Last Will and Testament of Marie-Louise Christophe (July 8, 1851)
TRANSCRIBED BY NICOLE WILLSON, GRÉGORY PIERROT AND PAUL CLAMMER
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(Translated from the Italian Language)
Attestation by me the undersigned Minister of the General Public Record Office for Contracts of Florence that in the second Register of the Testaments signed by the Notary Signor Antonio Son of Signor Francesco Pazzini preserved in the said Record Office amongst others appears under number one hundred and five the under written Testament of the known to wit
In the name of God Amen. In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and forty-one the Roman Insirtion fourteen and this sixth {?] day of the month of July under the Pontificate of His Holiness Gregory the Sixteenth and His Imperial Royal Highness Leopold the second by the Grace of God Imperial Prince of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and of Bohemia Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany etc., etc., etc., Before me Antonio Son of the late D. Francesco Gaetano Pazzini Notary resident in Pisa and precisely in “Via Sant Anna” in my own house at Number one thousand two hundred and seventy three in the presence of the undersigned witnesses well known to me the notary and to the hereafter named Lady the Testatrix and expressly called and requested for this act appeared personally Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid Widow of Enrico the first who died King of Haiti born at Cape Haitien Land Owner domiciled at Cape Haitien which domicile she never intends to abandon as she has declared and at the present time in consequence of her malady residing at Pisa in “Via Santa Cecilia well known to me the Notary and to the witnesses which said Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid being acquainted with the Italien Language which she understands and speaks of sound mind sight speech hearing and intellect although infirm of body and lying in bed as is perfectly manifest to me the notary and to the five witnesses hereinafter named has made and dictated in manner following her nuncupative will to me the notary who have written and reduced it to writing contextually without interval of time in the presence of the Testatrix and of the witnesses as the same was dictated to me by her for the validity of the present her Testamentary dispositions she leaves the duty of the three lire and ten soldi equal to two florins and ten cents to the works of Santa Maria del Fiore of the City of
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Florence which at this act she has paid to me the Notary in order to be transmitted along with the present original to the general Public Record Office for Contracts of the said City agreeable to the orders in [?] charging me to make express mention thereof she recommends her soul to the Omnipotent God to the Most blessed Mother Mary and to the whole of the Celestial Court in Paradise whereby she may be made worthy of their communion. With respect to her funeral she entrusts it to the will of her testamentary executors with respect to her burial she wishes it to take place in the Chapel attached to the Church of the Most Reverend Capuchin Friars near the Florentine Gate at Pisa where her two dear children are already buried. Upon being asked by me the notary if she wished to bequeath any charitable assistance to the hospitals of the poor of Florence and of Pisa or to other Establishments authorised by law she replied she wished to bequeath as she does bequeath as a legacy and for once only two hundred Tuscan francescones making eight hundred new Tuscan Florins to the Fraternity of Mercy of this City. She states that she is possessed of nothing in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany where she has never desired to have her domicile that all her assignable property consists of [Public] securities in the Bank of London. She bequeaths by way of legacy and in any other better manner but distinctly and separately and for once only to Signora Maria [Esprean?] Niece of the Testatrix five hundred Spanish Pillar dollars. To Signor Pietro Hardy Son of Noel Coidavid Nephew of the Testatrix one hundred Spanish Pillar dollars. To Signora [Mamita] another daughter of the said Signor Noel Coidavid one hundred Spanish Pillar dollars. To the Signora Carlotta La Coste and [Nichette?] Antoine Cousins [German] of the said Testatrix one hundred Spanish Pillar dollars[?]. To Signor Andrea Coidavid Son of Signora Genevieva Coidavid the Sister of the Testatrix five hundred Spanish pillar dollars. To Signor Sully Moreau three hundred Spanish pillar dollars. To Signora Celeste Henry cousin of the Testatrix four hundred Spanish pillar dollars. To Signora the Widow Toussaint Cousin of the said Testatrix two hundred Spanish pillar dollars. And to Signora Agostina [Collot/Tollot] for whom the said Testatrix stood Godmother two hundred Spanish pillar dollars. After each one of the above mentioned several Legatees or in their default she substitutes by a positive and absolute [”volgarit”] reversion their respective children male and female. She bequeaths by way of legacy to Signora Genevieva Coidavid the Sister of the said Testatrix the interest on six thousand Spanish pillar dollars to be recovered and [received?] during her natural life. She bequeaths to the same Signora Genevieva Coidavid the [Usufruit] of a large house situate in the City of Cape Haitien abutting upon the church of our Lady of the Assumption for her to be enabled and to be entitled to enjoy and retain the same during her natural life. She bequeaths by way of legacy the right of ownership in the said six thousand Spanish pillar dollars and in the said large house to the children male and female of the said Signora Genevieva Coidavid in equal proportions amongst them. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only four hundred Spanish pillar dollars to Signora Luisa [Jean/Joan] a native of the country of the said testatrix and after her or in her default by an absolute reversion to her sisters. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only four hundred Spanish pillar dollars
