1 July 1864: “A negro man named Sam called at my house this morning, who says he was freed from his master’s farm in Mecklenburg (Dr. Burwell) by the Yankees this Sunday and was with them till Tuesday when he made his escape and is now trying to make his way home.”

Item Description:  A note dated 1 July 1864, from Blanche W. Sydnar to George W. Burwell, a physician, planter, and businessman of Mecklenburg County, Va., with the news of Sam, claiming that he had been forced from George’s home by Yankees, had arrived at her house and that she had written him a pass to get home.18640701_01a 18640701_02aItem Citation:  Letter dated 1 July 1864, in the George W. Burwell Papers #4291, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item Transcription:

A negro man named Sam called at my house this morning, who says he was freed from his master’s farm in Mecklenburg (Dr. Burwell) by the Yankees this Sunday and was with them till Tuesday when he made his escape and is now trying to make his way home. I gave him something to eat and sent him on with two others belonging to Capt. Watkins & [?] Davis.

Blanche W. Sydnar

P.S. My husband, Rev. T. W. Sydnar is now at home, but I consented to give Sam a pass, hoping he may get home safely.

B.W.S.

This entry was posted in Southern Historical Collection. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.