Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19387, for Henry Soper, New York
Page 1

SERVICE
New York

Soper, Henry
         Hannah

Number W.19387
B.L.Wt 26435-460-55-
Page 2

4146
New York Albany
Hannah Soper
widow of Henry Soper  
N.Y.
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 30 Dollars ~
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Mch 1849
and sent to 
Hon. E. Blackmar
newark M.C.
NY.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under the act February 2, 1848, Page 187 Vol. 4.
Page 3

Cir F. Loomis Feby 2/56

Vol S. 2 page 14.

125.161 Act Mar 3d /55
May 9yj /55

Hannah Soper
Wio
Henry Soper  Priv

Revo Pensioner
Act Feby 2 1868
No 4146 dated Mar 9th
1849, Recorded vol 4 page 117

No 26435 iss May 26/56
Page 4

1069
New York
Henry Soper
of Greene in the state of New York
who was a Private in the Comp'y commanded by Captain Stewart's of the Regt commanded by Col. Graham in the New York line for 9 months

Inscribed on the Roll of New York at the rate of 29 dollars 97 cents per ann to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of pension issued the 25th day of Octr. 1832 and sent to Amasa Mato.

Arrears to 4th of Sepr. 1832.                $44.96
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar. '33   14.99
                                                              $59.95

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Geo. C. Stiles Clerk,
Book D  Vol. 5  Page 140
Page 5

3563
New York
Page 6

3563
BRIEF in the case of
Henry Soper
Cairo of Greene in the State of New York
(Act 7 June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge: Judge
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? It does
3. How old is he? 86 years.
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
-
Period.
Duration of Service.

In 1776, Spring of                          Months 6
after the taking of Ft Montgomery 3 months 


Rank.                    Names of General and Field As a volunteer      Officers  under whom he 
draft                     served.    
                            Gen Geo. Clinton, Col 
                            Maurice Grahams, Capt Wm 
                            Stewart
                           Capt Silas Hensted, St. Peter
                            Hartwell, Col. Maurice Gray
                           -house.

5. In what battles was he engaged:

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? "Nine Partners", Dutchess Co N.Y.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

W. Fancett
Examining Clerk.
Page 7

9590
Hannah Soper
NY
Act 7 July 38
M 4d 32

asked
Vmopri
30$
Albany
7868

Henry Wynkoop Catskill Ny
Page 8

State of New York
Greene County Clerks office. ss

I William Turner Clerk of the County of Greene
aforesaid do hereby certify that Perkins King Esqr before whom the foregoing annexed declaration of Hannah Soper purports
to have been subscribed and sworn was at the date of the same first Judge of the County County Courts duly commissioned and qualified & that his signature subscribed to the same is genuine. And that Robert C. Fields Esqr before whom the annexed affidavit of Samuel C. Bennet purports to have been subscribed and sworn was at the date of the same
a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly Elected and qualified and that his signature subscribed to said affidavit is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County this 22 day of August 1843
William Pearson Clerk
Page 9

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress pass the 7th July 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows:

State of New York
Greene County

On this third day of April in the year one
thousand eight hundred and forty three before Perkins King First Judge of the County Courts in and for the County of Greene aforesaid personally appeared Hannah Soper a resident of the town of Cairo County of Greene and State of New York aged Eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain Widows

That she is the widow of Henry Soper who in the revolutionary war resided in Dutchess County and was a private Soldier in defense of his Country for which a pension was awarded at the rate of twenty nine dollars &
Ninety Seven Cents per annum but was paid to this declarant as her widow
She further declares that she was married to the said Henry Soper on the twenty sixth day of February in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four
That the ceremony was performed by the Revered Mr. Bullock Clergyman of the Baptist Church in the
town of Stanford in the County of Dutchess
That her maiden name previous to her marriage was Hannah Thorn
And that her husband the aforesaid Henry Soper
Page 10

died on the twenty fourth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two in the town of Cairo in said county of Greene
That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January in the year seventeen hundred and Ninety four viz at the time above Stated
She further declares that she has no documentary evidence to prove her marriage and that the affidavit of Lemuel C. Bennet is
all she has procured and which she believes is direct
For proof of the Services of her said husband she would respectfully refer to his declaration and proof on file in the War Department under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1839
The further declares that ever since the death of her husband she has not intermarried but remains the widow of the said Henry Soper as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed

Hannah Soper

Sworn to and subscribed on the day
and year aforesaid before me by the said Hannah Soper and I do hereby
further certify that said applicant
is unable to attend Court from all
bodily infirmity
Perkins King
Judge as aforesaid
Page 11

