Henry Johnson's sales of enslaved persons, 1844-1851

Be it remembered that on this day the fourth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty five Before Edward Duffel, Parish Judge & Notary Public ex officia of the parish Ascension State of Louisiana, came and appeared Philip B Key a resident of said parish who declared, that, for and in consideration that herein after mentioned, he has granted bargained, sold, conveyed, assigned, and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, convey, & ass. with a full legal guarantee against all debts, obligations, [unclear]inidating and incumbrances ^ in addition to his own [unclear] [unclear line] and actions of warrants against his vendor and all prior vendors,

[page 266]

John Ryerss-Thompson, a resident of the parish of Iberville State aforesaid here present, accepting this sale for himself his heirs and assigns, all the Estate, right, title, interest, property, slaves? and [unclear] whatsoever which he acquired by purchase from Henry Johnson, by act under private signatures made between the said Henry Johnson and Philip B. Key on the fifteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and forty four, duly acknowledged by the said parties before me Judge & Notary in the presence of Adolph Braud and Henry L. Duffel competent witnesses, on the thirteenth day of November aforesaid 1844, and which said act and acknowledgement are duly recorded in Register No 19 pages 7 & [seqr?] of the Notarial Records of the parish of Ascension in the office of the said Judge & Notary, under date of the thirteenth day of November aforesaid 1844, and [?] deposited among the the archives of the said parish, to wit: “one undived half of a certain tract or parcel of land, lying, being, and situate in the parish of Ascension on the right or West bank of the river Mississippi, [unclear phrase] above Donaldsonville, bounded above by land of the late [?] Landry, lately purchased by the said Johnson & Key from the widow [?] Landry (now married to Charles Despin) and formerly land of Thomas Whaly formerly belonging to Milain Babin, measuring about Eleven arpents in front, by forty arpents in depth, [?] more or less, the intention of the parties being that the lands included within the above designated boundaries is sold by the one, and purchased by the other from boundary to boundary, and not by [?] with the exception and reservation in such ownership of the four arpents in front of said tract of land, measuring from the upper boundary, and on which the dwelling house of the said Henry Johnson is situated, running back to a ditch about one arpent beyond the land now enclosed as a Sheep pasture, supposed to contain from thirty five to forty superficial arpents of land, which belongs exclusively to the said Henry Johnson, and very expressly reserved by him in the above mentioned Sale and conveyance made by him to the said Philip B Key 2d. an undived half part of the lands back of, and adjoined to, the tract of land abovedescribed and designated extending from the rear of said first described tract or parcel of land to the distance of forty arpents, to the parcel more or less from the said measure, in depth [unclear lines] and from the rear of the tract [?] which belonged to Silvanie? Landry and Paul Bolieu, above and adjoining the above described premises and which were subsequently purchased by the said Henry Johnson from

[page 267]

the succession of Silvanie? Landry, in part, and from [Silvanie?] [Unclear] Landry, George Harrison and Valentine? Bolieu for the residue thereof as appearing by [unclear phrase] and passed before the undersigned Judge and [unclear] in his office; said tract? being bounded on the upper side by [unclear] of Thompson & Montgomery and and [sic] on the lower side by land of Thomas Whaly  3o the one undivided half of a tract of land below and adjoining the first described tract ^ being [unclear phrase] by the land of Thomas Whaly the residue of the land purchased by the said Harry Thomas from Albert G Gilbert & Wade H Gilbert by act before the undersigned Judge & Notary on the twenty fifth day of July Eighteen hundred and thirty seven, [unclear phrase] Seven arpents [unclear phrase], [unclear] by forty arpents in depth, on the upper [unclear], with [unclear] depth of ninety arpents-- one arpent [unclear] by thirty arpents in depth, with [unclear] of the remaining [unclear], agreeable to an act of sale and exchange of land between the said Henry Johnson & Isaac Dominique & Baptiste Cravierto?, executed before edward? Duffel, Notary Public on the eighteenth day of June Eighteen hundred and forty one duly recorded in the office of the undersigned Judge & Notary on the following day, and [unclear] the one undivided half of the land in the rear? of the tract [of] land below and adjoining the tract of land acquired as [unclear] Albert G & Wade H Gilbert & which the said Johnson acquired by said act of sale and exchange from the said Dominique & Cravierto? containing nine arpents in front, immediately in the rear? and adjoining the lands and which said Dominique & Cravierto? now reside, the eight lawn? arpents front beginning at the distance fourteen arpents from the river, the adjoining arpent front beginning at the distance of ten arpents from the river, and two arpents front? on the river adjoining the lands of Thomas Whaly which before the lands acquired from Gilbert & from Dominique & Cravierto? from the first described- the sides? [unclear line inserted] lands of those last designated lands closing to a point; the width? of the above described lands including the pasture? in front thereof contain thirteen hundred and Eight superficial arpents, more or less. 4o the undivided half of the following named negroes, slaves imployed within [unclear phrase] of the Sugar Estate above described and sold and intended to be sold named Tom Riley; Len; Grafton; Henry Rawlings; Washington; Ben Thompson; John Mitchel; Henry Jones; Phenix; William Harrison; Ben Johnson; Bill Kelly; Clem; Hilliary; Barry; West; John Brown; Greenfield; Sylvestre; Ferdinand; Remus; Barret; Miley; Augustus; Tom Nolands; Caleb; Peter Morgan; George; Louis; Inez; Bill Ware; Ambrose; Joe Hill; Harry; Jim Blair; Old Charles; Old Joe; Kitty; Harriet; Plowden; Jane Langley, and her three children, George, Sally Ann, & Joseph

