Pierre Esope Fusilier, a free man of color, begs the court to recognize him as the only heir of the late Magdelaine Masse, a free woman of color and the wife of the late Etienne Sem Fuselier, also a free person of color. Pierre Esope asserts that he is the natural son of the late Etienne Sem Fusilier. Pierre Fusilier claims that he was born a slave, but that Etienne and Madgelaine freed him in 1797, according to the wishes of his previous master, Auguste Soileau, and then adopted him. Both of these acts were officially recognized by the court; therefore, he is "entitled to the same rights as a child of their lawful marriage." Now, Rosalie and Jean François Masse, free people of color, have set up claim to Magdelaine Masse Fuselier's succession, "falsely alleging" to each have "a right of one third of the property real and personal of the said Magdelaine." Fusilier asks to be declared and recognized as the only heir and representative of the estate and thus exclusively entitled to all property belonging to the succession. He further prays that the defendants be inhibited from setting up further claim to the property. An inventory of Magdelaine Masse's estate reveals that she was owned ten slaves. An answer from the defendants also reveals that Pierre Esope had been estranged from his parents for a number of years, and remained so until their respective deaths, because of their disapproval of his "concubinage" with a "mulatress" by the name of Clemence Issard. The answer does not specify whether Clemence Issard was free or in bondage.
Result: Denied.
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Repository: St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, Louisiana
