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Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite
The Story of Louise: From $500 to Priceless by Leonard Smith III is a factual genealogical account of a black woman freed from slavery before it became a Civil War-era issue. She is first documented in the residence of Michel Richard in St. James Parish, Louisiana. At the age of twelve or thirteen, on May 8, 1833, Louise was sold for $500 to Francisco Placencia. Francisco became both her enslaver and, later, the father of her children. The law of the time did not allow Francisco to acknowledge his paternity in official records legally. Before he died in 1842, Francisco dictated three wills, each more explicit than the last, expressing his wish to free Louise and their children and to provide for them financially. After his death, an 11-year legal battle ensued as some of Francisco's heirs contested the wills. On March 31, 1853, Judge David A. Randall ruled that Louise and her children were to be freed and entitled to inheritances as specified in Francisco's wills. It took another five years and additional court proceedings to secure their legal rights.
Louise’s story from slavery to freedom represents the broader African American experience in the first decades of the United States’ history. Her third great-grandson, Leonard Smith III, has researched the story for nearly 50 years. His attention to detail is evident from beginning to end. His use of primary sources such as census records, church registers, court documents, and wills has created a remarkable piece of history that might otherwise have been lost to time. Structuring Louise’s story as a narrative rather than a list of dates and events that one finds in most family histories was an expert decision. The context of the era she lived in is woven into her story through this structure. Additionally, it is an honest recording of history. Smith acknowledges where gaps exist in the facts, and every data point included is traceable to documentation. The Story of Louise is simply astounding. Expect to be moved, informed, and inspired to explore your own roots.
