Marie Louise Bitaud

Transcription: 

[Apr. 14, 1832]

Police Jury

Petition

Marie Louise Bitaud praying for the emancipation of her Daughter named Franciose & her child Gustave

Transcription: 

To the Honorable the President and Members of the police Jury in and for the City and parish of New Orleans
 

The petition of Marie Louise Bitain a f.w.c [free woman of color] residing in this City humbly sheweth that her act passed before Louis LaCaire one of the Notaries public in need for the City and parish of New Orleans, bearing date the twenty sixth day of July last past, your petitioner purchased her daughter named Franciose aged then about twenty six years and her child named Gustave of about one year of age, from a certain Marie Defage as it does more fully appear from a certified copy of said deed hereto annexed for reference.

That your petitioner has no relations and that she got very much alarmed some days ago, when she was informed by a lawyer that in case of death without a last will, her daughter and her children should belong to the State of Louisiana and should continue to be slaves for life, without any regard to all her efforts and economy to purchase them.  

Now Herefore your petitioner humbly prays that in as much as her daughter aforenamed is of good morals and character, and may easily maintain herself and her family as it does more fully appear from the certificate hereto annexed, you may be pleased to authorize your petitioner to fulfill all the formalities provided for by by law for the manumission of said Franciose and Gustave, and your petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray–

Marie Louise Bitaud (signed by marque)

Louis le Caire

Transcription: 

We the undersigned freeholders residing in the City of New Orleans, do hereby declare that we know of our own personal knowledge the slave named Franciose and her child, that she is of good morals and character and may very easily by her industry provide for her and child in testimony whereof we do hereby make the present declaration
 

Sworn to & subscribed before me.  New Orleans april 14, 1832, (Signature illegible).