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Natchez Aug 9th 1865

I certify on oath that I have examined the application of my wife Margaret D. Martin for the return of her house & furniture - 

I know that she has not been guilty of any acts of hostility to the United States Government, & if she has they have escaped my observation - She was opposed to secession and quite decided in her opposition to my going into the Army of the Confederacy, & often insisted upon my resigning because I had always been a Union Man, till the War began & because she insisted from the outset that Secession would prove a failure -

The laws of Mississippi guaranteed to her the title to her Separate property, and though I tried to persuade her to remove her personal property & abandon the Residence, if The Federal Forces occupied Natchez, She believed her property would not be disturbed because of my acts & remained.

From her letters written at the time & statements of others who know the facts I believe she has Correctly stated how she was dispossessed of her property.

I built upon the land (given to her by her Mother), with her funds. & furnished the place by the same means. In her application she has asked only for the return of her own property [[strikethrough]] [[only]] [[/strikethrough]] and not an article which belonged to me. I have never thought of seeking a return