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to Signora [Teotis Pon] wife of Signor Basile and cousin of the said Testatrix and after her or in her default and by an absolute reversion to her children male and female in equal proportions. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only four hundred Spanish pillar dollars to Signora Joseph cousin of the said testatrix and after her or in her default and by an absolute reversion to her children male and female in equal proportions. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only two hundred Spanish pillar dollars to Signora [Atalia/Italia Pierric/Pierrit] Cousin of the Testatrix and after her or in her default and by an absolute reversion to her children male and female in equal proportions. She bequeaths by way of Legacy and for once only four hundred Spanish pillar dollars to Signora Adelaide [Andrien/Andrieu] Cousin of the said testatrix and after her or in her default and by an absolute reversion to her children male and female in equal proportions. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only four hundred Spanish pillar dollars to Zeffrina her present chamber maid. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only one hundred Tuscan francescones being four hundred new florins to Margherita another of her chamber maids. She bequeaths for a legacy and for once only one hundred Tuscan francescones or four hundred florins to Giacomo [Dani?] a man in her service. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only one hundred Tuscan francescones equal to four hundred florins for each of them to the three nephews now living of the Very Reverend Signor Deodato Giuliani and sons of Signor [Crestino] Giuliani and after or in default of any of any or either to the other or others by an absolute reversion. She bequeaths by way of legacy and for once only two hundred Tuscan francescones being eight hundred florins to the aforesaid Signor Deodato Giuliani. She orders and desires that there be paid for once only twenty five Tuscan francescones or one hundred florins to the Nuns of Santa Chiara of this City or to the [?] of this hospital requesting them assist for eight days by their prayers the soul of the said Testatrix. She is persuaded that this disposition is not contrary to any law but should it be so it is her intention that it be held as not written wherever in all else this her testament can have its full effect. She orders and desires that her testamentary executors may of their own will and pleasure recompense all the persons in her service not named in the present testament who may have employment about the said testatrix on the day of her decease and who shall have given proof of good feeling and attachment towards her desiring that not one of them may be able to complain against that which in that respect, it shall please the said testamentary executors to do. She declares that the legacies of the amounts bequeathed to the persons in her service are to be paid in preference to any other legacies and so soon as her hereditary securities have been realized and so she declares with respect to the legacy bequeathed to the nuns of the hospital of Santa Chiara. With respect however to all others the bequests of [account/amount] she orders and desires that they be paid according as the said hereditary securities shall be realized effecting however in the payment a proportional distribution amongst the Legatees. She likewise Orders and desires that there be paid to the said legatees upon the amounts bequeathed and from the day of the decease of the said testatrix thereafter the same interest as may be derived from the securities that are to stand in payment of the respective legacies. She bequeaths by way
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of legacy to her Nephews Vittorio and Ferninando Sons of a sister of of hers or of a Brother of hers of which she does not well remember from having been for a long time absent from her country a small house situate at Cape Haytien in the Strada della [Barca] and in the Strada delle Religiose and after or in default of the one, the other of them reversionally the children male and female of the first deceased first [tallying?] reversionally. Save as above in all other her goods rights and actions none excluded or excepted the aforesaid Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid widow of Enrico the first who died King of Haiti has in a clear and intelligible voice before the Notary and the undersigned five witnesses declared to desire to institute as she did institute and with her own mouth she appoints and desires that Signor Alessandro Ferdinando Eugenio only son of the late Signor Armand Eugene and of the still living Signora Maddalena Carlotta daughter of the late General Charl Charlot a native of the country of the said testatrix should be her universal heir and after him or in his default and by a positive and absolute reversion his children male and female and if they be not living then likewise reversionally Signora Genevieva Coidavid sister of the said testatrix and if she be not able or not willing to accept her inheritance then always reversionally the children male and female her sister aforesaid. She appoints as executors of this her last will Messrs Senn of Leghorn Merchants and she requests them to accept this offer. She declares this to be her last will and her last nuncupative testament which she intends and desires may be valid in every possible way cancelling and revoking