Transcription Marriage Contract of Noel Soileau & Angelique Fontenot Opelousas, St Landry Parish, LA July 30, 1771 Submitted by: Cathy L. Sturgell Date: 4/10/2005 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The marriage of Noel Soileau and Angelique Fontenot was recorded on 19 August 1771 in the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records (PCP-2, part 2, 117 also PCP-4, 77). ********************************************************************************** Before us Commandant of Opelousas in the presence of witnesses thereafter named and undersigned wee present in person Noel Soileau, major son and master of his rights of the deceased Mr. Noel Soileau, keeper of the king's storehouse at the Natchez fort, and of Dame Marie Joseph Richaume, his father and mother, native of the parish of St. Charles on the German Coast, province of Louisiana, on one part and of Miss Angelique Fontenot called Bellevue, minor daughter of Pierre Fontenot called Bellevue, inhabitant of Opelousas and of Louise Doucet, her father and mother. _________ born at the fort of Alibamons for the other part. The said Pierre Fontenot stipulates and acts for the said minor girl with his consent and his name. Which parties with their good will and good intention and with the advice of their parents and friends, hereafter named. To wit: on the part of Sr. Soileau, Sieurs Robert Lamorandiere and Augustin Soileau his brother and brother-in-law and on the part of the said Miss Angelique Fontenot, Sr. Pierre Fontenot, her father and Dame Marie Louise Doucet, her aunt, have made the contract and agreement of marriage which follows. The future spouses promise in the name of the Law and Sacrament of Marriage to have the marriage celebrated and solemnized before the Roman Catholic Church at the first request of one to the other. The community of the future spouses will be regulated and governed according to the custom and laws of Spain renoucning all others to the contrary even though this colony should pass to another ruler. The future spouses will not be responsible for one another's debts contracted before marriage - on the contrary they must be settled by the one who contracted them without the possessions of the other being liable. The said future spouses take all their rights of succession moveable and immoveable. Those of the future husband consist of one native-born Negro named Joseph, his wife Catherine and two small Negroes named Jean Baptiste and Noel estimated together at 3760 livres of which the said future husband gives one-tenth to his said future wife. The rights of the said future wife consist first of 11 horned animals large and small evaulated together at 300 livres; second, one sum of 2264 livres in piastres gourdes which the said future wife amassed by her industry and her economies; third, one sum of 376 livres coming from the tenth part which the future husband gave her on the total amount of his goods. All these three sumes together add up to 3000 livres constituting the rights of the said future wife and which she will deduct in case of divorce or of the decease of said future husband. The said future spouses understanding that the present contract will be homologated constitute for that effect the person of the commandant below signed. For also was managed, agreed, and acknowledged. Done and passed at our habitation the 30 July 1_71 in the presence of Sieurs Pierre Zeringue - Jean Baptiste Soileau - Jean Louis Zeringue - Francois Manne - Laurent Bailly - required resident witnesses who signed in this draft with the Srs. Lamorandiere - Augustin Soileau - Angelique Fonteno - Pierre Fonteno, and us, Commandant of the district. Noel Soileau for Angelique Fonteno Fusilier De la Claire for Piere Fonteno, Fusilier DelaClaire; Soileau de lamorandiere August Soileau fusilier, P. Zeringue Boyez for Lamanlbay, Boyes for F. Manne Robert De Lamorandiere; Fuselier de la Claire