RENTROPS AND THEIR FERRY, St Mary Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Margaret Moore This Article was written by William T. Shinn of Franklin, Louisiana and is placed here in the archives with his full knowledge and permission. The following surnames are names that are mentioned in this article: Bertrand, Berwick, Biggs, Bourg, Bradley, Briant, Brien, Broussard, Bryan, Bryant, Carlin, Cathcart, Dabor, Darby, Hubbard, Jackson, Johnson, Knight, Lacouer, Landreth, Lecaire, Liquer, Mahony, Marott, McGows, Muggah, Nappe, Neely, Noferdoper, Nofper, Noppe, Nopper, Owens, Renthrope, Rentrop, Rentrope, Rider, Rogers, Shaw, Waforth (sic), Wilcox. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** This article was typed and placed at this site by Margaret Rentrop Moore, email: mmoore@iamerica.net. In the years after 1803 that part of the Attakapas District subsequently placed in St. Mary Parish was isolated and access could only be made by water. Two routes from the Mississippi River to Bayou Teche were used by immigrant settlers. One was down Bayou Lafourche from Donaldsonville to the site of what is now Napoleonville, then down the Attakapas Canal (also called the Passage of Lafourche) to a landing on Lake Verret. From that point the route traversed the lakes southwest thereof and connecting bayous. The mute then entered the lower Atchafalaya River at Berwick Bay and proceeded upstream. This section of the lower Atchafalaya, from its junction with the Teche upstream from present day Patterson was then called Lower Teche". The other course was from the Mississippi River at Plaquemine, through Bayou Plaquemine and connecting watercourses to the Atchafalaya on south side of Six Mile Lake, northwest of present day Patterson. The purpose of this article is to discuss the family which established a ferry, known as "RENTROP's ferry., which followed the first route mentioned above.* The head of the family was Henry RENTROP (also spelled in records as RENTHROPE. and RENTROPE). In some acts he is also called "Henry RENTROP, Sr.", perhaps for distinction since two of his children also bore the middle name Henry". The only information found on his marriage is that in receipts given by his children for their share of $416.00 each in the estate of their deceased mother, named only as Catherine Elizabeth-. 1 In an entry in St. Martin de Tours Church records for the marriage of Peter Henry RENTROP, her name is given as Catherine Elizabeth NAPPE.2 That surname does not appear in the old records of St. Mary Parish, but there did appear the name NOFERDOPER, also spelled NOPPER and NOPPE. NOFPER was probably her family name. Catherine's estate was not opened. From record sources it appears she and Henry had three children: 1. Caroline RENTROP, who married Maxille BOURG of Assumption Parish 2. Frederick Henry RENTROP, who predeceased his father, dying in 1828, survived by his: widow Marguerite LECAIRE (also spelled LIQUER and LACOUER) and five children; 3 3. Peter Henry RENTROP, who married Marguerite BERTRAND, October 19,1812 Henry RENTROP died in March, 1831.4 During his lifetime and that of his three children they operated ferries between Lafourche Landing and their place on lower Atchafalaya River (also called Lower Teche in the acts of franchise). In addition to the three children, a mulatto woman played a part in the life of Henry RENTROP first as slave-servant, then free housekeeper and business financier. On March 8, 1813, Henry purchased from John ROGERS for $650 cash "a certain mulatto woman called Betty about thirty five years of age."5 On September 22, 1819, Henry petitioned the court for permission to emancipate Elizabeth JACKSON, a mulatto woman. After due publication the act of manumission was made November 4, 1819. In it he declared it was done "for divers good causes and considerations and especially for the consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars to him cash in hand paid by his molato [sic] woman slave Elizabeth JACKSON" 6 On January 1, 1820, by document filed in his estate, Henry wrote "under my signature I declare that I promise to Betty my servant to pay her from the time that she got her freedom in regular formality by law the fourth November eighteen hundred nineteen one small wage of four dollars for every month so long as to the end of my life and this will be for her support after my death. Signed by my own hand this day aforesaid. Henry RENTROP." Evidently Henry had made a trip back to his homeland in Europe prior to that, because a footnote on the declaration reads NB I owe to Betty $30 what I borrowed of her the time I came back again from my country to pay the interest to Mr. WAFORTH (sic) for the money I borrowed of him. Henry RENTROP. On November 4, 1827, Henry signed a receipt that he paid the full amount of Betty's wages for eight years, totaling $384 and also the $30 he had borrowed. He did not remain out of her debt long, for on July 1, 1828, he borrowed again from her the $414 and an additional $50. After his death she brought suit to recover what was owed to her. The Attakapas Canal in Assumption Parish ran from Bayou Lafourche, at a site in present-day Napoleonville, to the eastern shore of Lake Verret in Section 37, Township 14 South, Range 13 East, Southeastern Land District. That section was the land originally claimed by Christopher BRYANT (also called BRYAN, BRIEN and BRIANT). His claim was approved for a tract of land situated in the County of Lafourche, on the Lake Verret, on each side of the Canal leading from the bayou Lafourche, containing six hundred and twenty seven superficial acres. It appearing that the claimant actually settled this land, with the permission of the proper Spanish officer, prior to the 20th day of December 1803, and that he inhabited and cultivated the same on that day, the board confirms his claim to be laid off with a front of sixteen acres on Lake Verret, so as to include the mouth of the aforesaid canal in its center, and a depth of forty acres, removing back in the direction of the canal. 7 The western terminus of RENTROP's ferry in St. Mary Parish was on a tract of land forming part of the claim of heirs of Jacob KNIGHT, under Michel RIDER. The claim was based on an order of survey and settlement to RIDER. The claim was approved as B-1496 by the United States Commissioners. The land was surveyed as Sections 2 and 23, Township 15 South, Range 12 East, Southwestern Land District. Section 2 was that part of the claim on north side of Atchafalaya River, on Berwick Island; Section 23 was on the south side. It was on this latter tract that the ferry was established. In modern times it was part of the BRADLEY-MAHONY Plantation. Christopher BRYAN, Jr., deriving ownership from his father, executed an act of lease agreement March 11,1807, in favor of Caroline RENTHROP, wife of Maxille BOURG. In it he leased all and singular of a Plantation situated & lying on both sides of the Canal and which leads to Attakapas and the lakes Verret adjoining the same and running to the Lake Verret below and above by the land of James OWENS, being a tract of land claimed as a donation by virtue of an act of Congress passed for that purpose on the 2nd March 1805, see 2nd Section together with all the improvements on the same, also all the right which the said party now possesses and enjoys by virtue of a license granted him conjointly with James Owens to keep a ferry across the said Lake Verret. Also the use of a Platform together with all its appendages belonging to the said party of the first part & now lying at the landing of the said Lake Verret And it is expressly conditioned and agreed upon by the two contracting parties that the said lease shall commence from the fifteenth day of April next ensuing and continue and extend until the month of April and the fifteenth day of the same month for a period of three years and no longer. The lease price was $50 each three month period of the lease. Maxille and Caroline signed by mark. Henry RENTHROP signed as security of the obligation. 8 The license said to have been granted to BRYAN And OWENS has not been found, but a license from Bela HUBBARD, Judge, to James OWENS Dated August 20, 1808, was located in which it is declared: Know ye that I have granted license and by these presents do grant licence for one year from the date hereof unto James OWENS inhabitant of this Parish in the said County to ferry over from the Fourche side of Lake or Lakes Verret to the Atacapas side of the same all manner of person or persons with every description of property whatever which they may choose to have crossed over from either side of the said lakes to the other side thereof him the said OWENS having given security according to law for the faithful discharge of his several duties as ferryman. Apparently BOURG and his wife operated the ferry successfully until October 15, 1808, then fell completely behind in payments. On March 12, 1810, Bryan filed suit against them, and Henry RENTHROP, their assurer, for rent from October 15,1808, to January 15,1810. BRYAN was awarded a judgment of $250.00.9 Henry RENTROP then appears to have set into motion his plans for operation of the ferry. By act of sale dated January 25, 1811, he purchased from Henry KNIGHT of St. Mary Parish, for $800 cash, a certain tract or parcel of land, situated, lying and being on the west side of the Bayou Teche. containing two arpents front by the ordinary depth of forty arpents, bounded on the upper side by lands of said vendor, and on the lower by vacant lands. 