every other act of last will that may appear to have been by her made. After the present nuncupative testament has been written and reduced to writing me the Notary immediately and contextually at the same time and without interval of time in the presence of the Testatrix and of the undermentioned five witnesses and wherein Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid widow of Enrico the first who died King of Haiti the said witness being still present pronounced before them and before me the notary in a clear and intelligible voice the legacies the name and the descriptions of the legatees the reversions of the legacies the description of the substituted legatees the institution of the heir his name the reversionary substitutions the descriptions and respective names of the heirs reversionally substituted and all other the dispositions therein contained it was by me the notary read over word for word in the presence of the same witnesses to Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid the testatrix who declared to have well understood the same and to persist therein The present testament made and passed in one and the same contextual act in Pisa and actually in the said floor of the house of Signor Felice Padoa situate in the via di Santa Cecilia where the testatrix resides there having been ever present and contiguous from the commencement to the conclusion thereof the very Reverend Signor Cesare son of Signor Ranieri Baldi Chaplain to the Primatial church of Pisa and domiciled in Pisa. The very Reverend Signor Giovanni son of the late Signor Domenico Rocchi Priest born and domiciled in Barga and for the purposes of study resident in Pisa. The very Reverend Signor Gaetano Son of Signor Guilio Groppi subdeacon born and domiciled in Barga and for the purposes of study resident in Pisa. The Reverend Signor Niccola Son of Signor Ottaviano Salvetti Clerk born and domiciled in Pisa. And the Reverend Signor Francesco Son of Signor Ranieri Barsali born and domiciled in San Lorenzo alle
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Corti by profession a Clerk and for the purposes of study resident in Pisa. Witnesses of full age and possessing all the other requisites demanded by law in the presence of whom after the same had been read over as above Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid being invited to sign the present act she did sign it along with the witnesses and with me the notary and both she and the witnesses have with me the notary contextually signed the Register of the acts of last wills in due form of law and each one of them with his own hand and handwriting Marie Louise Henry - Chaplain, Cesare Baldi, witness priest, Giovanni Rocchi, witness sub deacon, Gaetano Groppi, witness clerk, Niccola Salvetti, witness Clerk Francesco Barsali, witness Antonio son of the late D. Francesco Gaetano Pazzini notary resident in Pisa. In testimony whereof I underwrite this twenty ninth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty one…
Seal signed & paraphed Domenico Manni Minister of Records. Seen for the legalisation of the signature of the aforesaid Signor Domenico Manni who is such as he styles himself Minister of Records of the said Record Office and in testimony etc. Record Office for Contracts at Florence this twenty sixth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty one — Sealed signed & paraphed Luigi Rosati First Minister — Seen for legalisation of the above written signature and description of Signor Luigi Rosati Presidency of the Royal Court of Florence the 1st of April 1851 for the President he being prevented. Seal signed & paraphed, Gaetano Rodrigues V. P. Seen for legalisation of the signature of Signor Gaetano Rodriguez Vice President of the Royal Court of Florence - Office of Justice and [Grant/State?] the 1st of April 1851 for the Minister. Seal signed & paraphed, A. Duchoqué - Seen for legalisation of the within signature of Signor [Augusto?] Duchoqué Secretary to the office of Justice and [Grant] - Florence Office of foreign affairs the 1st of April 1851 — The head of the section for Legalizations gratis. Seal signed & paraphed G. Molinari - Seen the 3d of April 1851 at the english Legation at Florence. Seal signed, Richard Richard Lalor Sheil - His Britannic Majesty’s Minister. — See in Margin Certificate of Translation.
On the 8th July 1851 action with the will annexed, of the goods chattels and credits of Maria Luisa Christophe otherwise Marie Louise Christophe, heretofore Coidavid Spinster, formerly of Cape Haytien in the Island of Saint Domingo afterwards of Weymouth Street Portland Place in the County of Middlesex and of Blackheath in the County of Kent and late of Pisa in Italy widow [?] of Enrico late King of Kaiti, deceased was granted to Frederic [Joiy/Joig/Joly?] and Matthew Norwood the lawful Attorneys of Lewis Senn and Augustin Kotzian the only persons constituting the house of Trade acting under the firm of Messieurs Senn of Leghorn Merchants at the time of the death of the said deceased and as such the executors named in the said Will having been first sworn only to administer for the use and benefit of the said Lewis Senn and Augustin Kotzian now residing at Leghorn and until they shall only apply for and obtain probate of the said will to be granted to them.
Marginalia
Just a [?] of Signora Maria Luisa Coidavid Widow deceased. These are to certify that the paper writing hereunto annexed marked is a true and faithful translation by me the undersigned notary and Tabellion Public a General Practitioner, by royal authority duly admitted and practising made of and from the paper writing hereunto annexed and marked. B. London this second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one. In testimoniam veritatis A. de Pinna Not. Pub.
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