[page 268]

Old Nancey

Henny Ford, and her children, to wit Emeline, Elizabeth, Billy, Basil, and Rachael; Ann Morgan and her children, to wit Sarah Ann, Gabe, and Rachael; Ellen Black-lock; Bridget; Betsey; and her children to wit Lucinda, Daniel Henry and Grandison; Henny Lee, and her children, to wit, Ann, Elizabeth, Elias, John Westley; Francis, Henrietta, and Richard; Nelly Harrison and her child John. Kitty, and her three children to wit Austin, Isaac and Elias; Miranda, Lucretia and her child, Mary Jane; Eliza Hall, and her children, to wit: Thomas and Frederick; Maria and her children, to wit: Henny, Mary Ann, John, Virginia, William and Ophilia; Kitty and her child Demus; Henry Waters, Chloe and her children, to wit: Edward and Lucy, old Sally; old Nelly Blacklick; old Bibey; old Jenny, Henny Ware and her child Mary; Adiline, and her children, to wit: Mathew, Jinny, Catherine & John, Betsey Hill, Harriet Ann Ediline, Harriet-ann Wist, Henny Brown and her child Harriet ann; Arnold; Susann and her child Priscilla; Christina; Cody; Rhutha; Justine Ann, and her child John Henry; Emeline Green; Mary Green; Lucina; Alick Jones; Sarah Ann Kitty; Stephen Randolph, Eliza Ann Randolph, Josephine Randolph and Robert Randolph the children of George together with their increase sureties have been made by the said vendor and the future increase (the slaves whose names are not here mentioned and which were purchased by the said P. B. Key from Henry Johnson have died since the purchase was made) & is understood that the vendor does not warrant the above named slaves to be free from the vices and maladies prescribed by law, the vendor acknowledging the delivery and possession of said slaves and that he is satisfied with the character of said slaves and takes them as they are. The above undivided half part of the lands & slaves above designated are sold, together with the undived half of all the buildings and improvements on said lands, now sold and intended to be sold, rights and appurtenances thereto pertaining and also the undived half of all the Stock, utensils and provisions, and standing crop of Cane and Corn, with the exception of the horses cows, carriages &c reserved by the said Henry Johnson (and which are expressly excluded from this sale) described in the sale from him to the present vendor above referred to, the clauses and stipulations relative to the partnership between the said Johnson & Key, and contained in said act being now revoked. The undersigned Judge certifies that the only mortgages bearing on the land & slaves above designated in the name of Henry Johnson, inscribed on his mortgage books are a special mortgage granted by Henry Johnson and Mrs Elizabeth R Key his wife, by and before Theodore Sighon notary Public residing in the City of New Orleans

[page 269]

On the twenty seventh day of May Eighteen hundred and thirty nine [unclear] of the Citizens Bank of Louisiana to secure Two hundred fifty four shares of the capital stock of the Citizens Bank of Louisiana held by said Henry Johnson, amounting to twenty four thousand five hundred dollars, and also to secure the payment of the [unclear] of the [unclear] raised or to be raised to form the capital of said bank issuing of bonds repaid by the Governor of the State of Louisiana under the said Citizens Bank, [unclear] signed by the Executive and Treasurer of State, and under the seal of the State, and to remove any trace which he may obtain from said bank with [interest] [unclear] till paid if not punctually paid [unclear phrase] and also to comply with all the stipulations and obligations said act contained which act of mortgage has been communicated to the said John R Thompson. Said mortgage being recorded on [the] twenty ninth day day of May Eighteen hundred and thirty nine in [Book] of Mortgages No 7 pages 111 & [seqr?] bears on the [unclear] part of the above described lands and on twenty five Slaves, which [lands &] Slaves are more fully described in said act of mortgage of which the said John R Thompson has full knowledge.

