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Elizabeth City May  1867

Genl Avery

Dear Sir

I returned from the County of Gates ^[[yesterday]] and find yours to my Care for Wm G Marriott & Peter Burgess of Camden - I will forward them by safe hand today-

While in Gates I conferred freely with a few white men whome I knew to be Union & also with several leading colored men, citizens of the County - John W. Hofler & Alfred G. Rountree ought to be placed upon the Board of Registers for that county. They are good Union men & competent- If more Whites are required then I recommend Thos D Hofler Robert M Darden, Jesse W. Spivey, Jacob Morris & Peter Parker.

Of the colored people of the county I recommend Wm Rooks, Orvil Green & Asberry Reed. The two last named I know well. They are highly respectable & much more than ordinarily intelligent. The first named Wm Rooks is probably (from the information I have of him) to be preferred on account of his age respectable deportment & more extended reputation.

There is in my opinion no nesesity of more than one board of these in each of the counties east of Chowan River except Currituck County.

Very Respectfully

[[signature]] G.W. Brooks [[/signature]]