Land: Land Record, Rapides Parish La
Document as found in 
Papeles Procedente de Isla Cuba, Archivo Generale de Indias, 
Seville Spain
Submitted by Houston Tracy, Jr.


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Legajo (Bundle) 212-B, Folios 554-555.  

Presented here in as exact context as possible. The original 
page is heavily smeared with ink.

Rapids District     December 15 1797
To his Excellency, Don Emanuel Gayoso Delamos, Governor General 
& Commander in Chief of & for the Province of Louisiana 
- The Petition of a Number of the inhabitants of this district -
Who profess a Lawful Attachment & dutiful Submission to his 
Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain & all Officers Acting under 
him - Humbly sheweth that since the removal of his Excellency 
Governor Granpre from this part of the country - The Seat of 
Justice being established at Rapids Bayou, Which is at least
fifteen leagues from the lower end of the Settlement of this 
District by the course of the River & any other way being 
impractical at all Seasons of the Year - When the Waters are high 
- Which are generally so six months & when the Waters are low 
it is at least two days journey to go & return to our habitations - 
We Therefore Pray Your Excellency would take in consideration, 
the difficulties we labour under - & appoint Mr. Benjamin Grubb, 
provided Your Excellency approves of him, or Some other person 
in the Neighborhood to Act as Alcalde, with the Authority 
necessary to Issue Passports & distribute Justice
- 
The said Grubb being the only capable man in the Lower End of 
the district aforesaid - 
As it is inhabited by persons who understands no language, but 
the English - Except two French families & four of Dutch 
extraction who has acquired a little French, but as they emigrate 
from America understand that but their native language, much 
better than their Mother Language.  The number of inhabitants 
on the north side of the Red River will amount to about
thirty-five families & as both the Alcaldes - Messrs. Caesar 
(Cesar) Archinard & Shevalier Pourreat (Joseph Chevalier Poiret) 
lives close together on the South side of the river, it is with 
very great deficiency during the Season of high water to pass 
as there has been no regular ferry raft, so that swimming &
rafting has frequently been our only means to pass over to 
Mr. Caesar Archinards to Obtain passports & for all other 
purposes - Where the g??? & Office of Records are kept.   
And as in duty Bound
Your Petitioners Will Ever Pray    

(Signed)

Alexr. (Alexander) Fulton, Reuben White, Mark Powell, 
John Holloway, James White, Emanuel Rice, Joseph Holmes, 
Gorg (George) Paul, Joseph x Walker, King x Holstein,
John x Bra??d, Uriah Wiggins, Daniel Wiggins