Viewing page 37 of 240

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Headquarters Sub-division, third sub-district of N.C.

Beaufort, NC, January 16th 1868.

The indenture under which Stephen Dixson held the brothers of Hannah Bonner was cancelled at the March 1867 term of the County Court of Onslow. in accordance with Cir. No. 5 Series 1867 Hd. Qrs. Asst Comm. N.C. At the December 1867 term of said court I directed Mr Dixson to give up the boys to their brother who claimed them, he being of age. If Hannah and her brother, or she with a letter from him, he being nearest of kin, will meet me at Jacksonville Onslow Co. at the next term of the County Court Onslow first Monday in March 1868. I will have the children turned over to him, or her.

The arraingments I made with the County Court of Onslow were that when the nearest of kin applied for the children whose indentures were cancelled (all indentures made since March 1862) would go to the Clerk of the Co. Court who would give them an order to the party holding the children. If the order was disrespected, the nearest of kin would report the fact to the Clerk of the Court whose duty then would be to issue an order to the Sheriff of the County to take forciable possession of the Children and deliver them to the nearest of kin, at the same time, holding the party who disobeyed the order of the Clerk, responsiable for Contempt of the Court. This I had done in order to prevent trouble, and that the children would not be deprived of a home before their relatives could provide a home for them.

Richard Dillon
Capt V.R.C. Bvt. Maj. Gnl A.S.A. Comr.