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and women besides a great many children.  They made the division themselves under the direction if Mr. Richardson & each freedman woman and child received their portion according to his or her class
The three boys of Dick Steward were classed as follows Isaah as 2/3 of a No. 1 hand, Dick Jr as 1/3 of a No. 1 hand and [[?Hillery]] as 1/3 of a No. 1 hand, this classification was made by the freedmen, not by Mr. Richardson as he had no interest in it, only so far as to see that all parties received justice. All the freedmen were satisfied with this way in which they had been classed except Dick Steward who said his boys were not rated high enough & refused to accept the money which was due his three boys on those grounds & said that they should be rated as No. 1 hands notwithstanding one of his sons worked last year for the first time in the field still Dick Steward wished this little boy to receive the same proportion as a grown man and No. 1 hand. When Dick Steward refused to accept his boys ration Mr Richardson deposited the amount which was due them, which was $108.00 with Mr. Posey a Merchant in Woodville Miss. The sworn statement of Mr. Posey to that effect is hereby enclosed. Examined five witnesses who were interested in last years crop & they say that it would have been impossible to rate Stewards boys any higher without great injustice to the other hands. Dick Steward this day accepted the sum of $108.00 that being the