Lucy Ross writing to Freedmen's Bureau's O.O. Howard to get her children released from former enslaver
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Wilmington N.C. Oct. 31. 1866 Gen. Howard Freedmens Bureau, General "I take the liberty of asking your help to recover possession of my two children who has been taken away from me. the circumstances are as follows. I was a slave of Mr. Daniel C. Russell of Robeson Co. & early in the month of September Mr. Russell's overseer came to my home at Rock Spring in New Hanover County forced away from me my two children Maria who is 16 years of age & Delia who is 19 years old and carried them to Wilmington. I came to Wilmington next day to see what had become of my children & found that they had been bound to Mr. Daniel S. Russell by the County Court and were then in jail but thereby Mr. Russell tell he could take them to his plantation in Robeson Co. I cold not see my children in the jail and they might as well be slaves as be treated in this way. I am able and willing to support my children and besides this they are both young women and have and can earn good wages for themselves. I pray you sir to assist me to get my children as I have no other hope as Mr. Russell's Chairman of the Court & no justice can be had there. I complained to Gen. Rutherford of the Freedmen's Bureau at Wilmington and he did all he could to get my children for me but Mr. Russell said he would have Gen. Rutherford arrested for interfering with him and Gen. Rutherford sent all my papers and the sworn statements of my case to the Gen. at Raleigh but I cannot get my children Praying that you will aid me I am your humble servant Lucy her X mark Ross
2nd Image:
Rec'd GK. uncalled for Dec 28
file
arrested for interfering with him and Gen. Rutherford sent all my papers and the sworn statements of my case to the Gen. at Raleigh but I cannot get my children
Praying that you will aid me
I am your humble servant
Lucy her X mark Ross
Wilmington N.C. Oct. 31. 1866 Gen. Howard Freedmens Bureau, General "I take the liberty of asking your help to recover possession of my two children who has been taken away from me. the circumstances are as follows. I was a slave of Mr. Daniel C. Russell of Robeson Co. & early in the month of September Mr. Russell's overseer came to my home at Rock Spring in New Hanover County forced away from me my two children Maria who is 16 years of age & Delia who is 19 years old and carried them to Wilmington. I came to Wilmington next day to see what had become of my children & found that they had been bound to Mr. Daniel S. Russell by the County Court and were then in jail but thereby Mr. Russell tell he could take them to his plantation in Robeson Co. I cold not see my children in the jail and they might as well be slaves as be treated in this way. I am able and willing to support my children and besides this they are both young women and have and can earn good wages for themselves. I pray you sir to assist me to get my children as I have no other hope as Mr. Russell's Chairman of the Court & no justice can be had there. I complained to Gen. Rutherford of the Freedmen's Bureau at Wilmington and he did all he could to get my children for me but Mr. Russell said he would have Gen. Rutherford arrested for interfering with him and Gen. Rutherford sent all my papers and the sworn statements of my case to the Gen. at Raleigh but I cannot get my children Praying that you will aid me I am your humble servant Lucy her X mark Ross
2nd Image:
Rec'd GK. uncalled for Dec 28
file
arrested for interfering with him and Gen. Rutherford sent all my papers and the sworn statements of my case to the Gen. at Raleigh but I cannot get my children
Praying that you will aid me
I am your humble servant
Lucy her X mark Ross