Claim transcribed by Cathy Tarpley Dillon
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For research on Amy Roberts, click HERE.
About the Southern Claims Commission
The Southern Claims Commmission was set up by Congress in 1871 to adjudicate claims for property taken by U.S. federal troops during the Civil War. More than 140 Liberty County residents — both black and white — filed claims, mostly for property taken during December 1864 when a unit of Sherman’s Army commanded by General Kilpatrick camped at Midway Church and conducted foraging raids throughout Liberty County. Horses, cows, hogs, poultry, corn and rice were the most common items of property taken. In Liberty County, many slaveowners allowed their enslaved people to work on their own time and own small amounts of property, most of which was taken by the U.S. troops for use by the Army.
The claims files, which are held at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), have been digitized and are available at Ancestry.com or Fold3.com. For more information on these files, click here. A set of standard questions were used to take the testimony of claimants and witnesses. This set of questions was amended twice, in 1872 and 1874. The questions are not usually part of the digitized file, but we have included them to help make sense of the answers. The questions we used were provided online courtesy of the St. Louis County Library Special Collections, as taken from National Archives Microfilm Publication M87, Roll 1, Frames 104–105, Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880), and can be found here.
About This Transcription
What you are seeing: The Southern Claims Commission files for each claimant included all forms filed for the claimant, including cover pages, standard forms with filled in information, a special agent’s report about the claim, remarks made by the Special Commissioner summarizing the case, testimony from the claimant and his or her witnesses based on a standard set of questions, and copies of other paperwork involved. Much of the information contained in the forms is repetitive. We have summarized that information into one block, and transcribed all testimony, the Special Commissioner’s remarks, the special agent’s report, and any other relevant text.
Methodology: The testimony of the claimant and the witnesses has been transcribed exactly as seen. Some of the files are faded and/or difficult to read. Any words that cannot be read are indicated by “[word]”, or, in the case of entire sections, “[section illegible]”. Alternative spellings of names are also indicated with brackets.
The Claim: Summary & Transcription
Find the digitized original of this claim file at this Ancestry.com link.
Summary
Claimant’s Name (Last Name, First Name): Roberts, Amy
Listed as “Colored”? (Y/N): Y
Amount of Claim: $188
Total Amount Allowed: N/A, disallowed
Nature of Claim: Stores for General Sherman’s Army
Claimant living in: The Knoll, Liberty County
Incident occurred in: Cherry Hill, Liberty County near No. 3. Albany & Gulf Rail Road
Claim #: 20688
Secondary Claim #: N/A, disallowed
Date Claim Submitted [YYYY-MM-DD]: 1872-09-14
Date Testimony taken [YYYY-MM-DD]: 1873-12-09; 1877-11-09
Claimant’s Attorney: J.M. Simms (crossed out); Hosmer & Co; Gilmore & Co
Special Commissioner: Henry Way
Property Removed to: the Army’s camp
Date property removed: 1864-12-15 to 1864-12-21
Army unit involved: Sherman’s Army commanded by General Kilpatrick
Date Submitted to Congress [YYYY-MM-DD]: N/A, disallowed
Post Office of Claimant: #2 A & G Railroad
Items Claimed
Transcription
Remarks: Claimant was a slave & belonged to one E.B. Way of Liberty Co Ga. When her testimony was taken (Nov 1877) she says she was 30 years of age & consequently was but 13 years of age when the war began. Says she acquired this property for which claim is made, before the war, by working for it. We cannot accept this improbable statement as satisfactory evidence of ownership and the claim is disallowed.
A.O. Aldis
J.B. Howell
O. Ferriss } Commrs of Claims
[Transcriber’s Comments: R.Q. Cassels acted as claimant’s counsel]
Testimony of Claimant
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Amy Roberts 30 years Liberty County all my life Farming
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
I am Claimant
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
I was worked for it
67. If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
from plantation Liberty County Ga 4 or 500 acres 200 acres cultivated
68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?
no
The following questions will be put to female claimants:
69. Are you married or single? If married, when were you married? Was your husband loyal to the cause and Government of the United States throughout the war? Where does he now reside, and why is he not joined with you in the petition? How many children have you? Give their names and ages. Were any of them in the Confederate service during the war? If you claim that the property named in your petition is your sole and separate property, state how you came to own it separately from your husband; how your title was derived; when your ownership of it began. Did it ever belong to your husband? If the property for which you ask pay is wood, timber, rails, or the products of a farm, how did you get title to the farm? If by deed, can you file copies of the deeds? If single, have you been married? If a widow, when did your husband die? Was he in the Confederate army? Was he in the civil service of the Confederacy? Was he loyal to the United States Government throughout the war? Did he leave any children? How many? Are any now living? Give their names and ages. Are they not interested in this claim? If they are not joined in this petition, why not? State fully how your title to the property specified in the petition was obtained. Did you ever belong to any sewing society organized to make clothing for Confederate soldiers or their families, or did you assist in making any such clothing, or making flags, or other military equipments, or preparing or furnishing delicacies or supplies for Confederate hospitals or soldiers?
married about one year before the war yes He now lives with me but was separated by his Master from me during the war and when this claim was put in 3 Children Henry Roberts not quite 3 years old Leonora 1 year old the other Infant no when he married me I owned this property by myself never belonged to my husband
The following questions will be put to colored claimants:
70. Were you a slave or free at the beginning of the war? If ever a slave, when did you become free? What business did you follow after obtaining your freedom? Did you own this property before or after you became free? When did you get it? How did you become owner, and from whom did you obtain it? Where did you get the means to pay for it? What was the name and residence of your master, and is he still living? Is he a witness for you, and if not, why not? Are you in his employ now, or do you live on his land or on land bought from him? Are you in his debt? What other person besides yourself has any interest in this claim?
