JOHN ASKIN PAPERS
deux garçons Mulatres, Esçlaves agés d'environ dix huit ans, et Fort peu de
chose d'alleurs, il se propose de faire des informations sur la partie des
illinois, Comme Sr Reneaud y a Fait sa Résidence plusierus années,
Je croye suivant ce que j'en aye oüi dire quil ny a pas grande chose a Esperer
de ses Cotés la: il vous prie d'adresser vos affaires a quelq'un de cet
endroit, si vous ne pouvez venir Vous même ou Envoyer un commis soux Six mois,
terme accordé Et Fixé pour Regler la ditte succession, et aussy en informer
toutes personnes qui peuvent y prétendre; Madame Ducharme soeur du dit défunt
Reneaud, vous informera par une seconde Lettre des droits Echus a son Frere,
par Le dècés de leur defunts peres et meres en Canada, dont elle dit qu'ille na
rien Touché, vous pouvez en attendant en Faire nous même des informations a
Montreal, Lieu de sa naissance; mon inclination me portant a vouloir vous
obliger, je vous offre mes services, je vous me croyez Capable de vous etre
disposé a vous assurer du profond Respect Monsieur
|
De votre tres humble Et Tres obeisst
Serviteur |
Addressed: Monsieur Mr
John Askin Marchand du detroit Au Detroit
Endorsed: Post Vincent June 3d 1789 Monsr Antoine
Gamlin to Jno Askin Recvd 4h July
Wrote him Octr 14h 1789
Translation
|
Post Vincennes, June 3, 1789 |
Mr. John Askin,
Merchant at Detroit,
Sir: I write you now in the name and on the behalf of Mr Joseph Ducharme to tell you of the sad death of Antoine Renaud, his brother-in-law, killed by the Kickapoo the 24th
BURTON HISTORICAL RECORDS
of May last about seven miles below this village as he was returning from his
winter quarters. The said Mr. Ducharme having been appointed and acknowledged
administrator of the estate of the said deceased Renaud, and being informed,
although indirectly, that a considerable sum is owing to you by the said
Renaud, and that in consequence you could present a claim against the estate,
which in truth, is very little (it consists of two mulatto boys, slaves, about
eighteen years of age, and scarcely anything else) he intends making inquiry at
the Illinois where Mr. Renaud has made his home for several years.60
I believe, from what I have heard, that nothing much may be expected from that
quarter. Mr. Ducharme thinks you might write to someone there, if you cannot go
yourself, or send a clerk within the next six months the time granted and fixed
for settling the said estate and for all claims to be entered.
Mrs. Ducharme, sister of the said deceased Renaud, will inform you by another letter concerning her brother's interest in the estate of their deceased father and mother of Canada, of which she says that he has collected nothing. Meanwhile, you might inquire yourself at Montreal, his birthplace.
I would like to oblige you and therefore offer my services. If you think there is anything I can do for you here, you will find me ready at any time to give you every assurance of the profound regard,
|
Sir, of your very humble and very obedient
Servant |
_______
60 The Kaskaskia Records disclose that in 1779 Renaud was a resident of Kaskaskia. August 31 of that year he contributed 500 pounds of flour for the support of the "Troops Belonging to the State of Virginia." In December following he signed a protest addressed to the magistrates against the "brigandage and tyranny" of the same soldiers; and in May, 1782, he signed a memorial on the maintenance of order. A different picture of Renaud's estate than the one presented in this document, is given in a letter of William McIntosh to Askin, June 15, 1801. It describes the two slaves as valuable, and as having been sold, one to Francis Vigo and one to Colonel Hamtramck, much below their value. It states, also, that Renaud died possessed of a considerable quantity of peltries and 400 acres of land.
61 Antoine Gamelin was long a prominent trader and influential French resident of Vincennes. In the spring of 1790 he was selected by General Harmar to convey a
Continue to
Dft. Ex. 92
Return
to Docket 317 Table of Contents
Return to Ohio Valley -
Great Lakes Ethnohistory Archive Menu
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology List of Publications
Return to Glenn A. Black
Laboratory of Archaeology Home
Last updated: 25
September 2000
Comments: webmaster@www.gbl.indiana.edu
Copyright 1997, Glen Black Laboratory of Archaeology and The Trustees of Indiana University.