MOORE (JOHN) FAMILY PAPERS, MICHAEL WYNNE COLLECTION Mss. 2973 Inventory Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library Louisiana State University Libraries Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University Reformatted 2003 Revised 2011
CONTENTS OF INVENTORY SUMMARY... 3 BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE... 4 SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE... 4 COLLECTION DESCRIPTION... 5 CROSS REFERENCES... 9 CONTAINER LIST... 10 Use of manuscript materials. If you wish to examine items in the manuscript group, please fill out a call slip specifying the materials you wish to see. Consult the Container List for location information needed on the call slip. Photocopying. If you wish to request photocopies, please consult a staff member. The existing order and arrangement of unbound materials must be maintained. Publication. Readers assume full responsibility for compliance with laws regarding copyright, literary property rights, and libel. Permission to examine archival materials does not constitute permission to publish. Any publication of such materials beyond the limits of fair use requires specific prior written permission. Requests for permission to publish should be addressed in writing to the Head, Public Services, Special Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-3300. When permission to publish is granted, two copies of the publication will be requested for the LLMVC. Proper acknowledgement of LLMVC materials must be made in any resulting writing or publications. The correct form of citation for this manuscript group is given on the summary page. Copies of scholarly publications based on research in the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections are welcomed. Page 2 of 10
SUMMARY Size. Geographic locations. 47 items St. Mary Parish, St. Landry Parish, Iberia Parish, Louisiana Inclusive dates. 1831-1880 Bulk dates. Language. Summary. Restrictions on access. Related collections. Copyright. N/A English Sugar planter, judge, and politician of St. Mary, St. Landry, and Iberia parishes, Louisiana. Moore was a member of the Louisiana and U.S. House of Representatives; he built Magnolia Ridge and later owned Shadows-on-the-Teche in New Iberia. Papers consist of legal and business papers and correspondence of Moore, his daughters, and his sons-in-law. Included are bills of lading, crop production statements, slave documents, mortgages, and promissory notes. The collection also includes land grants (1860) for acreage in Opelousas, Louisiana. If microfilm is available, photocopies must be made from microfilm. David Weeks Family Papers, Mss. 528, 605, 1655 Copyright of the original materials is retained by descendants of the creators in accordance with U.S. copyright law. Citation. John Moore Family Papers, Michael D. Wynne Collection, Mss. 2973, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La. Stack locations. W:31; OS:M Page 3 of 10
BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE John Moore (1788-1867) was a sugar planter in Louisiana who owned and operated two plantations, one in St. Landry Parish, the other in Iberia Parish. One of the plantations, Magnolia Ridge, was left to his daughter, Evelina, to manage with her husband, William Prescott, while the other, The Shadows, he gained after marrying its owner, Mary Claire Weeks, the widow of David Weeks. During his years as a planter, Moore became active in local politics, and was elected to many positions of local and state government. He was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1825 to 1834, representing Franklin, Louisiana. He also became a member of the 26 th and 27 th Congresses (1840-1843). He later moved to New Iberia, and from there was elected to the 32 nd Congress. Moore later became a delegate to the Louisiana Secession Convention in 1861. Moore had two daughters, Evelina and Adelaide. Evelina married William M. Prescott and Adelaide married Willis B. Prescott. John Moore stayed in near-constant contact through letters sent to his daughters and their husbands. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE Papers consist of legal and business papers and correspondence of Moore, his daughters, and his sons-in-law. Most business papers pertain to sugar growing and trade and include bills of lading, accounts from commission brokers, balance sheets, statements of crop production, and letters concerning sales of sugar and molasses. Estate and testamentary documents of William M. and Willis B. Prescott include an inventory of slaves, livestock, buildings, and furnishings on the estate of W. M. Prescott (1855), documents partitioning slaves among John Moore and his daughters Adelaide and Evelina (1855-1857), and papers related to the succession and partition of the estate of Willis B. Prescott (1857). An inventory of the estate of John B. Young (1864) and the succession of David W. Magill of St. Martin Parish (1866) are included. Other financial documents include mortgages, promissory notes, and items related to land sales. The collection includes land grants (1860) for acreages in Opelousas, Louisiana, as well as a few items related to legal cases and lawsuits. Page 4 of 10
