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The State of Texas}
County of Austin} Corporation of Hempstead

Personally appeared before the undersigned authority Thomas Bell, who being duly sworn says that on the 25th day of June he met near his mill 11 miles north of Hempstead a body of armed Freedmen, four in number, all armed except one. One of the number was Stephen Oliver riding a Bay Pony with a Starr on face another name Isaac a large Black riding a bay horse — Another named Oliver Yancy riding a dark pony, who when asked where they were going are you going hunting? replied yes—very short one of the crowd was riding a gray pony — This occurrence excited my suspicion as if they working in the neighborhood — dont know what their object was — Dont know of any large collection of Freedmen at Union Hill nor of any drilling there. My mill is about a half mile of Union Hill. 
Thos Bell

Sworn and subscribed to
before me at my office in
Hempstead this 26th day
of June A.D. 1868
Henry L. Rankin
Recorder & ex JP