10 Leaving Maxille BOURG, his son-in-law, and Frederick H. RENTROP, one of his sons, in Assumption Parish, he removed to St. Mary Parish where he resided with his other son, Peter Henry RENTROP. By an act of the territorial legislature, approved February 28, 1811, Henry RENTROP of the County of Attakapas. his heirs or assigns received a license to establish, keep and maintain a ferry across the lakes Plat, Palourde, de Jone (sic) and Verret, from the lower part of the Bayou Teche to the Bayou Verret, in the County of LaFourche, for and during the time of seven years from the passing of this act. ("An Act to Establish a Ferry from the Attakapas to La Fourche,"Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Third Legislature of the Territory of Orleans. . .(New Orleans,1811), pp. 10-16) By another legislative act, approved March 20, 1811, Maxille BOURG, of the county of Lafourche his heirs or assigns received a license to establish, keep and maintain a ferry across the lakes Verret, Jone (sic), Palourde and Plat, from the mouth of the canal leading from bayou Lafourche to the lower part of the bayou Teche, in the county of Attakapas for and during the term of seven years. It was stated this act was a supplement to the one passed February 28,1811, in favor of Henry RENTHROP. ("An Act Supplementary to an Act Entitled 'An Act to Establish a Ferry from Attakapas to Lafourche," Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Third Legislature Of the ,Territory of Orleans. . . [New Orleans, 1811], pp. 40-42.) By an act of sale dated April 10, 1811, Maxile BOURG sold to Peter H. RENTROP for one thousand dollars a debt due from me to the party hereafter named for services done for me in the Spanish Country in the years 1807 & 1808 and one hundred & fifty dollars in cash all my right, title & claim with all privileges & emoluments that may arise from the Ferry from the Lafourche Canal to the Attakapas granted to me & my heirs & assigns to Peter H. RENTROP his heirs and assigns to have hold & enjoy the said privileges as granted to me & my heirs by the Legislature of the Territory in as full & as ample a manner as I myself could do. 11 By another act, executed April 25, 1811, Maxile BOURG covered to Peter Henry RENTROP, for $750 in hand paid, what must have been all his worldly possessions, judging from the enumeration: two platforms with all their apparatus, estimated at one hundred & twenty dollars a small boat estimated at ten dollars four pirogues estimated at twenty dollars a frame complete for a new house estimated at one hundred & twenty dollars four hundred pieux or rails estimated at sixteen dollars twenty stacks of timber estimated at forty dollars twelve thousand shingles estimated at sixty dollars two rifles & a fowling gun estimated at fifty dollars eight bedding, furniture & bedsteads estimated at one hundred & twenty dollars kitchen furniture estimated at sixty dollar--eight axes & two hand saws estimated at eighteen dollars --two saws one X cut saw & the other a whip saw, estimated at sixteen dollars, four trunks with clothing & estimated at seventy dollars, a lot of carpenters tools estimated at fifteen dollars and a parcel of plank estimated at fifteen dollars, making in all the foregoing & within mentioned sum of seven hundred fifty dollars. 12 This transfer was made, no doubt' to keep them from going into the hands of Bryan, judgment creditor of Bourg. By act dated April 25 ,1811 Henry RENTROP sold to Peter H. RENTROP, for $500 cash all the rights, title, interest, claim, privileges and emoluments that the said Henry RENTHROP now holds & enjoys in a certain ferry established on the Attakapas side of the Bayou Teche to the Canal of the Fourche & granted unto him by a late act passed by the Legislature of this Territory. l3 Now Peter RENTROP was owner and licensee for the ferry operations. His father, Henry RENTROP, owned the landing site in St. Mary (Attakapas), while Christopher BRYAN owned the site in Lafourche County. Life on the eastern end of the ferry route was not proceeding smoothly. On May 3, 1811, Christopher BRYAN filed another suit against Caroline RENTROP BOURG, Maxile BOURG, and Henry RENTROP. He alleged ownership of a tract of land situated at the mouth of the Canal leading into Lake Verret in the Parish aforesaid. That while being the owner & possessor as aforesaid your petitioner leased or rented the said tract of land together with several houses boats &c proper & convenient for the keeping of a ferry to Caroline Rentrop BOURG wife of Maxile BOURG, Maxile BOURG & Henry RENTHROP for the (illegible) & term of three years. That the term aforesaid has long since expired. That the said Caroline, Maxile & Henry since the expiration of the term aforesaid have been often warned to quit & depart from and deliver up the possession of the premises aforesaid. He requested for eviction and possession, with damages. The suit was transferred to the district court on October 14, 1814, and later dismissed by on November 9, 1814. 