A grandmother’s letter to the chief agent of the Freedman’s Bureau seeking aid in gaining the custody of her grandson, along with the endorsement letter of an agent of the Bureau, January 1867
Freedpeople struggled not only to reunite families sold apart, but to keep intact the family they had. The Freedman’s Bureau often placed orphaned African American children as apprentices, sometimes with their former owners. Extended family members fought for custody both to stabilize families but also because children were a valuable source of labor.
Clinton, LA. Jary 10th 1867
Honorable Sir
I am the mother of a woman Dina who is now dead. My Daughter Dina had a child boy by the name of Porter. I am a Colored Woman former slave of a Mr. Sandy Spears of the parish of East Feliciana La. Said Porter is now about Eleven years of age. Mr. Spears has had the little boy Porter bound over to him so I am told by the agent of the Freedmen in this parish. I was not informed of this fact until after the matter of binding was consummated. I do not wish to wrongfully interfere with the arrangement of those who are endeavoring to properly control us black people. I feel confidently they are doing the best they can for us and our present condition—but I am the Grandmother of Porter—his Father Andrew is now and has been for some time a soldier in the Army of the U.S. He is, I am told, somewhere in California. I do not know only that he is not here to see the interest of his child. I am not by any means satisfied with the present arrangement made for my Grand Child Porter. Mr. Spears I have known for many years. I will say nothing of his faults, but I have the means of educating my Grand Child of doing a good part by him. His Uncle who has been lately discharged from the Army of the U.S.—Humphrey Cold who now resides in this parish is fully able to assist me in maintaining my Grand child Porter. We want him. We do not think Mr. Spears a suitable person to control this boy. Mr. Spears is very old and infirm. He is and has been for many years addicted to the use of ardent spirits. This fact I do not like to mention but truth requires me to speak. Now is there no chance to get my little boy. The agent of this place will not listen to me, and I am required to call on you or I must let my Grand Child go which greatly grieves me. Will you be so kind after my statement to write to Elizabeth Collins f[ree] w[oman of] c[olor], Clinton La., the Step mother of Porter, and advise her what I shall do to obtain my little Grand Child. Please answer this letter and you will greatly oblige. Truly yours a poor old black woman.
Cynthia NicKols
f.w.c.
[free woman of color]
[Endorsement by Lt. James DeGrey, Freedman’s Bureau agent] Parish East Feliciana La. Clinton La January 29th 1867…Sandy Spears is as stated old, but not infirm. He is addicted to ardent Spirits, but not more so than the most of men in the Parish. The boy Porter is ten (10) years of age. He (Spears) raised him from a child. My belief is, the old lady wants the boy because he is now able to do some work. The binding of our children seems to the freemen like putting them back into Slavery. In every case where I have bound children, thus far some Grand Mother or Fortieth cousin has come to have them released.
Source: Reprinted in Berlin, Ira and Leslie S. Rowland, eds. Families and Freedom: A Documentary History of African American Kinship in the Civil War Era. New York: New Press, 1997. 240. (Document 4.12.5)