Slave at end of war Farming before freedom before the war worked for it E B Way Liberty County Ga died He is not witness because dead no no no no no one interested
[Question 71 not applicable]
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
I was I did 24 Bush [Bushel] Corn 6 Bush [Bushel] Peas 19 Bush [Bushel] Rice 10 Hogs 75 lbs [pounds] Pork Beds etc etc etc 40 Fowls
73. Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
In daytime openly
74. Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the complaint.
I complained to officer Said I would get pay for it
75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given? State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.
None was afraid
76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and to what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?
no no no no
77. Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
Troops were camped at Midway Church
78. You will please listen attentively while the list of items, but not the quantities, is read to you, and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about it. 1st.. Describe its exact condition, as for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber, whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut. 2d. State where it was. 3d. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity, and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate.4th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5th. State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6th. Say when the property was taken. 7th. Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army, taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property, and give the names of any, if you can. 11th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.
The Corn was some shelled and some in ear E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 24 Bushels guess that much worth one dollar a bushel December 17th 1864 Kilpatricks army took corn out of house and put in wagon about 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said I would be paid for it heard Captain tell men to take the corn
The Peas was shelled E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 6 Bushels measured them worth about 2 dollars a bushel December 17 or 18 1864 Kilpatricks army put peas in sacks and carried off in wagon 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said I will get pay for it heard officer tell men to take it for horses
The Rice was threshed E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 14 Bushels measured it worth 2 dollars a bushel December 17 or 18 1864 Kilpatricks army put rice in wagon 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain heard officer tell men to take it for army
The Hogs were Bacon hogs E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 10 hogs worth 5 or 6 dollars a head December 17 or 18 1864 Kilpatricks army killed them all and put them in wagons 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present said I would get pay for it heard officer tell men to take them for the army
The Pork was salted in house E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 25 lbs [pounds] saw it weighed worth 10 or 11 cts [cents] a lbs [pound] December 17 or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army took it out of house and carried off in wagon 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain heard officer tell men to take it
The Beds etc etc Kitchen Furniture and Quilts Blankets Beds Pots etc etc E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga worth 30 dollars December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army rolled them up and took them on horse 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard the men call him Captain said I would get pay for it heard officer tell men to take it
The Fowls were grown E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 40 head counted them worth 25 cts [cents] a head December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army killed them tied some to saddles the rest in wagon 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain heard him order men to take them
her
Amy Roberts
mark
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 9th Nov [November] 1877
Henry Way
Special Comr [Commissioner]
Testimony of Witness (Mary Baker)
1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?
Mary Baker 30 years Liberty County all my life Farm
2. If you are not the claimant, in what manner, if any, are you related to the claimant or interested in the success of the claim?
am Sister to claimant
52. In whose favor are you here to testify?
Amy Roberts
53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?
all my life
54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?
on same place
55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?
saw her every day
56. Did you converse with the claimant about the war, its causes, its progress, and its results? If so, try to remember the more important occasions on which you so conversed, beginning with the first occasion, and state, with respect to each, when it was, where it was, who were present, what caused the conversation, and what the claimant said in substance, if you cannot remember his words.
no
57. Do you know of anything done by the claimant that showed him to be loyal to the Union cause during the war? If you do, state what he did, when, where, and what was the particular cause or occasion of his doing it? Give the same information about each thing he did that showed him to be loyal.
no
58. Do you know of anything said or done by the claimant that was against the Union cause? If so, please state with respect to each thing said or done, what it was, when it was, where it was, and what particular compulsion or influence caused him to say or do it.
no
59. If you have heard of anything said or done by the claimant, either for the Union cause or against it, state from whom you heard it, when you heard it and what you heard.
heard nothing
60. What was the public reputation of the claimant for loyalty or disloyalty to the United States during the war? If you profess to know his public reputation, explain fully how you know it, whom you heard speak of it, and give the names of other persons who were neighbors during the war that could testify to this public reputation.
She was union
61. Who were the known and prominent Union people of the neighborhood during the war, and do you know that such persons could testify to the claimant’s loyalty?
Tony Golding Gus Law Brister Fleming believe they would
62. Were you, yourself, an adherent of the Union cause during the war? If so, did the claimant know you to be such, and how did he know it?
