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York County Virginia
September 12th 1865

To
Maj Genl. O O Howard
Commissioner of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands.

Sir,
Your Petitioners (Three Brothers) respectfully represent that the Farms known respectively as Lansdowne and Briarhurst lying upon King's Creek, York River and Filgates Creek in York County State of Virginia, together with all the personal property thereon or that formerly belonged to them which they can identify, be restored to them: The Land at the expiration of the lease held by the Freedmen (1st January 1866) and the personal property as soon as practicable by the Local Officer.

These Farms fill into the lines of the United States Army in the Spring of 1862 and were taken as abandoned lands in 1863 or 4. The restoration of this Property is claimed upon the ground of each one of us having obtained a Special Pardon from the President, certified copies of which are herewith enclosed. Our title to the above Farms is indisputable, having been in our family for a number of years. Your attention is invited to the Certificates of the Presiding Justice, Sheriff, & Clerk of York County. No proceedings looking towards confiscation or