This Indenture made the thirteenth day of January in the Year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six  Between Moses Elias Levy of Alachua Country in the County of Saint Johns *** East Florida Planter, now residing in the Rue - Saint Thomas de Lenore in the City of France of the one part and Seraphina Chaventeau (born S. Levy) of the Rue de la Champee De anten ---  Now in said City of Paris Widowed of the other part

So we find Moses in Paris, France with his sister?  The born S. Levy is my interpretation of a hard to read portion of this page.  Moses is in need of money and has come to Seraphina.

...and whereas the said Moses Elias Levy having occasion for the sum of fifty thousand Frances money of France applied to and requested the said Seraphina Chaventeau to find and advance him the same which she has consented and agreed to do upon having the repayment of the same and Interest at the Rate of six per cent per anum secured to her in the manner hereafter contained -- Now this Indenture Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty thousand Frances money of France to him the said Moses Elias Levy, well and truly paid by the said  Seraphina Chaventeau at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof the said Moses Elias Levy hereby acknowledge

So how was her fifty thousand francs secured?  It was secured by the following "parcils or tracts" of land in the Territory of East Florida.

...those nineteen thousand two hundred Acres of Land being part and Parcel of that certain Tract of land situate and being in the county of Saint Johns in East Florida aforesaid and in that part of the county Known as and usually called the Alachua Country, which said Tract of land was by grant bearing date the twenty second day of December one thousand eight hundred and seventeen granted by the Spanish Government to Fernander de la Maza Arredondo and Joseph Arredondo by the name and discription of Fernander de la Maza Arredondo and Son  and by the said Fernader de la Maza Arredondo and Son granted and conveyed to the said Moses Elias Levy in and by a certain Indenture bearing date the tenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.

...and nineteenth part of and in a tract of land containing about fourteen thousand five hundred acres, situate and being on the west  side of Saint Johns River in East Florida aforesaid  and to which the said Moses Elias Levy is entitled to under and by virtue of a certain contract or agreement entered into with the said Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo and Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo his son but the conveyance of which have not been made and executed *********

...an undevided moiety of and in ******** thousand acres of land part and parcil of a certain parcil of land containing of twenty five thousand acres which was originally granted to Philip R. Young by a concession or grant bearing date the eleventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and seventeen which were confirmed to the said Philip R. Young by a royal title in

Also *** property bearing date the twenty second day of February one thousand eight hundred seventeen, which said concession and Royal Title were made under the authority of the King of Spain by Don Jose Copinger then Governor of East Florida eight thousand acres thereof being situate on the west side of a place called Long Pond about forty miles south of Lake George on the west side of the River Saint Johns aforesaid  And twelve thousand acres Residue thereof being situate on the Lake named second and in the west side side of the said late in East Florida aforesaid and which said twenty thousand acres of land were sold and transferred by the said Philip R. Younge to William Trivers andly the said William Trivers conveyed to the said Moses Elias Levy by Indenture bearing date the sixth of day of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.  (Subject nevertheless in common with the premises hereinafter described to **** or change before mentioned

And also an undivided moiety of land in the following contains Tracts or parcils of Land, that is to say, of and in ten thousand four hundred acres of land being part and parcils of a Tract consisting of fifteen thousand acres of Land situate and being on the River Saint Johns about twelve miles miles south of the Lake George in East Florida aforesaid which said Tract of Land was originally granted to Don Antonia Huestus in Absolute by a concession bearing date on or about the fifteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and seventeen by the said Don Jose Coppinger and which was afterwards sold transfer and conveyed by the said Antonia Huestus to Don Juan Entralg

And also of and in one other Tract or parcel of Land containing four thousand acres situated and being on Black Creek in East Florida aforesaid which said Tract or parcil of land was Originally granted to the said Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo ****** by a grant or concession bearing date the twentieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventeen by the said Don Jose Coppinger and afterwards confirmed to the said Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo,  *** by a Royal title or grant in absolute property bearing date the ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty also made by the said Jose Coppinger and which said last mentioned Tract or parcil of land was sold and conveyed by the said Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo to the said Juan de Entralgo

And also of and in twenty thousand acres of Land part and parcil of a certain Tract or parcil of land consisting of twenty two thousand acres of land situate and being in Alachua County at places called Cesscowillo and Chachala in East Florida aforesaid which said grant of land last mentioned was granted to George I.F. Clark by a concession and grant in Absolute property bearing date on or about the seventeenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and seventeen made by the said Don Jose Coppinger  and which said last mentioned Tract or parcil of land was transferred and conveyed to the said Juan de Entralgo by the said George I.F. Clark.

