Wilson County N.C. Aug 9^th/67

Maj. C.E. Compton

Commanding Post

Goldsboro N.C.

Respected Sir I take the privilige of writing you a few lines concerning a little matter of importace to me last Spring Richard Brown a freedman my cousin come to me to Board him a short time until he could dip out some Turpentine, which he was making. I did so & as soon as he diped his Turpentine he sold it and went off and never paid me any thing at all, he has no familey to feed I have a large family to take care of & my Father also, & he is Richards grand father Richard has not any property that can be reached by Execution but he can pay me if he would, he is owing me $19 dollars for Board, andc. I hope that you will take some action in the premises So that I can get my rites as I so much nead all that belongs to me

Richard lives in the Town of Wilson

By doing so you will much oblige & help me

Respectfuly

Sampson Bailly

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Neither Sampson Bailey nor Richard Brown is found in the 1870 census of Wilson County. However, Bailey may have been the Samson Bayley who enlisted in Company H, 14th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery on 8 March 1865 in New Bern, North Carolina. He was 33 years old, a farmer, and born in Johnston County.

Records of Assistant Commissioner of the State of North Carolina; Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands; Record Group 105, National Archives; Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices, 1863-1878 [database on-line], Ancestry.com.  U.S. Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line], Ancestry.com