Viewing page 235 of 262

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

at these meetings. He professes great devotion to the interests of the Colored people. & is evidently working for no pay. Only last winter he was understood to be a thorough Southern man in sentiment. He served in the Confederate Army through the war. I believe he is thoroughly dishonest in his professions of devotion to the interests of the colored people. Men of good character in the County offer to bring proof that he has engaged in selling whiskey & evading the Govt Tax. He owes two Indians of the Pamunkey Tribe quite a sum of money & is evading the payment of his numerous debts by a transfer of his property to another party- I understand that proof can be brought that this transfer is not genuine. It is my opinion that by giving him rope he will destroy his own influence in short time. I have given so much space to Massey & Jeff Hill as an explanation of a state of affairs existing in the County which gives reason to fear trouble at any time. Still although when I first arrived there was constant danger of a riot & disturbances between Blacks & Blacks or Blacks & Whites there now appears to be reaction & the disposition of Freedmen to break the terms of their Contracts is very much changed. I have endeavored whenever opportunity offered to give them moderate advice. & in many instances have seen the good effect of it. There is a disposition among the intelligent white men of the County to be moderate and peaceable. but there are turbulent whites in the County who would like nothing better than

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-18 17:59:55