And also of and in one other Tract or parcil of land containing one thousand acres situate and being at a place called Water Pen in East Florida aforesaid, which said last mentioned tract of land was granted to the said Juan de Entralgo in absolute property by Royal title or Absolute grant bearing date on or about the fifteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and seventeen by the said Don Jose Coppinger

And also of and in one other Tract or parcil of Land containing two thousand acres situate in a place called Cades Swamp in East Florida aforesaid which said last mentioned Tract of land was granted to the said Juan de Entralgo in absolute property by a Royal title or Absolute grant bearing date the fifteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and seventeen made by the aforesaid Don Jose Coppinger

And also of and in a four thousand acres of land situate and being about five miles from Spring Garden in East Florida aforesaid which said four thousand acres of land together with the four thousand acres of land before mentioned are part and parcils of a Tract or parcil of land consisting of ten thousand acres granted to Fernando de la Maza Arredondo by concession or grant bearing date the twentieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventeen and was sold and conveyed by the said Fernandes de la Maza Arredondo to the said Juan de Entralgo

And also of and in four thousand acres of land situate on the River Saint Johns at a place called the English Big Spring at about twenty five miles south from Saint George Lake in East Florida aforesaid and are part of a Tract or parcil of land granted to Don Pedro Mirando by a concession or grant bearing date on or about the sixteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and seventeen  made by the said Don Jose Coppinger and which was confirmed to the said Don Pedro Merrando by a Royal title or absolute grant bearing date on or about the eleventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty one made also by the said Don Jose Coppinger which said four thousand acres of land were sold and transferred by the said Don Pedro Merrando the said Juan de Entralgo.

And also of and in three thousand four hundred acres of land situate at or near a place called the English Big Spring at or about twenty five miles south of Saint George lake on the River Saint Johns in East Florida aforesaid which three thousand four hundred acres are a part of a parcil of land of land granted to the aforesaid Don Pedro Mirando by the concession and Royal title made to the said Pedro Miranda as is herebefore last mentioned and which were sold and transferred by the said Pedro Merrando to the said Juan de Entralgo.

And also of and in one other tract or parcil of land containing one thousand acres situated on the East side of the Saint Johns River in east Florida aforesaid at a place called Rolls Town which said last mentioned tract was granted to the said Juan de Entralgo by a concession bearing date on or about the seventeenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and sixteen by the said Don Jose Coppinger (which on reference to the said several concessions or grants in the Office of the Public Archives of East Florida aforesaid now in the City of Saint Augustine will more fully and at large appear)

Here is what, according to Moses Elias Levy, it all added up to.

And which said several tracts or parcils of Land containing in the whole forty nine thousand eight hundred acres were with the appurtenances thereunto belonging sold and conveyed by the said Don Juan Entralgo to the said Moses Elias Levy by an Indenture bearing date the sixth day of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty four  together with all the crops and produce of the said Several Tracts or parcils of land and all of the Slave and personal property thereon and all Houses out Houses Edifices Trees Woods underwoods Commons Ways paths passages, Waters Watercourses profits commodities advantages privaledges hereditaments rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to the aforesaid several Tracts pieces and parcils of Land belonging or in any wise appertaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders, Rents Issues and profits thereof and of every part and parcil thereof and all the Estate Right title Interest Claim and demands of every Kind of him the said Moses Elias Levy of in and to the said Tracts, pieces and parcils of Land and premises herein before mentioned and intended to be granted and released and every of them and every part thereof.

The Indenture goes on and on about the rights of Seraphina Chaventeau under this agreement and then this clause.

And further it is hereby also agreed and declared by and between the said parties hereto that it shall and maybe lawful for the said Moses Elias Levy to borrow and take up at Interest any sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole the sum of one hundred thousand francs (in addition to the said sum of fifty thousand francs) now taken up on the security of the tracts of land and premises hereby intended to be released and conveyed which security or securities where o executed shall rank with and be considered equal to this present security which shall enjoy no preferance or priority whatsoever over those so to be hereafter executed as aforesaid

Now since this Indenture was written and signed it France, it had to make it back to St. Johns County to be recorded.  Here is the "proof" that it did.

