Raimond LaBrier

***source Illinois Historical Collections

ILLINOIS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS


PETITION OF WIDOW OF ANTOINE COTTINAULT, February 18, 1779
[K. MSS. ---- A. D. S.]

A Messieurs Les Capitaines et officers de Milices Commandants La ville des KasKasKias au Pais des Illinois Par ordre de Monsieur George Rogers Clark Ecuyer Colonel Commandant Les forces des Etats unis de L'Amerique &c &c &c Messieurs:

Raymond Labriere agissant et faisant au nom de Dam Veuve

[Translation]

To the Captains and Officers of the Militia, commanding the village of Kaskaskia in the country of the Illinois by order of George Rogers Clark, Colonel Commanding the foreces of the United States of America etc. etc. etc. Gentlemen:

Raymond Labriere, representing and acting in the name of the

This petition is interesting because it offers some proof, not conclusive, that Clark did not erect in 1778, a court at Kaskaskia, similar to that at Cahokia. See Ill. Hist Collections ii, pp.xivi., and 4.

A PETITION FEBRUARY 18, 1779

Antoine Continault sa Belle mere, habitante demeurante a la Prairie Durocher a L/honneur de vous exposer disant Que le sieur Lionnais faisant fonction de scribe chez le sieur Barbeau Capitaine de Milice Et Commandant Ledit Lieu de la Prairie du Rocher &c, Est venu trouvér Le matin que mon Beaupere Etoit sur les planches, La ditte veuve chez elle, lui disant qu'il Etoit necessairé que la ditte veuve presenta requéte a Mr. Le Colonel [MS. torn] clark Ecuyer Commandant &c [MS. torn] lui faire sçaviur le mort de son feu mary Et Pour faire Elire un tuteur a ses Engans mineurs a quoi La ditte Dam lui repondit ingenuement Qu'elle n'Entendoit rien aux affaires, mais Qu'elle ne vouloit pas faire faire de requéte Pour cette Effet et qu'il importoit peu à Monsieur Le Colonel détre instruit de la mort de son dit mary Cela n'a pas Empêché que le dit sieur Lionnais a faire une chose don't elle ne l'avoit pas prié et En son nom il ne peut y avoir que des motifs D'interests qu'il y ait Engagé soit pour lui où Pour quelques autres. Le Lendemain au matin Ledit Sr Lionnais Entra chez la [MS. torn] Portant la requête qu'il [MS. torn] presenta pour la signer ce

[Translation]

Widow of Antoine Cottinault, his mother-in-law, a resident citizen of Prairie du Rocher, has the honor to inform you that M. Lionnais, acting in the capacity of scribe at the house of M. Barbeau, captain of militia and commanding the said place of Prairie du Rocher etc., came, the morning that my father-in-law had passed away, to see the aforesaid widow in her own house, and said to her that it was necessary that she should present a petition to Colonel [George Rogers] Clark Esquire Commandant etc., to inform him of the death of her late husband, and to have a guardian chosen for the minor children, to which the said lady replied to him frankly that she understood nothing about business, that she did not wish to have made a petition to that effect, and that it little concerned the colonel to be informed of the death of her said husband. That did not prevent the said M. Lionnais from making a petition; and the aforesaid widow, not being able to understand the reasons that impelled the afore-mentioned Lionnais to do something that she had not asked him to do and in her name, [thought that] there could only be interested motives that enlisted him in it, whether it be for himself of for others. On the morning of the following day the

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Qu'elle [MS. torn] faire, cela n'a pas Empeché que cette méme requête, sans être signée de la ditte veuve, n'ait été presentée En son nom a Mr. Le Colonel Qui y mit son apointé, par lequel il permettoit à la ditte veuve de faire Elire un subrogé tuteur a ses mineurs et de faire proceder a Liventaire, Croyant dans le moment qu'il En Etoit requis Par la ditte veuve ne pensant pas que l'on surprenoit sa justice, Equité et même sa religion que l'on agissoit que pour des vuës d'interests. Le dit suppliant vous fait remarquer messiurs que le dit sieur Barbeau En sa qualité de Juge de la prairie du Rocher [P]eut forcer la ditte [MS. torn] Elire un tuteur a ses Engans [MS. torn] Ditte veuve ne peut sainement proceder a aucun arrangement d'ici a un Longtems Premierement La Crainte et la timidité ou Est La Colonie En général par rapporte aux sauvages qui pourroit arriver dans Quelque Endroit de cette même Colonie qui y rassesoit les Bêtes a Cornes qui Est la raison Pourquoy le suppliant ne veut pas ramasser celles qui appartiennent a sa ditte Belle-mere.

[Translation]

aforesaid Lionnais entered [the house of the said widow], carrying the petition which he had made and presented it to her for her signature, to which she [would not consent]. That did not prevent this same petition, without the signature of the aforesaid widow, from being presented in her name to Colonel Clark, who put thereon his approval 1 by which he permitted the aforesaid widow, from being presented in her name to Colonel Clark, who put thereon his approval1 by which he permitted the aforesaid widow to have a surrogate guardian chosen for her minor children and to proceed with the inventory, because he believed at the moment that the petition was made by the aforesaid widow, and he did not think that anyone was abusing his justice, equity, and even his religion, or prosecuting the affair only for his own interest. The herein aforementioned suppliant brings to your attention, gentlemen, that the aforementioned Barbeau, in capacity of judge of the Prairie du Rocher, can force the said [widow to have] elected a guardian for her minor children [and that] the said widow can not safely go forward with any arrangement for some time to come: Firstly, the dread and fear of the colony in general on account of the savages who may come into any part of this same colony and kill the cattle, is the reason that the suppliant does not wish to assemble the cattle that belong to his aforementioned mother-in-law.

