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General Wager Swayne
Montgomery

Lucy Abney, an humble freedwoman makes this statement and application.

She has a grand-daughter, named Alice Taylor, whose father and mother are both dead, and who is now living with Thomas L. Berill, the agent of the Freedman's bureau in this county.

Her said grand-daughter Alice is about thirteen years and four months old; and last Christmas she cried at the thought of separating from her grandma; but W Berill had got her bound out to him, without telling her grandma anything about it.

I am able to support my grand-child. My children are all grown. We would support Alice. I can do it myself. I work hard, and I am healthy. Besides, she can work too. I did not know when they were going to bind out my grandchild from me. I understand it was done after her father had just died, and before he was put in the ground. 

My grandchild is at an age when I want to have possession of her. I have called on Mr Berill for her, but I cant get her; and I fear the thing is so fixed that the Law gives her to him. But there was too much hurry to get her. Her father was hardly cold. 

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