Hagar Stevens – Southern Claims Commission

The claimant is a colored woman & was a slave, says she was a housemaid, belonged to Valentine Grest, on Grest Island, Liberty Co. Ga. The property claimed in this case would be a respectable showing for an ordinary farmer. The surprise, therefore, is natural that slaves should now pretend to have owned such an amount of property during the war. A very large number of former slaves of Liberty Co, Ga, filed claims with this Commission and we have some proof in this case of what we have all along suspected that they were induced to consent to the filing of claims in their names and that the claims were substantially the creation of some interested party other than the nominal claimant. The claimant states under oath to our agent that Mr. Sims first made out her claim, and she says in speaking of her chickens and turkeys & ducks: “I just told Sims to average them and don’t know what he put down. I told him to put down just what he chose. I don’t know how many chickens I had. I didn’t look for nothing from the claim no how.” It is some satisfaction to know that this poor colored woman will not be disappointed with our report although Mr. Sims may be. If this woman had anything to lose, the amount was insignificantly small as compared with that stated in the petition and we are not satisfied that she had anything taken to which she had a bona fide title for which any allowance can be made.

The claim is disallowed.

A.O. Aldis
O. Ferris } Commissioners of Claims

Testimony of Claimant

Testimony of Hagar Stevens, Liberty County, on claim no. 20694

1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?

Hagar Stevens 39 years Liberty County all my life house maid.

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 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 bought & raised 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 on Grest Island Liberty County 100 acres about 500 acres cultivated woodland & marsh

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?

[no answer recorded]

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?

Was slave at end of war farming before I was free before the war bought some & raised other bought from our driver worked for it spinning thread at night etc Valentine Grest on Grest Island Liberty County he is dead he is not witness because dead not in his employ don’t live on his land nor land bought from him nor no other person

The following questions will be put to claimants and witnesses who testify to the taking of property, omitting in the case of each claimant or witness any questions that are clearly unnecessary:

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 saw it taken 20 hogs 2 cattle ground peas rice corn syrup sugar hives pork buggy & harness ducks turkeys bed quilts blankets & sheets bed & bedding cooking utensils fowls [image 17317] pork jeans

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?

Taken in day time 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.

Did not see any officer I complained to the men I complained.

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 because I was [word].

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 in camp about 6 miles 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.

[no response recorded]

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 hogs were bacon hogs & stock hogs on Grest Island Liberty County 20 head I counted them tame gentle hogs worth about ten dollars a head was taken about 16 or 18 December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry they shot all of them on the ground skinned them & threw them in wagons about 1000 men all on horse about 60 wagons about 2 hours to camp at Midway Church don’t know if officers were present They said they had to have them to eat that you would get pay back 11. don’t know

The cattle were good milch cows at Grest Island Liberty County 2 head good gentle milch cows worth about [image 17318] $35.00 dollars was taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry shot & butchered them and carried off in wagon about 1000 men about 60 wagons they were coming and going all day carried it to camp don’t know whether any officers or not said they had to have it to eat 11. don’t know

80. Now take the next item of property you saw taken and give the same information, and so proceed to the end of the list of items.

The ground peas were harvested & housed Grest Island Liberty County 10 bushels were measured & sacked good marketable peas worth $2.00 per bushel was taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry threw the sacks in wagon & carried them off about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons came & went all day to camp don’t know whether officers were present or not said they had to have it for army 11. don’t know.

The rice was harvested & threshed on Grest Island Liberty County 50 bushels measured it good gold rice worth $1.25 per bushel taken about 18th of December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry took rice out [of] house fed the horses with some and carried rest off in wagons about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons were coming and going all day don’t know if officers [image 17319] were present they said they had to have it for army 11. don’t know.

The corn was harvested in house on Grest Island 60 bushels good white corn worth 1.00 per bushel was taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry took corn out of horse fed their horses on some and carried balance off in wagons about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons coming & going all day to camp don’t know if officer was present 11. don’t know.

