In a message dated 8/19/01 1:34:34 AM Central Daylight Time, Parugu@aol.com writes: some of the French people brought their wealth to Louisiana, bought land, slaves etc. Many hired the Acadians to be foreman's on their property. For that reason the French were truly above the Acadians. The French were able to travel and enjoy their life, whereas the Acadian worked hard, wheather on his own property or someone else's, to make ends meet and support their large families. Yes that's true some wealthy French colonists brought their wealth to Louisiana, but most kade their fortunes in Louisiana. The Acadian Exile brought something much more valuable. Intelligence, and a good work ethic. Some, with no more than an ax, shovel, cow and other small hand farming tools, and seed and provisions to last them the year, were able to clear the alloted land, establish farms, acquire more land and in some cases develop plantations, worked by slaves. Others, like my ancestor Firmin Landry m. Francoise Thibodeau (2nd) Theotiste Thibodeau and his son Joseph Landry s/o Firmin and his first wife who married marie-Anne Melancon, in just 30 to 35 years (1766-67 through 1800) were able to leave estates that even at todays standards would be considered substantial. This was the same for Firmin's other sons. Inventory of Firmin Landry (SMOA 20?63) was opened March 1801. SUCCESSION OF FIRMIN LANDRY The inventory of the items in Firmin Landry's estate is found in the St. Martin courthouse Original Acts Book 20, no. 63 and was opened 23 March 1801. The documents are all in French. Following is an English translation: Today, March 23, 1801, I Charles deBlanc, Capt of the Army, Civil and Military Commander of Attakapas and its dependencies, Adjutant, Notary Public and writer ______ . Having been informed of the death of FIRMIN LANDRY which occured after last February 2, I was transported to his place to proceed with the Inventory. To __ the rights of THEOTISTE THIBODAUX, wife of the deceased, that of the major children and minors, descending from the three marriages namely JOSEPH LANDRY, deceased, leaving ten children; Helene, deceased, leaving one child, who are heirs through representation of their father and mother of the first marriage; Anne Gaudin, widow of RenT Broussard, today wife of Noble Wilkins, legitimate daughter of the surviving widow; and of the second marriage FRAN¦OISE, HUBERT, HELENE, ROSALIE, VALENTINE, ALEXANDRE, AGNES, and MARGUERITE LANDRY all heirs to equal portions of the estate of deceased FIRMIN LANDRY and THEOTISTE THIBODAUX. HUBERT LANDRY was elected as tutor (guardian) for the minors who were ROSALIE, VALENTINE, ALEXANDRE, AGNES, and MARGUERITE ......... INVENTORY: Thirty arpents of land on each side of Vermilion Bayou at Grand Pointe, each heir receiving two arpents on each side. Four arpents on the east side of Bayou Teche (this would be the place at Lake Fausse Pointe) (A few items found in 23 pages .....) Value in (piastres) They found a bad house, a store house & enclosed yard 50.00 Five work oxen 70.00 Seven beeves and bulls of 2 yrs. 35.00 Three small bulls of one year 9.00 Eleven gentled cows 110.00 One horse (carriage) 60.00 Two carriage horses 80.00 One horse of 3 yrs. 50.00 Two mares of 2 yrs. & their "followers" 40.00 One "potre" & one filly 20.00 One bad wagon, three old axes & one master key 21.00 One service gun 10.00 One sye 2.00 One devil chain & a bad millstone 6.00 Six (bolts oe peices) printed cotton 12.4 A pasol of pink silk 6.4 One peice Royal ? 25.00 One peice of Muslin 14.00 One pair of shoes 2.6 One peice of Bretagne 3.00 Six handkerchiefs 3.00 One gun 30.00 One quart of salt 3.5 A shovel, an axe, & a knife 7.6 Four pounds of powder & 25 pounds of lead 8.5?1/2 _________________ Estimation of total inventory: 1,106 Piastres 3 bits And his son joseph, who preceeded Firmin in his death: SUCCESSION OF JOSEPH LANDRY The following abstract is taken from St. Martin Parish Courthouse records, OA 19?142: "..... 10th day of month of September of the year 1800, Louis Charles deBlanc, Captain of the Armies, Commandant of Civil & Military of the Post of the Attakapas and dependancies.... at the request of Marie Melancon, widow of Joseph Landry, to wed second to Thomas Pare .... (go) to her residence on the Bayou Vermilion .... process of inventory, estinmate of the estate entered to .... Marie Melanton and the late JOSEPH LANDRY his wife for the preservation of the rights of the children: AGRICOLE, 20 yrs; Marie Magdelaine, 18 yrs.; ROSALIE; ANASTAZIE; CIRILE; JOSEPH DENIS; PANTALEON; SERAPHIE; MAXIMIEN; DORALISE; minors of legitimate birth of marriage .... HUBERT LANDRY, uncle, is name "curator" of the minors ..... ".....from the inventory of goods and property: Thirty arpents on Bayou Vermilion on which you will find a house "in bad state" .... by FIRMIN LANDRY.... Six arpents on Bayou Piraud (?) in front of Pierre Dugat ... Five arpents on "Partie Orientale" on Vermilion and one arpent situated between Armant Landry and Olivier Landry ... a negro named Antoine 50 years old 25 cows with calves 28 cows without calves and bulls of 2 yrs. 5 bulls 22 bulls 1 pairs of work oxen 13 young bulls of 3 yrs. 9 young bulls 4 gentled horses and one young mare 2 old wagons 3 wash pots 3 beds with bedding a buggy "in bad state" an old pirogue an old rifle Remember these people came to louisiana with virtually nothing but their clothes on their backs. Don Landry don2717@aol.com