14 On May 10, 1811, Henry Rentrop sold to Peter Henry RENTROP, for $800, the tract in St. Mary, Parish he had acquired from Henry KNIGHT. 15 On June 1, 1811, Peter Henry RENTROP made a contract with a man named Elias WILCOX: residence not given, to construct two ferry boats. A dispute over the price ensued and WILCOX sued in magistrate court, St. Mary Parish, December 7, 1811. The suit was appealed to the parts, court. Filed in the record of the suit (No. 38, Parish Court A) is a copy of the original contract reading as follows: An agreement made and entered into between Elias WILCOX of the one part and Pete Henry RENTROPE of the other part, witnesseth: That the said Elias WILCOX agrees and bind`` himself to build two bateaux or ferry boats for the said Peter H. RENTROPE of such materials as may be delivered to him the said Elias at the mouth of la Fourch Canal. The said boats are to be built in a good, strong, and workmanlike manner. And the said Elias further agrees to continue the work and finish them with as much dispatch and as soon as weather, sickness and other unforeseen accidents will admit. It is to be understood that the said Elias is not to be detained in his work for want of materials. The said Peter H. RENTROP on his part binds himself to pay or cause to be paid to the said Elias WILCOX the sum of three dollars and a half per toot measuring each boat in length from the stem to the stem. The said Peter further agrees to furnish the said Elias with boarding, washing, and lodging during the time he the said Elias is building the said batteaux or boats. It is understood by both that the payment as above stated is to be made as soon as the work is completed if demanded by the said WILCOX, unless otherwise arranged by the contracting parties. The said Peter further agrees to furnish the said Elias with two good hands to assist him in building the said boats, at his, the said Peter's, own expense. In witness whereof we have hereunto set out hands and seals this first day of June in the year one thousand and eleven ATTEST: E. WILCOX (Seal) D. SHAW Peter H. RENTROP (Seal) John NEELY The dispute was whether the boats were to be measured from tore to aft by the keel, or from stem to stem, a difference of $90.00. Filed in evidence is the following documentation of the actual measurements of the completed boats: First boat measured English measure from the outside of the stem to the outside of the stern Feet 59 0 Stem and stern 9 inches each 1 6 Without stem 8 stem 56 6 Keel 38 9 D French measure 54 6 Stem 8 stern 8-1/2 each 1 5 Without stem 8 stern 53 10 Keel 36 5 2nd Boats length 57 9 « Stem 8 stem 9 inches each 1 6 Without stem and stern 56 3 « Keel 39 2 F. d length 54 3 Stem & stern 8-1 /2 each 1 5 Keel 36 7 1/2 Sworn to and signed before me, Wm. BIGGS, J. P. by Luke BRYAN and James MUGGAH. I do certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original lodged in my office this 10th day of Dec.1811 Wm. BIGGS, J. P. In an act dated February 3,1813, Peter Henry RENTROP declared that on May 10,1811, he had purchased from Henry RENTROP, his father, a tract in St. Mary Parish having two arpents front on west side of Bayou Teche, by the depth of forty arpents, bounded above by Henry KNIGHT and below by vacant lands. In this act he agreed with Henry KNIGHT that in one year after the expiration of a certain act of the legislature passed February 28, 1811, entitled "An act to establish a ferry from the Attakapas to Lafourche" and given in favor of Henry RENTROP, the land was to return and become the property of the said Henry KNIGHT. The expiration period was declared to be February 28, 1819. 16 Over on the Assumption Parish side, Christopher BRYAN sold his land to Henry JOHNSON April 3, 1813. 17 Although Frederick RENTROP had no record ownership at this time in the ferry operations, in an act dated July 25, 1814, he declared that for payment of $1084 he relinquished to Henry and Peter all claims, rights and interest he hath or might have hereafter in and to the ferry leading from the mouth of the Canal in the Parish of Assumption & State of Louisiana into the Lake Verret across the lake and others to the Bayou Teche in the County of Attakapas secured to the said Henry RENTROP herein by an act of the Territorial Legislature. 