The syrup was in barrels Grest Island Liberty County 52 gall[on]s first quality worth 75 cts per gallon was taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry. They bursted barrel filled some jugs & buckets wasted the rest about one hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they had to have it to eat 11. don’t know.

The sugar was brown home made in box on Grest Island Liberty County worth 5 cts per lb taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s cavalry took box in wagon & carried to camp [image 17320] about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about one hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they had to have it in camp 11. don’t know.

The hives were full of honey at Grest Island Liberty County 8 hives counted them best quality honey worth 1.50 a piece was taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry hives were in garden they broken them up took honey out and eat as much as they wanted and carried rest off in buckets & pans to camp about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about one hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they to have it to eat 11. don’t know.

The pork was killed and and salted in tub Grest Island Liberty County 240 lbs weighed it good fat meat worth 14 cts per lb taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry. Took it out of the tub cooked some there and carried balance off in wagons about 1000 men don’t know if officers were present men said they had to have it to eat 11. don’t know.

[image 17321]

The buggy & harness was new on Grest Island Liberty County 1 buggy & harness in good running order worth 75 dollars taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry they put harness on horse and put horse in buggy and drove off about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present they said they had to have it for use of army 11. don’t know.

The ducks were all grown at Grest Island Liberty County 25 heads marketable ducks worth 50 cts apiece taken 16th or 17th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry shot some and caught others & carried them to camp about 1000 men 60 or 80 wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they had to have them to eat I saw them eating them 11. don’t know.

The turkies were all grown at Grest Island Liberty County 15 head marketable order worth 1.50 per head taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry caught them in lot killed them & carried them off [image 17322] in wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they said they took them to eat 11. don’t know.

The bed quilts were most of new on Grest Island Liberty County 6 quilts worth 4 dollars a piece taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took them off my bed carried them off on horses about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about ½ hours to camp they said they had to have them to keep them warm don’t know if officers were present 11. don’t know.

The blankets & sheets were new at Grest Island Liberty County 4 blankets & 6 sheets all new worth 15 dollars taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry took them out of my room threw it cross their horses carried them to camp about 1000 men 60 or 80 wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present they said they had to have them to keep them warm in camp 11. don’t know.

The bed & bedding bed was feather bed all good & new Grest Island Liberty 1 feather bed & 2 pillows good quality worth $40.00 dollars [image 17323] was taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry they tore open the bed threw away the feathers and made sacks of the ticking filled them with provisions & carried them to camp about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present they said they had to have sacks to carry provisions in 11. don’t know.

Cooking utensils were frying pan oven tea kettle pot coffee pot 2 [word obscured] buckets plates tin pans etc Grest Island Liberty County don’t know quantity all good worth $20.00 taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry They went in kitchen took them in wagon & carried them off about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about ½ hour to camp they said they had to have them to cook in camp 11. don’t know.

The fowls were all big enough to eat worth 30 cts apiece taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry they shot some of them & caught the rest about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 2 hours [image 17324] to camp don’t know if officers were present they said they had to have them to eat 11. don’t know.

The jeans were home made Grest Island Liberty County don’t know number yards fine quality worth $60.00 taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry. They went in house & took the package of jeans out made saddle cloths of it about 1000 mares 60 or 70 wagons about ½ hour to camp don’t know if officers were present said they had to have it for saddle cloths 11 don’t know.

Sworn to & subscribed
Before me this 9th October
1877
Henry Way Special Comr [Commissioner]

[Signed] Hagar Stevens [signed by mark]

Testimony of Witness (Doddy Brown)

Doddy Brown first witness for claimant

1. What is your name, your age, your residence, and how long has it been such, and your occupation?

Doddy Brown 53 year Liberty County all my life Farmer

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 not claimant not related

The following questions will be put to every person testifying to the loyalty of claimants or beneficiaries:

52. In whose favor are you here to testify?

Hagar Stevens

53. How long have you known that person altogether, and what part of that time have you intimately known him?

From youth about 25 years

54. Did you live near him during the war, and how far away?

Lived near her about 4 miles [image 17325]

55. Did you meet him often, and about how often, during the war?

Yes about once a week

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.

