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Phil Friend Freedom Relief Assoc
Yorktown VA
16th of 11th Mo 1865

To R M Manley
School Super. Richmond VA

Respected Friend
The facts in relation to the property on which Slabtown is built are that is owned by Dr Fredr Power of Richmond Va in the Asses'm Roll of 1860-1861 stand as 218 acres valued at $3815- it is denuded of all timber and buildings except it may include any building at the extremity of his time within the Yorktown fort - and such Building as have been erected by and at the expense of this Associ'n and the Cabins of the Color'd People. Water is inconvenient - it is proverbial for being and unhealthy location and our Association unite with the officers of the Bureau in the consideration that it is not a desirable location for a general settlement of Freedmen. Dr Power asks for the rent of the farm $1.000 p year or over 25 cents on the Assoc value. The Color People rather than be driven off at an inclement season of the year have offered through a committee gotten up by themselves $500 for a year's tenure of the farm but the margin of difference is too great to expect a compromise and thus the matter rests