Records of the Commissaries and City Guard
Collection
Identifier: CA-TK
Scope and Contents
Records of the Commisarries and City Guard. Includes arrest records of enslaved people, soldiers, and sailors; an early census of the 2nd District of the City; and reports of the Captain of the Guard.
Dates
- Creation: 1804-1851
Conditions Governing Access
Available on microfilm to registered researchers by appointment. Originals are closed for research.
Requesting Materials
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction or use of materials is prohibited without the permission of the City Archives & Special Collections. Please review the Archives' Permission to Publish note.
Biographical / Historical
On November 5, 1817, the Council passed an ordinance that more formally established the Commissaries of Police. This law provided that the Mayor nominate, with Council consent, three persons of "good morals and behaviour" as Commissaries. These individuals were to take an oath before the Mayor and also were to provide a security bond in the amount of $1000. Each Commissary would reside in, and be responsible for, one of the city's three wards. They were to:
- walk the streets and other passages of their wards
- examine vagrants, beggars, and other "idle and disorderly persons" as to their place of residence and form of livelihood (those not giving satisfactory answers were to be brought before a magistrate to be dealt with according to law)
- stop runaway enslaved people and bring them before the proper authorities (and share in the bounty provided for by the Code Noir)
- report on the performance of the City Guard within their wards
- generally see that the ordinances for the government of the city were obeyed
In 1824 the Commissaries were further required to superintend, on order of the Mayor, the police of balls, theatres, and public meetings in the city. By resolution in 1829 the Council also ordered them to examine the bread produced by the bakers of the city and to make reports on their examinations to the Mayor. In 1827 the number of Commissaries was increased to six. Of these two were to serve as commissaries of the two city markets, two in the second district (the Vieux Carre), and one each in the Faubourgs Marigny and St. Mary. The latter officer would also serve as Commissary of the St. Mary market, and in 1829, was given some responsibility for supervision of the public works in outlying portions of the district.
A new ordinance, passed on June 10, 1835, reiterated the Mayor's control over the Commissaries and also directed them to assist the Recorder and the Aldermen in the performance of their duties. This law also required the Commissaries to keep a record book of their rounds; the book to be available for review by the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, and to be deposited in the archives of the City Council when no longer in use. Another key element of this law was the provision that the Commissaries be authorized to enter private premises (with prior notice) and public places (without the need of giving prior notice).
There remains some uncertainty as to the exact relationship between the Commissaries of Police and the City Guard. The provision that the former officers report on the performance of the Guard suggests that they had some supervisory function, an interpretation that is supported by the meaning of the French term "commissaire," i.e., superintendent.
The 1805 city charter provided that the "Mayor shall superintend the police of the said city, and make regulations for the watchmen and city guard." This Guard was formally organized by ordinance dated May 18, 1805,initially composed of a captain, a lieutenant, a sergeant, three corporals, and thirty-two gendarmes, all of whom agreed to serve for a minimum of three years. Approximately one-half of the force served as a mounted police until later in the year when a Council resolution did away with the mounted unit. The captain was in command of the Guard, but it was always subject to the orders of the Mayor. Subsequent ordinances and resolutions increased the size of the Guard,directed it to operate in various sections of the city, and specified particular duties for its members. These duties included arresting enslaved persons who were out at night without permission; ringing the church bells on the hour and when fires were discovered; making regular rounds, during which they were to enforce the general police regulations; and standing watch at theatre performances and other "spectacles."
Extent
10 Volumes
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Records of the Commissaries
- Author
- bsilva
- Date
- 2/14/2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- compiled from existing finding aids created by LEH and City Archives staff
Repository Details
Part of the City Archives Repository
Contact:
City Archives & Special Collections
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans LA 70112
504-596-2610
archivist@nolalibrary.org
City Archives & Special Collections
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans LA 70112
504-596-2610
archivist@nolalibrary.org