2o a special mortgage in favor of the Union Bank of Louisiana by act before Adolph Mayescaux[?] a Notary Public in New Orleans dated on the eighth day of March Eighteen hundred and forty [unclear] granted by Henry Johnson and wife Mrs Elizabeth R Key, to [unclear] the payment of an obligation subscribed by them in favor of same corporation for five thousand two hundred and fifty two dollars being for a loan of money granted to them, payable on the sixth February 1844 fixed at their banking house in New Orleans, [acc.?] to the term of said obligation which is identified with the act of mortgage referred to, and to secure the payment of whatever interest may accrue on said obligation said mortgage bearing [unclear] of the lands sold and conveyed as above and twenty five Slaves of which lands & slaves a full description is given in the mortgage and has been communicated by the said John R Thompson. 3o a special mortgage granted by said Henry Johnson in favor of Thomas F Mulledy by authentic act before Marly Victor Fou[?] a Notary Public residing in the city of New Orleans on the seventh[?] day of february Eighteen hundred and forty four duly recorded the twelfth day of March next following 1844 to secure the payment of fifteen promissory notes amounting to ninety four thousand forty four dollars, and forty cents in principal, with [Six percent?] interest per annum paid and after maturity till paid, and which notes are described in said act, with which they are [unclear]fied, and their payment with accruing interest secured by said

[A note scrawled in the left-hand margin of this page reads: I hereby release the Judge from all liability for any  made by him of mortgages J. R. Thompson]

[page 270]

mortgage, which affects the [unclear phrase inserted] negroes above described, sold and conveyed (except those mortgaged by the Citizens Bank of Louisiana and Union Bank of Louisiana) together with those slaves and lands [unclear]. 4” a special mortgage on the one undivided half of all of said lands and slaves, stock, utensils and improvements on the lands, granted by the said Philip B Key in favor of his vendor Henry Johnson, to name the payment of the balance of the purchase money due by the said Key to the said Johnson for the price of said lands, and improvements slaves, stock etc, according to the terms and conditions of the sale made as aforesaid on the fifteenth of february Eighteen hundred and forty four, does acknowledge on the thirteenth day of November forthcoming, and recorded according to law and also recorded on the eighteenth day of November Eighteen hundred and forty four in Mortgage Book No 8 pages 162 & seqr?, which said balance after deducting the cash payment made and the interest of said Key in certain promissory notes described in said act received as cash, yet unpaid amounts to the sum of Forty five thousand three hundred and forty four dollars and sixteen cents [inserted: “in principal?”] for the payment of which the said Philip B Key furnished his six promissory notes to the order of the said Henry Johnson payable at the following prices[?] and in the following manner and sums to wit: all of said notes dated on the fifteenth day of february Eighteen hundred and forty four, identified with the act of acknowledgement of sale and conventional mortgage stipulated therein, made before me said Judge & Notary on the thirteenth of November Eighteen hundred and forty four as herein before stated, and made payable at the Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans, the first note being for Six thousand four hundred and eighty dollars payable one year after date, the second for nine thousand two hundred and Eight dollars, payable two years after the date, the third note for nine thousand Seven hundred and sixteen dollars payable three years after date, the fourth note for two thousand three hundred and forty three dollars and fifty two cents, payable four years after date, the fifth note two thousand nine hundred and Seventy dollars and forty cents, payable five years after date, and the sixth note payable six years after date for the sum of Seven thousand five hundred and ninety seven dollars and twenty cents, amounting together in the principal and interest to the several periods of payment to the sum of Fifty Eight thousand, three hundred and eighty seven dollars and twenty cents Said mortgage being for the payment of said notes with eight per

