Slavery Timeline

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This page documents the known records of enslaved people connected to the Prudhomme family and plantation in Opelousas. These records are drawn from censuses, sales documents, probate records, and other archival sources.

Because multiple generations—Jean Michel Prudhomme, his son Michel André Prudhomme, and his grandson Michel William Prudhomme—used the name “Michel Prudhomme,” it is not always possible to determine with certainty which individual is referenced in every transaction.

By the time of Jean Michel Prudhomme’s death in 1817, his estate included 35 enslaved people and more than 3,000 acres of land.

This timeline presents what can be documented. It does not represent the full lives of the individuals named here—only the limited details recorded in historical documents.

The Prudhomme plantation functioned as both a cotton plantation and a cattle operation. In addition to cotton, the property produced corn,  and maintained livestock, including cattle, sheep, and bees.

The growth of cotton agriculture in Louisiana accelerated after the invention of the cotton gin in 1793, which made cotton processing far more efficient and increased demand for enslaved labor across the region.

At the same time, the Opelousas and Attakapas (St. Martin) prairies became important centers for cattle ranching. By the early 19th century, large herds supplied markets in New Orleans.

This economic expansion depended heavily on enslaved labor.

During this period, Louisiana transitioned from Spanish colonial rule to becoming part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The transatlantic slave trade to the United States officially ended in 1808. After that, the domestic slave trade expanded, forcibly relocating enslaved people within the country.

Records from this era often reduce individuals to names, ages, and prices. Families were frequently separated, and children were often sold individually.

Jean Michel Prudhomme appears in the Spanish census of the German Coast of Louisiana. He is listed with his wife, Catherine Ritter. No children or enslaved people are recorded.

Jean Michel Prudhomme begins acquiring land in the Opelousas Poste region.

Remus, described as a man of the Coromandel region and aged 22, is recorded as sold to Jean Michel Prudhomme for $300.

The term “Coromandel” refers to a colony of the Netherlands in a coastal region of India associated with European trading networks. Many enslaved people identified this way were from the Swahili Coast, on the east coast of Africa.

May 14: Birth of son Michel André Prudhomme.

The cotton gin is invented, significantly increasing the profitability of cotton production and expanding the demand for enslaved labor.

April 21: Three enslaved men—Jacob, Philip, and Primus—attempt to escape.
Their pirogue overturns after striking a tree in strong currents on Bayou Teche. Primus drowns.

Jean Michel Prudhomme donates land and cypress timber for the construction of St. Landry Catholic Church.

Louisiana becomes part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase, ending Spanish colonial rule.

Birth of grandson Michel William Prudhomme.

Francis, a 7½-year-old girl described as a “mulatto” and born in Louisiana, is sold for $362. She is  sold without her mother.

Jack, a 30-year-old man described as Black and from the British mainland, is sold for $480.

Cyrus (17) and Sam (22) are sold from Virginia for a combined price of $930.

An unnamed Black woman, age 18, is sold for $550. She is described as “brut,” indicating she was recently imported from Africa.

She had arrived in Louisiana aboard the brigantine Armed Neutrality, which transported over 200 enslaved people from the Congo River to New Orleans in 1807. This voyage occurred just before the United States ended the legal importation of enslaved people in 1808.

David, a 7-year-old boy, is sold for $270,  without his mother.

Daniel (21) and Joe (11) are sold together for $1,000.

Maria, age 14, is sold for $480.

Nancy, age 18, is sold for $500.

Andrew, a 12-year-old boy, is sold for $400.

An unnamed 10-year-old boy is also recorded in a sale, though the document is incomplete and no price is listed.

Louisiana becomes a U.S. state.

Frank, described as an 18-year-old man born in Maryland, is sold for $480.

Jenny, age 34, is sold for $400.

Daniel, described as about 28 years old, is sold by Jean Michel Prudhomme to his son Michel André Prudhomme for $600. (It is unclear if this is the same Daniel recorded in 1810.)

Isham, age 32, is sold for $600.

Jinny (27) and her daughter Fanny (3½) are sold together for $800.

Lydia, age 18, is sold for $800.

George Washington (12) and Joshua (14) are sold together for $2,150.

Sarah, a 16-year-old girl, is sold in this year.

August 20: Jean Michel Prudhomme dies.

Philip, a 10-year-old boy described as “mulatto,” is sold for $1,200 under a payment arrangement in which he remains mortgaged until the full amount is paid. The sale is made by Marie Schnyder Prudhomme to Fr. Flavius Henri Rossi of St. Landry Catholic Church.

A separate sale from the Prudhomme estate to John Close, a plantation owner in Porte Barre, is documented in John Close's personal papers.

Fr. Rossi sells Philip, now 11 years old, back to Marie Schnyder Prudhomme.

Aime, a 27-year-old woman described as “mulatto,” is sold for $750

Following the death of Marie Schnyder Prudhomme, the estate is liquidated. Numerous enslaved people are sold, often separating families.

Recorded sales include:

• Captain (approx. 20 years old) sold for $1,110 
• Daniel (approx. 30) sold for $960 
• The image above shows the sale of Henriette (28) and her three children: Marcelite (~4), son Jo (~2), and son Henry (~6 months), sold together for $900 to Micheal Hargroder, Jean Michel Prudhomme's son-in-law.
• Cyrus (approx. 40, noted as having one eye) sold for $650 
• Sam (approx. 60) sold for $90 
• Blunt (28) sold for $600 
• Manuel (20) sold for $1,005 

Family groups sold include:

• Aime (approx. 28) with her children Sam (3) and Peter (3 months) sold for $1,555 
• Sally (approx. 30) with her daughter Kitty (9) sold for $900 
• Antoine (approx. 40) with his son Alexandre (2) sold for $700 

Individual children and young people sold include:

• Philip (now approx. 15) sold for $1,000 
• Louis (approx. 10) sold for $445 
• George (approx. 12) sold for $405 
• William (approx. 10) sold for $365 
• Robert (approx. 9) sold for $310 
• Isaac (approx. 12) sold for $410 

Additional individuals recorded:

• London (30) sold with Aime and children 
• Tom (40) sold for $410 
• Jack (30) sold for $960 
• Rachael (35) sold for $700 
• Esther (45) sold for $410 
• Lyddy (20) sold for $1,300 
• Deana (25) sold for $805 
• Jacob (25) sold for $910 
• Bird (20) sold for $650 
• Martin (16) sold for $855 
• Therese (40) sold for $325 

Many purchasers were members of the extended Prudhomme family or local community, including Jean Michel's son Michel André Prudhomme and Jean Michel's son-in-law Michel/Michael Hargroder.

Michel André Prudhomme later acquired the plantation property. At his death in 1843, his estate included 124 enslaved people.

Michel André Prudhomme's will emancipates a woman named Celeste Prudhomme and her son, Dorsin, approximately 8 years old. (It is believed Celeste was his daughter, although he doesn't acknowledge paternity in the will, so it can't be proven.) 

Rachel Gradenigo, a FPOC who owned many businesses in the Opelousas area, had purchased a 50-year-old woman named Poly from the Michel Andre's estate for $170, to be paid in three installments. Ms. Gradenigo did not make the last payment and Poly was sold at public auction to pay the debt.

Although legal barriers delayed formal emancipation, Celeste Prudhomme appears to be living as a free woman by 1850 with her children. 

In 1854, she is formally granted permission to remain in Louisiana as a free person. (A newly freed slave had to leave the State, unless the Parish government voted to allow them to remain.)

That same year, she purchases her son Alfred, age 19, for $200.

Louisiana law prohibits emancipation, even by Last Will.