Signed sealed and delivered at Paris aforesaid the following interlineation having been made previous to the execution thereof, (that is to say) the word thousand in the fifth of the second page the word Junior in the seventh line of the third page - and the words and interest in the twenty second line "with" in the thirty fifth line and "as aforesaid, in thirty seventh line of the seventh page thereof in the presence of -- Which I do certify
Abrm H. Halsey  royal notary in Paris
J. Hure fran Dauphine No.12 Paris

Consulate of the United States of America - Paris
 Be it known that on this the thirteenth day of January in the Year Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six and of the Independence of the United States of America the fiftieth.  Before me Isaac Cox Barnett Consul of the United States of America for Paris & Agent of Claim personally appeared Moses Elias Levy satisfactory proven to me to be the person named and described in and who executed the foregoing Instrument of Writing in my presence and in the presence of Abraham H. Halsey of New York and **** **** of  Paris  and did acknowledge the said Instrument of Writing and declare the same to be his free and Voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein set forth, To the due execution thereof and act being requested
I have granted this accordingli to serve and avail as occasion shall or may require, In virtue of the Act of Congress concerning consuls &c passed April 14th 1792
(Seal) I testimony whereof, I have set my hand and seal of Office at Paris the day and year above written
I. Cox Burnett
      Consul WS & CC

State and City of New York P. Benjamin E. Bremner of the City of New York Merchant being duly sworn saith that he is acquainted with Isaac Cox Barnett Consul of the United States at Paris in the Kingdom of France and also with his hand writing having frequently seen him write and that he verally believes that the signature of I. Cox Barnett to the Consular Certificate hereunto annexed is in the proper hand writing of the said Isaac Cox Barnett.
Benjamin E Bremner
Sworn this 13th day of April
1826 before me
Philip Horne
Mayor of the City
of New York

By Philip Horn Esquire
Mayor of the City of New York
City of New York
1st.  Be it remembered that on this the thirteenth day of April in the year of one thousand eight hundred and twenty six personally appeared before me the said Mayor Benjamin E. Bremner to me known to be the person who who signed this ****** & made oath thereunto.  I testimony **** I have hereunto subscribed my name and have caused the seal Mayoralty of said City to be affixed the day and Year above Written (Seal)
Philip Horn

Teritory of Florida
County of St. Johns
The within Instrument of Writing and Certificate there unto annexed are recorded in my Office in Book G. Page 11 at the request of Thomas F. Carra* Esq'r
Witness my name this 2nd day of May 1826
James S. Tingle

Remember that last clause from the Indenture, seems Moses uses it.

This Agreement made the fifteenth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven, Between Moses Elias           Of Alachua, east Florida, Planter now residing at No 1 Row Knights Bridge in the County of Middlesix England of the one part and Joseph Delevante of No 3 Kimbolton Place Bromton in the County of Middlesix England of the other part.

Seems like Moses was already indebted to Joseph Delevante.

...and whereas the said Moses Elias being indebted to the said Joseph Delevante for the sum of two thousand one hundred and ** pounds Sterling proposes to secure the said debt with the payment of the anual interest of five per Ct. Per Annum and to which the said Joseph Delevante consents in the manner herein after contained Now this agreement witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand one hundred and pounds Sterling to him the said Moses Elias Levy well and truly paid the Receipt whereof the said Moses Elias Levy doth hereby acknowledge

Seems our man gets around for an 1826 Alachua County Planter, doesn't it.  This Indenture lists the same land in about the same way with this exception that I would like to note.

Whereas the said Moses Elias Levy is possessed of or entitled unto nineteen thousand two hundred acres of land being part and parcel of a certain tract of land, situate and being in the County formerly called Saint Johns now called Alachua in East Florida aforesaid
 

He now makes note of the fact that his land is now in Alachua County, formerly St. Johns County.  This Indenture must have made its way back to Alachua County, as there is no citation from St. John's County.

Consulate of the United
States of America
London
I Thomas Aspenwall consul of the United Stares of America for London and the dependancies thereof, do hereby make known and Certify to all whom it may concern, that on this day and date hereafter expressed personally appeared and came before me Moses Elias Levy and Joseph Delevante who signed and sealed the fore going instrument and in my presance acknowledged the same to be their volentary act and deed and do further certify that Julius L. Souej and James McCurley did in my presance sign and then and there attest to the same signatures as aforesaid
(Seal) In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Consulate in London aforesaid, this thirteenth day of March in the year of Our Lord on thousand eight hundred and twenty seven - And in the fifty first year of the Independence of the United States,
Thos Aspenwall

United States of America
 State of New York.       On the eleventh day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven personally before me appeared Jonathan Thompson Cattielor of the port of New York who being duly sworn deposed and gave evidence satisfactory proving to me that the above signature of Thomas Aspenwall Consul of the Unites States of America for London and that the affixed to the above Certificate is the Consular seal of Office of the said Consul all which I Certify
Saml R Betts Judge
of the United States for the
Southern District of
New York

Next we find Moses on American soil, but a long way from Alachua County.  Looks like the previous Indenture might have traveled with him.

