18th Century Revolutionary War Era Financial Legal Document
An 18th-century French legal/financial document, specifically a: “Protêt” (Protest of a Bill of Exchange)
Key details visible:
Location: Paris (explicitly stated: “à Paris”)
Main transaction: June 18, 1778
Protest executed: January 17, 1779
References:
Châtelet of Paris (main judicial authority)
Printed + manuscript hybrid:
Pre-printed legal form filled in by hand
Official embossed/ink stamp/seal present
What a “Protêt” is
In 18th-century finance:
A bill of exchange = like a check or credit instrument
A protest = official legal declaration that:
Payment was demanded but refused or unpaid
This document records:
Who owed money
Who failed to pay
Legal certification of default
These were essential in international trade and banking
Historical context (important)
1778–1779 = American Revolutionary War era
France had just entered the war (1778) in support of America
Paris was a major financial hub funding global trade and war efforts
While not directly American, this is from the same global financial system financing the Revolution
Condition
Folded (normal)
Moderate staining / foxing
Edge wear, small losses at margins
Ink still strong and readable
Seal visible
👉 Typical but acceptable for 18th-century French paper
✔ Clear date (1778/1779)
✔ Paris origin (major historical center)
✔ Official legal format (printed + manuscript)
✔ Visible seal + multiple signatures
✔ Financial/legal content
⚠️ What limits value
Not tied to a famous individual
Dense handwriting (harder for casual collectors)
Condition is average
French material has a smaller collector base in the U.S.
🧾 Bottom line
✔ Authentic 18th-century Paris legal financial document
✔ “Protest” of unpaid bill of exchange
Transcription (French, as written)
Front (main document)
Notons 18 juin 1778
Nous soussignés à requête de […] avons transporté
par le ministère des […] la présente protestation
dûment à […] laquelle de plein droit et volonté
[…] avons dressé procès verbal de protest pour
défaut de paiement de la lettre de change
tirée à Paris, acceptée […] payable à […]
sommes transportés au domicile de […]
[…] avons fait sommation de payer ladite somme
de […] livres, laquelle somme n’ayant été payée
ni offerte de payer, nous avons fait protest
contre tous qu’il appartiendra pour conservation
de ses droits […]
600 lt
Printed section (form text filled in by hand)
PROTÊT L’AN mil sept cent soixante-dix-neuf,
après midi, à la requête du sieur […]
demeurant à Paris, rue […] paroisse […]
Nous, […] à Paris, nous sommes transportés
au domicile en […] où étant parlés
au sieur […] avons requis paiement
d’une lettre de change dont copie est ci-dessus
laquelle n’ayant été payée ni acceptée
nous avons fait protest pour non paiement
et refus, protestant de tous dépens, dommages
et intérêts […]
Back (signatures and closing)
[…] demeurant à Paris, le 17 janvier 1779
[…]
signatures:
Brichet (?)
Meunier (?)
Ducan (or Ducon)
Caillouet (or similar)
🧾 What this confirms
Your document is clearly:
✔ A formal Paris notarial protest
✔ For non-payment of a bill of exchange
✔ Created:
Transaction: June 18, 1778
Protest: January 17, 1779
English
Here is a clear English translation of your document, keeping it as faithful as possible to the original legal meaning.
English Translation
Main text (handwritten section)
Noted June 18, 1778
We, the undersigned, at the request of […] have proceeded
by the ministry of […] to draw up the present protest,
duly and in proper form, and by our own authority and will,
have prepared a formal report of protest for
non-payment of a bill of exchange,
drawn in Paris, accepted […] payable at […]
We went to the residence of […]
and there made formal demand for payment of the said sum
of […] livres; which sum not having been paid
nor offered to be paid, we have made protest
against all whom it may concern, for the preservation
of the rights of the holder […]
600 livres
Printed legal form (with handwritten insertions)
PROTEST — In the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-nine,
in the afternoon, at the request of Mr. […]
residing in Paris, on […] street, parish […]
We, […] in Paris, have gone
to the residence located at […] where, speaking
to Mr. […], we formally demanded payment
of a bill of exchange, a copy of which is written above;
which, not having been paid nor accepted,
we have issued this protest for non-payment and refusal,
protesting for all costs, damages,
and interest resulting therefrom […]
Closing section (reverse side)
Done at Paris, January 17, 1779
[Signatures of officials / witnesses]
This document is essentially saying:
👉 A bill of exchange (like a check or credit note) was issued in 1778
👉 The person who owed money did not pay
👉 Officials went to demand payment
👉 When payment was refused, they issued a formal legal protest
👉 This preserves the creditor’s right to:
Sue
Claim damages
Recover costs
Why this mattered historically
In the 1700s, this was a critical legal step in international finance:
Without a protest, you could lose your right to collect
These were used in trade networks across Europe and America
Key takeaway
✔ Issued by official Paris authorities
✔ Part of the 18th-century global financial system
An 18th-century French legal/financial document, specifically a: “Protêt” (Protest of a Bill of Exchange)
Key details visible:
Location: Paris (explicitly stated: “à Paris”)
Main transaction: June 18, 1778
Protest executed: January 17, 1779
References:
Châtelet of Paris (main judicial authority)
Printed + manuscript hybrid:
Pre-printed legal form filled in by hand
Official embossed/ink stamp/seal present
What a “Protêt” is
In 18th-century finance:
A bill of exchange = like a check or credit instrument
A protest = official legal declaration that:
Payment was demanded but refused or unpaid
This document records:
Who owed money
Who failed to pay
Legal certification of default
These were essential in international trade and banking
Historical context (important)
1778–1779 = American Revolutionary War era
France had just entered the war (1778) in support of America
Paris was a major financial hub funding global trade and war efforts
While not directly American, this is from the same global financial system financing the Revolution
Condition
Folded (normal)
Moderate staining / foxing
Edge wear, small losses at margins
Ink still strong and readable
Seal visible
👉 Typical but acceptable for 18th-century French paper
✔ Clear date (1778/1779)
✔ Paris origin (major historical center)
✔ Official legal format (printed + manuscript)
✔ Visible seal + multiple signatures
✔ Financial/legal content
⚠️ What limits value
Not tied to a famous individual
Dense handwriting (harder for casual collectors)
Condition is average
French material has a smaller collector base in the U.S.
