Viewing page 61 of 298

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

45 

June 2d

Sir 
Your Com of the 28th ultimo relative to the freedchild bound by the Ordinary of the County to Mr I [[McAfton?]] is recd & I am directed by the Asst Comr to say in reply that as the freedpeople in this case were separated without their fault by being sold apart he is compelled to hold that a reasonable time must be given the parties to find and take charge of their children before they can be properly bound out without their consent. In the case of this boy 13 years of age he could easily have provided himself with subsistence by his own labor & need not have suffered by delay in making the indenture where children are very young & must suffer if not provided for immediately he does not feel that it would be necessary for the ordinaries to wait long for the parents to claim them before binding them out provided he complies with Circular No 3 series 1865 from this office