St. Gem, Antonio

Documents concerning the information about the freedom of Antonio St. Gem of Kaskaskia to marry Maria Luisa Jardala. Unfinished.

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1796 Feb. ?

St. Gem, Antonio
(Kaskaskia)

to Bishop Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)

1. Antonio St. Gem of Kaskaskia notifies the Bishop that he desires to marry Maria Luisa Jardala of the post of Arkansas.
2. Accordingly, he asks the Bishop to accept information concerning the following points:
a) That he is a native of Kaskaskia, the legitimate son of Antonio St. Gem and Maria Vige.
b) That he is a practicing Christian, unmarried, and engaged only to Maria Luisa Gardala with whom he does not have any relationship or impediment.
3. Moreover, since this information is considered sufficient, he asks the Bishop to order the proper Pastor to marry them in the usual form.
4. Antonio St. Gem presents the permission from a Vice-guardian relative of his intended wife for the marriage.
5. Moreover, Antonio St. Gem states:
a) The post in which his intended wife and he live is very far away from the parishes and it would be too difficult to go to them since the nearest parish is that of Natchez, 150 leagues away. Accordingly, he asks the Bishop to permit that, after all the procedures of the case are completed, their attorneys might perform the marriage ceremony in the presence of a pastor.
b) That Antonio St. Gem and his intended wife would present themselves as soon as possible in Natchez (New Orleans ?) to ratify it.
c) That it is not practicable that his intended wife should go alone, a distance 150 miles, nor can they pay the costs of a priest to marry them. This is signed by Antoine St. Gem.
--To this is added:

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1796 Feb. 16

Perez, Manuel, Lieutenant-Colonel of Infantry and Senior Judge of New Orleans.
Manuel Perez certifies:
1. That there is no inequality in the marriage that Antonio St. Gem and Maria Luisa Jardala intend.
2. That since the latter lacks parents and relatives who might give her the proper permission, Manuel Perez using of the powers granted him by the Royal Ordinance of marriages concedes such a permission to her. Signed by Manuel Perez.
--To this is added a decree by Bishop Penalver y Cardenas ordering:
a) That the information be received.
b) That the license be considered as presented.
c) That the authorizations of Antonio St. Gem and Maria Jardala for the proxies for the marriage should be accepted and the Bishop will decree whatever else is suitable. Signed by the Bishop.
--To this is added a note by Rivas certifying that the above decree was issued and signed by Bishop Penalver y Cardenas on Feb. 18, 1796.
--Another note is added by Rivas certifying that, on the same day, he notified Antonio St. Gem of the above decree.

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1796 Feb. 19

Rivas, Dr. Joseph Maria de
(New Orleans)
Rivas certifies: That Antonio St. Gem appeared before the Bishop, and, under oath, answered the questions asked as follows:
1. That he is unmarried and engaged only to Maria Luisa Jardala.
2. That he did not make a vow of chastity or of entering a convent.
3. That he has not been forced into this resolution.
4. That this is the truth and that he is twenty-seven years old. Signed by the Bishop, Antonio St. Gem and notarized by Rivas.
--Immediately Joseph Bugin, a witness presented by Antonio de St. Gem, appeared before the Bishop and gave sworn testimony to the truth of the statements of Antonio de St. Gem in his petition to the Bishop. He swore also that he is 43 years old and did not sign because he could not. This is signed by the Bishop and notarized by Rivas.
--Immediately Luis Gossian, another witness presented by Antonio de St. Gem, appeared before the Bishop and witnessed to the truth of the same points as above. He swore also that he is 27 years old and did not sign because he could not. This is signed by the Bishop and notarized by Rivas. (The Bishop, however, has not added his signature here).

IV-5-f D.S. 8pp. 4to. (Spanish)
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