1835 Deed Recording Exchange of Slaves and Land inherited by sisters Eliza Perrie Bowman and Mary Ann Gray from mother Mrs. Lucy Perrie
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
On March 24, 1835 two married half-sisters recorded a transaction wherein they deeded to each other Enslaved Persons and property they had inherited from their mother Mrs Lucy Perrie. Mary Ann Smith, wife of Ira Smith who gave his authorization, exchanged 25 Enslaved Persons, 700 arpents of land including the residence of her late mother, and an additional 400 arpents known as Trudeaux tract, with her sister Eliza Perrie Bowman. Eliza, with permission of husband Wm R. Bowman, “for and in exchange for” 27 Enslaved Persons and 800 arpents of land known as Duplessie tract.
Transcription of Deed: Mary Ann Smith to Eliza Bowman and Eliza Bowman to Mary Ann Smith, written March 24, 1835, and Truly Recorded April 4, 1835, West Feliciana Parish Clerk Office, book E, pages 368-369. (Names of Enslaved are bolded by me to make more obvious for searchers.)
Deed: Mary Ann Smith To Eliza Bowman
And Eliza Bowman to Mary Ann Smith
State of Louisiana Parish of West Feliciana
Be it remembered that on the day of the date hereof before me John B Dawson Parish Judge of said Parish and exofficio Notary Public in and for the same came personally and appeared Mrs Mary Ann Gray wife of Doct Ira Smith aided assisted and authorized herein by her said Husband of the one part And Eliza Perrie wife of Wm R Bowman aided assisted and authorized by her said Husband of the other part all residing in said Parish — And the said Mary Ann Gray aided and authorized as aforesaid by her said husband declared & acknowledged that she hath given and granted And by these present doth give and grant unto the said Eliza Perrie aided and assisted herein by said husband as aforesaid the following named slaves To Wit Charles, George, L Pate, L Charles, Ellen, Steven, Zilpha, Mary (Zilpha’s child) Berry, Fanny, Molly L Ferry, Market, Mary, James, Sally, Lott, Yellow Nancy, L Maria, Daphney, Julia, Isabel, Allan, Dave, and Aggie. Also a certain tract or parcel of Land containing Seven Hundred arpents of land known as the Late residence of Mrs Lucy Perrie deceased: also another tract adjoining the above containing Four Hundred arpents known as the Trudeaux tract which Slaves and lands she inherited from her deceased mother Mrs Lucy Perrie for and in exchange of and for all of the following named Slaves To Wit Simon, Rachel, Charlott Lou Isaac Shack Ranter Bob Mack, Littleton Boney, Big Pate, William, Old Ferry, Mary his wife Laura Maria John Harry Cotton, Crease Betsey Nelly, Amistead Old Mary L Comfort Albert – Also a certain tract or parcel known as the Duplesis track containing about Eight Hundred arpents — And the said Eliza Perrie wife of Wm R Bowman aided an assisted and authorized as aforesaid by her said husband hath likewise on her part given granted and by these present doth fully freely and absolutely give and grant unto the said Mary Ann Gray aided and authorized by her said husband Ira Smith as aforesaid her heirs and assigns all the foregoing mentioned Slaves and Land having been inherited by her the said Eliza Perrie from her deceased mother Mrs Lucy Perrie To have and to hold the said Slaves and Land to the said Mary Ann Gray her heirs and assigns forever for and in exchange of and for the aforementioned Slaves and Land And the parties of aforesaid doth by these present respectively warrant in every particular the property given and granted to the other — In proof whereof the Parties aforesaid have hereunto signed their names granting and accepting in presence of Mr Jno B Dawson Parish Judge and exofficio Notary Public as aforesaid And in presence of E Cooley Jr and Fisk Thomas who sign with me as witnesses — Thus done and passed at my Office in St Francisville this 24th day of March 1835. Both parties agreeing to waive the Parish Judges certificate of Mortgage etc
M A Smith IRA Smith Eliza Bowman W R Bowman
Witnesses E Cooley Jr Joseph E Thomas
Filed March 24th 1835 Jno B Dawson Parish Judge
Truly recorded April 4th 1835