Dower Court, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Houston Tracy, Jr. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Rapides Newspaper Extracts, Louisiana Democrat, Alexandria, La., 1 Nov 1865 Following the end of the American Civil War (War of Northern Agression) the many persons, who had supported the Confederate War Effort, found themselves deeply in debt. Apparently in an effort to save some of what the family owned, the women of Rapides Parish sued their husbands for their dowery rights to all the community property owned by them since their marriage. By bringing this suit and salvage a little of the landed property from the creditors, who would eventually sue the debtor, the property would be seized by the Sheriff and be sold at public auction. The woman would buy as much as she could afford to bid, this property would then become hers alone and separate from her husband and being safe from seizure by other creditors. The rest of the property was then sold to whomever and the proceeds, less legal fees, would then be used to pay off as much of the debts as possible. It also should be noted, in this case, the woman's maiden name is almost always shown. And the date (if included) showing when her legal mortgage went into effect, is the date of the couple's marriage. So, even though residents of Rapides Parish records were destroyed, here is yet another "outside" or secondary source for retreiving lost information of maiden names and some marriage dates. Judgment - No. 112 - Mrs. Mary Rosanna Calvit, wife of Wm. C. James, vs. Her Husband Ninth District Court, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this case, by reason of the law and the evidence being in favor of the plaintiff, Mary Rosanna Calvit, against the defendant, her husband, Wm. C. James. It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that she recover from him the sum of seven thousand six hundred dollars with five percent per annum interest, thereon from the 23rd day of October, 1865, and the costs of this suit to be taxed, and that for the payment thereof there be and there is hereby recognized and made executory her legal mortgage on the real estate of her said husband from the 1st day of January, 1845 on the sum of seven thousand dollars and from the __ day of __ on the sum of six hundred dollars, and that the community of acquets and gains heretofore existing them be dissolved and that she be authorized to administer her paraphernal property free from any interference or control of her said husband. This done and signed in open Court this 23rd day of October, 1865 [signed] M. Ryan, Judge Judgment - No. 54 - Bathia (Bethia in other records) J. Leonard, vs. Her Husband, Thomas O. Moore NOTE: This was the Governor of Louisiana during the Civil War. District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this case, by reason of the law and the evidence, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff, Bathia J. Moore, born Leonard, have and recover of her husband, Thomas O. Moore, thirteen thousand dollars with five percent interest thereon from the rendition of this judgment. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff be and she is hereby separated in property and estate from her husband, the defendant, and the community of acquets and gains heretofore existing them be dissolved and that plaintiff may resume the administeration of her paraphernal property, free from the control of her said husband. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the tacit and the legal mortgage of plaintiff upon the immoveable property of defendant, dating from the 1st day of January, 18(35 or 25, blemished) b, and it is hereby recognized and ordered to be enforced and the privilege of plaintiff on the moveables of defendant be likewise recognized and enforced, to the entire satisfaction of her rights under this judgment. This done and signed this 24th day of October, in open Court, in the year of our Lord, 1865. [signed] M. Ryan, Judge, 9th Judicial District Judgment - No. 29 - Clara M. Scott, vs. Her Husband, Stokes A. Smith District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this case, by reason of the law and the evidence, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff, Clara Miller Scott, wife of Stokes A. Smith, the defendant, herein do have and recover of her husband the sum of five thousand three hundred and fifty dollars with five percent interest thereon from the rendition of this judgment and her costs. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the said plaintiff be separated in property and estate from her husband, that the community of acquets and gains heretofore existing between them be dissolved and that plaintiff may resume the administeration and control of her separate property, that her tacit and the legal mortgage be recognized and enforced against the immoveable property of her said husband from the date of the marriage, June 1st, 1851, and the privilege accorded by law be recognized and enforced to the entire satisfaction of her rights under this judgment. This done and signed in open Court, this 24th day of October A.D., 1865. [signed] M. Ryan, Judge, 9th Judicial District Judgment - No. 30 - Frances Ann Williams, vs. Her Husband, Josiah Chambers District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this case, by reason of the law and the evidence, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff, Frances Ann Williams, wife of Josiah Chambers, the defendant, herein do have and recover of her husband the sum of six thousand dollars with five percent interest thereon from the rendition of this judgment and her costs. This done and signed in open Court, this 24th day of October A.D., 1865. [signed] M. Ryan, Judge, 9th Judicial District Judgment - No. 82 - Sarah C. Wright, vs. Her Husband, Leroy A. Stafford's Succession District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this cause, by reason of the law and the evidence, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff, Sarah Catherine Wright, widow of Leroy A. Stafford, do have and recover of the succession of her late husband, the sum of eighteen thousand dollars with five percent interest thereon from the rendition of this judgment. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff resume the administration and control of her separate property, and that she be separated in property of the succession of her late husband, that her tacit and the legal mortgage be recognized and enforced against the immoveable property of her late husband dating from their marriage, and that plaintiff's privilege on the moveables be recognized and allowed to the full satisfaction of her rights under this judgment, and that she have and recover her costs in this suit to be taxed. This done and signed in open Court, this 24th day of October A.D., 1865. [signed] M. Ryan, Judge, 9th Judicial District Court: Rapides Newspaper Extracts, Louisiana Democrat, Alexandria, La., 8 Nov 1865 Submitted by Houston Tracy, Jr. Judgment - No. 87 - Mrs. M.A. Gunter, vs. Her Husband, John McCurley District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 In this case, the plaintiff having established her claims against her husband, the defendant, by competent evidence, and the law and evidence being in her favor, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that she be separated in property from her said husband, and that she be permitted hereafter to administer her paraphernal property free from the interence and control of her said husband. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that she recover from her said husband, the sum of three hundred and thirty three and one half dollars with legal interest thereon from judicial demand that to secure the payment of said sum and interest she have a legal mortgage on all the real estate of her said husband, to have effect from the 1st day of July in the year 1851. It is further ordered, that the defendant pay the costs of this suit to be taxed. This done and signed in open Court, this 24th day of October A.D., 1865. [signed] M. Ryan, Judge, 9th Judicial District Judgment - (No Docket Number shown) - Martha E. Texada, vs. Her Husband, Robert Cruickshank District Court (Number not shown), Rapides Parish, Louisiana, October Term, 1865 By virtue of an execution issued out of the ninth district court and directed to the Sheriff of Rapides, entitled Martha E. Texada against her husband, Robert Cruickshank. Will be sold on the premises to the highest bidder on Saturday the 6th day of January, 1866, the following described property, to-wit: Five hundred and fifty acrres of land situated on the south side of Red River about eight miles above the town of Alexandria, bounded above by lands of S. Mead, below by lands of V.F. Cotton and in the rear by lands of the estate of McNutt, together with all the improvements, thereon or in any wise appertaining; also, 12 head horned cattle, 20 head of hogs, 5 head of horses and mules, 2 wagons, 40 bales of cotton, household and kitchen furniture. Seized in the above entitled suit to satisfy and pay the sum of twenty-one thousand six hundred dollars with interest thereon and all costs. Terms of Sale. Cash with the benefit of appraisement. [signed] C. V. LeDoux, Dy. Sheriff