Françoise Zilia Roman, wife of Edmond Trépagnier, presents to the court that, "owing to the disorder" of her husband's affairs, she is in danger of losing her "paraphernal" property," i.e., property in her own rights, including a number of slaves. She fears that her husband's estate will not be sufficient to meet "her rights & claims" and therefore seeks a separation of property from her husband. She explains that, when she married Edmond in 1829, she received a dowry of two female slaves. In 1838, her husband bought, on her account, another female slave and her two daughters from her father's estate, for the sum of $1750, but did not pay for them; the amount was thus "imputed on her share" of her father's estate. Since then, one slave has died and several children and grandchildren have been born. Françoise Trépagnier claims the slaves and their offspring as her "paraphernal property." Françoise's parents' succession has now been settled and, because of the unpaid slave purchases and other borrowed monies, she owes and must refund $3,679.31 to the estate. She therefore prays to be authorized to sue her husband for separation of property and to be allowed to recover her slaves and $1,7765.76 in cash, plus "legal interest." Related documents reveal that the court ruled that the slaves belonged to her husband and thus could be seized and sold for debts. Zilia however purchased the slaves at the sheriff sale.
Result: Partially granted; intervened; intervention partially granted.
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Repository: St. James Parish Courthouse, Convent, Louisiana
