New Orleans Public Library

Territory of Orleans, County Court, Docket #74, Territory v. Antoine Morales, 1806

This court document recounts the story of Antoine Morales, a free man of color who was born in Port-au-Prince in Saint Domingue and arrived in Louisiana in 1791. He was among the first Saint Domingan immigrants to the state. After having lived at Pointe Coupée and other places, he moved to New Orleans. In August 1806, Morales was accused of larceny. He admitted that he had stolen "a handkerchief and other wearing apparel of the value of thirty dollars" from one Joseph L'Islet, a boat hand. He had then taken the bundle to the old customhouse but had fallen asleep and was arrested and put in prison.