1. Isaac Thomas
United states of North America, and state of Louisiana paresh of
Rapide. This day appeared before me Gilbert Legrass a Justice
of the peace in and for said parish Isaac Thomas who being duly
sworn According to the Law of said State, did depose that he was
acquainted with Docr Imla Keep in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824.
That he was his near neighbour and had as he believes a pretty
general knowledge of his affairs. During those years he is of opinion,
that Docr Keeps practice as a physician could not have yielded him
on a fair estimate more than five hundred dollars a year, he also
states that the Docrs attention was principally confined to the cultivation of his farm. The said Thomas further states—That Docr Keep
purchased part of the Land that he once owned in this parish and
which is now owned by the deponent of Col. Thomas Patterson—
Who had purchased it of Waters and Leonard who held a Mortgage
for the ballance of the purchase money due by Patterson—to the amt
of about four thousand two hundred dollars. The ballance of the
Land the Docr bought of William Smith—who had a priviledge on
it for the payment of the ballance due him. Keep by his purchase of
Patterson became bound to pay Waters and Leonard—failing in
which they obtained a Judgement against Patterson on the Mortgage—and had the Land sold on a twelve months bond—when this
bond became due Keep was still unable to pay and procured this deponant John and L. B. Compton, Joseph and William Brown and
John L. Lecroix to purchase up the bond and give him one and two
years to pay it in— The above parties did make that arrangement
reserving their right to have the land sold and bought in by them
for their security of the others. Keep paid part of the money due
on the bonds at the time fixed—and this deponant paid the ballance—
and to secure himself for this and other debts bought the Land and
took a Conveyance from J and L B Compton— The land bought of
smith was sold to pay the ballance due on it When the deponant also
became the purchaser.
Sworn to, written in the deponents own handwriting, and Subscribed before me this 20th, March 1826
(Signed)I. Thomas
G. Legras Jce Pce
in and for the parish of Rapide
I certify that I have long been acquainted with Isaac Thomas Esqr
an inhabitant of the parish of Rapide whose deposition is written
above, that he is a gentleman of respectability, and that his deposition
is entitled to full credit
Given under my hand and Seal of Office as Parish Judge in and
for the Paresh of Rapide this 20th March 1826
Th C. Scott Par. Judge
2. THOMAS HOOPER
United Stats of america and State of Louisiana Parish of Rappide
this the 20th day of march 1826 this day appeared before me Gilbert
Legrass a Justice of the peace in and for the said Parish Thomas
Hooper who being duly sworn according to the laws of said state,
did depose that he was acquainted with Doctor Imla Keep in the
years 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824 That he was his near
neighbour and had as he believes a pretty general Knowledge of his
affairs.
During the years of 1819 or 1820 this deponent is not confident
which, Dr. Keep had an extensive practice and was for a time a
popular Physician, so much so this deponent was induced to engage
him for the succeeding year as his family Physician, but he proved
so unsuccessful in his practice and became so very unpopular in
those families in which he practiced that he considered him so unsafe That altho Dr. Keep owed this deponent the sum of ninety
dollars, and he agreed to attend the deponents family for said sum
of ninety dollars, he gave up the said debt to Dr. Keep and employed other Physicians in his place when occasion required, altho
Dr. Keep was receiving the pay of said sum for the same. The
deponent further states that he verily believes that Doctor Keeps
practice after the first year he came in the country was not worth
five hundred dollars per annum. The deponent further states that
during the latter part of the year one thousand eight hundred and
twenty four the deponent started from this Parish in Company with
Dr. Keep and Colonel Gross's family and that they arrived at Col.
Gross's residence in the Providence [sic] of Texas on the 24th or 25th
of December the deponent is uncertain which and was present when
Dr. Keep and Col. Gross attempted to make a settlement, that the
deponent understood from the parties that Dr. Keep upon settlement
fell in debt to Col. Gross to a very considerable amount and that
Col. Gross gave a bill for goods which Dr. Keep was to fill in New
Orleans for the amount of two or three thousand dollars the deponent does not remember which but believes the latter, which
money the deponent understood was in the hands of Dr. Keep and
belonging to Col. Gross.
The deponent further understood from the parties that a partnership was to be entered into after Dr. Keeps return from New Or
leans between Dr. Keep Col. Gross and Wm. White and that said
White and Keep were to take possession of the lower plantation
(Signed) Thomas Hooper
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 20th. March 1826
G. Legras Jce Pce
for the parish of Rapide
I certify that I have long been acquainted with Thomas Hooper
Esq. an inhabitant of the Parish of Rapide whose deposition is written above, that he is a gentleman of respectability and that his
deposition is entitled to full credit
Given under my hand and seal of office as Parish Judge in and for
the Parish of Rapide this 20th March 1826.