Talked about war about our distress etc about the last of war Grest Island Liberty County Cornelius Ryals Juno Harden were present our distress caused conversation she said we were well off but Yankees have ruined us by taking all our property

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.

Don’t know anything

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.

Not heard anything

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.

Everybody knew her to be a Union woman knew from her talk

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?

Toney Golding Gus Law Brister Fleming know they will

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 she did by my talk

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?

Hagar Stevens about 16th or 18th December 1864 bought & raised 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 Grest Island about 1000 acres about 5 or 600 acres balance [image 17326] marsh & woodlands

68. Has the person who owned the property when taken since filed a petition in bankruptcy, or been declared a bankrupt?

No

[questions 69-71 not asked]

The following questions will be put to claimants and witnesses who testify to the taking of property, omitting in the case of each claimant or witness any questions that are clearly unnecessary:

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 saw it taken 20 head hogs 2 cows 10 bushels ground peas 50 bush[els] rice 60 bus[hels] corn bot[tle] syrup 50 lbs sugar 8 hives honey 240 lbs pork buggy & harness 25 ducks 15 turkeys 6 bed quilts 4 blankets 6 sheets bed & bedding pots etc 25 head fowls 1 pack jeans

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?

Day time 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.

Complaint was made to officer I made complaint said that was only way they had to live

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 because did not know any better

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 not to my knowing

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 not far 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.

[answer not recorded]

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 hogs were bacon & stock hogs on Grest Island Liberty County 20 head I counted them tame gentle hogs worth 9 or 10 dollars a head was taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry they shot them skinned them carried them off in wagons about 1000 men all horseback about 50 or 60 wagons about 1 ½ hours to camp [image 17327] at Midway Church one officer present by his stripes they said they had to have them to eat I heard officer tell the men to kill them seen them eating them in camp.

The cattle were good milch cows at Grest Island Liberty County 2 head gentle milch cows were about 35 dollars were taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry butchered them and carried off in wagon about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they had to eat I heard officer tell men to kill them saw them cooking & eating the meat in camp.

The ground peas were harvested & housed Grest Island Liberty County 10 bushels saw them measured marketable worth $2.00 for bushel taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick cavalry took them out of house in sacks carried them off in wagons about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 1 ½ hours to camp on officer knew him by his stripes said they were glad to get them saw them eating them.

The rice harvested & threshed [image 17328] on Grest Island Liberty County 50 bushels saw it measured good gold rice worth $1.50 per bushel taken about 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took it out of house fed horses on some carried rest off in wagons about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 1 ½ hours to camp one officer present knew by his stripes they said needed it for horses I heard officer tell men to take rice.

The corn harvested & housed Grest Island Liberty County 60 bushels white corn worth $1.00 for bushel taken about 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took out of house fed horses & wasted heap & carried the rest off [in] wagons 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about one & half hours one officer present knew by his stripes said wanted corn for horses I saw them feeding to horses in camp.

The syrup was in barrell Grest Island Liberty County 52 galls [gallons] first quality worth 75 or 80 cts pr gall taken about 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry knocked out head of barrell & put syrup in kegs & buckets about one hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they wanted to eat I heard officer tell men to take it & saw them eating it in camp. [image 17329]

The sugar was brown homemade sugar Grest Island Liberty County 50 lbs did not see it weighed good sugar worth 18 or 20 cts pr lb taken about 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry was in box put box in wagon & carried it to camp about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 1 hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they had to have it I heard officer tell men to take it & saw them using in camp.

