1800 Personal Loan Document Between Landlord and Tenant in Pas de Calais, France

On offer is an interesting personal loan note drafted in Revolutionary France. The document is dated the 19th Prairial of Year IX which corresponds to June 7th, 1800.

The document was drafted in the Department of Pas de Calais, in northern France and bears a stamp duty seal from that regional government. The parties to it are two individuals – Antoine Marechal and one Monsieur Enlart. Our informal research has not been able to find any additional information about either of these two men.

An excerpt of the document follows:

Je soussigne [] Antoine Marechal, cultivateur demeurant a [] receverais qu'apres avoir compte avec le citoyen Enlart [] des amenages de fermage que je luis doit compris la dernier term de mon exploitation echu le cinq messidor dernier...

[Translation: I, the undersigned [] Antoine Marechal, farmer living at [] will receive after having taken into account with the citizen Enlart [] of the rent that I owe him including the last term of my holding expired on the fifth of last messidor...]

The note goes on to outline other terms and conditions. 

For a social historian or someone interested in how life went on even during the tumultuous changes following the French Revolution, this small note is a window into part of that world.

This document measures 9.5 inches by 7.25 inches. The paper is feathered around all the edges but is in good condition. The handwriting is tight and difficult to read. However, there enough legible text to determine that it is an agreement between two persons.