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Description

1764 Official Land Transfer Manuscript -- French Louisiana

Two page document describing the transfer of land at Opelousas, French Louisiana, south of New Orlean.

The map references the name Jean Jacques Blaise D'Abbadie, who was the French Director-general of the Colony of Louisiana. He served from February, 1763, until he died in office two years later, in New Orleans.

D'Abbadie was commissioned ordonnateur (administrative chief and first judge of the colonial tribunal) of Louisiana, December 29, 1761. In that capacity, he was ordered by the French crown to establish and maintain good relations between the colony's feuding religious orders, the Capuchins and Jesuits, and to administer efficiently, Louisiana's financial, police and judicial affairs.

Shortly after departing Bordeaux, D'Abbadie's ship was captured by English warships. Subsequently held as prisoner of war at Barbados for three months, he returned to France following his release.

D'Abbadie was next commissioned director-general of Louisiana, February 10, 1763, a position formed by consolidation of former governor's and ordonnateur's positions. D'Abbadie was ordered by the Crown to dismantle the colony's French garrison and prepare Louisiana for occupation by English and Spanish forces pursuant to the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1763).

D'Abbadie departed Rochefort, France, for Louisiana in March 1763, and arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River, June 21, 1763. He prepared for the transfer of the Angoumois Regiment from Louisiana to Saint-Domingue, July, 1763.

Thereafter, D'Abbadie departed New Orleans for Mobile, Alabama, to assist British forces in occupying West Florida and to supervise the transfer of the region's French soldiers to French-held territory.

During his remaining time in office, D'Abbadie was devoted to reconciling English and hostile Indians, preventing France from being drawn into Pontiac's uprising, and in maintaining the skeleton forces in Louisiana long after the Spanish occupation forces were expected to arrive, despite a complete lack of support from France.

During his administration, an abortive attempt was made to produce sugar commercially in Louisiana.