Extrait du Testament de sen Monsieur de la Martinier...
Date:
February 9, 1799
Description:
Manuscript document headed: "Extrait du Testament de sen Monsieur de la Martinier du premier Ventose l’an 7eme de la Republique francaise une & indivisible Correspondant au dix neuf fevrier mil sept cent quatre vingt dix neuf…." This document, also found amongst the papers of Jean Longpre, concerns persons who were all involved in the struggle for Haitian independence. The document appoints Jacque Drouet and Bernard Pemerle executors to the estate of M. de la Martinier. Jacque Drouet (or more likely his son) was, as far as can be determined, the person for whom Fort Drouet, built in 1804 by Dessalines, was named. Bernard Pemerle was the father of Martial Pemerle, one of the noted freedom fighters in the 1790s. Monsieur de la Martinier was a wealthy plantation owner. His son, Louis Daure Lamartiniere was a mulatto and did not inherit the estate due to his mixed race. Louis Daure Lamartiniere and his wife Jeanne Marie were key figures in the fight for Haitian independence.
The Jean Longpré Haitian independence documents were purchased by the Rubenstein Library in October 2013 with funds from the FM & MF Riddick Manuscript Endowment.
