1796 Handwritten French Legal Contract About Real Estate Transactions

On offer is an outstanding example of a French legal contract of the type used in property transactions during the days of the French Revolution. The document was drawn in 1796 by a man signed only as Barazer. He lives in Brittany and owns property in the former Commune of Ploujean, now part of Morlaix. He is a member of the Barazer family who hailed from Lanurien. Our informal research has not found any additional information about him.

The contract is between Mr. Barazer and a husband and wife from Ploujean named Michel Cohannec and Marie Anne Pape. They were married in Ploujean on November 21, 1779. Marie Anne would die in November, 1798 while Michel would die in June, 1799. 

An excerpt of the contract follows: 

Je donne plein pouvoir et procuration au Citoyen Le Boussanse demeurant Morlais, Department du Finistere de pour moi et en mon nom tousfermer la Metairie Chuchuniou Bian moi appartenans dise en la Commune de Ploujean et actuellemens a titre de ferme pour Michel Cohannec et sa femme.

[Translation: I give full power of attorney to Citizen Le Boussanse residing in Morlais, Department of Finistere, to close the Chuchuniou Bian farm belonging to me in the Commune of Ploujean and currently used as a farm by Michel Cohannec and his wife].

In another place, he stipulates the circumstances where the agreement is made, as follows:

Au devant du Notaire Publique, du [] du Departement du finisterre a la Residence de Noclais sousignie [ ] presente Michel Cohannec et Marie Anne Pape sa femme icelle le requerons de son Mari autorisee cultivateur demeuron en la Commune de Ploujean Canton de la Campague de Morlaix lesquele moyennant l'agrement du Citoyem Jean Marie Grace.

[Translation: In front of the Notary Public, of [ ] of the Department of Finisterre in the Residence of Noclais undersigned [ ] present Michel Cohannec and Marie Anne Pape his wife, who request him to be authorized as a farmer in the Commune of Ploujean, Canton of the Morlaix countryside, which they have agreed to do with the consent of citizen Jean Marie Grace].

The document then goes on a length to describe the transactions and details.

In the document are references to a number of people associated in some manner with this transaction. In 2 places, the document bears 2 seals. One is possibly the stamp or seal of the Notary and the other is a tax stamp, bearing the notation Rep(ublic) Fra(ncaise). For a legal historian, this is a superb example of the type of property contact and transaction that would have been entered into during the upheavals of the first years of the French Revolution. For a genealogist, this document is an excellent primary source identifying specific individuals living in this region of France.

The 8-page manuscript measures 9.25 inches by 7.5 inches and is 75% complete. There is wear around the edges and some chipping. The binding is a single thread which is intact. The handwriting is legible.