18 While Frederick had divested himself of the ferry and franchise originally granted his father Henry, he was soon back in the business. On October 7, 1814, he, together with Henry KNIGHT, purchased from Henry JOHNSON for $2,172.50, payable $450 cash and remainder on credit, a certain tract or parcel of land containing six hundred and forty acres, situated and fronting on each side of the Canal at Lake Verret in the Parish of Assumption; being the same on which Maxille BOURG now resides and keeps a ferry. 19 Part of the operations of Peter H. RENTROP can be found in the record of a suit tiled May 19, 1815, by Peter against Michael BROUSSARD of St. Martin Parish. The suit was brought on three notes given by the defendant to him, enumerated in the record as follows: Note of July 21, 1814, for ferrying cattle, to be paid $123 in Mexican silver Note of January 20, 1815, for $51.75 for ferrying cattle Note of April 11, 1815 for $117 for ferrying cattle. 20 Then a surprising development took place in the course of operations and ownership. On June 20, 1815, Frederick RENTROP of Assumption Parish and Henry Knight of St. Mary Parish, filed suit against Maxille BOURG and Caroline RENTROP BOURG. They claimed ownership of the original BRYAN tract, and demanded settlement of debt due by BOURG and eviction of him and his wife from the premises. Judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiffs July 14, 1815, giving them ownership of the property except for road sixty-two feet wide on left she of the canal. 21 Because Luke BRYAN had retained the right of repurchase from Henry JOHNSON, he on August 12, 1815, confirmed the sale made by Johnson to Frederick RENTROP and Henry KNIGHT. 22 An act of the state legislature approved January 2, 1817, granted Henry KNIGHT of St. Mary Parish and Frederick RENTROP of Assumption Parish, right for ferry for seven years from March 20, 1818. The ferry was to nun from the canal at Lake Verret to the lower part of Bayou Teche. Fees to be paid were the same as those in the act of February 28, 1811, in favor of Henry RENTROP. ("An Act to Establish a Ferry from Lafourche to the Attakapas," Acts Passed at the First Session of the Third Legislature of the State of Louisiana. . . (New Orleans, 1817), pp. 10-12.) Maxille BOURG and his wife, Caroline RENTROP, apparently finally ejected from the Bayou tract on lower end of the canal, now removed to establish themselves at the head of the canal. No doubt this move was made with a look to better fortune in commerce. On May 15, 1817, he purchased from Joseph MAROTT a plantation containing four arpents of land of front with the ordinary depth of forty situated on the right bank of Bayou Lafourche and bounded above by the land of Pierre DABOR and on the lower side by the canal of the Lafourche. The purchase was for $3,200, all on credit. 23 Henry RENTROP removed himself from the ferry operations, whatever capacity they may have been. On July 29, 1818, he gave a receipt to Peter H. RENTROP reading: I, Henry RENTROP do declare and confess in presence of witnesses that I have received from Peter Henry RENTROP the sum of three hundred dollars in full of all accounts, contracts and agreements up to this date since the act of Legislature granting to me the exclusive rights to the ferry over the lakes to the Canal of Lafourche. As witness my hand this 29th day of July in the year of our Lord 1818. 24 CATHCART, in his journal, refers to his first visit at RENTHROP's on Sunday, January 24, 1819. The following excerpt is from the journal Remained here to refresh; Mr. RENTHROP & his son are tailors, natives of Westphalia, came to Philadelphia some years ago & have traveled through many places in the United States since, & about nine years ago settled upon this spot, they keep a tolerable good table for this part of the world, their beds are clean, provisions wholesome, liquors whiskey, taffia & bad claret, they are obliging but wholly Illiterate. Their term is not very extensive, but their garden is productive, they raise poultry & hogs in abundance & some fine cattle & this is the first place we had milk with our coffee since we left New Orleans; fresh butter is entirely out of the question, & salt cannot be procured except in the City; hogs lard is made its substitute in all culinary purposes, the land everywhere is rich alluvion, capable of producing every necessary of life, & many of the luxuries; but owing to the prevalence of slavery, the whites are lazy, & in general dissipated, & confine themselves to the culture of cotton & sugar alone, because more productive with less labor; The flats (so called) used at this Ferry, are formed of two large canoes, on which is a platform for horses, the price of carriage for a man & horse is 12 dollars, & for black cattle 1.50cs per head they cross the Lake to the canal which nuns into Lake Verrett from Lafourche a distance of 30 miles, & from thence passengers proceed to Donaldsonville, & take passage in steam boats, that pass either up or down the Mississippi at the rate of 12 « cts per mile. The flats or double canoes, row with two or more oars, & sail when the wind is fair, the rudder is on one canoe only, the pilot sits on the platform, & steers with a yoke & lines, as he would a gig or wherry. 