State of New York
Greene County

Samuel C. Bennet of the town of Cairo County of Greene and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Henry Soper now deceased late of the same town
That he was an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832
That he died on or about the twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two in said town of Cairo.
That he left a widow named Hannah whose maiden name previous to her marriage was Hannah Thom. who has ever since the death of her husband remained and is still his widow, and is the identical Hannah Soper who is now
an applicant for a pension for the Revolutionary Services of her deceased husband the said Henry Soper and further this
deponent saith not
Samuel C Bennett
Sworn to and subscribed
me this 8th day of
June 1843
R.C. Field Justice
I certify that I am personally acquainted with
the above named Samuel Bennett and that
he is a person of good moral carachter [character] and his statement can be relied upon as correct

Cairo June 8 1843. 
R.C. Field Justice of the Peace
Page 12

State of New York
Dutchess County, ss.

Asa A. Thompson of the town of Stanford Coun
ty of Dutchess and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is the present clerk of the Baptist Church in said town of Stanford. That deponent believes he has
in his possession all the books and papers belonging to said church and of the late Elder Corner Bullock (deceased)
That deponent has a payment of book in his possession which deponent believes contains names of parties who were married by
said Elder Coomer Bullock, by which it appears that Henry Soper was legally married to Hannah Thorn on the twenty Sixth
day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and eighty four which is expressed on said record in
fair legible figures and letters as follows viz: -

Henry Soper to Hannah Thorn 26 of February 1784

I Asa A. Thompson above named do depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the above mentioned church, that the
foregoing is a true Exact from the records of said church and further this deponent saith not
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
day of August 1843 and certify that
Asa A. Thompson said deponent is personally known tome to be the clerk as above stated
Stephenson Justice of the peace
Page 13

State of New York
Dutchess County Clerks Office } ss

I Robert Mitchell Clerk of the County of
Dutchess aforesaid do hereby certify that Stephen G Gurnsey before whom the affidavit of Asa A. Thompson purport to have been subscribed and sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace duly elected and qualified and believe his signature subscribed to said affidavit is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of the said
County this 11th day of August 1843

Robt Mitchell Clerk. By
J[] Pells Dep. Clerk
Page 14

Declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the Act of Congress passed June
7th 1832

State of New York
County of Greene ss 

On this thirteenth day of July 1832 personally appeared before me Perkins King Esq. one of the Judges of the Court of Common pleas of said county at his residence in the town of Cairo in said County being unable
from sickness and disability to be removed
therefrom Henry Soper a resident of said town of Cairo county & State aforesaid aged eighty six years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered into the service of the Uni
ted States under the following named officers
& served as herein stated.
That he enlisted as a volunteer in the militia of the state of New York in or about the spring of 1776 for the term of six months-- George Clinton was General Maurice Grahams was Colonel of the regiment in which he served William Steward was Captain of the Company in which he served enlisted as a private in said Company - The first Lieutenant of said Company was John Hardenburgh the second was Stephen Edgit- was station on the East river side above the city of New York
when the British took Long Island was
stationed in the neighbourhood of the city of
New York during the term of service, in a suit of irregular service, the regiment in which he served was called the Flying regiment faithfully performed service for six months - was discharged at White Plains the officers gave no formal discharge the but only a pass on furlough to come home deponent has long been destroyed. Afterwards after the taking of Fort Montgomery was drafted and served at West Point three months assisted in building a bomb proof at West Point and in []
Fort Putnam Silas Heusted was Captain, Peter
Page 15

Hartwell was Lieutenant of deponents company and the said Maurice Grahams was Colonel of the regiment after serving three months the regiment was discharged by General Washington in person had no written discharge or pass or furlough whatever. And this deponent further saith that he knows of no person living by which he can prove his service, or that survived with him there was a neighbour [neighbor] of deponent named Riley Horton who served with deponent & by whom
he could prove his service but he died in Feb
may last
In answer to the enquiries required by the war
department to be propounded he this deponent Henry Soper further says he cannot recollect the year or mouth in which he was born but believes himself to be eighty six years of age the coming fall was born in Jamaica on Long Island has no record of his age of any description lived in what was called nine partners in the County of Dutchess & State of New York when he enlisted and also when drafted as above stated & has resided in this county for fifty three years went into the service and served as a volunteer for the six months and was drafted & served for the three months above stated. Did not receive a discharge from the service were no Regular officers with the troops deponent recollects
but upon his first service - when at West
point there were two Regiments besides that in
which deponent served one deponent believes of Continental troops commanded by Col. Markham & one deponent believes of Carolina troops commanded by Col Poor
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or (of any) only on that of the agency of the State of New York Henry Soper his mark
Sworn & subscribed this
13th day of July 1832 before me Perkins King Judge as aforesaid
Judge as aforesaid
Page 16

