Browse Items · Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery

Martha Cooley trying to get her children released from John Nave

Martha Cooley, Testimony to J.M. Kelly, Notary Public, Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Tennessee, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1869, Registered Letters Received, Entered in Register 1, E – L, 1865. NMAAHC.FB.M999.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/freedmens-bureau/record/fbs-1662423774659-1662426440432-4?destination=%2Fexplore%2Ffreedmens-bureau%2Fsearch%3Fedan_q%3D%2522my%2Bchildren%2522%26page%3D0

March 26, 1865

Camp Nelson Ky March 26 1865 Personally appeared before me J M Kelley Notary Public in and for the County of Jessamine state of Ky Martha Cooley a woman of color who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say. I am a widow woman, my husband Simon Cooley was a Soldier in the 5th U.S.A. Calvalry and was killed at the Salt Works during Genl…

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Frank Marten to former enslaver, Col. Joe Perkins, Esq

Frank Marten to Colonel Joseph Perkins, letter, 1874. Fluvanna Historical Society.

1874

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John Jones finds his mother

The Evening World (New York, NY)

February 23, 1894

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Wilson Holloway wants daughter released from indenture

Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Greensboro, North Carolina, (Subassistant Commissioner), Register of Complaints and Letters Sent Relating to Complaints, Volume 108, Roll 20, June 1867-Oct. 1868. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/freedmens-bureau/record/fbs-1662423774659-1662424871079-1?destination=%2Fexplore%2Ffreedmens-bureau%2Fsearch%3Fedan_q%3D%2522my%2Bdaughter%2522%26page%3D3

53
Wilson Holloway - Complainant
Ruffin's Depot.
N.C.

My daughter Phillis Wilson was forcibly taken from me, and bound out to a Mr Jas. Thomas without my consent, and the wish of the child - I pray that the indenture may be cancelled and my child returned to me.
July 25th 1867.
Action Taken.

Mr Thos. Settle was written to state to the…

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Violet Windly wants her 12 yr old daughter Virginia released from indenture

Isaac A. Rosenkranz to Lieutenant John M. Foot, letter, April 19, 1868, Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Washington D.C., Letters Sent, Letters Sent, Volume 246, Roll 64, Jan. 1867-Oct. 1868. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/freedmens-bureau/record/fbs-1662423774659-1662424964359-3?destination=%2Fexplore%2Ffreedmens-bureau%2Fsearch%3Fedan_q%3D%25E2%2580%259Cmy%2Bdaughter%25E2%2580%259D%26page%3D4

68 Bu. Ref. Freedmen & A. L. Washington N.C. April 19. 1868 Foot Lt John M. Asst Sub. Asst Comr Plymouth N.C. Sir Violet Windly a colored woman represents that John Cherry living within a mile of Williamston has her daughter Virginia a girl of 10 years of age in his custody. Violet alleges that her daughter was apprenticed to Cherry while she…

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Betsey Foster's son was taken from her

J. B. Littlejohn to Captain Hay, letter, April 15, 1867, Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Franklinton (Assistant Commissioner), Letters Received, Roll 14, Jan.-July 1867. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

1st Image:
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April 15, 1867

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Franklin Co. NC Apl 15th/67 Capt Hay, Dear Sir, I wrote you some time since respecting Betsey Fosters son that was taken from her last year by his father & carried to Chatham Co. She gave you the particulars (you will recall it) at my house & I also detailed them in my letter to you. She is anxious to hear from you on the subject.…

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Solomon Nickols trying to get child out of indenture

Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Plymouth (Subassistant Commissioner), Registered Letters Received, June 1867-Dec. 1868. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/freedmens-bureau/record/fbs-1662423774659-1662424934570-4?destination=%2Fexplore%2Ffreedmens-bureau%2Fsearch%3Fedan_q%3D%2522my%2Bsister%2522%26page%3D2

Windsor NC May 18th 1868 Lieut. Foote My sister in law left her son with me in March just to keep till she came after him I hired him to Lewis Bond he promised to pay me for the boy's work in provisions. but when I called on him for the pay he told me he did not have the provisions and does not owe me any thing. Yesterday he (Mr Bond) went to my…

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Lewis Anderson to Freedmen's Bureau looking for her daughter Lilla Anderson

Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Salisbury (Superintendent of the Western District), Letters Received, 1867. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

1st Image:
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2nd Image:
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February 2, 1867

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Feby 2, 67 L. Anderson Letters Recd A.B. & C Mosely Hall Feby 2nd 1867 Officer Freedmans Beauru Saulsbury N.C. Dear Sir I write to ask your kind services in helping me to find my daughter Zilfa Anderson or Zilfa Boyd as by either name. she may be called. the last I heard of her she was living with a woman who Baked Pies in the Town of…

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Mary Henderson writes to Lt. Commissioner about daughter's indenture

Records of the Field Offices for the State of North Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872, Subordinate Field Offices, Rocky Mount (Assistant Superintendent), Letters Received, Dec. 1865-Aug. 1868. NMAAHC.FB.M1909.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/freedmens-bureau/record/fbs-1662423774659-1662424945206-0?destination=%2Fexplore%2Ffreedmens-bureau%2Fsearch%3Fedan_q%3D%2522my%2Bdaughter%2522%26page%3D4

November 9, 1867

New Berne N. C. Nov 9- 67 Lieut Col S. Moore Sub Asst Comr Colonel Last November/66 Chas Smith came to New Berne and took my daughter [crossed out] Mary [crossed out] Francis Henderson away with him to Tarboro N.C. to pick cotton - with the understanding that he was to return her to me when she was through, Since that time I have written her…

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