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Pirate House Revisited « Russell Guerin
http://www.russguerin.com/history/pirates/pirate-house-revisited-2/
Suits, Slaving and Other Endeavors
The Peytavins were involved in a number of court actions, but mostly they involved small amounts of claims, some having to do with slave transactions. There is even one case in which Antonio sued the estate of Simon Favre, having to do with a slave having been purchased who had a “disability,” i.e., being a runaway.
All of the plantations had slaves during the period studied, and there are records that the Peytavins had 218 known transactions dealing in slaves. Gwendolyn Midlo Hall’s slave data base furnishes some details of each record. The Notarial Archives in New Orleans also reveal a number of Peytavin sales of slaves beginning as early as 1790, and perhaps earlier. As the data base does not go past year 1820, there is no way to count transactions beyond that date.
Besides Antoine, other Peytavins are listed in the slave exchanges, notably Jean, Francis, and Duriblon (brother Charles), but a large majority of the sales were in the name of Antoine or Antonio.
The 218 figure for the Peytavins is not high by other standards, compared to Jean Blanque at 335. However, there can only be speculation as to how many slaves were brought in clandestinely who never made the data base.
Besides Antoine Peytavin’s ownership and management of a plantation, he had other ambitions. Charles Gayarre, his History of Louisiana, describes an offer made by Peytavin in 1788. It seems the Bonnet Carre levee on the German coast needed repair. He proposed that he would endeavor to heal the crevasse if given a loan for $16,000, with the proviso that ownership of the land was to be his afterward. The offer apparently was not accepted.
Slave dealing was lucrative in those years before and shortly after the purchase, but still Peytavin had financial problems in his old age. It is recorded in Claiborne’s Biographical Sketches that his business “failed in March 1813 a victim of economic depression brought on by Napoleonic wars.”
More problems occurred at least partly as a result of the Panic of 1819. The foreclosure suit states that his plantation had “a good stand of cane and was well equipped to produce sugar.” Nonetheless, he lost both the plantation near Donaldsonville and his home in New Orleans.
The 1831 Journal of House of Representatives of Louisiana narrates a failed attempt to build a new statehouse in 1825. Peytavin, well into his 70’s, contracted to do the construction, but as it did not meet the satisfaction of the legislature, he was not paid in full for the work.
Partnership with Reynaud
In New Orleans Peytavin formed a partnership with Jean Reynaud, who was bom in Marseilles about 1760. Reynaud was married at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans in 1784.
Their partnership, known simply as Reynaud & Peytavin, is said to have been formed in 1806, but the slave data base records that together they bought Jose, age 27, in 1802. [Some detail is relevant. The seller was Joseph Collins, who figures prominently in the Spanish letters. He claimed that he brought Jose to the city “from the USA,” and that he was a Cimarron, i.e., a runaway. Collins was one of the officials in Spanish West Florida.]
Reynaud & Peytavin’s business activities were claimed to have been in houses, plantations, slaves, ships, credits and merchandize. Perhaps so. But it may have been a cover for illegal slave importation.
Problems in Slave Dealing
In addition to the information in the Spanish letters about Peytavin’s problems, we have other accounts from Claiborne. It is known that Claiborne detested the concept of slavery, but was restricted by circumstances in his dealings. In his letters, there are examples of Peytavin running into the wrath of the governor, who wrote of “so barbarous a Traffic.” [Letter dated January 1, 1804.]
In Claiborne’s letter of November 1, 1804, he advised the New Orleans mayor and city council as follows: “With respect to Breach of Faith and violation of Public Security committed by Mr. Peytavin, I have taken the best measures in my power to prevent the Mischief which his conduct might occasion.” A footnote to this passage says it was “probably Joseph Antoine, who had imported some Negro slaves and sold them after having promised Claiborne that he would not.”
Another letter, unfortunately without a date, says that Peytavin's slaves were from Jamaica, confirming an earlier statement of origin. He was scolded by Claiborne, who demanded that Peytavin make certain that none of those sold were of bad character. Claiborne threatened legal action, worrying that that Peytavin had “dispatched some to Interior of Country.” A footnote reads, “Probably Joseph Antoine, who had imported some Negro slaves and sold them after having promised Claiborne that he would not.”
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