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION Date October 17, 1831 March 27, 1833 June 19, 1834 July 13, 1839 July 25, 1839 Contents Sale of land of Middleton Glaze to Aaron and William M. Prescott, near Bayou Boeuf, Avoyelles Parish; Mortgage to the Union Bank of Louisiana on land near Bayou Courtableau owned by John Moore; Receipt, Joseph D. Thompson, Receiver s Office, Opelousas, Louisiana; Document notarized by Adolphe Mazureau; Notarized statement recording mortgages of Joseph Thompson s property, stating that no other mortgages are held on that property. Signed by John Moore, parish judge, St. Mary Parish; January 29, 1840 Promissory notes for 1842, 1843, and 1844; owed by John Glaze, James W. Murdock, and William M. Prescott to John Brownson, Opelousas; August 1, 1840 November 6, 1844 Sept. 20, 1845 Promissory note owed to John Moore in 1842, New Orleans; Bill of lading, Kennedy, Smith and Co., Commission Merchants, Louisville, Kentucky, for goods shipped via the steamer Marengo to Mr. F. Bissell and Co., Plaquemine, La.; Appointment of William A. Riggs as attorney for Elizabeth Riggs, wife of John Mitcheltree and Francis Riggs, wife of Jasper Gall, regarding sale of land to Mary C. Moore, Grand River, Iberville Parish, La. 1845 Suit of John Brownson against John Glaze, Eliza Murdock, and William M. Prescott for recovering claimed debts; 1846-1847 Bills of lading for goods shipped by John Hull to William Jacobs, care of John Moore s plantation, and to Mrs. M. C. Moore, New Iberia, La.; 1849 Balance sheet including crops for the year 1849, St. Landry and St. Mary Parishes, and settlement of community affairs. William M. Prescott, Willis B. Prescott, and John Moore; August 21, 1850 Transfer of slaves, John Moore and Evelina S. Prescott to Adelaide M. Prescott; Evelina and Adelaide Prescott to John Moore; Page 5 of 10
Date August 27, 1850 August 26, 1852 Contents Letter from John Moore to Willis B. Prescott, with attached crop statements of the division of proceeds among William and Willis B. Prescott, and John Moore. In the letter Moore complains about his health and comments about a speech made by Mr. Clay about slavery; Statement of taxable property owned by William Prescott and W. B. Prescott in Avoyelles Parish; 1852 Speech of Hon. John Moore of Louisiana on the bill granting lands to Missouri, made in Washington D.C.; 1852 Record of letters written in the month of December; May 8, 1855 Inventory of the estate of William Prescott, including individual lists of slaves and slave families; occupation, age, and value of slaves; plus lists of livestock, buildings, a sugar mill, household furniture, all amounting to $125,908.50; 1855 Partition of slaves among John Moore and his daughters, Mrs. E. S. Prescott, widow of William Prescott, and Adelaide M. Prescott, widow of Willis B. Prescott; 1855? Inventory list of slaves inherited by various members of the Prescott family, listing their ages and monetary value; undated February 14, 1856 List of two lots of slaves belonging to the Prescott family with age and monetary value. Also lists spouses and small children; Letter from Evelina Prescott to John Moore, Oakland. Comments on a partition of slaves noting her affection for certain ones whom she or her children were fond of. Claims she will send her seven year old child to school in Opelousas for $130 a year which includes room and board. Reminds her father that she shipped 25 hogsheads of sugar and 40 barrels of molasses; 1856 Letter of Robt. Field to John Moore; 1857 Letter to John Moore regarding patent issued to William M. Prescott; February 3, 1857 May 21, 1857 December 28, 1857 Letter from John Moore to Hon. George Eustis (House of Representatives), New Iberia, La., indicating an error in a recent land entry; Succession and partition of the estate of Willis B, Prescott, Avoyelles Parish; Exchange of slaves between John Moore, St. Martin Parish, and Evelina Prescott, widow of William Prescott, of St. Landry Parish, in order to prevent breakup of families; Page 6 of 10
