Hi, I am interested in searching for the origins of my 6th great-grandmother,a New Orleans slave known as Mariana[c.1751]. The earliest that I have found her in the historical record was when she was given to Felicite St. Martin Labutat, the niece of the former owner, Louis Ranson in 1775. Mariana's two daughters, Julia[my direct ancestor] and Marianna were also part of the gift transaction. I would like to know when did Louis Ranson acquire Mariana before 1775 and what records in New Orleans exist for that time period I can use? Julia was later manumitted in 1791 with the help of her cousin[a mystery man named Martin Dobegne?]. Any advice?

It seems the further one goes back in time, the spottier the historical record is. The trail of another ancestor of mine ends in 1764 on an inventory of slaves.