25 LANDRETH, the surveyor who was with CATHCART at the same time, received different impressions. He wrote: Sunday morning January 24th 1819 at RENTROPES. RENTROPE is a German and has been several years in this country he keeps a tolerable good House for a new country where regular markets is not established and where supplies cannot at all times be had. here we had milk for our coffee the first we had seen for some time. here they have a great many domestic Fowls Turkeys and chickens &c here I saw what I have not seen in this country before three fine Hogs in a Sty very fat each of which would weigh two hundred and fifty pound but here (illegible) people pretends to make Bacon they generally eat their Hog meat in what they call corn pork. Beef here being their principal dependence which they have very fine in general; Rentrope has a very excellent Kitchen Garden and even the cultivation of a few flowers is not neglected here the[y] have cabbage full grown and in a growing State still. here they have kale and spinnage in perfection and the finest parsley Bed I ever Saw. the land here is very fine the grass quite green. white clover abounds here and is at this moment the sheep pasture; RENTROPE keeps a Ferry here on the Teche. The Ferry Boats are two canoes fixed about three or four feet apart connected by a platform raised upon them upon which Platform they carry Horses or cattle as I am told they either Sail or row very well and Some of them will carry ten or twelve horses at a time and they are considered safe Boats. these Boats runs from RENTROPES on the Teche across the Lakes to the Laforch Canal about thirty miles the price of ferriage for a single man Four Dollars for a man and Horse twelve dollars. RENTROPE has a son lives at the Laforch Canal who keeps a tavern and boats so that there is seldom any detention upon either side the time of passing depends upon the wind and the current &c and takes from seven or eight hours to twelve or fifteen. here at RENTROPES we rest on Sunday--here is all kinds of business going on. Carpenters at work carts driving about the same as any other Day no respect paid to the Sabbath here. RENTROPE keeps a very good table but his charges like all the rest in this country are very high. you cannot live in any tolerable tavern in this country for less than two Dollars per Day and seldom for that. 26 The son with Henry RENTROP in St. Mary Parish would have been Peter H. RENTROP. The other son, Frederick H. RENTROP, resided in Assumption Parish. The remark by CATHCART that the RENTROPE were "wholly illiterate" is definitely unwarranted. That Frederick could sign his name is attested by numerous acts recorded in Assumption and St. Mary parishes. Peter could also sign his name. Papers in the records of Henry RENTROP contain his handwritten will, on two pages, with codicils and receipts attached, all in his own hand. while some words are misspelled, the greater part shows education. Further, as a special legacy to his grandson, Valsin H. RENTROP, a son of Peter H. RENTROP, Henry gave "my desk and all my books". 27 The Cathcart party next visited the RENTROPS on the night of Saturday, February 7, 1819. The report reads: Sunday 7th. We rested here last night where I observed that they put the blankets on the bed, above the quilt, for what purpose, I know not, & bum their candles at the wrong end, putting the wick into the candlestick, & the thick end up, not to lose time in paring it, to fit the socket, or for motives of economy, and embarked this morning & proceeded up the Teche. Between RENTROPS, & MCGOWS, or MUGGAHS, there is a ridge of tolerable good live Oak, which we had not seen before ...........28 Landreth's observations on this encounter were on a different subject than candles, as shown by his remarks in his journal: . . . almost dark to the Atchafalaya River about three miles below the House of Mr. BERWICK on Berwick's Bay. So now we steer up the Atchafalaya River and Berwick's bay to the