Notarial instrument attesting to the residence of two French immigrants in New York.

[NEW YORK.]

Published by New York, 27 July 1797., 1797

Single sheet (340 x 210 mm approx.), printed and manuscript text in English to recto, with 'United States of America' and eagle vignette at head, manuscript text in French to verso, 2 seals; 2 small holes and 2 chips to upper margin, light creasing where folded; very good.An interesting document recording the immigration of two members of the French minor nobility into America during the French Revolution and Directory. The New York public notary Charles Bridgen here attests to the arrival of François Pierre Henri d'Héliand (b. 1768) and his wife Laurence Joséphine Caroline Anne Marie Louis Colheux de Longpré (b. 1778) in New York from Philadelphia, where they had stayed since 16 May 1796, and to their intention 'to continue their residence within these United States of America'. The document is signed and sealed by Bridgen, and also signed by three acquaintances of the young couple, William M. Seton, Anthony Stafford, and Thomas Jones. William Magee Seton (1768 1803), a wealthy New York merchant of Scottish descent, was the husband of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 1821), the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonised by the Roman Catholic Church. William is credited with bringing the first Stradivarius violin to America. On the verso is a manuscript note signed and sealed by Jean Antoine Bernard Rozier, the young French Republic's vice-consul in New York, attesting to the authenticity of Bridgen's signature, dated 'New York ce 9me fridor 5me année de l'ére Républicaine Française'. Rozier served as vice-consul between June 1795 and July 1798. Language: English. Seller Inventory # H5188

Bibliographic Details

Title: Notarial instrument attesting to the ...
Publisher: New York, 27 July 1797.
Publication Date: 1797
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: First Edition.