The hives were full of honey Grest Island Liberty County 8 hives I counted them worth $1.50 apiece taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s cavalry took hives out of garden broke them & put them in buckets pans & carried to camp about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about one hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they had to have it I heard officer tell men to take it.

The pork was salted in tubs Grest Island Liberty County 240 lbs did not see it weighed but think was so much fat pork worth 16 or 17 cts per lb taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took it out of tub cooked some carried balance off in wagons 1000 men 60 or 80 [image 17330] wagons about ½ hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they wanted it for army I heard officer tell men to take it & saw them eating it in camp.

The buggy & harness were second handed Grest Island Liberty County & buggy & harness good running order worth $15 dollars taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s cavalry put harness on horse and carried buggy off 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 1 hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they had to have it in army. I heard officer tell men to take them.

The ducks were all grown Grest Island Liberty County 25 head counted them worth 50 cts apiece taken 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry shot some & caught balance carried off to camp 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons about 1 hour to camp one officer present knew by his stripes said they had to have them to eat I heard officer tell men to take them & saw them kill & eat them in camp.

Turkies [SIC, turkeys] all grown Grest Island Liberty County 15 head counted them worth $1.50 a head December 16th or 18th 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry killed them & carried them off in wagons [image 17331] 1 hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said had to have them I heard officer tell men to kill them & saw them cooking in camp.

The quilts were nearly new Grest Island Liberty County, 6 quilts worth 4 dollars apiece 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took them off bed carried off on horses about 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons 1 ½ hours to camp said they were cold & wanted them to keep them warm one officer present knew by stripes heard officer tell men to take them.

The blankets & sheets were new Grest Island Liberty County 4 blankets 6 sheets worth $15.00 16th or 18th December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took them out [word blotched] put on their horses & carried off to camp 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons 2 hours to camp one officer present knew by stripes wanted them to keep them warm I heard officer tell men to take them.

The bed & bedding Bed was feather bed Grest Island Liberty County 1 feather bed 2 pillows $40 16 or 18 December 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry tore up bed scattered feathers & made sacks of ticking carried them off [image 17332] 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons 1 hour to camp one officer present knew by stripes said nothing I heard officer tell men to take it.

Cooking Utensils tea kettle coffee pot pans oven pot water buckets plates tin pans etc Grest Island Liberty County $20.00 dollars December 16th or 18th 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took them out of kitchen carried off in wagon 100 men 60 or 70 wagons one hour to camp said nothing officer present knew by stripes I heard officer tell men to take them.

The fowls were grown Grest Island Liberty County 25 head counted them worth about 25 cts a head December 16 or 18 1864 Kilpatrick Cavalry shot some & caught balance 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons 2 hours to camp one officer present knew by stripes said they had to have them in army heard officer tell men to take them.

The jeans was homemade Grest Island Liberty County don’t know number yards $60.00 December 16th or 17th 1864 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry took it out of house cut it up & made saddle cloths 1000 men 60 or 70 wagons ½ hour to camp one officer present [image 17333] knew by stripes said nothing I heard officer tell men to take it.

Sworn to & subscribed
Before me this 9th October
1877
Henry Way Special Comr [Commissioner]

[Signed] Doddy Brown [signed by mark]

——————- [image 17335]

No. 20694 Unfavorable as to property

Hagar Stevens, colored, Liberty County, Ga

Testimony of Hagar Robinson page 1
Report Sp’l Agt [Special Agent] page 7

Respectfully forwarded
From Beaufort, S.C. July ?th, 1878

R.B. Avery
Sp’l Agt.

July 8, 1878, Atty notified
Submitted Sep 6/78
Gilmore & Co

[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: FOLLOWING IMAGES WERE OUT OF ORDER AND HAVE BEEN RE-ORDERED. The first page of Hagar Steven’s testimony appears to be missing. Items in the parentheses are comments by the Special Agent. ]

——————- [image 17336]

[Page 1 missing]

[Page] 2

…take but 20 head. I missed that many of them. Some of them were too small. I raised them right on the marsh. Some have got more than that. They did have more than that. Our driver George Hicks had a heap more than that. Some were about two years old, and some were fitten for bacon, and some were shoats. The bacon hogs were about [two feet] so high. One sow had eight shoats, about so high [a foot] and another sow had six. The eight was the largest I had. I had four in the pen. They were of the eight.