[page 271]

cent interest per annum thereon from maturity till payment to the said Henry Johnson, being also [unclear line] above sale [unclear inserted line] and caused to accept the said Johnson as his debtor for the balance of the price [unclear] by the said Philip B Key and [unclear] by his six promissory notes above mentioned, in discharge of this debt due him as before stated. The present sale is made for and in consideration of the price and sum of Ninety thousand, four hundred and [ninety] six dollars & eighty one cents of which the purchaser has paid [in] cash two thousand two hundred and ninety Eight 76/100 Dollars, ($2298 75/100) and for which a receipt is hereby given by the vendor. The remainder of the purchase money is to be applied and [made] as follows, to wit: the sum of fifty one thousand nine hundred and [?] dollars and twenty cents, to Henry Johnson, in payment of a [?] sum due him by the said Philip B Key, and evidenced by [his] five promissory notes, due respectively in two, three, four, five and six years from the fifteenth day of february Eighteen hundred and forty four and secured by mortgage on his undivided half of the property above sold, as herein before stated (the first [note] givin [sic] by the said Philip B Key for the sum of Six thousand four hundred and Eight dollars, payable on the fifteenth of february 1845 being here [?] by him duly paid, and acquitted signatures being [?], and mortgages to secure the same caused and the sum of Thirty six thousand two hundred and ninety dollars Eighty five cents to be paid to the said Philip B Key, to cover? the price of said Sale. In consequence of which the said John R Thompson has now made and subscribed his promissory notes all dated “Parish of Ascension June 3d 1845,” and made payable to the order of Henry Johnson at the Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans except the note ^ for $6652 payable on the 15 february [1847] which is made payable at the Union Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans, the first note being for the sum of Nine thousand two hundred and eighty dollars ($9280) is payable on the 15” of february [next] one note for the sum of three thousand and sixty four dollars ($3064) payable on 15 february 1847, another for the sum of Six thousand Six hundred and fifty two dollars ($6652) payable also on the 15 february 1847 (which last note is to be paid at the [Union] Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans) one note payable on the 15 february 1848 for the sum of Ten thousand three hundred and forty three dollars fifty two cents ($10343.52/100), one note for [the] sum of Ten thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars ($10970) is payable on the 15 february 1849, and one note is payable on 15 february 1850 for the sum of Eleven thousand five hundred and ninety seven

[page 272]

dollars and twenty eight cents ($11,598 28/100) all of which said described notes have been paraphed by me Judge & Notary [unclear] to [unclear] them with the present act of sale and mortgage, and they all bear interest on their face at the same [?] rates of eight per cent per annum ^ after maturity till paid, if not paid at maturity, and whereas the above described notes be [unclear] by the said John R Thompson to the said Henry Johnson in payment of part of the price of the land, slaves &c sold as before mentioned, in satisfaction of the debt due him by the said Phil B Key, still [unclear] unpaid and [unclear] by his five promissory notes before particularly described, the said Henry Johnson in consideration of the promissory notes of the notes [unclear] in the place of those due by Philip B Key and [unclear phrase] to have received, does hereby bind and obligate himself to deliver up to the said Philip B Key his seven promissory notes, made payable on the 15 february of the years 1846?, 1848, 1849 and 1850, and secured by mortgage as aforesaid, which notes are deposited in the Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans (the note made payable on the 15 february 1847 for nine thousand seven hundred and sixteen dollars being now delivered up by the said Johnson to the said Key, and cancelled, the signatory being erased[?] and the undersigned Judge and Recorder of Mortgages is expressly authorised and required to cancel [?] the mortgage reserved by Henry Johnson on the undivided half of the property sold by him to Philip B Key to the amount of the note payable on the 15 february 1845 and the note payable on the 15 february 1847, and to cancel and erase the said mortgage in full on presentation of the four remaining notes [?] referred to. It is agreed and understood between the said Henry Johnson and John R Thompson, that the above described six promissory notes of said Thompson, such [unclear] as herein before said, for the amount due by Philip B Key, with the exception of the note of Six thousand Six hundred and fifty two dollars made payable at the Union Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans, are to be deposited in the Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans and the proceeds thereof as well as those of the note which is to be deposited in the Union Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans, are to be applied to the payment of the mortgages existing on said Estate and Slaves, as they become due and payable, the said Henry Johnson being fully authorised to ^discount all of said notes [unclear phrase] in one of the said banks for the purpose of paying such of the said mortgages as may become due before the maturity of the notes

