CHOUTEAU MANSION.

AFTER ITS RENOVATION, 1795.

[Drawn by C. Heberer under the direction of F. L. Billon.]

In the year 1775, August 28th, one Jno. B. Perrault, alias Duchene " being about to go among the Indians," and for fear of his death occurring while absent on his perilous "trip," made his will, in which he names his friend Lieut. Jos. Piernas as his universal heir to his little property, after the payment of his debts. It was no unusual thing in those early days of our settlements, for any one, particularly a devout Catholic, going on a voyage or journey, involving some personal risk, to leave a will disposing of his property, and directing prayers to be said for the salvation of his soul.

It seems he returned in safety from this first adventure, as going again on a similar voyage, August 18, 1778, he made another will, in which he substitutes for Piernas, who had left the country, the new Governor De Leyba as his heir and executor, saying he would find in his trunk at Mr. Labrosse's, notes for the money owed to him. owed to him. Who he was does not appear, as his name is not again found in the archives. but that he had faith in men of high position is clear from his making choice of a governor, and a brother of another for his heirs.

JOSEPH MARCHETAUD DENOYER AND CLAUDE TINON.

"1. To his Excellency the Governor :

"Your petitioner has the honor to state to you that one Tinon, an inhabitant of Catalan (Carondelet), sold him, about three

years since, a lot in this place, between Beaugenou and Coussot, for a yearling heifer, which I delivered him at once. This lot being afterwards found to be the property of one Lardoise (Vachard), by a concession from Don Pedro Piernas, our ex-lieutenant-governor, I demanded from Tinon the return of my heifer, which he refused, and which he yet retains. She has now become a mother cow, having had a calf this last spring. "As all should in justice belong to me, I pray you condemn him to return the cow and calf, and pay the costs and damages. ST. LOUIS, Oct. 14, 1778."

"JOSEPH X MARCHETAUD." DENOYER.

"Furnish a copy of this petition to Tinon for his reply within three days. DE LEYBA."

Substance of Tinon's reply:

2. Claude Tinon respectfully states that under the government of St. Ange he received a concession of a lot and an half lot; he built and established himself on the lot, reserving the half lot for necessary outbuildings. He afterwards sold the lot and house to Francis Henrion, reserving the half lot, which he had inclosed and used as his garden. Subsequently deciding to remove to Catalan, he sold this half lot to Marchetaud Denoyer for a heifer and pair of cart-wheels, which heifer he received, but has not as yet received the wheels. Your petitioner has frequently offered to make him a deed, but D., being too stingy to pay the costs, has always deferred it and allowed the fence and ground to go to ruin, although Henrion, his neighbor, has several times summoned him before Gov. Piernas to keep up the division fence, which he was obliged to do, but afterwards tore them up and sold them to one Gascon, and removed to Catalan, where he has received no concession, proving his negligence. The indolence and laziness of the said Denoyer obliged Gov. Piernas to reunite the lot to the public domain and to re-grant it to Lardoise. Denoyers did not dare appear before Gov. Piernas, but waited until Gov. Cruzat succeeded him, before whom he presented himself with the hope of imposing on hinf, but this commandant, having learned

all the facts of the case, cast him, and adjudged the heifer to your petitioner, who is still more astonished that at this day the said Denoyer ventures to present himself before your tribunal with a claim of the kind. He sees that by his own neglect he has lost his lot, and that by the care of your suppliant the heifer has become a cow and a mother, and this is why he seeks by unlawful means and subtlety to surprise justice, as he attempted through Mr. Cruzat to extort the cow of your petitioner.

"The original concession of the lot and half is entered in St. Ange's register of concessions in the archives; a copy of this was given to Henrion when he purchased the lot and house, consequently it could not go to Marchetaud with his half lot. Under these circumstances your petitioner has recourse to your authority that it may please you to cast a second time the said Denoyer, that you sentence him to leave your petitioner in peaceful possession of the cow, that he delivers over the pair of cart-wheels which he owes to your petitioner, and that he pay all the costs and expenses of this suit and the lost time and expenses he has entailed on your petitioner at this time of harvesting the corn And your petitioner, as in duty bound, &c., &c. ST. LOUIS, Oct. 9, 1778.

crop.

"To his Excellency the Governor :

"Your petitioner respectfully represents that for nine years past Joseph Marc'd Denoyer owes him the squared timbers of a house he purchased from Mr. Dubreuil, as per the inclosed transfer, which he has repeatedly promised to deliver, but has never taken care to keep his word, and has put it off as long as possible, telling your petitioner to have patience, which through kindness he has always granted him. But as he now sees that Denoyer has o intention of ever keeping his word, he is compelled to have recourse to your authority, sir, that you please to order him to deliver without further delay the timbers he contracted to get out for Mr. Dubreuil, with the exception of fifty-three stakes, which he delivered to me. Besides to return him seventeen shingle blocks loaned him to shingle the house of the deceased