Ledger, 1815-1826
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This manuscript volume comprises a double-entry commercial ledger belonging to commission merchant E. L. Bernard documenting his mercantile activity in New Orleans and the surrounding areas between 1815 and 1826. An early mention of "negres" specifies enslaved persons on page "N/O" of the index. The volume provides evidence of the domestic slave trade in New Orleans and Natchez and explicitly records the commodification of enslaved people through accounts labeled "Negres" (pages 8 and 47,) "Spéculation de Nègres" (pages 72 and 109,) or references to a plantation ("habitation") (pages 23 and 66.) These entries document Bernard's one-third share in enslaved individuals, with the other portion of the shares being assumed by slaveholders and slave traders. The volume contains accounts, such as 'Maison du Natchez,' recording the transport of enslaved people from New Orleans to Mississippi.
The ledger also lists accounts for prominent Louisiana slaveholding families including Roman, Bouligny, Duplantier, Fortier, Maspero and Trémoulet. There are also joint-venture commodity accounts with French commercial houses such as Otard de Bourdeaux.
- Language:
- French
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