[page 273]

and in payment of that part of the price which is to be paid directly to the vendor Philip B Key the said John R Thompson has made eight promissory notes, to his order all dated 3 June (instant) 1845. three of said notes being payable on the [?] February 1846?, one for two thousand dollars ($2000) and [?] other notes being for four thousand dollars ($4000 each) one note five thousand dollars payable 15 february 1847 ($5000) and the other four notes being all payable on the 15 february 1857 [sic], [one] of which is for Six thousand two hundred and ninety dollars ($6290) and each of the other three notes being for five thousand dollars (5000$ each) the said notes all having interest on the sale of Eight per cent per annum of the maturity till paid if not paid at maturity are made to the order of P B Key and payable at the Bank of Louisiana [?] in New Orleans. the aggregate amount of the above described Eight promissory notes being Thirty Six thousand two hundred and ninety dollars ($36,290). The said notes having been been duly paraphed and described by me Judge [?] to identify them with the above act of sale and mortgage were given over to the said Philip B Key who acknowledged His receipt thereof.

[3. Henry Johnson to John R. Thompson, 1851, Ascension Parish, CB 22, p. 483]

United States of America State of Louisiana Parish of Ascension. Be it Remembered that on this the twenty seventh day of December One Thousand eight Hundred and fifty one and of the Independence of the United States of America the seventy sixth. Before me Henry L. Duffel a Notary Public duly qualified in and for the Parish aforementioned Came and appeared Henry Johnson a resident of the aforesaid Parish &

[page two]

John B. Thompson, of the adjoining Parish of Iberville, joint owners each for an undivided half part thereof of the herein after described property- And the said Henry Johnson declared that for and in Consideration of the price to be hereinafter mentioned, he has granted & sold and does by these presents grant, sell, bargain, convey, set over and deliver with a full legal guarantee against all debts, claims, and other incumbrances and with subrogation to all his rights & actions in WarrantyUnto John R. Thompson of the Parish of Iberville, who accepts this sale for himself, his heirs and assigns < The Undivided half of a Certain tract of Land, lying and being in the Parish of Ascension, on the right bank of the Mississippi River, at about eleven miles above Donaldsonville, bounded above by lands of Thompson and Montgomery, or by the line dividing the Parishes of Ascension and Iberville, and below by lands of Jean Dominique, and Neville Melanson measuring about nineteen Arpents front on said River, with a depth of eighty arpents more or less. for the seventeen upper Arpents front, and of forty Arpents deep for the lower two arpents. front on the River, measuring also nine Arpents front immediately in the rear and adjoining lands on which Jean Dominique now resides, the lower eight Arpents front thereof beginning at a distance of fourteen Arpents from the river, the adjoining arpent front thereof beginning at ten Arpents from the river; the lower five arpents front running to the end of the double Concession, but the lines closing considerably, x and the next four upper Arpents front running in depth forty arpents lines closing also, and the Batture in front of said described tract of land, which land is known and designated by the name of “Chatham Estate” and is established in a Sugar Plantation. The intention of the parties is that the land undivided within the above designated boundaries is sold from boundary to boundary and not by measure which is not Exactly known- The abovedescribed tract of land is sold with the Exception & reservation in full ownership of four arpents in front on the Mississippi RIver, measuring five arpents from the upper boundary, and on which the dwelling house of the said H. Johnson is situated running back to a ditch about one arpent beyond. The land now inclosed as a Sheep’s pasture, Supposed to Contain from thirty five to forty superficial Arpents more or less, which belongs Exclusively to said Henry Johnson, and was by him Expressedly reserved in the act of sale made by him of the undivided half part of this Plantation to Col. P. B. Key It is Expressely understood also that Henry Johnson reserves during the lifetime of himself & wife, for their Exclusive use & Enjoyment a portion of the Plantation first described measuring three arpents and a half, front on the River adjoining the tract first described & immediately above it, and running back as far as the said tract reserved in full ownership by said Johnson as aforesaid, and the said tract of land of four arpents front with buildings, and the said tract of three & a half arpents front reserved as aforesaid- by Henry Johnson, whenever said Johnson will be disposed to sell the same, that said Thompson shall have the preference at the price the parties will agree upon, or in case they cannot agree each party shall select one his neighbors who shall appraise the property, and if they cannot agree they shall select an umpire, and the award of the majority shall be binding upon the parties-- 2d The undivided half of the following named negroes-Slaves Employed in the Cultivation of the Sugar Estate above described and sold, and who are the same together with their increase that the said Thompson acquired in part from Col. P. B. Key- namely: Ambrose, Len, Jerry, Henry, Rawlings, Clem Langly, William Harrison, Ben Thompson, Henry Jones, John Brown, Peter Morgan, Phoenix, George, John Mitchel, Greenfield, William Ware, Graftin-West, Ferdinand, William Kelly, Thomas Noland, Greenfield, Caleb, Remus, Miley, Ben Johnson, Augustus, Lewis, Burnette, Arnold, Washington, Sylvester, Joe Hill, James Blair, Thomas Riley, Flor[?], Stephen, Billy-Henry, Daniel, John Bruly, John Harrison, Elias Lee, Grandison, Thomas Hall, George, Elias Hawkins, Edward, Bob, Gabriel -- Old Nelly, Emiline Green, Henry Waters, Kitty Harrison, Kitty Mitchel, Miranda, Harriet West, Catherine, Rutha, Lucinda, Harriet Inglin, Jinny, Josephine, Henry Mirgimon?, Bazil, ElizabethHill, Kitty, Susan, Caroline, Mary Green, Milley, Julia Ann, John Henry, Christina, Rebecca, Lucina, Anthony, Imeline Brown, William, Eliza, Emily, Mary Ann, Virginia, Eliza Hall, Frederic, Henry Lee, Westly, Francis, Henry, Henny, William, Davis, Tom Langly, Sally Ann, Joseph, Theresa, Adeline, John, Mary, Fanny, Bridget, Lidy, Mary, Brazil, Biby, Ann Morgan, Rachael, Emily, Molly, Chloe, Lucy, Louisa, Bitta[?], Alecks, Richard, Peter, Prosper, Lucretia, Ferdinand, Mary Jane, William, Maria, Leonard, Dick, HarrietPlowden, William, Allelujah, Mary, Moses, Henry Ford, Rachael, Jackson, Bazil, Ann Lee, Mary, Richard, BettyDorsey, Joe, SarahAnn, Harriet, Mathilda, in all, one hundred and forty slaves----- It is understood that the vendor does not warrantee the

