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0195

Feby 12 1866

To Colonel O. Brown
Asst. Comr Freedmen Refugees and AL.
For the State of Virginia
  
The petition of W H S Holcraft [[Holcroft]] of the County of Elizabeth  City State of Virginia
Respectfully represents
   
That he is the owner in fee of a certain piece of land in the town of Hampton situate on Queen Street sometimes called Main Street leading out of the Town of Hampton and bounded by the Street and the lots of Peake and Buchannon on the East & West and the lot of J B Sinclair on the North near what is known as the Cross Roads.  That on the 14th of December 1864, he was obstructed in his possession of said property but it was [[?]] to him by Major W P Webster Major & Provost Judge USA as appears by his order herewith filed marked A.  

That recently he has been informed by Captain Clarke D Wilder Supt. Freedmen Refugees and A.L. for Elizabeth City Co that the said lot was under the control of the Freedmens Bureau and that he must make application in due form for the possession of the same not withstanding the order aforesaid.  

Your petitioner states that the said lot was taken possession of by said bureau since the date of the order of said Major Webster and while your petitioner was residing in the County aforesaid and was a loyal citizen of this State and of the United States.
   

Notwithstanding the facts above stated your petitioner at considerable expense and trouble to  himself he having been a cripple all his life and unable to walk and having but a scanty subsistence has been compelled to make this application.
   

He also herewith files certificate from the Clerk of the Court of said County showing title to said lot, marked B.


   

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-10 10:52:31 to left justify per SI