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State of Tennessee  
County of Robertson 

Statement of Willis Stanford (colored)

Being duly sworn states that on or about the 23rd day of October 1866. there was three men came to my house in the aforesaid County and District No 3 about 9 o'clock P.M and aroused me from my bed and demanded my pistol and told me they were going to burn my house. They forced me to stand with my face to the fire place one of the party standing behind me with a drawn pistol, requiring me to hold up my shirt tail. these orders I obeyed. They also required my wife and daughter who were in bed to cover their heads. Two of them lit a candle & searched the house taking two gentlemen's coats, one duster, bed quilts, and filled a basket with various articles which they carried away. They then ordered me to remove my plunder from the house giving me five minutes to do so, this I did as speedily as I could with the assistance of my wife, daughter, and son. They then immediately set the house on fire and threw a portion of my furniture back into the burning house. They then told me the next time I 

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