(Signed) Th C Scott Par Judge
3. NARRISH WRIGHT
Whereas I Narrish Wright Sheriff of the Parish of Rapide by
virtue of a writ of firie facias to me directed against the goods and
chattels Lands and tenements of Thomas Patterson Imla Keep and
Henry Haynes at the suit of William Waters did seize the following
property to wit all the right title and interest of these defendants
or either of them in and to ninety Arpens of Land and all the rights
priviledges and appurtenances thereto belonging situated lying and
being in the Parish of Rapide on the right Bank of the Bayou Rapide
in descending bounded below by Lands of Charles Curtis and above
by the One hundred and eighty arpens of the same tract purchased
by John and L B Compton at Sheriffs sale and being the remainder
of the tract acquired by Imla Keep or Thos Patterson and a Part
of the same on which the said Keep now resides and having exposed
the same to public sale according to Law on the 4th of March 1824
for Cash when J and L B Camptan became the purchaser thereof
for the price of four hundred dollars which I hereby acknowledge
to have received and endorsed as a credit on the execution bearing
date March 4th 1824 Now therefore Know all men by these presents
that I the said Sheriff do in consideration of the premises and by
virtue of the acts in such case made and provided grant bargain Sell
assign and set over to the said J and L B Compton their heirs and
assigns all the above described peice or parcel of Land and all the
right title interest or demand which the said Thomas Patterson Imla
Keep and Henry Haynes on the 15th day of June 1822 as at any time
since had in or to the said property or any part thereof there being
the following special Mortgages on the same as certified by the Parish Judge of the Parish of Rapide in his certificate as follows I cer
tify that a special Mortgage exists on the records of my office by Imla
Keep in favor of Thomas Patterson on a tract of Land situated in the
Parish of Rapide on the left Bank of the Bayou Rapide in descending having a front on the said Bayou of six and three quarters arpens
with the depth of forty arpens to secure the payment of the sum of
Eight thousand dollars besides interest dated December 23rd 1818
I also certify that another special Mortgage exists by said Keep in
favor of Edmond L Briggs on forty Arpens of Land to be taken
from the lower side of the tract above described to secure the payment of the sum of Seven hundred and ninety dollars and fifty Cents
besides interest dated September 19th 1821 I also certify that another special Mortgage exists by said Keep in favor of Joseph Letchworth on forty arpens of the above described tract of Land and adjoining that last Mentioned to Secure the payment of the sum of
twenty dollars besides interest dated October 10th 1822 and that no
other special Mortgage exists on the records of my Office in the name
of said Keep Given under my hand and seal of Office as Parish Judge
in and for the Parish of Rapide this 4th day of March 1824 (Signed)
Thomas C Scott Par Judge To hold the same to the said J and L B
Compton their heirs and assigns for ever In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of March in the
year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four and
in the forty eighth year of the independence of the United States
Narrish Wright
Sheriff of the Parish of Rapide
(Signed) sealed and delivered in the presence of
Wm R Leckie
S E Cuny
Done and passed before me
Th. C. Scott Par. Judge
I certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original on
file and of Record in my Office
Given under my hand and seal of Office as Parish Judge in and
for the Parish of Rapide this 21st day of March A D 1826
Th. C. Scott Par. Judge
4. SCHEDULE OP DEBTS.
Be it remembered, that heretofore to wit; on the fourth day of
May Eighteen hundred and twenty five Imla Keep filed in the Office
of the Clerk of the sixth District Court in and for the Parish of
Rapide and State of Louisiana a Petition, in writing, against His
Creditors, together with a Schedule of his debts, in the words and
figures following, to wit:
To the Honorable William Murray Judge of the sixth District
Court., Parish of Rapide
The petition of Imla Keep a citizen of said Parish, with respect
states to your Honor That notwithstanding he has used the greatest
industry and most rigid economy for years past he finds himself in
consequence of his numerous losses and misfortunes in a Condition
that renders it absolutely impossible for him to discharge his
debts—Your petitioner further states: that the step he is about
to take in making a surrender to his creditors has alone been produced by the positive belief that whilst encumbered and shakled
with such a load of increasing debt in consequence of the Rapide
growth of the amount by accumulating interest and Costs, that he
never could by any rational exertion meet the payment his losses
and the payments heretofore made having divested him of every
useful means of making, save his personal exertions—Your petitioner further states that he has been placed in his present unpleasant situation of inability to pay his creditors, by misfortunes
that he could not control and meeting necessary expences—such as
that of having lost his most valuable slaves, after having given a
large price at an unfortunate period for a plantation to employ them
on, That of having given fourteen thousand dollars for a plantation—which was sacrificed for less than a third of the amt at
Sheriffs sale. That of supporting my family, though not an expensive one—Yet a losing one—That of not being able to collect
my debts and incurring their loss,—that of having at great expense
to attend to an expensive law suit most unjustly Prosecuted against
me in the state of Mississippi These together with many other
causes not enumerated have produced my inability to pay my debts
and force me to take that disagreeable step of calling a meeting
of my creditors—To which end I have hereto annexed a schedule
of my property and a list of my active and passive debts, as also a
Statement of the debts, due by me, and a Statement of the losses
that I have sustained—Wherefore your petitioner prays to be
allowd to call a meeting of his creditors at such time and place as
your Honor or the court may direct, in order that he may be enabled
to lay before them a statement of his affairs and surrender them
his Estate, and that in the mean time all Kind of proceedings
against his Person and property be stayed—
(Signed) Imla Keep
A Schedule of debts due by Imla Keep, with their amts names of Creditors,
and place of residence
Names of Creditors—
amt
debt
place of residence
To William Smith about
$1100
Parish of Rapide
" Stephen E Cuny
do do
..