river Teche thence up the Teche to RENTROPES where we arrived safe at eight o'clock P. M. all very tired and the men much fatigued with rowing and our stores in Liquor being all expended we had nothing to stimulate them in that way. when we got to RENTROPES the family was all gone to bed we had to call them up to get us some supper our stores on board of every kind nearly exhausted here we take up our Lodging for the night Sunday morning February the seventh eighteen hundred and nineteen a RENTROPES on the Teche. got up at Sun Rise and prepare for a start for Franklin. Slept tolerably well last night. but I do not feel well this morning Mercury in the thermometer 66 the air very damp and cloudy. here we paid off our Pilot having no further use for him Leave RENTROPES at nine o'clock AM wind right ahead and a strong current also against us get to Magahs at twelve o'clock noon seven miles up the River from RENTROPES. 29 Caroline RENTROP tiled suit against Maxile BOURG, her husband, for separation, on November 13, 1820. 30 The suit was discontinued. Again on March 28, 1821, she filed against him for the same, and judgment was rendered granting separation on June 1, 1822. 31 Such actions were most often instituted for protection against creditors and regardless of statements in the records did not always mean the parties were at odds each with the other, but that, of course, could always be as possibility. No further information on BOURG's life can be found of record. In an act dated September 27, 1833, Caroline BOURG is said to be divorced and living in Mobile, Alabama. 32 In some manner William KNIGHT and Michael KNIGHT, brothers of Henry KNIGHT, seem to have been involved in the ferry business. In an act dated May 22, 1822, Michael mortgaged to James MUGGAH one-half interest in all the boats, platforms, pirogues, and skiffs at the ferry kept at his landing and belonging to him and William KNIGHT. 33 The partnership between Henry KNIGHT and Frederick RENTROP was terminated August 2, 1824. Two acts were executed in Assumption Parish that day between these men. In the first Henry conveyed, for $3000 cash to Frederick, his one-halt interest in the tract of land purchased by said KNIGHT & RENTROP from Henry JOHNSON & on which the present parties eventually resided & sold with all the buildings & improvements found on the same together with all the rights, privileges & emoluments of the public ferry established at said Lake Verret, also two platforms, two skiffs, the timber wheels& chains, the cart and one large vice. 34 In the second act the same parties declared that the copartnership existing heretofore between them the said RENTROP & KNIGHT is by these presents dissolved by mutual consent & that they do divide between them the property as follows & in manner hereafter following to wit: Frederick RENTHROP agrees to take two Negro slaves named Pierre and Abraham and the said Henry KNIGHT agrees to take for his part two Negro slaves named Sam and Dick & which partition is made by the mutual consent of the contracting parties. 35 Maxile and Caroline BOURG were evidently falling on hard times. On December 14, 1824, the sheriff of Assumption Parish seized and sold for taxes the lower two arpents front of their properly at head of the canal, this bounded on lower side by the Canal of the Attakapas and on the upper side by remainder of their tract. Henry RENTROP was purchaser for$135 cash. 36 Henry was evidently doing this to protect the tax debtors, for in his will he bequeathed this same tract to Honorine, Edmond and Rosalie BOURG, wife of Marcelin Verret, who were the children of his daughter Caroline, wife of Maxile. Ferry operations to and from Lafourche Landing seem to have been divided about this time. An act of the State Legislature, approved December 16, 1824, granted a franchise to Leufroy CARLIN of St. Mary Parish to establish, keep and maintain a ferry across the lakes Plat, Palourde, de Jones (sic) and Verret, or by the route of Lake Plat, Bayou Long, Lake Verret to the lower part of the Canal of Lafourche, in the Parish of Assumption, for and during the term of ten years, from the passing of this act. ("An Act to Establish a Ferry from the Attakapas to the Canal of Lafourche in the Parish of Assumption," Acts Passed at the First Session of the seventh Legislature. . . [New Orleans, 1824-1825], pp. 18-20). No information about any operation of this ferry by CARLIN has been found, nor information concerning the probable location. He did not own in his own right any property in St. Mary Parish, he was only heir in other CARLIN properties in vicinity of Franklin. Another legislative act, approved January 31, 1825, granted to