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0836

necessary for the Conduct of his farming operations. In the interval between the time Wilkins removed to that part of Dr. Waller's Land known as Beals and when he was forced to leave the Same, a part of the Tract Known as Semples had been occupied by the United States for military purpose and a Small part by Negroes who had collected in the neighborhood of "Fort Magruder" for Safety. This the said Wilkins was [[strikethrough]] unable [[/strikethrough]] unable to prevent, as was proved in other cases besides this, & thus the regular farming operations could no longer be carried on, greatly to the damage of the said Waller. The unfortunate position of "Fort Magruder" thrown up by the Confederate Forces, and a chain of large Redoubts constructed partly by the Confederates and partly by the Federals, there being situated in a great measure upon the Tract known as Semples, also tended in a great degree to the same result. Nearly all of the Negroes here referred to were either the former Servants of Dr. Waller, or Free-Negroes from their birth and former Tenants of said Waller. When Wilkins removed within the Lines, he left John Austin & Thaddeus Jones in possession of Beals &c. empowered by him to protect the same. 

It will thus appear  that no portion of the Estate of Dr. Waller was ever abandoned by him or his Agent, on the contrary that when he went to the Upper Country in 1862, as had been his yearly habit for many years before the War, he left his regular Managers or Agents, who had been employed by him in identically the same capacity for a long number of years, in charge of the Same. That these Agents were not employed by him at the time of his departure to Superintend his Estate for the War. That these parties, or rather Mr. Wilkins, had resided upon the Estate until December 1864, at which time he was forced to leave by the Officer in Command of Federal Forces at Williamsburg, and would have continued to live upon the same even to the present time, had any houses been left upon that portion within the Federal Lines. That when Dr. Waller left Williamsburg to be (as was, and had been his habit for many years) with his children & relations, he left his Farms well stocked, and plentifully supplied with everything necessary for the support of both Man and beast, and in a condition to be managed as well as the

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