Quinones, Estevan de

Legal action brought by Dr. Estevan de Quinones in order to prove the legitimacy of his marriage to Dona maria Durieux.

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1795 Oct. ?

Quinones, Estevan de

to Bishop Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)

1.) Dr. Estevan de Quinones states that he has been informed that the register books of the parish of St. Louis have been destroyed by the fire of 1788. Moreover, in those books was recorded his marriage to Maria Durieux, August 2, 1773.
2.) So he asks the Bishop to order Father Antonio de Sedella, pastor of the said parish, to certify that the book of marriages of 1773 was lost in the fire and that the certification be given him for his use. Signed by Estevan de Quinones.
--To this is added a decree by Bishop Penalver ordering Father Sedella to do as asked and the certification to be delivered to Quinones. Signed by the Bishop.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying that the above decree was issued and signed by the Bishop on October 14, 1795.
--Another note is added by Rivas certifying that on the same day he notified Father Antonio de Sedella of the above decree.
--Another note by Rivas certifying that on the same day he notified Estevan de Quinones of the above decree.

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1795 Oct. 16

Sedella Father Antonio de
(New Orleans)
Sedella certifies:
1). That some register books of the Cathedral of St. Louis, at that time just a parish, were destroyed by the fire of 1788.
2). That he does not know whether the one on marriage for the year 1773 is included in that list or whether it was lost in some other manner.
3). That this is all he can say as he has been ordered to by the Bishop's decree. Signed Father Antonio de Sedella.

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1795 Oct. ?

Quinones, Estevan de

to Bishop Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)

1). Quinones states that the certification of Father Sedella has been delivered to him. But that it does not in the least satisfy him because he does not know whether Father Sedella looked for the book of marriages of 1773 since he did not take the trouble to solicit it as is his duty.
2). Furthermore, Quinones asks the Bishop:
a). To receive information on the matter for that purpose certifications are to be secured from D. Andres Almonaster councilman and Royal Ensign, Colonel of the troops of the city, because he assisted Quinones marriage to Dona Maria Durieux on August 2, 1773 in this Cathedral Church celebrated by the Pastor, Dagoberto de Longwy now deceased and at that time pastor of the church.
b). That Joseph Montegut and Santiago Leduc, surgeons of this city, declare and swear that this is true, since they were ocular witnesses of the wedding.
c). That, if this is sufficient, he be given an authentic copy of these proceedings and that Father Antonio de Sedella be ordered to make a record of it in the book of marriage or whatever else the Bishop considers best for Quinones to prove the legitimacy of his marriage. Signed by Estevan de Quinones.
--To this is added a decree by Bishop Penalver ordering everything to be done as requested and that Dr. Andres Almonaster is to be notified of this. After that, the proceedings are to be brought in.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying that the above decree was issued and signed by the Bishop Penalver on Oct. 21, 1795.
--Another note by Rivas certifying that on the same day he notified Estevan de Quinones of the above decree.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying that on Oct. 22, 1795 he notified personally D. Andres Almonaster of the above decree. Then the latter stated:
a). That he knew of the legitimate marriage of Dr. Estevan de Quinones in August, 1773 because Quinones at that time was an employee in his home, and he knew every step Quinones took on the matter.
b). That he accompanied him personally to the church and witnessed as well the marriage as the veiling of bride and the groom. Signed by Dr. Andres Almonaster and notorized by Rivas.
--To this is added another note by Rivas certifying that on Oct. 26, 1795 he received sworn testimony from the surgeon Joseph Montegut, who said that he had accompanied Quinones to the parish of St. Louis and had been an ocular witness of all the celebration that took place in August 1773. Finally he swore that this is the truth. That he is 52 years old and Signed by J. Montegut and notorized by Rivas.
--To this is added another note by Rivas certifying that, on the same day, he received sworn testimony from the surgeon Santiago Leduc, who stated:
a). That he accompanied Dr. Estevan de Quinones to the parochial church of St. Louis whose pastor was at that time Dagoberto de Longwy.
b). That he was present during all the celebration and afterwards he accompanied both Estevan de Quinones and his wife to their home.
c). Finally, that the celebration took place in August 1773 and that this is the truth; his age is 53 years and signed by Santiago Leduc and notorized by Rivas.

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1795 Oct. ?

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

1). The Bishop states to have examined all the information presented by Dr. Estevan de Quinones in order that his marriage with Dona Maria Durieux in August 2, 1773 may be recorded in the parochial books of the parish of St. Louis--now Cathedral-- as the books of that time, in which it was recorded, have been destroyed by fire of 1788.
2). Considering this information sufficient, the Bishop orders Father Antonio de Sedella to make a record of said matrimony in the regular book for marriages, referring to the present decree, and that a copy of this is to be given Quinones after he has paid the correspondence fees. Signed by the Bishop and witnessed by Rivas.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying that on Oct. 29, 1795 he notified Estevan de Quinones of the above decree.
--Another note by Rivas certifying that on the same day he delivered to Father Antonio de Sedella the testimony as he has been ordered.

IV-5-d D.S. 9pp. 4to. (Spanish)
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