Faivre, Father B., Grand Combe Des Bois, France, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1858 January 26

Faivre told Father Chatelain about Blanc's, letter of December 10 concerning the will of Abbé Richard Bole, deceased pastor of Droitfontaine, by which he gives them all he possessed in America. The basis of his possession is the will of July 4, 1847, of his brother, Father Joseph Richardbole a copy of which is attached. As the brother and sister of these two priests claim that the will is worthless, Faivre wished, before registering the other one, to assure himself. They have consulted one of the best lawyers of Besancon; his decision is that the will, made in America, after settling affairs regarding assets of Richard Bole, and naming executors, the remainder to be sent to his brother, Father Victor Emmanuel Richard Bole, "does not contain the establishing of a universal heir in favor of the latter". "It is possible that it was Richard Bole's intention to assign to the pastor of Droitfontaine the surplus of his fortune but this is not sufficiently explicit in the will, when there are natural heirs who have equal rights." This is Mr. Guerin 's decision. They have all the papers they found in the desk of the pastor of Droitfontaine. They have the letter of Father Claude Anthony Tholomier of February 12, 1848, in which he says in a postscript, "Here are the terms of your brother's will: I establish my brother Victor as my universal heir." If those words are not on the copy sent from America is it an oversight or is there another will or letter? Father August Simon Paris in his letter of February 12, 1848, said the same thing as Tholomier. Martin Blache, New Orleans lawyer, in his letter of February 22, 1848, announced to the pastor of Droitfontaine that he was named universal heir by the will of his brother Joseph who died at sea August 19, 1847. To collect this inheritance Blanc must send his power of attorney to someone here and also legal documents of his relationship with the person named in the will. P.S. Copy of the will of Joseph Richard Bole, in Faivre's hands: "I charge Father Paris, pastor of St. Vincent, and Father Tholomier, now at the Archbishopric, with the administration of my temporal affairs, without obliging them to render an account to my universal heir. The church, houses, and lots I possess in Little Rock, Arkansas are given to the Bishop of Little Rock on condition that the church is used for divine services or a school for Catholics, and that the revenue from the houses be used for the support of the priest on condition that he celebrate a Mass for my intention twice a month. After expenses and 200 piastres for the two priests named above, the remainder is to be sent to my brother Victor Emmanuel. New Orleans, July 4, 1847". Then Faivre finds two lines in English: Bero? Orlean February 16, 1848. Registered at Maiche, May 18, 1848. Registered at Morteau, February 3, 1849. :: VI-1-n A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.