State of New York
County of Broome ss

On this twenty day of March A D one thousand eight hundred and Fifty Five personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Hannah Soper aged Ninty Six years a resident of Maine Broome Co in the State of New York who being duly sworn according to law
declared that she is the widow of Henry Soper deceased who was a private in the revolutionary war and was enlisted and served
in the State of New York and that she is unable to state the length of time of his service of the names of the Officer under whom he served, but for the proofs of his service she refers to the proof heretofore filed in the Pension Office upon which the said Henry Soper obtained a pension. The further states that she was
married to the said Henry Poper in Dutchess County on the day of   A.D. by one Elder Bullock a Baptist Minister and that her name before her said marriage was Hannah Thorne, that her said husband died at Cairo Green County New York on the first day of November AD 1832 and that she is now a widow, and that no public or family record of her said marriage exists, to her knowledge, that she can now procure and she refers to the proof heretofore made of her & filed in the Pension Office upon which the certificate of pension under act of
Feb 2 1848. No 4146 Dated March 9 1849 & recorded on the Roll of Pensioner Page 18 of Vol 4 was issued. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "act approved March 3, 1855
Hannah Soper
Sworn and subscribed one pen
this 24th day of March 1855
Before me William Hogg
Justice of the peace in said County
Page 17

We William Winfield and William R Johnson resident of Maine Broome County in the State of New York upon our oaths declare that the
foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Hannah Soper in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she
represents herself to be William Winfield
William R Johnson
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that I Know the affiants to be credible persons that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be and that I have no interest in this claim
William Hogg Justice of the Peace

STATE OF NEW YORK,
BROOME COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.)
I Erasmus D. Robinson CLERK.
 Clerk of the County of Broome, Do HEREBY CERTIFY, that William Hogg Esq
whose name is subscribed to the Certificate of the proof or acknowledgment of the annexed Instrument, and thereon written, was, at the time of taking such proof of acknowledgment, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the said County of Broome, duly elected and sworn, and authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Justice of the Peace, and verily believe
that his signature to the said Certificate of proof or acknowledgment is genuine and that said instrument is executed and acknowledged in conformity with the laws of this State.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said County the 26 day of April A.D. 1855.
E. D. Robinson CLERK.
Page 18

New York 7868
Hannah Soperwidow of
Henry Soper
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 24 October, 1832
of Green Co in the State of N.Y who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Stewart of the 
Regt: commanded by Col. Graham
the N. York line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany
at the rate of 30 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29th:
November 1843 and sent to Henry Wynkoop
Catskill, N.Y
Whole amount due $150.00

(Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by Well Stewart Clerk. 
Book D Vol 1 Page 181-
Page 19

Jeremiah Russell

5459
Hannah Soper
$30 per an

Hon. J. Russell
[] H.K.
Page 20

STATE OF NEW YORK.
County of Greene ss.

On this fifteenth day of December in the year,
one thousand eight hundred and forty-three before the subscriber, Robert C. Field
a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Albany personally appeared Hannah Soper
a resident of the town of Cairo in said county, aged eighty two who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 3d of March 1843, granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war:
That she is the widow of Henry Soper Deceased who was a
soldier in the Revolutionary war for which service he made an application for a pension under the act of 7th June 1832
She further declares that she was a Pensioner of the United States under the act
of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, and that the annual amount of the pension which she
received under the said act was thirty dollars
She further declares that she is still a widow, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed-
HAnnah Soper
Sworn to and subcribed on the day
and year first above written.

R. C. Field Justice of the Peace

I Certify that the above declarant is personally known to me to be the widow of Henry
Soper and that she has not intermarried but still remains his widow and is the identical person above described as an applicant for a pension
R.C. Field, Justice of the Peace

STATE OF NEW-YORK,
County of Greene} ss

I, William Pierson clerk of said county, do hereby certify that Robert C. Field Esq was on
the day of the date of the above jurat and certificate, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, duly appointed and qualified, and that the signature above, purporting to be his, is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this 20" day December 1843 Wm Pierson Clerk
Page 21

State of New York
Greene County ss

Henry Wynkoop of the town of Catskill
County of Greene and State of New York being duly sworn deposeth and saith that is personally acquainted with Hannah Soper widow of Henry Soper decd who was a soldier in the revolutionary war and that since his death she as his widow has been awarded a a pension under the act of July 7. 1838 for five year and that since his death she has not intermarried but still remains a widow and is the identical Hannah Soper who is now an applicant for a pension under late law of Congress for the revolutionary services of
her husband the said the said Henry Soper decd and further this deponant saith not
Henry Wynkoop
Sworn to and subscribed this 25th day
of December 1843 before me personally
known as a affectable citizen entitled
to full credit
R. C. Field Justice of the Peace
Page 22

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of 2d February, 1848, entitled "An act making further provision for surviving Widows and Soldiers of the Revolution."

