Court, Lagniappe: Alligator skins exchanged; E. Baton Rouge Par., Louisiana
File prepared and submitted by Pam J. Rice and Joyce A. Rogers
Date: Sep 2007

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“ALLIGATOR SKINS EXCHANGED FOR LAND AND SLAVE”

The follow document can be found in the East Baton Rouge Parish Court house in Judge’s Book “A”, page 183.

“Territory of Orleans, Parish of East Baton Rouge, on this nineteenth day of November in the year of our Lord,
on thousand eight hundred and eleven, before me, Andrew Steele Parish Judge, acting as Notary Public of the said 
Parish personally came and appeared Maurice Barnette of the said Parish who declares that he has granted, 
bargained, and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell and convene to Charles Duval of the same 
Parish a certain lot or parcel of Land, situated in that part of the town of Baton Rouge, laid off by Don Gilbert 
Leonard and marked on the plan of said Leonard No. 1 of square No. 4, the said Lot containing sixty feet in front, 
by one hundred and twenty feet in depth, to have and to hold to him the said Charles Duval his heirs and assigns 
forever, the said described Lot of ground, together with all the improvements thereon & appurtances there unto 
belonging – also one negro woman slave yellow complexion, about nineteen years old, named Betty – which said slave 
the said Barnett sells to Charles Duval, warranting her to be free from Mortgage and from any disease prohibited 
by Law in the sale of slaves – The present sale and conveyance is made for and in consideration of the sum of 
Two thousand dollars payable in the manner following, that is to say, one thousand dollars in had paid, before 
the signing of this present writing, the receipt whereof by the said Maurice Barnett is hereby acknowledged, and 
the remainder in two months from this date, to be discharged by the deliver of two hundred common sized Alligator 
skins well tanned and in good condition and the said Charles Duval being here also accepts the same and conveyance 
aforesaid made in his favor, engaging well and truly to pay to the said Maurice Barnett, the said sum of one 
thousand dollars yet remaining due, in two months from the date and in the manner before mentioned for the said 
described property – In testimony whereof the said parties have hereunto with me and in the presence of William 
Dewees & Samuel McClure witnesses, subscribed their names the day & year first above written = Mce Barnette = 
Chas Duval = Saml McClure = Wm Dewees = And. Steele P.J. = Recorded Decr. 28th 1811.
		
						And. Steele P.J.”