" G Y Kelso
40
do do
" Ferguson and Rich
300
do do
" P B Martin for notes given to David Pannile
215 13
(including cost and Int)
do do
" Jesse Hudson
167 70
do do
" Sexton and Morgan
302
"
do do
" Mrs Kimble about
600
"
do Feliciana
" King and Beatty
600
"
" Radide
" G Greeves
700
"
New Orleans
" H A Bullard
600
"
Par of Rapide
" Jno. Casson
75
"
do do
" Kimble merchant
30
"
do do
" Hynson and Wright
15
"
do do
" Mrs Bacon in the hands of G Oakley Esqr
200
"
do do
" Jos. S. Johnston "
300
"
do do
" Chas. F Scott
80
"
do do
" Estate of Doct Rippey
80
"
" Leckie and Norment
114
"
do do
" James Price
700
"
do do
" Jno. P landreau
20
"
do do
" Buckley and Bailey ..
400
"
do do
Schedule of property and debts belonging to Imla Keep
Farming Tools, plows, Hames axes etc value------------------------------------ 30.—
six head of Cows—------------------------------------------------------------------- 50.
1 saddle and Bridle--------------------------------------------------------------- 20.
Debts due
Account for protessional services against Matthew Martin------- 140
account agt. McWaters for professional services------------------------ 40
Notes in the hands of Christopher Bullard of Winchester Tennessee against Doctr Saml. Holland decd for----------------------- 1100—
Account against the Estate of Mrs Manbale deceased for----------- 80
account agt the Estate of J M Martin decd------------------------- 300
account agt the Estate of Mrs Spencer decd---------------------- 120
Due Bill against David Manbale balance-------------------------------- 30.
Statement of Losses incured by Imla Keep
In the year 1819.—
Three negroes worth (men)--------------------------------- 4000
one negro child worth-------------------------------- 100
In 1824—one negro man worth______________________________ 300
By expences incured in supporting family per annum $1200 for six
years ______________________________________________________ 7200
By cost, and Expences attending Law Suit-------------------------------------- 2000
By Interest on debt, due-------------------------------------------------------------- 3000
By fall of property______________________________________________ 8000
By losses incured in defending a vexatious law suit brought against me
in the state of Mississippi-------------------------------------------------------- 1000
I Imla Keep do solemnly swear that the above and foregoing
schedule contains a correct and faithful statement of all the property
I possess, either in moveables or immovables, or in Other rights, or
claims, except however the clothes and Linen to my use, and the
instruments indispensable to my profession by which I make my
living, and which the law authorises me to Keep—and I do further
solemnly swear that the said schedule contains a correct and faithful
statement of my active and passive debts, and of the looses I have
experianced in my affairs, and that I have neither directly or indirectly divested anything of my property to the Injury of my creditors So help me God—
(Signed) Imla Keep
Sworn to and Subscribed before me 7th of March 1825
Benj M Stokes J. P.
On which Petition the Judge made the following order To wit;
Ordered that a meeting of the creditors of the Petitioner be held
before the Parish Judge of said, Parrish, on the second monday of
May next to deliberate on the affairs of the petitioner, and that in
the mean time all proceedings be stayed against his person and
property, and untill further Order be had thereon 9th April 1825.
(Signed) W. Murray Judge
6th District
I certify that I have this day posted up at the Jail Door a notice
to the Creditors of the said Imla Keep, returnable on the second
monday of present month, according to Law
May 4th 1825
Wm. R. Leckie Dy Clk
And afterwards, to wit, on the 9th day of May 1825 the Parish
Judge gave the following certificate to wit
Imla Keep vs His creditors
On this 9th day of May 1825 appeared at my office the said Imla
Keep by Isaac Thomas his attorney, and the creditors of the said
Keep failing to appear, and no opposition being made to the surrender of property by said Keep, the same is certified to the sixth District Court.
Parish of Rapide— Th. C. Scott Par Judge
State of Louisiana Parish of Rapide
I William R Leckie clerk of the sixth District and Parish Courts
for the Parish and State aforesaid—Do certify the foregoing to
be a true Transcript of the Record, and all the proceedings had in the
case of Imla Keep vs His Creditors exising in my Office.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and
affixed the seal of Office This 20th day of March A D 1826
(Signed) Wm. R. Leckie Clk
I William Murraysole Judge of the 6th District Court for the
Parish of Rapide , Do certify that William R Leckie who signed
the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of so signing Clerk
of said Courts, and that full faith and credit is and Ought to be
given to his proceedings as such— and the same is in due form of
Law—
Given under my hand and Seal This 22nd day of March A. D 1820
(Signed) W. Murray,
6th District