I was
63. Do you know of any threats, molestations, or injury inflicted upon the claimant, or his family, or his property, on account of his adherence to the Union cause? If so, give all the particulars.
no
64. Do you know of any act done or language used by the claimant that would have prevented him from establishing his loyalty to the Confederacy? If so, what act or what language?
no
65. Can you state any other facts within your own knowledge in proof of the claimant’s loyalty during the war? If so, state all the facts and give all the particulars.
no
66. Who was the owner of the property charged in this claim when it was taken, and how did such person become owner?
Amy Roberts worked for it
67. If any of the property was taken from a farm or plantation, where was such farm or plantation situated, what was its size, how much was cultivated, how much was woodland, and how much was waste land?
from plantation 4 or 500 acres 200 cultivated Liberty County Ga
68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?
dont [don’t] know
72. Were you present when any of the property charged in this claim was taken? Did you actually see any taken? If so, specify what you saw taken.
I was 24 Bush [Bushel] Corn 7 Bush [Bushel] Peas 17 Bush [Bushel] Rice 10 Hogs 75 lbs [pounds] Pork Beds Bedding etc etc 40 Fowls
73. Was any of the property taken in the night time, or was any taken secretly, so that you did not know of it at the time?
In daytime openly
74. Was any complaint made to any officer of the taking of any of the property? If so, give the name, rank and regiment of the officer, and state who made the complaint to him, what he said and did in consequence, and what was the result of the complaint.
claimant made complaint to officer said we would all get pay for our property
75. Were any vouchers or receipts asked for or given? If given, where are the vouchers or receipts? If lost, state fully how lost. If asked and not given, by whom were they asked, who was asked to give them, and why were they refused or not given? State very fully in regard to the failure to ask or obtain receipts.
none that I know of
76. Has any payment ever been made for any property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken at the same times as the property charged in this claim? Has any payment been made for any property taken from the same claimant during the war, and if so, when, by whom, for what property and to what amount? Has this property, or any part of it, been included in any claim heretofore presented to Congress, or any court, department or officer of the United States, or to any board of survey, military commission, State commission or officer, or any other authority? If so, when and to what tribunal or officers was the claim presented; was it larger or smaller in amount than this claim, and how is the difference explained, and what was the decision, if any, of the tribunal to which it was presented?
no no no no
77. Was the property charged in this claim taken by troops encamped in the vicinity, or were they on the march, or were they on a raid or expedition, or had there been any recent battle or skirmish?
Troops were camped at Midway Church about 1 mile off
78. You will please listen attentively while the list of items, but not the quantities, is read to you, and as each kind of property is called off, say whether you saw any such property taken.
79. Begin now with the first item of property you have just said you saw taken, and give the following information about it. 1st.. Describe its exact condition, as for instance, if corn, whether green or ripe, standing or harvested, in shuck, or husked, or shelled; if lumber, whether new or old, in buildings or piled; if grain, whether growing or cut. 2d. State where it was. 3d. What was the quantity; explain fully how you know the quantity, and if estimated, describe your method of making the estimate.4th. Describe the quality to your best judgment. 5th. State as nearly as you can the market value of such property at the time in United States money. 6th. Say when the property was taken. 7th. Give the name of the detachment, regiment, brigade, division, corps, or army, taking the property, and the names of any officers belonging to the command. 8th. Describe the precise manner in which the property was taken into possession by the troops, and the manner in which it was removed. 9th. State as closely as you can how many men, animals, wagons, or other means of transport, were engaged in the removal, how long they were occupied, and to what place they removed the property. 10th. State if any officers were present; how you knew them to be officers; what they said or did in relation to the property, and give the names of any, if you can. 11th. Give any reasons that you may have for believing that the taking of the property was authorized by the proper officers or that it was for the necessary use of the army.
The Corn was in ear and shelled E B ways plantation Liberty County Ga 24 Bushels guess that much worth one dollar a bushel December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army put corn in wagon 50 or 60 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said dont [don’t] fret you will get pay for it Believe officer ordered it taken because he was present
The Peas was in Barrell E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 6 Bushels guess that much worth 2 dollars a bushel December 17 or 18 1864 Kilpatricks army put peas in wagon 50 men and horses 3 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said we will get pay for it Believe officer ordered it because he was present
The Rice was threshed E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 17 Bushels guess that much worth 2 dollars a bushel December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army sacked rice and put in wagon 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said we will get pay for it Believe officer ordered it taken because he was present
The Hogs were Bacon Hogs E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 10 head worth 6 or 7 dollars a head December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army killed them and put them in wagon 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said they had to have it that we would get pay for it Believe officer ordered it taken because he was present
The Pork was salted in house E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 75 lbs [pounds] guess that much worth 10 or 11 cts [cents] a pound December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army put pork in wagon 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain Believe officer ordered it taken because he was present
The Beds Bedding Furniture were Quilts Blankets Pots etc etc E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga worth 30 dollars December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army rolled them up and took them on horse 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain said we would be paid for it Believe officer ordered it because he was present
The Fowls were grown E B Ways plantation Liberty County Ga 40 head counted them worth 25 cts [cents] a head December 17th or 18th 1864 Kilpatricks army caught Fowls and tied them to saddles 50 men and horses 2 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present heard men call him Captain Believe he ordered it taken because he was present
her
Mary Baker
mark
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 9th Nov [November] 1877
Henry Way
Special Comr [Commissioner]