Date November 29, 1857 January 8, 1858 January 11, 1858 January 24, 1858 February 1, 1858 February 3, 1858 March-December, 1858 August 3, 1860 October 10, 1860 Contents Letter of John Moore to Mr. W. J. Davis, New Iberia, complaining of a breakage of mirrors and other household items en route to New Iberia (copy); Letter of Aaron Prescott to Hon. John Moore, Alexandria, La., regarding a letter sent to him from John Moore expressing an interest in redeeming a mortgage owed to him; Letter from A. D. Kelly & Co. to Hon. John Moore, New Orleans, noting sale of 25 hogsheads of sugar and 50 barrels of molasses of poor quality. Kelly claims large failures (businesses) are occurring in New Orleans with matters continuing to decline; Letter of Evelina Prescott to John Moore, expressing surprise that her father expected to find sugar already shipped when he had advised otherwise; Letter from A. D. Kelly & Co. to Hon. John Moore, New Orleans, noting sale of 30 hogsheads of sugar and 50 barrels of molasses. Claims sugar market remains the same; Letter from P. Casse to Hon. John Moore, Washington, La., discussing impending availability of slaves and wonders if Moore is interested. Also discusses family matters and shipments of sugar; Statements of John Moore with Siegel, Adler & Co., Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Hardware, etc., New Iberia; Document land grant no. 57,025, Opelousas, La., signed by James Buchanan, giving 120 acres to John Moore; Document land grant no. 94,600, Opelousas, La., signed by James Buchanan, giving 120 acres to John Moore; Document land grand no. 95,798; July 18, 1864 February 22, 1866 February 22, 1866 Estate of John B. Young, St. Landry Parish, listing household goods, slaves, and miscellaneous items, all sold at auction for $3,891.30 (part missing); Letter of Henry C. Miller to Col. William Offutt, New Orleans, noting the desire of Colonel Offutt to press his claim for payment of lumber taken by the U.S. Government. Miller, the lawyer, suggests pressing the claim but at a reduced price partial payment being preferable to no payment; A copy of the previous letter to Col. William Offutt; Page 7 of 10
Date undated January 13, 1866 March, 1879 undated Contents Brief legal summary of plot of land near Bayou Courtableau; Succession of David W. Magill, St. Martin Parish. John Moore and his wife had been tutors to David Magill, a minor. Upon his death, claims totaling close to $100,000 were made against the estate by various parties including the Moore family; Miscellaneous receipt (bill of exchange) to M. Pollingue from Joseph Colomb; Right of transit ceded by Clementine and Urzile Prather to the great Western Rail Road Co. for transit across land in the Bayou Courtableau region; Page 8 of 10
CROSS REFERENCES Subject Date Description of relevant documents Iberia Parish (La.)-- History--19th century. Plantation owners-- Louisiana. Prescott, William M. (William Marshall), d. 1854. Saint Landry Parish (La.)--History--19th century. Saint Mary Parish (La.)-- History--19th century. Shadows on the Teche Plantation (La.) Slaves--Louisiana. Sugar growing-- Louisiana. 1844-1880 When Moore married Mary Claire Weeks, widow of David Weeks, he moved into the Shadows Plantation near New Iberia. He was elected to the 32 nd Congress from New Iberia and as a delegate to the Secession Convention of 1861 also from that town. 1831-1880 Moore was the builder of Magnolia Ridge Plantation which was built by slaves and completed in 1830. Also called Oakland Plantation, it consisted of 3,000 acres devoted primarily to sugar cane. When Moore moved to New Iberia it was taken over by his daughter Evelina and her husband William M. Prescott 1831-1857 Married Evelina, daughter of John Moore, and entered into business operations with Willis B. Prescott and John Moore, Sugar planter and operator of Magnolia Ridge Plantation, Washington, La. 1830-1880 John Moore was the builder of Magnolia Ridge Plantation in Washington. It was occupied by his daughters and their husbands, Willis B. and William M. Prescott. There are a number of land grants from Opelousas pertaining to land along the Bayou Courtableau 1830-1843 John Moore was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Franklin, 1825-1834; and a member of the 26 th and 27 th Congresses 1831-1880 Moore married the widow of David Weeks, Mary Claire, in 1841 and moved to The Shadows Plantation near New Iberia. Upon his death in 1867 his internment was on The Shadows, his estate in New Iberia 1840-1856 Lists of slaves being partitioned among members of the John Moore, William M. Prescott, and Willis B. Prescott families. Lists includes names, ages, occupations, and even spouses and young children (1840-1850); letter from Mrs. E. S. Prescott to John Moore in which she comments on her affection for certain slaves at Oakland Plantation which she wishes to be included in her share of the partition (Feb. 14, 1856) 1831-1880 Business and legal papers of a sugar planter of St. Landry, St. Mary, and Iberia Parishes Page 9 of 10
CONTAINER LIST Stack Location Box Folders Contents W:31 1 1-2 1831-1880 OS:M -- 1 Land grants for acreage in Opelousas (1860) Page 10 of 10