Gravier submitted a petition in connection with a suit that he had instituted against the free Negress Maria San Juan. In an effort to collect money owed to him he had attached a property belonging to her. Gravier named Próspero Prieur as the appraiser to represent his interests in the proceedings. He indicated that the other appraisers should pay particular attention to the deteriorated state of the house and grounds, which had stood abandoned for months. He disagreed with the statements of attorney Felipe Guinault who, according to Gravier, had placed entirely too high a value on the house and the auxiliary buildings. The house was poorly constructed of ships' planks and the shed and kitchen were built with rotten wood.
