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Freedmen's Bureau Records: W. Storer How to Orlando Brown, September 11, 1865

Summary:
How inquires about the Bureau's jurisdiction over free-born and previously manumitted blacks.

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Bureau Refugees, Freedmen & Abandonned Lands
Head Quarters, Sixth District, Va Colonel O. Brown, Assistant Commissioner
Richmond Virginia

September 11 1865

Staunton

Colonel

The question has been raised by a legal gentleman as to whether or not this Bureau has jurisdiction over cases in which free born negroes are concerned; he claiming that they were already free, and not included among those classed as freedmen.

Conceiving it possible that those manumitted and free born, and those who purchased their freedom may not have been embraced in the term "freedmen" I respectfully ask instructions.

I am Colonel
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant

W. Storer How Captain Assistant Quartermaster
Superintendent Sixth District Virginia