[page three]

the above slaves from the defects prescribed by law, but on the contrary the purchaser takes them as they are, being satisfied with their character----- The above undivided half part of the land and slaves are sold together with the undivided half of all the buildings improvements, rights & appurtenances and also with all the stock utensils, corn, fodder, now on the Plantations sold, it being understood that the present Crop of Sugar & Molasses is to be shiped when prepared for market to W & J. Montgomery on the joint account of the parties as heretofore, and that the Expenses of the Estate up to the time that the rolling was Completed shall be paid by the parties as previously but that no new Expenses to be incurred afterwards-----The parties dispense with the Certificate required by article of the Civil Code 3328, being agreed & satisfied that the only mortgages Existing  on the above described property are-- 1o. A Special mortgage in favor of Thomas F. Mulledy to secure the payment of six promissory notes due him & amounting in all to thirty seven thousand six hundred & seventy four Dollars & thirty seven cents-----2o. A Special mortgage in favor of Thomas Whaly to secure the payment of four-thousand Dollars due him by the parties,--and 3o. A Special mortgage in favor of the Banks of Louisiana bearing on ten Slaves herein above described to Secure the payment of a Sum of three Thousand & forty nine Dollars, nine hundred & ninety nine Dollars of which will become Exigible on the 12th. of March 1852, Eleven hundred and fifty Dollars on the 17th of December 1852, and nine hundred Dollars on the 12th. of March 1853, which last mortgage to the Louisiana Bank, said H. Johnson will himself pay, the other mortgages being assumed by J. R. Thompson as will be herein after fully set forth-----This Sale is made for and in Consideration of the price and Sum of One hundred & Eleven Thousand seven Hundred & fifty two Dollars & thirty Seven Cents ($111.752-37¢.) payable as follows viz: The purchaser John R. Thompson assumes the payment of the sum of thirty seven Thousand six hundred & seventy four Dollars and thirty seven Cents ($37.474-37¢.) due by the Seller to Thomas F. Mulledy of Georgetown, District of Columbia, represented by Certain notes given by said H. Johnson to said Mulledy, two of which will become due in all March next (1852) amounting to thirteen Thousand two hundred & sixty seven Dollars and nine Cents ($13-267-09¢.) two others in all March 1853, amounting to twelve Thousand five hundred & ninety three Dollars and twenty Eight Cents ($12.593-28ct) and the two last ones in all March 1854, amounting to eleven Thousand Eight hundred & fourteen Dollars ($11.814.) all payable at the Bank of Louisiana in New Orleans-- The Purchases also assuming the payment of the half of a balance due by parties to Thomas Whaly, the portion due by said Johnson amounting to two Thousand Dollars, which Said Sums are to be paid for and in Account of said Henry Johnson and in deduction of the purchase price----- And for the Balance of the price, the said John R. Thompson made and Subscribed his Six promissory notes imdg date of this day, to the order of Henry Johnson one for One Thousand one hundred & fifty eight Dollars, payable on the first day of January Eighteen hundred and fifty three ($1158)--One for two Thousand nine hundred & twenty Dollars, payable on the first day of January Eighteen hundred and fifty four ($2920)--One for fifteen Thousand five hundred Dollars, payable on the first of January Eighteen hundred & fifty five-- ($15.500)--One for Sixteen Thousand five hundred Dollars payable on the first of January Eighteen hundred and fifty-six ($16-5000.)--One for Seventeen Thousand five hundred Dollars payable on the first of January Eighteen hundred and fifty seven ($17-500)--and One for Eighteen thousand five hundred Dollars, payable on the first of January Eighteen hundred and fifty-Eight ($18.500.) all of the said are made payable at the Bank of Louisiana, in New Orleans & to bear an annual interest of eight per cent from & after this maturity--until paid, and the said notes having been by me Notary paraphed “Ne varietur” were given over to the said Vendor who acknowledges receipt thereof---And for the better Security of the payment of all Said described notes the above Plantation and slaves remain Specially mortgaged with Vendor’s privilege until the full & entire payment of Said notes with accruing interest the said Thompson hereby Consenting not to Sell, mortgage or Otherwise dispose or incumber Said property to the prejudice of the mortgage herein granted.

