Record book of licenses issued to peddlers; List of deserters of ships from the Port of New Orleans

Sub-Series — Reel: 89-236

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The front portion of this volume includes records of licenses for peddlers and journeyman butchers for the years 1823-1826. The record shows the number of each license, the date issued, the name of the license holder (and the name of the slave who actually did the selling where appropriate), the street where licensed to peddle, and remarks (usually referring to the date when the license was discontinued.

At the rear of the volume is a record of deserters from ships in the ports of New Orleans from March 7, 1822 - April 1, 1831. Each entry gives the date, name of the captain, name of the ship and its home port (or most recent port of call before New Orleans), and the names and, in some cases, partial descriptions of the deserters. The descriptions are generally limited to such identifications as "seaman," "sailor," or "cook," but there are also references to free men of color who deserted.

Dates

Creation: 1760-1861
Creation: Majority of material found within 1832-1862

Creator

From the Collection: Office of the Mayor (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Microfilm is available to researchers. Originals, if microfilmed, are closed for research. Unfilmed volumes are available for research.

Biographical / Historical

The Conseil de Ville, by ordinance of November 23, 1822, required a license from the Mayor in order for peddlers to sell merchandize in the public squares or on the public streets. The license was to specify the time and location permitted. Slaves could not be directly licenses, but free persons could purchase a license and specify a slave to do the actual selling. The Mayor was further allowed to grant up to twenty five gratis licenses each year. Peddlers of bread, vegetables, milk products, wood, and fodder were exempted from the provisions of this law.