Quinones, Estevan de, notary public
New Orleans, (Louisiana)

these (copies which follow in Quinones' hand) correspond to the originals.

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1792 Jun. 6

Maria Josefa, slave negress
Guinault, Felipe, public solicitor
New Orleans

She states that she is the slave of Father Josef de Xerez, (O.M.Cap.) who told her that she and her child Maria Justa were free and that Don Josef (de) Ocon, pharmacist of the Royal Hospital, had the deed of liberty. She asks that this deed be given to her. Before Quinones. Request of Maria Josefa granted by (Father) Theodoro Tirso Henrique Henriquez, (vicar and ecclesiastical judge of Louisiana).

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1790 Jun. 8

Xerez, O.M.Cap., Father Josef de
New Orleans

He frees his slave Maria Josefa which he had bought from Jose de Ortega as also her child Maria Justa. But he still has need of her services so he does not tell the negress of her freedom nor issue this document with the necessary legal formalities but leaves it with his friend Jose Ocon.

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1792 Jun. 20

Maria Josefa
Guinault, Felipe
New Orleans

to (Father) Theodoro Tirso Henrique Henriquez
New Orleans

She asks that Henrique order that the signature on the above document be compared to the records of the parish in order to show that the signature is indeed that of Father Xerez. Before Quinones--

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1792 Jun. 20

Quinones, Estevan de
New Orleans

Henriquez orders that the assistant priests of the Church of St Louis must swear to the truth of their decision in the identification asked of them.

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1792 Jun. 28

Quintanilla, O.M.Cap. Father Luis de
Carriedo, O.M.Cap. Father Diego de
New Orleans

They, assistant priests in the parish of St. Louis, New Orleans, swear that it seems that the signature on the deed presented by Maria Josefa is identical with that of Father Xerez appearing on the books of the parish. Before Quinones.

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1792 Jun. 28

Henriquez, (Father) Theodoro Tirso Henrique
New Orleans

Let the royal paymaster of the army (Don Jose de Orue y Gioruca) declare whether Father Xerez had an entry in his books; also let Jose de Ocon declare whether Father Xerez gave him the papers personally or sent them to him from Havana. Quinones the undersigned notary will enclose a note which Henriquez ordered to be appended to the inventory of the goods of Fathers Xerez and Antonio de Sedella, O.M.Cap.. Before Quinones who informed Maria Josefa and (Francisco Luis Hector) Baron de Carondelet, governor of Louisiana of this decree.

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1792 Jun. 30

Orue y Gioruca, Don Jose de
New Orleans

At the request of Henriquez and Carondelet he certifies that following a decree of July 3, 1785 made by Martin Navarro at that time intendant general, Father Xerez received a monthly stipend for an assistantship in the parish of St. Louis, New Orleans, till December 20, 1785 when the salary was raised for occupying the chaplaincy of the Ursuline Convent.

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1792 Jul. 3

Quinones, Estevan de
New Orleans

He certifies that on this day Jose de Ocon appeared before Father Henriquez and swore that Father Xerez had given him the deed personally.

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(1790) Jul.

Henriquez, (Father) Theodore T(h)irso Henrique
New Orleans

To this inventory there is added a negress and her two children. (A note by Quinones certifies that this corresponds to the original).

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1787 Feb. 17

Ortega y Diaz, Don Jose de
Xerez, O.M.Cap., Father Jose de
New Orleans

Ortega sells to Xerez a negress of about twenty years and named Victoria which he bought from Don Franc(isc)o Badillo. The slave has been free from illness as far as Ortega knows, etc. The price is set. Witnessing the contract are Don Manuel Monrrey, Don Ant(oni)o Rodriq(ue)z and Francisco Carcares. Before Rafael Ferdomo, notary. (Note of authentication by Henriquez. Signed also by) Carlos Ximenes.

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1792 Jun. 1

Janqui, Vincent, assessor
New Orleans

In compliance with the order of the auxiliary provisor of Havana he assesses the negress, Maria Victoria, age about twenty- five and her children Maria aged five and a six months old infant at 430 pesos. (The copy in the original French is followed by a translation into Spanish by Quinones).

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1792 Jul. 7

Henriquez, (Father) Theodoro Tirso Henrique
New Orleans
Decree: When Father Xerez by the document cited above attempted to free the negress Maria Josefa and her child Maria Justa he violated the rules of his institute as well as canon and councilor decrees and the royal laws of this kingdom. Since, though appointed, Xerez never really held the position of chaplain in the army he could not use the indult granted by Pius VI on Feb. 10, 1784 at the request of Charles III, (king of Spain) and promulgated by the royal decree of May 3, 1784. Bishop (Felipe Joseph de Tres-Palacios of Havana, Cuba) made it clear to Father Joachin de Portillo, O.M.Cap., Henriquez' predecessor that Franciscans engaged in the active life ought not treat as their own what has been given them as alms. The bishop then added that account be made of the goods of Father Xerez so that they could be turned over to Father Isidoro de Fermosella, O.m.Cap., prefect of the mission. Therefore he declares that the deed of manumission of Maria Josefa and her child is of no value. Before Quinones, notary.

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1792 Jul. 23

Quinones, Estevan de
New Orleans

In accordance with the above decree he handed over to the alferez real, Don Andres Almonester y Rojas the negress Maria Josefa and her children Maria Justa and Francisca.

IV-4-i A.D.S. 35pp. 8vo. (Spanish)
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