The phrase means that he entered the petition on the docket and permitted action to be taken.

A PETITION, FEBRUARY 18, 1779

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Secondement Le dit sieur Cottinault Beau Pere du dit suppliant ayant Creé beaucoup [MS. torn] il n'a pas Laissé d'argent fait [MS. torn] les acquitter[?] et ne pouvant le faire Qu En vendent quelqu'Effet comme boissons et autres choses semblables troisièment une Quantité de Cuire qui sont dans le tems sils Etoient remués qui Deviendroient En pure perte pour les Créanciers et pour les mineurs s'ils venoient a être derange C'est pour ce Consideres Messieurs qu'ils vous Plaisent ordonner et permettre audit suppliant De faire travailler a la tanerie de feu son Beaupere pour pouvoir satisfaire ses Deptes, lui accorder un temps suffisamment Long Et que la Colonie soye tranquille Pour que sa ditte Belle Mere puisse prendre [les] arrangemens avec ses heriteurs et que [MS. torn] sera nommé pour tuteur a ses [mineurs] qu'elle même La direction des Biens et Corps lui appartenants de Droits de Deffendre audit Sr. Barbau de ne La troubler En aucune façon dans la paisible possession de ses Biens Jusqu'a ce que Mr. Le Colonel soit de sa Compagne se reser[ant] le suppliant de lui faire Connoitre ses Droits, de lui permettre En outre de rasmasser Les

[Translation]

Secondly, the aforesaid Cottinault, father-in-law of the said suppliant, contracted many [debts for which he] has left no money; and it is impossible to pay them except by selling some goods such as beverages and other similar things.

Thirdly, there is a quantity of hides which are in such a condition [that] if they should be moved and disturbed they would become a complete loss to the creditors and the minor heirs. For these considerations, gentleman, [the suppliant petitions] that it may please you to order and permit him to start up the tannery of his late father-in-law, in order to satisfy his debts, and to allow him a sufficiently long time; and [he hopes] that the colony may be quiet so that the aforementioned mother-in-law may be able to make a settlement with the heirs; and [he petitions] that the aforesaid widow be named as the guardian of her children, that she likewise be given the direction of the goods and chattels, belonging to her by right; [and that you] prohibit the said Barbau from troubling her, in any way, in the peaceable possession of her goods; until such time as M. the Colonel may return from his campaign, the suppliant reserving for himself the right to make known to him his claims; also that you permit him to assemble the debts of his

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Deptes de feu son Beaupere pour payer la où il Est du Ce Faissant le supplient ne cessera de faire les voeux les plus ardens pour votre santé et prosperité lequel a Declaré ne scavoir signé a fait sa marque ordinaire

KasKasKias le 18me fevier 1779.

Raimund X L [MS. torn]
Marque.

Nous Capitaines et officiers de Milices Commandants La ville des KasKasKaskias et ses dependances au pais des Illinois En vertu des pouvoirs qui nous a été donné par Monsieur George Rogers Clark Ecuyer Colonel &c Vus par nous dits soussignés L Exposé En la pesente requête cy dessus et des autres Parts nous permettons a la veuve de feu antoine Cottinault de Jouir et faire travailler ses Biens de quelque nature qu'ils puissent être sans que qui que [ce] soit puisse La troubler dans sa paisible possession Jusqu'a Larrivée de Monsieur le Colonel où de quelqu'autres commandant la sçituation de la Colonie Presente ne permettant pas qu'elle fasse inventaire actuellement. Vu

[Translation]

late father-in-law in order to pay there where it is due. This being done, the suppliant will never cease to make the most ardent prayers for your health and prosperity. The same has declared that he does not know how to sign and has made his customary mark.

Kaskaskia February 18, 1779

Raymond X LaBriere
Mark

We, the captains and officers of militia, commanding the village of Kaskaskia and its dependenceies in the country of the Illinois, by virtue of the powers that have been given us by M. George Rogers Clark, Colonel, etc.: we, the undersigned, having examined the representation of the present petition, written above and on the other page, permit the widow of the late Antoine Cottinault to enjoy, and make use of, her goods whatsoever they may be without the interference of anyone, whoever he may be, in the possession thereof until the arrival of the colonel or of any other persons in chare of the present colony. We do not permit her to make an inventory at present, inasmuch as some debts, active and


queles deptes actives et passives de sa communauté ne [MS. torn] Sont connues.

KasKasKias le 18eme 1778 [sic]


[One name torn out]
Charleville
Charles Danis Rich. Winston
Charles De Lelisle Charbonneaux
faisant pour Mr. Plasy Greffier
[MS. torn] Expedition
(Li)vrée a Mr. Labriere

[Translation]

passive, of the community formed with her late husband are not yet known.

Kaskaskia February 18, 1779


Charleville
Rich Winston.
Charles Danis
Charles De Lisle
acting for M. Plasy
Carbonneaux
Clerk.

Engrossed copy delivered to M. Labriere

[Endorsed:] Petition of M. Labriere against M. Barbau



**Raimond LaBriere/Labruyere/LaBrier is my 3rd G/Grandfather. --- John I. LaBrier

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