Aujourd'hui quinzieme jour du mois d'octobre de l'annee mil sept cent quatre vingt trois par devant nous Alexandre Chev. De Clouet Lt. Colonel, Commandant civil et militaire des postes Attakapas et Opeloussas fut presente en personne la nommee Josine mulatresse libre qui de son bon gre propre mouvement, dans la meilleure forme possible, avec garantie de toutes hipotheques et du consentement du nomme Louis Ricard mulatre libre son mari, vend et transport au Sr. Hoffbauer une terre de sept arpents et demi de face sur la profondeur ordinaire attenant d'un cote a Madm Marcantel, et de l'autre au Sr George Miller, ladite terre situe au coteaux pour prix et somme de deux cents piastres payable dans le courant du mois de juillet de l'annee prochaine en argent [des vaches creusers??} marchandes et au prix du cour - livrables dans le parc du dit Sr. Hoffbauer qui a ces clauses et conditions jouira lui et les siens de ladite terre comme bien en propre et sans aucun trouble de qui que se soit.

Fait et passe a notre domicile de commandement en presence des Sieurs De Villier, Florentin[?], [Joviet?] et Brunet on signe et nous Commandant civil et militaire ce meme jour et an -- Marque ordinaire Marque ordinaire

X X

de josine [M--?] de Louis Recard

Florantin[?] [Joviet?] Hoffpauer Brunet

Albt [?] de Villiers

L Ch de Clouet

The first paragraph is quite a run-on sentence so I will insert punctuation where needed to make sense:

Today, fifteenth day of the month of October of the year one thousand seven hundred eighty-three, before us Alexander Chevalier De Clouet * Lt. Colonel, civil and military Commander of the posts Attakapas and Opelousas, was present in person the named Josine, free mulatress who of her good will, own accord, in the best form possible, with warranty [against?] all mortgages and with the consent of the named Louis Ricard, free mulatto, her husband, sells and transports to Sieur Hoffbauer a [piece of] land of seven and a half arpents wide with the usual depth, bordering on one side to Madame Marcantel, and on the other to Sieur George Miller, the said land situated on the hill; for the price and sum of two hundred piastres payable in the course of the month of July next year in money, [cows?], [plows?], goods and at the [court price?] ** - deliverable on the grounds of the said Sieur Hoffbauer, who with these provisions and conditions shall enjoy he and his*** the said land as his own possession and without trouble from anybody.

Done and passed at our house of command in the presence of the Sieurs De Villier, Florentin[?], [Joviet?] and Brunet [who] have signed with us, civil and military Commander, this same day and year -

Usual mark X of Josine [illegible]

Usual mark X of Louis Recard

[remainder of signatures]

* Alexandre De Clouet was a Chevalier (Knight) and was using the "editorial we" when he refers to himself as "us." His signature "Le Ch de Clouet" = the Knight De Clouet. The British just use the prefix Sir in front of the names of persons who have been knighted.

** Was not at all sure about the words of this part.

*** In English we would probably say "he and his heirs and assigns forever" or some such legalese.

Feel free to ask me any questions. I see I have new mail so perhaps somebody has already "beaten me to the punch" on this.

Barbara Hill <[email protected]>