I remembered the book, abstracted by Eileen Larre' Behrman, called St. James Parish, Louisiana, Colonial Records 1782-1787, published in 1981. In it she details the oldest civil records found in St. James Parish, published in two ledgers. All are signed by Michel Cantrelle, the commandant there from 1776-1805. It is apparent that in the years of 1786-1787 couples had to apply for a civil marriage contract, with relatives witnessing it, and showing the amounts of money or property each party brought to the marriage. On pp. 53-54 we find Abstract #205 for year 1787, found on pp. 411-413 of "Spanish Land Grants," Book II as document #344: Marriage Contract for Pierre ARCENEAUX (son of the late Pierre ARCENEAUX & Marie Joseph GAUDIN) & Angelique BOURGEOIS (daughter of Michel BOURGEOIS & Anne LANDRY). On pp. 59-60 we find Abstract #221 for year 1787, found on pp. 541-545 of "Spanish Land Grants," Book II as document #357: Marriage Contract for Joseph RICHARD (son of the late Amant RICHARD & Marie BREAUX) & Pelagie BABIN (daughter of the late Jean Jacques BABAIN & Margueritte BABIN [sic, for LANDRY]. There is no mention in either record of any earlier marriage, nor of any official dissolution of a marriage. Among the other property transfers, slave sales, and assorted succession matters in the book, none involves a marriage annulment in these two years. More likely that the Pierre/Pelagie marriage is a mistake? Karen Theriot Reader _KATheriot@aol.com_ (mailto:KATheriot@aol.com) ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com