C. B. Granniss Firm promissory note

This document is a promissory note from July 30, 1841, that describes a loan in which slaves were used as collateral. In 1839, C.B. Granniss loaned $3900 to Mr. and Mrs. Felix Bosworth, and the stipulations of the loan were that the Bosworths' slaves (Charles, French Will, Eliza, and Molly) would be sold if the couple defaulted on repayment. The Bosworths did default on the loan, so C.B. Granniss Firm sued them in a Louisiana Court, which ruled in favor of the law firm. C.B. Granniss's partner firm, Granniss, White, and Co., provided the funds for the original loan, so this official document is a note of repayment in which the C.B. Granniss Firm transfers ownership of the Bosworth slaves to Granniss, White, and Co. in order to repay the loan. The document also includes authentication by a Louisiana Court-appointed representative, Isaac P. Martin, and a New York official, Edward White.

A transcription of the document follows:

"Whereas we Charles B. Granniss, John W. Granniss, and Henry E. Granniss as partners in trade, trading under the name style and firm of C.B. Granniss and Co. are indebted to one George B. Granniss of New York City in upon and by virtue of a certain promissory note of us as partners aforesaid for the payment of five thousand three hundred and seventy eight dollars, dated the third day of December eighteen hundred and thirty nine payable thirty days after date to the order of Granniss, White, and Co.

Now therefore in consideration of the promises and for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to us in hand paid by the said George B. Granniss the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, we have assigned transferred and set over, and by these presents we do assign, transfer and set over unto the said George B. Granniss his Executors administrators and assigns a certain promissory note drawn by Felix Bosworth and Nancy Bieller for thirty nine hundred dollars dated December first eighteen hundred and thirty nine with interest from February fourth eighteen hundred thirty nine, subject nevertheless to the claim of one R.J. Chambliss of five hundred and seventy five dollars and seventeen cents of the money to be paid on said note, which said sum of  five hundred and seventy five dollars and seventeen cents is to be paid said Chambliss out of the moneys paid or to be paid and collected on said note - which said assignment is made as and for so much payment of our said indebtedness - and we do also by these presents assign transfer and set over unto the said Geo. B. Granniss his executors, administrators, and assigns a certain mortgage executed to us by the said Felix Bosworth and wife upon the following Negroes to wit, Charles, French Will, Eliza, Maria, and Molly and their issues, as part payment as aforesaid, and also a certain judgment obtained in one of the courts of the State of Louisiana in our favor and against Felix Bosworth and wife for thirty nine hundred dollars with ten percent interest thereon from the fourth of February eighteen hundred and thirty nine till final payment, (it being the only judgment obtained in any of the courts of said state in our favor and against the said Felix Bosworth and his wife).

Which said assignment is hereby made or intended to be made as so much payment of our indebtedness to the said George B. Granniss on and by virtue of our before mentioned and recited note and which said note is now in the possession of the United States Bank in the city of New York.

In witness whereof we have here unto set our hands and seals this thirtieth day of July eighteen hundred and forty one at Newark, New Jersey.

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of

Andrew B. Eaton

Char B. Granniss (seal)

John W. Granniss (seal)

Henry E. Granniss (seal)

State of New York City and County of New York and on this seventeenth day of September 1844 appeared Edward White of the said city before one Isaac P. Martin a commissioner appointed by the Governor of Louisiana for New York and having been by me duly sworn made oath that he is well acquainted with the hand writing of Charles B. Granniss, John W. Granniss, and Henry E. Granniss and that the signatures to the paper [?] are the genuine signatures of the said Charles, John, and Henry, and that Andrew B. Eaton the subscribing witness thereto is now absent from this state - and at the same time appeared before me George C. Goddard who having been duly sworn made oath that the foregoing is a true copy of the said original executed by the said Charles John and Henry compared therewith by this deferment, and that the said original was handled to this deferment by George B. Granniss of the City of New York that a copy thereof might be duly notified.

Edward White

George Goddard

Isaac  P. Martin of Louisiana Court which the witness whereof I have above subscribed my name and applied my seal of office.

Isaac P. Martin Louisiana Court"