To these presents, intervened Mistress Elizabeth R. Key wife of full age of said Henry Johnson & by him duly assisted, who declared, that she approved the above sale and wishes to renounce her rights & mortgage on the property first described and Sold--Whereupon I Said Notary Explained to her Verbally & out of the presence of her Said husband, that she had by laws a mortgage on the property of her husband--1st for the restitution of her dowry and the replacing of dotal property brought in marriage---2d for the restitution of the dotal effects which she acquired during marriage by Succession or donations -  and 3d for the reinvestment of paraphernal property, the price whereof was received by her husband, and that finally by the [?]

[page four]

Renunciation the proceeds herself of all remain? on the within described property--and thereupon declared that she was well informed of her rights and of the effects of her renunciation but that she nevertheless persisted in her intention of renouncing, and being again duly assisted by her said husband, she declared to renounce formally her said legal mortgage and all her matrimonial, dotal, paraphernal and other rights which she has on Said described property and this in favor of the said John R. Thompson his heirs and assignsIt is understood that the said John R. Thompson Sold by these presents, to Said Henry Johnson an undivided fourth part of the lower portion of a certain tract of land lying in Claiborne’s Island No. 97-- purchased as public sale of the succession of Orillion, the whole of Said Island Containing about thirty four 18/100 acres, which said fourth part now purchased by Said H. Johnson he will sell, when disposed, under the same conditions as the lots of ground before described, part of which belongs to him in full ownership and part as a life’s [hold?]. It is understood also that the negro named Ferdinand aged about Thirty-six Years and herein sold is retroceded and vended to said H. Johnson for the Sum of fourteen hundred and and seventy-six Dollars which the said John R. Thompson acknowledges to have received from said H. Johnson. The Said Thompson acknowledges to have received the purchase price of said land on the Island, that is, the sum of four hundred and ten Dollars, hereby promising to warrant the said Ferdinand and the said land from the claims of all persons [Soever?] -Thus Done and passed Parish of Ascension day, month and Years first above written, in presence of William M. Thompson and John P. Wooldridge lawful and competent witnesses who have signed these presents with the Parties and me Notary after due reading Thereof (Signed) H. JohnsonElizabeth R. JohnsonJohn R. ThompsonW. M. ThompsonJohn P. WooldridgeHenry L. Duffel Notary Public- I certify the above and Foregoing a Free Copy of the Original act Extant in my office--In faith whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of officeParish of Ascension this thirty-first day of December A.D. One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty-One (Signed.) Henry L. Duffel Notary Public. (S.S.) Recorded in Parish of Ascension on this the fifth day of January Eighteen hundred & fifty-two “Two words erased as null”----- John F. Ayraud Parish Recorder