This Indenture made the eight day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five, Between Moses E. Levy of the Teritory of East Florida planter ( At present of the City of New York) of the first part, and William Savage of the City of Boston in the State of Massachusetts Merchant of the second part

It seems that this time he has another "parcil" to deal with.

Witnesseth that said party for and in consideration of the sum of One thousand three hundred and thirty six Dollars and forty seven cents lawful money of the United States of America to him in hand paid at or before the ensealing and delivery of of these presents by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and the said party of the second part his heirs executors and administrators forever released and discharged from the same by these presents hath granted bargained sold aliened remised released conveyed and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien remise release convey and confirm (and by these presents) unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, Wall that certain lot piece tract or parcil of land of Fourteen hundred and fifty Acres being one equal tenth part of an undivided lot or tract of land estimated to contain Fourteen thousand five hundred acres ( to be here after proportionable subdevided ) Situate lying and being in the west side of the River St. Johns in the Teritory of east Florida, about ten miles south of lake George, the old road of the Chohati or Chocahati Indians passing through *** *********************** ******* ****** ***** ******************* ***************** *********** ******** *************** Arredondo and conveyed Hernandez & Chaventeau in August one thousand eight hundred and twenty and by the said Hernandez an Chaventeau conveyed to Abraham Cohen of Philadelphia and by the said Abraham Cohen on the             day of               one thousand eight hundred and          to the said Moses E. Levy the party of the first part

To this one was added the "proof" from New York.

State of New York
City and County S.S.
of New York
Be it Remembered that on this ninth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five before me Juda Lunty a commissioner duly appointed in and for the City and county of New York to take proof and acknowledgments of Deeds &c personally appeared M’r Moses E. Levy to me Known to be the person discribed in and who executed the within Deed and he duly acknowledged the Execution of the same of the same as and for his own act and deed.  Wherefore I allow same to be recorded
Judah Lunty
            Commissioner
State of New York
City and County S.S.
of New York
 I Nicholas Dean Clerk of the City and County of New York, Do hereby Certify that Judah Lunty whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of proof or acknowledgment of the annexed Indenture or Instrument in writing and thereon written was on the day of the date of the said Certificate Commissioner in and for the City and County aforesaid dwelling in the said City Commissioned and sworn and duly Authorized by law to take the proof of Deeds and Discharges of Mortgages &c And further that I am acquainted with the hand writing of said Commissioner and verily believe that the signature to the said Certificate is the hand writing of Judah Lunty the said Commissioner
In Witness & Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said County the first day of April 1828
N.Dean

The next time I recall seeing the name Moses Elias Levy, he was not the grantor or the Grantee, but instead a witness.  Then Indenture was...

Between Don Fernando de la Mara Arredondo of Havanna but at present of the City of St. Augustine in the said Territory of the first part, and John Drysdale of the City of St. Augustine in the Territory aforesaid of the second part

It seems to indicate that Moses was back in East Florida.

In Witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands & seals the day and year first above written.-
Sealed & delivered
   in presence of   Fernando de la Mara Arredondo (seal)
     Sam’l Jackson
     James Wilson
     M.E. Levy
Territory of Florida
 County of Alachua  Be it remembered that on this 24th day of December AD 1830, M.E. Levy, a subscribing witness to the within instrument of writing, came before me the subscriber Clerk of the County court of the County aforesaid, and affirmed, that Fernando de la Mara Arredondo, in his presence executed the same as and for his Act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned, and that Samuel Jackson and James Wilson signed their names as witnesses thereto, whereupon I have duly recorded the same in Book A beginning at page 340.
Given under my hand this 29th day of Decor 1830
John C. Richard C. A.C.C.

There are other histories out there on this man that was a big part of Florida History.  This is a but a few brief moments in his life.  They give me a very different image of at least one "East Florida Planter".

Jim Powell Jr.
Ancient Records Coordinator
Alachua County Clerk of the Courts