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

Proceedings regarding the claims of Father Pierre Joseph Didier, O.S.B. and Father Peter Gibau(lt)to be admitted as parish priests in this province (Louisiana).

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1792 Jul. 13

Carondelet, (Francisco Luis Hector) Baron de
New Orleans

to (Father) Theodoro Thirso Henrique Henriquez, vicar and ecclesiastical judge of Louisiana
New Orleans

He encloses a letter of Father Peter Le Dru, O.P., pastor of St. Louis, (Missouri) by which Henriquez will see that Father Didier awaits only permission to settle in Louisiana. Carondolet argues the good, religious and civil to come from admitting Father Didier. For the same reasons, Father Gibault who was pastor at Kahoquias (Cahokia), Illinois should be admitted into Louisiana. Father Gibault is now at New Madrid, (Missouri).

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1792 Jun. 12

Le Dru, O.P., Father Peter
St. Louis, (Missouri)

to (Francisco Luis Hector) Baron de Carondolet
New Orleans

He cannot stand the hardships of his extensive parish. Therefore, with the approval of Manuel Perez, commandant at St. Louis, he has employed Father Didier to share in his ministry at St. Charles, (Missouri) and (St. Ferdinand, Missouri). Father Didier has been at Gallypoly (Gallipolis, Ohio) but since he lacks resources he cannot remain in American territory. Le Dru asks Carondolet to obtain permission from the king for Didier to remain in Spanish territory.

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1792 Jul. 16

Henriquez, (Father) Theodoro Thirso Henrique
New Orleans

to (Francisco Luis Hector) Baron de Carondolet
New Orleans
Offician(?) reply
He has received Carondolet's letter of (July) 13 with the copy of Le Dru's letter of (June) 12. The diocesan (Felipe Joseph de Tres-Palacios, bishop of Havana) instructed Henriquez' predecessor (Father Joachim de Portillo, O.M.Cap.) that he could not name the abbot Gace (Father Francisco de Gace) pastor of St. Charles (Missouri) for the king does not permit any but Capuchin priests in these provinces. However, great benefit has come already from the appointment of Didier, therefore, using his plenary faculties, Henriquez will under separate cover give Le Dru authority to proceed in the matter and he will also send the same notice to Father Paul of St. Peter, pastor of St. Genevieve, (Missouri). He encloses a copy of the legal requisites in order to help Carondolet decide what is to be done about the emigrant parishioners.

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1792 Jul. 16

Henriquez, Theodoro Thirso Henrique
New Orleans
Decree:
Interpreting the King's will and supposing on the assertion of Le Dru that Dom Didier has the requisites prescribed by Trent and the synodic councils of Havana he orders that Father Le Dru examine the Benedictine before two witnesses to determine his ability and learning. If the results are satisfactory Father Didier is to be allowed to act as pastor of his immigrant parishioners, but he is nevertheless suspended from exercising his ministry among others as he has been doing. Father Gibault is to be examined by Father Paul of St. Peter in the same manner as Father Didier.

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1790 Apr. 28

Antonelli, L(eonardo) Cardinal, prefect of the sacred congregation of the Propaganda
Rome, (Italy)

He has learned from the archbishop of Rhodes, (Nicholas Timoni) apostolic nuncio in France that there is a design of establishing a colony on the lands of the Scioto river; he has been asked to grant to Father Didier faculties for the spiritual; care of so many Catholics. Antonelli agrees, if it is pleasing to the holy Father and Father Didier is approved by the archbishop of Paris or his vicar general, to grant the faculties of formula IV for seven years, on condition that the lands in question are not within the territory of any bishop within the limits of the United States. The Pope (Pius VI) approves. Copy certified by Zenon Trudeau, commandant of the western part of Illinois at St. Louis, Apr. 14, 1793.

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1790 Apr. 28

Antonelli, L(eonardo) Cardinal
Rome

(The very extensive) faculties of formula IV. Copy certified by Trudea, Apr. 14, 1793.

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1793 Apr. 22

Carondolet, (Francisco Luis Hector), Baron de
New Orleans

to (Father Theodoro Thirso Henrique) Henriquez
New Orleans

Don Pedro Acuna, secretary of state in his letter of January 28 says among other things the following: the council presided over by the King (Charles IV of Spain) considered the cases of Juan Bautista (Pierre Joseph) Didier, O.S.B. former pastor at the settlement of Gallipoli and Father Pedro Gibeau, pastor of Kahokias (Cahokia) both of whom desire admission to Louisiana and offer to bring along their parishioners, most of whom are Frenchmen disgusted with the American domain. His majesty approved and assigned to each a salary, allowing Father Didier to go to St. Ferdinand and St. Charles and Father Gibault to New Madrid.

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1793 Apr. 23

Henriquez, (Father) Theodoro Thirso Henrique
New Orleans

to Francisco (Luis Hector) Baron de Carondolet
New Orleans

He received Carondolet's communication under yesterday's date concerning Father Didier and Gibault. Investigation of their qualifications are not yet completed, but no difficulty is anticipated. Copy certified by Estevan de Quinones.

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1793 Apr. 30

Henriquez, (Theodoro Thirso Henrique)
New Orleans

He orders Quinones to translate into Spanish the certification given him (Henriquez) personally by Pedro Carlos Dehault.

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1793 Apr. 27

Dehault, (Pedro Carlos)
New Orleans

In France he knew Father Didier, procurator of the royal abbey of St. Dionysius near Paris. He knows too that Father Didier came to this country to escape the fury of the populace who persecuted him for having obeyed the orders of the king and that he was chosen by the French immigrants to be their pastor. Lastly, he certifies that Father Didier stopped in 1792 at Fort Duquesne, Pennsylvania, on his return from Baltimore where he had gone to receive his faculties from Bishop (John) Carroll. He has been exact in his spiritual duties toward his flock as well as assisting them by his thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of medicine and surgery. (Both the French original and the translation are in the Notre Dame Archives).

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1793 May. 7

Henriquez, Theodoro Thirso Henrique
New Orleans

On July 16, 1792 he sent to Father Le Dru original documents empowering him to receive information concerning the fitness of Father Didier who asked permission to be admitted to the territory of Illinois to administer to his emigrant parishioners Father Le Dru has, despite the long time which has elapsed, returned no answer. Zenon Trudeau in his letter of March 28 last to Carondolet states that Le Dru wished to return to Canada. In this case the people of those settlements would be left with only the priest of St. Genevieve (Missouri) which fact will increase the alarm felt by the people of St. Ferdinand and St. Charles on account of Father Didier being forbidden to exercise the functions he had been exercising before the resolution of his majesty. However, in consideration of the decision of the council presided over by the king on January 25 last and of the certification of Mr. Dehault, Henriquez grants him ordinary faculties but forbids the use of the pontifical faculties granted him until it is permitted by the diocesan whom he will inform in due time.

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1793 Mar. 28

Trudeaux, Zenon
St. Louis

to (Francisco Luis Hector) Baron de Carondolet
New Orleans
(Copy by Quinones on May 8, 1793)
Carondolet's letters which he has received via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have alarmed the inhabitants of St. Ferdinand and St. Charles because of the suspension of Father Didier. Father Le Dru still insists on going to Canada.

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1793 May. 8

Henriquez, Theodore Thirso Henrique
New Orleans

to Father (Pierre) Joseph Didier
(St. Charles, Missouri)

It gives him pleasure to send to Didier the proceedings regarding his petition. On May 10, Henriquez gives orders that the file may be complete.

IV-4-k A.D.S. and A.L.S. and copies 56pp. 8vo. (Spanish)
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