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Marriage of Freedmen by Civil Authority.
Authority to marry granted

Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands;
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 7. } 
OFFICE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, FOR STATE OF MISS.
Vicksburg. Miss., Sept. 2, 1865.

The following letter has been received at this office from the Clerk of the Probate Court of Pike County, Miss.:

HOLMESVILLE, PIKE COUNTY, MISS., Aug 28, 1865. 
COL., SAMUEL THOMAS,
Assistant Commissioner: 

SIR:- I see by Article VII. of Circular No. 7, of date July 29th, 1865, from Bureau Refugees, Freedmen, &c., that Freedmen are advised to marry legally. As I have been appointed by his Excellency, Governor Sharkey, to the office of Clerk of the Probate Court for this county, and as it is the duty of said Clerk to keep a record of marriages and to issue marriage licenses, I should like to keep a record of the marriage of Freedmen and to issue marriage licenses to them. By Article III, of same circular, "contracts made with Freedmen should be witnessed by the officer of the Bureau." There are many Freedmen who are making verbal contracts in this county, choosing rather to run the risk of loss by verbal contracts than to undergo the expense and fatigue of foot-travel to the nearest location of a Bureau officer. As it is also my duty as Clerk to take acknowledgements, &c., I desire the privilege of writing and witnessing contracts between Freedmen and their employers. 

If you will favor me with the appointment, I pledge myself to conform strictly to your instructions; and if you think it necessary to demand it, I can give you bond in the penalty of any reasonable sum conditioned to the faithful discharge of my duties in the premises. I am induced to make this application from the request of many of the citizens of this county as well as that of the Freedmen. 

Hoping that this may meet with your approval and very earliest convenient attention. I am; Colonel,
Your obedient servant,
[Signed] CHAS. BANCROFT

This officer of the civil government manifests a commendable spirit toward the Freedmen in his country in their new position as