Q. How many did you see killed?
(After a minute or two) – I seen them kill nine. I called all of them up every evening. They had a pasture around the house. The run in the pasture. Yes, mine and master’s, and all the colored people. All there were had hogs. Master had about thirty people on the place. They all owned hogs and they all run in that pasture.

Q. Did you have any cattle?
Yes, sir. (Again a long hesitation) I had six head of cattle. I had two milk cows, and two yearlings, and two calves, and two steers. The calf was the yearling’s. I had [image 17337] only two killed. There was too many cows. They didn’t kill all of mine. My master had two hundred head of cows. The other colored people had cows too. They all run in the pasture. Master’s too. I bought mine from a man that had a wife that lived on our place, belonged to a man named Mr. Baker. His name was Titus Quarterman. I gave him six dollars. My cattle, master’s cattle, and the colored people’s cattle all run in the same pasture with the hogs. Myself, Indiana, & Sarah had cattle. Their cow[s] was together, and I could not tell how many they had apiece. Master had over two hundred. One of mine that was killed was a milk cow, and the other a steer. The soldiers were there every morning and go back to Midway Church.

Q. Did you have any peas?
No, sir. No peas.

Q. Did you have any rice?
Yes, I could not tell how much. They didn’t take all I had, but just averaged it. I had a stack of rice, and some thrashed out. I raised it. I had an acre planted. Me and my children worked it. I had three.

Q. Did you have any corn?
Yes, I had a good chance. I had three tasks. (A gentleman says a task [image 17338] is an eighth of an acre.) I bought no corn. That is all the corn I had. I didn’t buy any rice. (A minute ago she told me she did.)

Q. Did you have any syrup?
Yes. I had some syrup, and some sugar. We made it on the place. Mr. Grest made it. He [word] it for us. We raised it ourself, and when he grind, he grind all our syrup too. I don’t know how much sugar, but I had a two gallon keg of sirup.

Q. Honey?
I had a good deal of beehives. I had 12. They took nine, ho, I don’t guess at that. That is what I see. I don’t know why they didn’t take the others, not as much as they wanted, I spect.

Q. Did you have any pork?
Yes. I had one hog killed. I killed it two days before the raid come through. That was in a tub. I don’t have any idea what it weighed. (Mr. Clark, sitting by, says “80 lbs is a big hog here, and in nine years the heaviest hindquarter of beef I have ever seen weighed 65 lbs.)

Q. Tell me about that buggy and harness?
It was an old buggy I bought from my master. I gave him twenty-five dollars for buggy and harness. I paid in corn, poultry and some [image 17339] money. I don’t remember how much money. I had it about a year. I had a horse but it died. It died that same year.

Q. Tell me about your fowls?
I can’t tell how many I had. I had raised them, and made cakes and sold them for ducks. I took that same as money. The turkeys I raised myself. I had one hen with 11 and one with 9. I am certain. I just told Simms to average them, and don’t know what he put down. I told him to put down just what he choose. I don’t know how many chickens I had. I didn’t look for nothing from the claim no how.

Q. Your bedding?
About my bedding I declare I could not tell you. I know they took a mattress and pillow, and emptied it, and shook it out to carry things away in. If I should tell you how many quilts I would tell you a story. It is so long I can’t tell. They took my tea kettle and pots and skillets. After they were gone I wenr over to Midway and there were more pots laying around and quilts. No, I didn’t get any.

Q. Is that all you know anything about?
Yes, sir. They left me one spider, [image 17340] and a pot. That is all they left me.

