Jean Claude Trénonay to Joseph Allard Duplantier, 1787 Jan. 03 - Jean Claude Trénonay to Joseph Allard Duplantier, 1787 Jan. 03

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Title
Jean Claude Trénonay to Joseph Allard Duplantier, 1787 Jan. 03
Contributing Repository
Biographical Note (Addressee)
1726-1801: Jean Claude Trénonay's brother-in-law and father to Armand Duplantier. ‘Allard’ served in the Chambre de Députés after the French Revolution as the deputy from Dauphiné and Isère.
Biographical Note (Author)
Jean-Claude Trénonay de Chanfrey ( also spelled Chanfret) was born into a family of minor nobility in Moirans, France. In 1755, he joined his uncle, Claude René Trénonay de Chanfrey (1697-1768), in the French colony of Louisiana. The elder Trénonay de Chanfrey had originally come to Louisiana to cultivate lands in Iberville Parish given in 1717 to his first cousins, the four Pâris brothers (principally Joseph Pâris Duverney, 1684-1770). The elder Trénonay died in Pointe Coupee Parish. Jean-Claude Trénonay de Chanfrey (known simply as 'Claude Trénonay') made his home on a plantation near New Roads. He was a successful planter and land-speculator, but accusations of cruelty to his slaves made him unpopular with both the Spanish government of Louisiana and his fellow planters. In 1771, he married Marie Augustine Allain, widow Gérard. Her death in 1777 left him with a stepdaughter, Marie Augustine Gérard, whom he married off to his nephew, Armand Gabriel Allard Duplantier. Although Trénonay had promised to care for the couple financially, he became estranged from them. Trénonay was murdered in his home on July 10, 1792, by one of his slaves, called 'La Tulipe.'
Date Created
1787-01-03
Description
Claude Trénonay, Pointe Coupée, writes Joseph Allard Duplantier, discussing the ways to send correspondence to Louisiana, the seeds he has received from France, his finances and business affairs (including slaves), indigo, and an eventual exit from the colony. He mentions his late brother Montferra and the fact that the recipient's son has two children. He relates his eye problems and states that he is still bleeding sick slaves. Trénonay discusses 'Chanfret,' which he learned his brother in Paris would consider transferring to him, and he explains how the vicinity of Moirans, France, would not suit him after having spent the greater part of his life in a 'country of liberty.' He insists that, contrary to popular belief, the Spanish government (at least in Louisiana) is not hard and that the colony enjoys more freedoms than 'English America' does. He claims that the people in Louisiana are more decent than those in French colonies and that while religion is rigorously enforced in Spain, there are few constraints in the colony. Trénonay speaks more favorably than before about Louisiana, relates how it is changing, and becomes so optimistic about the colony's future that he says he would never leave if his family were there.
Transcriptions/Translations Note
The transcriptions and translations remain true to the nonstandard grammar, punctuation, and spelling of the original documents, with only minimal corrections made in isolated instances for the sake of clarity.
Type of Resource
text
Digital Collection
Armand Duplantier Family Letters, LSU Libraries
Physical Location
LSU Libraries
Hill Memorial Library: Special Collections
Contact Information
Please submit an LSU Special Collections reference ticket at https://askus.lib.lsu.edu/special for any questions or comments about this digital object.
Rights
Physical rights are retained by the LSU Libraries. In accordance with U. S. copyright laws, this work is in the public domain.
Cite As
Armand Duplantier Family Letters, Mss. 5060, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La.
Donor Information
The Armand Duplantier Family Letters were given by the descendants of Guy Antoine Allard Duplantier, elder brother of Armand Duplantier, to their Louisiana cousins, and subsequently donated to the LSU Libraries.
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