"A cruel overseer": Letter from Fr. Grivel S.J. to Fr. Lancaster S.J., May 30, 1840

"A cruel overseer": Letter from Fr. Grivel S.J. to Fr. Lancaster S.J., May 30, 1840

Slaves--Louisiana, Slaves-Abuse of, Sacraments, Plantation-Overseers, Catholic Church-Clergy-Correspondence

In this letter from Fr. Fidel Grivel to Fr. Charles Lancaster dated May 30, 1840, Grivel includes a brief report on the condition of the people who were sold to Louisiana. He noted that Henry Johnson said he would build a chapel for "our people" and that two couples had been married on Easter. But he also notes that enslaved persons suffered from a "cruel overseer" when they first arrived in Louisiana:

"Rev M. Boullier P. [Parish) P. [Priest] at Donaldsonville; he goes once a month to gov. Johnson’s farm 12 Miles distant, where all our people from W. Marsh & St. Inigoes are. He praises them much. He married 2 couples on Easter Sunday. Govr. Johnson did not & will not sell any, but this summer will build a chapel for them, & even pay a Priest, if he can get one. The last year they were unhappy, on account of a cruel overseer, but now they are pleased in their new place, having removed from Acadia Cty near Brangiers[?] or S. Michel, to the opposite shore of Mississippi..."

Maryland Province Archives

Georgetown Slavery Archive

1840-05-30

Transcribed by Elsa Barraza Mendoza.

Maryland Province Archives.

GSA3: Letter from James Van de Velde, S.J. to Thomas Mulledy, S.J., March 28, 1848 
GSA82: Letter from James Van de Velde, S.J. to Ignatius Brocard, S.J., November 27, 1848

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English

Manuscript

GSA88

George Town College, 30, Mai [May] 1840

Cssime in Xto Frater Carole! [Most Illustrious in Christ, Brother Carole!]

P.C. [Pax Christiana]

Since my last letter to you (4th Instt) came successively on the 25-26 the Bishops Rosati, Blanc, Portier, Miles; these two with B. [Beatissimi] P. [Pater[ [Our Most Holy Father] Rosati will embark for Europe the  1st of June, on the steam boat British Queen for Plymouth, England, & be there in 13 or 14 days, where an other [sic]  steamer is always ready to cross to Havre in few hours. Wonderful, Sir! 200 Miles a day! Well…-  

Then Bps of Boston, Purcell, of Vincennes -  the French Bp of Nancy Forbin de Janson my old friend & of  Fr Vespers. He has bought from Bp Portier for $30,000 his college at Springs Hill - Mobile, for his French congregation Missionnaires de France, called now Pères de la Misericorde. Bp Janson and abbé Rauzan, are the founders of that association; they will send teachers to Springs hill. Bps Jonas, Kenrick England, Dubois did not come - Bp Raza is at Rome as yet, & Bp Hughes also.  Finally came Bp Flaget with Father Chazelles; they remained 4 days  waiting for you. When I mentioned your name: “ah!  said the Bp in good joke, I have missed my miracle for him” – But, replied I, he will continue to join every day your Lordship in reciting, the litanies of the H. Name of Jesus, Salve Regina, & the prayer to S. Joseph: Sanctissima Genitricis tua sponsi de.-  Well, said he, & the Pope granted me to say at Mass every day, the collect pro amicis et Benef.- He will not forget you, he remembers well yr parents & told that Columbus was at Rev. W. Byrne’s, and Charles also, said I. Be sure, he will pray in particular for you. He is a man of true & amiable, & profound humility. Patience. We will see.

Fr McCarthy is superior at W. Marsh, a large community, Father Sanders, Van de Wardt, Kuhn and perhaps Hickey – you know Fr Ryder is our V. Rector.

-Fr Jérom will be here next Monday, 1st June for a day or two only.

Beside the Bps, their priests were here, no Jesuits from Missouri, P.  Verhaegen being administrator of the Diocese. - Fr John Mc Elroy was the theologian of Bp Purcell & did well in the council, as Fr Chazelle theol. of Bp Haget. We saw here Fr Bach Procurator general of the Frs de la Misericorde, Fr Charles Montgomery Provincial of the Dominicans, a young, amiable man, & strong head, they say. – Rev M. Boullier P. [Parish) P. [Priest] at  Donaldsonville; he goes once a month to gov. Johnson’s farm 12 Miles distant, where all our people from W. Marsh & St. Inigoes are. He praises them much. He married 2 couples on Easter Sunday.

[2]

Govr. Johnson did not & will not sell any, but this summer will build a chapel for them, & even pay a Priest, if he can get one. The last year they were unhappy, on account of a cruel overseer, but now they are pleased in their new place, having removed from Acadia Cty near Brangiers[?] or S. Michel, to the opposite shore of Mississippi. – Father Mulledy has written from Nizza for his written sermons; he has 44 English Catholicks [sic], who will return next winter, & Fr M will be again their chaplain;  the Protestants, all English, are 250 & have clever persons to attend them. No other news from Italy, France or Spain, or Belgium, Switzerland etc.

You will give these news to Father G. King; I have received his letter from the 16th Instt, thank him for his kindness; but I’ll wait for my answer, till I get a other [sic] set of news. My respects to Father Cary, Ms. Nelly Greenwell. How does she find them?

Yr affectionate friend. F. Grivel

[Envelope]

To the Revd C.C. Lancaster

Wye Mill P[arish] office

Talbot County

S. Joseph Church

Eastern Shore Maryland

Manuscript