Transcription of Letter From Richard King to Freedmen's Bureau

Date: 1865 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Source: "U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878", The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Records of the Field Offices For the State of Louisiana, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1863-1872; NARA Series Number: M1905; NARA Reel Number: 71; NARA Record Group Number: 105; NARA Record Group Name: Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1861 - 1880; Collection Title: United States Freedmen's Bureau Miscellaneous Records 1865-1872, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62309 #3271564 (accessed 24 November 2022)

Richard King application as employer of the [apprentices?] are: Alonzo Burke John Wilson Amanda Wilson

[FJ Warren?] Esq. clerk of the 12th Judicial District District Court, Parish of Caldwell, State of Louisiana. The undersigned Richard King of said Parish and State represents that according to law recently recorded clerks of courts are required [on the first?] Monday of each to make out a list of all orphans on the Parish, and as said law has not provided how this list is to be obtained, the inference points that the duty of the persons having charge of orphans to do so taking this view and in pursuance of said law. I now furnish the form as follows:

In my contract with the Bureau for Freedmen and [aspiring?] on the 31st Day of December 1865 as [imbued?] the following names:

Alonzo Burke, a boy near 14 years of age now on my plantation has neither father or mother, born here

John Wilson, a boy aged 11 years of age born on St. Albans Plantation has neither father or mother at last his father went off in the gun boats in April 1863 and believed to be dead.

Amanda Wilson, a girl, sister of the above named aged about 8 years - has neither father or mother

The undersigned further suggests that as the here named boys are very [refractory?] in their habits with every prospect of being increased as they advance in years when they should become vicious and ungovernable.

Wherefore as it appears making to have guardians or employers appointed for the foregoing named orphans, particularly the first, named from a feeling a regard for their future welfare, as entertained by the undersigned he suggests the propriety of being appointed Guardian or employer for said orphans or as non preferable to apprenticed the said orphans in manner and form as prescribed by the Civil Code of the State of Louisiana and for that purpose makes this as an application and as employer for the appointed therein named and as matter of [??] had better be done without delay as the expiration of Contract as aforesaid leaves them uncared for and destitute.

Submitted by Richard King