Q. Did you have any jeans?
I had some of this yaller nankeen. I had one piece that I had just taken out of the loom and a piece I had been using off on. I wore it myself. I spin and die it. I had my master to support me. I worked for him. He was not so hard but what I could make a living. He always allow us that.

Q. I will read it over to you. If it is correct say so:
I didn’t have the horse when the raid come. He was dead. That is all right.

Attest: [signed] Hagar Robinson [signed by mark]
R.B. Avery, Sp’l Com’r [Special Commissioner]

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[Page] 7

Claim of Hagar Stevens, Colored, Liberty County, Ga } No. 20694

The claimant in this case is more than ordinarily shifty. The people, white and colored, give her a very good name. They all say she had some property, and no one can testify as to what. Her own testimony is of little value, except to show what absurd stories even the more intelligent colored people can tell. The people near no. 2 [A & G Railroad] told me she now had several cows, loaned out in that neighborhood. As near as I can learn she had an almost valueless wagon – one horse spring wagon – two small cattle, a few shoats, and a little syrup, and her kitchen furniture, of no great value, taken. She could have had no quantity of corn, raised on 3/8th of an acre. That would be little enough to supply her with roasting ears. James M. Simms made up the account, and she swears that he “averaged it, and put down what he chose.” He “averaged it” about ten times too high. Crawford James, an honest appearing colored man, said: “I was raised with her and knew her from a girl. I cannot tell frankly what she had. I bought cows of her before the raid – one cow and calf. She had a wagon and horse, I know, some time before the raid, but I don’t know what she did with it. She had a mule once. She was a woman who always had property, such as cattle, hogs and chickens.” The probability is that this claimant, and all others anywhere near the camps, got back most of the pots and kettles taken from them, or others equally good, and more stuff of all kinds but meat [image 17342] corn, rice, sugar and fowls, than the army took from them. On page 5, this claimant swears that the ground was covered with quilts and pots when the army went away. They could not take these Jersey wagons on the march, nor buggies, and if they were not destroyed, the claimants got them back. I respectfully call attention to claimant’s statement.

Very respectfully,

R.B. Avery, Sp’l [Special] Agent

Hon. Com’r’s [Commissioners] of Claims
Washington, D.C.

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[images 17343-17345: repetition of previously transcribed claim information]

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Office of the Commissioners of Claims
Washington, D.C. Oct. 15, 1878

Memorandum: Hagar Stevens, No. 20694

“I know all about her. She is doing well now. I expect she has eight or nine head of cattle. She had stock I don’t know how much. They could raise what they wanted on the island.”

Deposition of W.A. Golding on private files.

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Nature of Claim: Hogs, cattle, peas, rice, corn, syrup, sugar, honey, pork, buggy, harness, fowls, bedding, cooking utensils & cloth
Amount claimed: $758
Amount Disallowed: $758

Remarks:

The claimant is a colored woman & was a slave, says she was a housemaid, belonged to Valentine Grest, on Grest Island, Liberty Co. Ga. The property claimed in this case would be a respectable showing for an ordinary farmer. The surprise, therefore, is natural that slaves should now pretend to have owned such an amount of property during the war. A very large number of former slaves of Liberty Co, Ga, filed claims with this Commission and we have some proof in this case of what we have all along suspected that they were induced to consent to the filing of claims in their names and that the claims were substantially the creation of some interested party other than the nominal claimant. The claimant states under oath to our agent that Mr. Sims first made out her claim, and she says in speaking of her chickens and turkeys & ducks: “I just told Sims to average them and don’t know what he put down. I told him to put down just what he chose. I don’t know how many chickens I had. I didn’t look for nothing from the claim no how.” It is some satisfaction to know that this poor colored woman will not be disappointed with our report although Mr. Sims may be. If this woman had anything to lose, the amount was insignificantly small as compared with that stated in the petition and we are not satisfied that she had anything taken to which she had a bona fide title for which any allowance can be made.

The claim is disallowed.

A.O. Aldis
O. Ferris } Commissioners of Claims