🧾 Bottom line
✔ Authentic 18th-century Paris legal financial document
✔ “Protest” of unpaid bill of exchange
Transcription (French, as written)
Front (main document)
Notons 18 juin 1778
Nous soussignés à requête de […] avons transporté
par le ministère des […] la présente protestation
dûment à […] laquelle de plein droit et volonté
[…] avons dressé procès verbal de protest pour
défaut de paiement de la lettre de change
tirée à Paris, acceptée […] payable à […]
sommes transportés au domicile de […]
[…] avons fait sommation de payer ladite somme
de […] livres, laquelle somme n’ayant été payée
ni offerte de payer, nous avons fait protest
contre tous qu’il appartiendra pour conservation
de ses droits […]
600 lt
Printed section (form text filled in by hand)
PROTÊT L’AN mil sept cent soixante-dix-neuf,
après midi, à la requête du sieur […]
demeurant à Paris, rue […] paroisse […]
Nous, […] à Paris, nous sommes transportés
au domicile en […] où étant parlés
au sieur […] avons requis paiement
d’une lettre de change dont copie est ci-dessus
laquelle n’ayant été payée ni acceptée
nous avons fait protest pour non paiement
et refus, protestant de tous dépens, dommages
et intérêts […]
Back (signatures and closing)
[…] demeurant à Paris, le 17 janvier 1779
[…]
signatures:
Brichet (?)
Meunier (?)
Ducan (or Ducon)
Caillouet (or similar)
🧾 What this confirms
Your document is clearly:
✔ A formal Paris notarial protest
✔ For non-payment of a bill of exchange
✔ Created:
Transaction: June 18, 1778
Protest: January 17, 1779
English
Here is a clear English translation of your document, keeping it as faithful as possible to the original legal meaning.
English Translation
Main text (handwritten section)
Noted June 18, 1778
We, the undersigned, at the request of […] have proceeded
by the ministry of […] to draw up the present protest,
duly and in proper form, and by our own authority and will,
have prepared a formal report of protest for
non-payment of a bill of exchange,
drawn in Paris, accepted […] payable at […]
We went to the residence of […]
and there made formal demand for payment of the said sum
of […] livres; which sum not having been paid
nor offered to be paid, we have made protest
against all whom it may concern, for the preservation
of the rights of the holder […]
600 livres
Printed legal form (with handwritten insertions)
PROTEST — In the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-nine,
in the afternoon, at the request of Mr. […]
residing in Paris, on […] street, parish […]
We, […] in Paris, have gone
to the residence located at […] where, speaking
to Mr. […], we formally demanded payment
of a bill of exchange, a copy of which is written above;
which, not having been paid nor accepted,
we have issued this protest for non-payment and refusal,
protesting for all costs, damages,
and interest resulting therefrom […]
Closing section (reverse side)
Done at Paris, January 17, 1779
[Signatures of officials / witnesses]
This document is essentially saying:
👉 A bill of exchange (like a check or credit note) was issued in 1778
👉 The person who owed money did not pay
👉 Officials went to demand payment
👉 When payment was refused, they issued a formal legal protest
👉 This preserves the creditor’s right to:
Sue
Claim damages
Recover costs
Why this mattered historically
In the 1700s, this was a critical legal step in international finance:
Without a protest, you could lose your right to collect
These were used in trade networks across Europe and America
Key takeaway
✔ Issued by official Paris authorities
✔ Part of the 18th-century global financial system
