistols, 1 gold-headed cane, 1 pair of silver buckles,  1 buckle for cravats, and 2 gold buttons.

 

Slaves and real property:  Francisca, aged about 40 years, a laundress (350 pesos); Eulalia, about 25, in bad health (350 pesos); 1 lot of ground (31 feet 6 inches front by 150 depth), upon which a main house of wood and brick, covered with shingles, had been built (2000 pesos); a second piece of real property upon which a main house has been built upon a brick foundation resting on beams, divided into rooms, with a gallery at the back and a store room in the court, in good condition, built of wood and covered with shingles (2000 pesos).

 

Also: an invoice for the merchandise carried on Captain Rousseau's ship for the decedent's account; paid bills for merchandise; an acknowledgment, signed by Francisco Blache, who says he has received a mulatto, named Juan, from the deceased to sell for the account of Mr. Le Moine (Moyne), Judge at Port au Prince, dated May 30, 1781. (At the same time Mr. Blache declares that the said mulatto was sold to Governor Esteban Miro and that Juan B Macarty paid the deceased for Mr Miro's account, and that the said Macarty holds Mr. Lemelle's receipt.); a written act of sale for the purchase of a negress and her 3 children, executed before the Notaries of the King at the Port of Jeremia, in favor of the deceased, by Juan Le Roy, on October 10 1780; an account current of the deceased, with Mr. Cadieu resident of Port au Prince, by which it appears that Mr. Lemelle owes a remainder of 300 pesos 4 reales. (This sum seems to have been acknowledged by his note, dated February 10, 1781.); a written Act of Sale, executed by the deceased in accordance with the Power of Attorney of Maria Nicolas Leduffe, resident of Martinique, in favor of Francisco Larche, for a house and lot in this city. (By this act it appears that the purchaser must pay Mr Lemelle 1000 pesos in wood and lumber.); outstanding notes in favor of the deceased; a paper, by which the deceased declares he owes Mrs. Isbeek of Donkerque (Dunkirk) 100 pesos, as a final payment on some merchandise she has entrusted him to sell for her; a bill for the purchase of the Brigantine Araigne, and expenses for navigating it; outstanding bills.

 

Agatha, Maria Juana and Adelaida, free (described as mulattresses and sometimes as quadroon), legitimate daughters of Jaquelina, a free mulattress, sole and universal heirs of the late Santiago Lemelle were left: a house in this city, on Royal Street, adjoined on one side by Mr. Dupre's place and on the other by Pedro Aragon's property; a negress named Francisca aged 35; another negress named Eulalia; one-half of his tablecloths and napkins; all of the kitchen furnishings; his bed and bedding; his lounge; the rest of the small furniture in his dwelling house; all of his handkerchiefs; and 200 hard pesos.

 

Bill for funeral expenses included the Mass, interment, 3 Priests, 4 Singers, 5 Acolytes, Swiss Guard and the Sacristan, the Cope, the Cross and Candle-Holders, Bells, Grave, Censer, 3 Masses for the soul of the deceased, black Altar Cloth, the Pall, wax candles for the Church, and the Night Office.

 

The estate amounted to 10,563 pesos 4 1/2 reales; costs amounted to 9199 pesos 7 1/2 reales, which left 1367 pesos 5 reales to be divided among Jacquelina and her three daughters.

 

One of Jacques Lemelle's houses was sold to satisfy his estate and the final records were delivered to Agata Lemelle on 28th July 1788.