Frederick RENTROP of Assumption Parish ferry rights from Lafourche Canal to the lower part of Bayou Teche for a period of ten years. The fees to be the same as allotted to Leufroy CARLIN, to which this act was said to be a supplement. (.An Act to Establish a Ferry from the Mouth of the Canal of Lafourche to Lake Verret," Acts Passed at the First Session of the Seventh Legislature. . . [New Orleans, 18241825], pp. 58-60). No further information on operations by Frederick RENTROP has been located. As heretofore shown, he died in 1828, but no mention is made in his estate of any assets concerning the ferry, and his ownership in the BRYAN tract was sold to another. This seems to mark the end of the RENTROPS and their ferries. In the years they operated they were St. Mary Parish's link with the east. But their story draws to an end with an act of the state legislature, approved March 28, 1833, within the ten-year period granted to Frederick. This act authorized the Assumption Parish Police jury to issue ferry franchises. ("An Act Relative to the Ferry Between Bayou Lafourche and Attakapas,. Acts Passed at the First Session of the Eleventh Legislature. . . [New Orleans, 1833], pp.). No person became wealthy, no person achieved fame. But when a need for a service arose, men came forward to provide it, to the best of their abilities. Challenging nature which had deprived them of land for roads they found a way to bring trade and people into the new region to thus making its development possible. Research for the article was conducted in the original records of St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption parishes, acts of the state legislature' and also two published journals by persons surveying for live oak lumber for the United States Navy. The first of these journals is entitled Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama In 1819: The Journal of James Leander CATHCART,. edited by Walter PRICHARD, Fred B. KNIFFEN and Clair A. BROWN., published in July 1945 in the Louisiana Historical Quarterly, XXVIII (1945). This journal is referred to herein as "Cathcart". The second is " The Journal of John Landreth Surveyor, an Expedition to the Gulf Coast November 15, 1818 -May 19, 1819" edited by Milton B. Newton, Jr. It was published by Geoscience Publications for the Department of Geography and Anthropology Louisiana State University, 1945. This Journal is referred to herein as "Landreth". 1 Assumption Parish Cahier 6, p. 1, receipt of Frederick H. Rentrop, July 25, 1814 St Mary Parish Mortgage Book (hereafter St. Mary Parish MOB), C-6, p 71, no. 435: St. Mary Parish MOB C-6, p. 71, no. 434. 2 Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records VI 752 3 Assumption Parish Inventory Book 1828, pp. 308-309. 4 St. Mary Parish, Suit No. 51, Probate Court, and Estate 214. 5 St. Mary Parish Conveyance Book (hereafter St. Mary Parish COB) B-A p. 82, no. 146. 6 St. Mary Parish MOB A or B. p. 45, no. 769; original in MOB B-4, vol. 5 p: 315. 7 American State Papers, Public Lands, Volume II, page 363, Duff Green Edition, 1834 8 Assumption Parish Suit 26 2nd District Court Filed in evidence 9 Assumption Parish, Suit 76. 10 St Martin Parish Original Acts, Book 26, no. 16; certified copy filed in Assumption Parish Cahler 5 p. 478. 11 Assumption Parish Cahier 6 522 12 Ibid, Cahier 5, p 519 13 St Mary Parish COB B-A. P. 3; original in MOB 1914-1828,p.7 certified copy recorded in Assumption Parish. Cahler 6, p. 527. 14 Assumption Parish Suite 84, Parish Court 15 St. Mary Parish COB B-A p. 4, no. 4, Assumption Parish Cahier 5, p. 527. 16 St Mary Parish COB B-A, p. 199, no. 402, original in Assumption Parish Cahier 5, p. 644. 17 Assumption Parish COB 1, p. 400. 18 Assumption Parish Cahier 6, p. 1. 19 Assumption Parish COB 1, p. 116. 20 St. Martin Parish Suit 206, District Court. 21 Assumption Parish Suit 26, 2nd District Court 22 St. Mary Parish COB B-A, p. 168, no. 313; certified copy recorded December 19, 1816 in Assumption Parish COB 1 p.238. 23 Assumption Parish COB 1, p. 275 24 St. Mary Parish COB B-A, p. 323 no. 674 25 Prichard, et al, "The Journal of James Leander Cathcart,. 795FF. 26 Newton, ea., The journal of John Landreth pp. 70FF. 27 St. Mary Parish Probate Records, no. 214. 28 Prichard, et al, The Journal of James Leander Cathcart," 814. 29 Newton. ea., The Journal of John Landreth, p. 104. 30 Assumption Parish Suit 89, 2nd District Court 31 Assumption Parish Suit 96, 2nd District Court 32 St Mary Parish COB D, p. 31, no. 1890 33 St Mary Parish MOB A,p.32, no. 95; original in Acts 1814-1828, p. 115. 34 Assumption Parish Cahier6, p. 331. 35 Ibid., 6, p. 333. 36 Assumption Parish Sheriff Sale Book A, p. 87.