MARRIAGE CONTRACT
BETWEEN
A. M.
MORPHY AND L. T. F. T. LE CARPENTIER.
Appeared before Joseph Arnaud, Notary Public at New
Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, in the presence of witnesses of legal
age herein after named and whose signatures are affixed:
Mr. Alonzo Michael Morphy, of legal age, living in this
city, born at Charleston, legitimate son of the late Mr. Diego Morphy and
the late Lady Louise Peire, on the one part.
And the Damsel Louise Thérèse Felicité Thelcide Le Carpentier, of legal
age, living in this city, where she was born, legitimate daughter of Mr.
Joseph Esaü Le Carpentier and Lady Modeste Blache, on the second part.
The aforesaid Mr. Morphy and Mile Le Carpentier,
accompanied by the father and mother of the bride and their relatives and
friends here assembled, have promised and by these presents solemnly sworn
to unite themselves in lawful marriage, at the first request of either
one, in conformity with the laws of this State and the rites of the
Catholic Church, following the religion which they profess; and in view of
this marriage have settled and engaged upon the following matrimonial
covenants:
There shall be between the future spouses, from the day of
the said marriage, partnership in or community of ownership of assets and
of profits, compounded, administered and liquidated in conformity with the
laws of this State.
The property of the bridegroom consists of the following:
1. A sum of ten thousand piasters, several represented by
endorsed notes, and almost all carrying mortgages, which are in the hands
of Mr. Louis Pelié in this city, and of which Mr. Le Carpentier, in behalf
of his daughter, the bride, has informed himself, as he so declares.
2. A plot of land with the framework of a building, in the
Faubourg Marigny, facing Crayes Street, measuring forty-six feet in width
and one hundred and twenty feet in depth, estimated to be worth two
thousand piasters.
3. A plot of land in this city, facing St. Peter Street,
measuring thirty-five feet in width and ninety feet in depth, between
Burgundy Street and the Ramparts, estimated to be worth six hundred
piasters.
4. Sundry slaves, to wit:
Louison, mulatress, a laundress, forty-five years old and
valued at five hundred plasters.
Hyacinthe, mulatto, a workman, twenty-four years old, eight hundred
piasters.
Honoré, grill, fourteen years old, five hundred plasters.
Beckey, American Negress, sixteen years old, four hundred piasters.
Jacques, American Negro, nineteen years old, six hundred plasters.
Friday, Negro carter, fifty years old, four hundred piasters.
Total: Fifteen thousand eight hundred plasters.
The property of the bride consists of the sum of four
thousand piasters which the bridegroom acknowledges and declares to have
received from the aforesaid Mr. Le Carpentier, father of the bride, in the
presence of these witnesses, to his satisfaction, from which sum of four
thousand piasters thus received as a dowry, the said bridegroom is
obligated to make rightful restitution to anyone thereto entitled. Upon
dissolution of community property, the bride or her representatives,
having cause, shall be entitled to appeal, and in such case to exercise
all the rights of recovery provided by law.
Thus it has been agreed in good faith between the two
parties. Said agreement acted upon and entered into at New Orleans at the
residence of Mr. Le Carpentier, father of the bride, the twentieth of
February, eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, fifty-third year of the
independence of the United States of America, in the presence of M.
Auguste St. Martin and M. Louis H. Féraud, requisite witnesses domiciled
in this city, who have signed with the prospective husband and wife, the
father and mother of the bride and their relatives and friends here
present, after having read the same.
