1772_03_10_01_001_R

Shannon Santiesteban's notes on the following translation:
[The] interrogation of Bobo and Jacobo - [The] interrogation of the idiot and Jacob.
1. Currently, researching the numbers on the left-hand side of the page: (100108)
2. M.r should be the abbreviation for Monsieur
3. Probably the name of the mother or Don Francisco is a.k.a. Devezin re.: Don Francisco Olivier ((Devezin or Durozion/Derozion))
4. alcade is a term to describe a mayor possibly a major serving in an army or someone who operates as a magistrate
5. prov.l is possibly a section of New Orleans which has been designated as a particular part of the city such as a provision.
6. dixo que ha hier en estas horas le dixeron partes possible translations are *he said he has iron in these parts i.e.: carrying a pistol or weapon, *in these hours they told him parts

Shannon Santiesteban's notes on the following translation:
1. alcalde prov.l
a. alcade is a term to describe a mayor possibly a major serving in an army or someone who operates as a magistrate.
b. prov.l is possibly a section of New Orleans which has been designated as a particular part of the city such as a provision. This abbreviation is a noun and in English would be suffice for the meaning of "proverbs" but in German it is an a shortened use of the word "provision".

Shannon Santiesteban's notes on Louisiana History: Spain governed the colony of Louisiana from 1763 through 1802. At that time the spoken language in Louisiana was both Spanish and French. Government and magistrate records and/or proceedings usually held at the Cabildo would have have been conducted in Spanish unless the magistrate or judicial body leading the proceeding spoke French. Most proceedings at the Cabildo in the late 1700's were influenced by the elite Creole and their local funding in the city would have influenced many decisions in local government.

Thank you for all these notes! It's so interesting to read your responses to this record. Could "ha hier" be a phonetic spelling of "ayer"? Also, does it make sense to you that prov.l could stand for provincial, like "alcalde provincial"?

Shannon Santiesteban's response to JennyMafo: Hello and thank you for such a quick response to my many notes. In the future I will make an effort to organize my notes a little better. The suggestions you have made are awesome, thank you! The opportunity to be a part of recreating historical New Orleans while translating for the future is a most humbling feeling for this very New Orleans girl. Thank you again.

Shannon Santiesteban's notes:
1. It should be noted that "Bobo" in Spanish (modern day) es un bobo/el bobo is like an idiot or a dullard (a dull minded individual). In the 1700s this person may have been referred to as a "fool" for not being able to read, write or possibly speak.
2. Jacobo is translated as Jacob in English (which is the Anglicized name of James).

Shannon Santiesteban notes:
1. black Simarrones a.k.a Cimarron are indigenous people who are a mixture of African and Caribbean Islanders specifically from Cuba, Hispanola (modern day Haiti and Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico. The Cimarron of Puerto Rico are known as the Taino people. [Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez is of Taino descent.] Cimarron (Simarron) were the islenos of the northern part of the Caribbean and the Tainos of the southern part of the Caribbean.

Shannon Santiesteban's translation in easy to read form:
In the city of New Orleans on the 10th of March, 1772, Mr. (Don) Francisco Devezin magistrate provincial 1: He states, yesterday over many hours in this jail two black (dark) indians after much time were questioned on the crimes committed. The Mr. was sent to obtain the statements of these blacks and ask them the questions necessary for the investigation, [in] this is the practice of the notary in this state. [...] and between the gates I command your magistrate to call the ((???)) of the two blacks, and it seemed one of whom is called a fool, ((???))
[...] and made an oath before God our Lord and a [the] cross to tell truth so much in what he declared and in what he was asked, and said that

Shannon Santiesteban's notes:
1. Don or Dona is a term of endearment in the Latin or Spanish language to refer to someone who is older or wiser than most either because of age or experience. Examples: Don Carlos (male) or Dona Carmen (female).

Shannon Santiesteban's notes:
1. Don Francisco is a.k.a. Devezin re.: Don Francisco Olivier ((Devezin or Durozion/Derozion)) de Vezin
2. Monsieur Don Francisco Olivier de Vezin (possible name)

Shannon Santiesteban's historical notes on: [Cited works: Fortier, M.-F. (1979). "Olivier de Vézin, Pierre-François". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. IV (1771–1800) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.]

Monsieur Don Francisco Olivier de Vezin

Pierre-François Olivier de Vézin (also Vésin and Vézain) (28 April 1707 – April 20, 1776) was a Canadian ironmaster and chief surveyor of Louisiana sent by King Louis IV. He served in the Cabildo as chief councilor and died in New Orleans April 20, 1776. His family coat of arms hangs in the Cabildo today. He married Marie-Joseph Duplessis, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Gastineau Duplessis. His children, grandchildren, many generations were established, well known in New Orleans. Some include Gerard de Marigny de Mandaville, P.G.T. Beauragaurd, C.C. Claiborne, Francois -Marie Chevalier di Reggio, and many more. Pierre-François' daughter Victore-Francios, became mother superior at Ursulines Convent and led prayers in the streets in the Battle of New Orleans. She is responsible for the veneration of Our Lady of Prompt Succor mass at Thanksgiving that is still celebrated on January 8 annually.

Olivier de Vézin was born in Aingoulaincourt, Haute-Marne, France to Hugues Olivier and Louise Le Roux. He became an ironmaster, first working in Sionne, France. He was later hired to investigate the Forges du Saint-Maurice in New France, which had been abandoned since 1733. Vézin left France on the Héros and arrived in Quebec on 3 September 1735. After a month of investigation, Olivier de Vézin sent his report to French Minister of the Marine, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux. He appended a cost estimate for reusing the ironworks and began overseeing the development himself.

Olivier de Vézin and two former partners in the mill agreed to collaborate, receiving royal approval in 1736. The company was formed on 16 October 1736 with a total of five partners, who formally signed the paperwork establishing the Society and Company for the Exploitation of Iron Mines on 11 February 1737. Despite having friendly relations with colonial officials, the projects did not progress smoothly and went over budget. The Intendant, Gilles Hocquart, questioned Olivier de Vézin's competence, a doubt which was justified as de Vézin had masked an error regarding the stream used in the ironworks. The ironworks' furnace was first lit in August 1738, and that month de Vézin became the company's director. The following year he retrieved more labourers from France, as well as his brother Sieur Darmeville. This was followed by violent disputes between de Vézin and his partners; the partners blamed Olivier de Vézin for the ironworks' lack of profit and ill-willed workers. With bankruptcy fast approaching Olivier de Vézin resigned on 13 October 1740 and immediately returned to France. In a letter to the king dated 13 March 1742, de Vézin offered to return to the Saint-Maurice ironworks. The king instead commissioned Olivier de Vézin as chief road officer in Louisiana. This position dissatisfied Olivier de Vézin, but he went to Louisiana, where he unsuccessfully attempted to exploit iron mine. He may have died in France.