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Memphis, Tenn. June 26" 1865

Major Genl O.O. Howard
In charge of the Bureau of Freedmen &c. 
Washington City, D.C.

Genl, 

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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Permit me to respectfully call your attention to the facts in the following case viz;

In the year 1857 or 8 a man by the name of Adam Hall, died in Madison County in the State of Alabama, leaving neither wife or children, and claiming at the time of his death, as his property, between thirty and forty colored persons, consisting of men, women and children, that said Adam Hall before his death made and published his last will and testament by which he manumitted and set free, as far as the laws of Alabama would permit him, all of said colored persons, and directed his Executors Joshua Beadle and Eckels to convey said colored persons to some free state and there leave them giving to each of them the sum of $30— out of this Estate.

The will was presented to the probate court of said Madison County, at Huntsville, for probate when objection was made by some of the next of kin of the said Adam Hall deceased which objection was sustained, and the court refused to probate the will, the case was taken to the Supreme court of Alabama, and that court reversed the decision of the Probate Court and directed the Probate Court to probate the will, which order was afterwards 

Transcription Notes:
manumit = set free a slave