STATE OF NEW YORK,
County of Broome ss

On this 24th day of  February 1849 personally appeared before the subscriber one of the
Justices of the Peace in and for said county Hannah Soper -- a resident of Maine
in the county of Broome, aged eighty nine years, who being first duly sworn, according to
law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed on the 2d February, 1848, granting pensions to widows of persons who
served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of Henry Soper who
was a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner at
$30 per annum that she has recd a pension under the act of 17th June 1844 at the
rate of thirty dollars per annum
She further declares that she is a widow.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before

the word, December" exacted "February" inserted & the figure 8 excluded & 9 inserted before execution
H. S. Griswold Justice of the Peace

I certify that the above named affiant is personally known to me, and that she is the same individual who drew a pension as stated by her in the foregoing affidavit.

H. S. Griswold Justice of the Peace

State of New York
Broome County, SS

I John C. Moore, Clerk of said County, do certify, that H. S. Griswold, Esq. whose name appears to above certificate & Jurat of
affidavit, was, at the time said affidavit was sworn, & said certificate was made, a Justice of the Peace for said County, duly qualified to act as such and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & believe Signatures above genuine.
 Given under my hand & official Seal, at Binghamton, 24 Feb. 1849,
John C. Moore Clerk,
Page 23

Hon L Waldo
Binghamton May 5th 1855
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
Enclosed is the application for Bounty Land under act approved March 3d 1855 of Widow Hannah Soper
Please acknowledge receipt of same & send Warrant when issued directed to my case at Binghamton Broome Co NY

Yours Respectfully
Frank Loomis
Page 24

Hammah Soper
wid of Henry
Pensioner of NY
Law 1844
old case of mine
from Arad Joy
Page 25


We William Steward Clergyman resided in the town of Greenville near the residence of the above named Henry Soper in the town of Cairo and Lemuel C. Bennet of said town of Lavis hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Soper who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty six years of age that he is reputed & believed & believed in the neighbourhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed this William Stewart Lemuel C. Bennett
July 1832 before
me Perkins King 
Judge as aforesaid
And I the said Judge do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant in was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he
states and that he is unable to be removed from his house or appear before the court of the County And I do further certify that it appears to me and I do personally know that William Stewart who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Greenville near that of the said
applicant and that Lemuel Bennet who has
signed the same is a resident in said town of
Cairo and is a credible person and that their
statement is entitled to credit

Interlineations made before execution hereof 1st page "Henry Soper" as a volunteer
in building in building - 2 page with him in the County of Dutchess & State of New York 3 page "Clergyman"

Perkins King Judge as aforesaid
Page 26


State of New York
Greene County  ss

 I, William V. B. Heermance Clerk of the County
of Greene do certify that Perkins King Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavits purport to have been sworn, was at the date of the same a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County, and that I am acquainted with his hand writing and de verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavits to be his proper hand writing and signature. 
Witness my hand & seal of office this
twentieth day of July in the year 1832.
William V. B. Heermance Clerk

3563
Page 27

26,435

Rev army
Page 28

Hon L P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
FREE

191'521
Page 29

Mar a/6y  W. Cole
5096 []

Fed
E Blackmer
MC

ES Edwards Esq

Com of Pension

Blackmer
Page 30

Hannah Soper of New York, for a pension certificate to continue her pension

from
Hon. E. Blackmar
M.C
Page 31

Reported
5096
New York Albany
Hannah Soper
widow of Henry Soper
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
30 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
18th day of March 1844
and sent to
Hon J Russell
Ho of Rep
Act of March 3, 1843.}
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1
Page 262
Page 32

Rev
 WIDOW &c.


File No. 19387
Hannah Soper
Widow of
Henry Soper
Pri Rev War
Act: Feb 2d 48
Index: -- Vol. M Page 231
Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 33

ed in the microfilm publication
are from
Lord Group 105
he Bureau of Refugees,
and Abandoned Lands
National Archives

SELECTED SERIES OF RECORDS ISSUED BY
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BUREAU OF
REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS
1865 - 1872
On the 7 rolls of this microfilm publication are reproduced 7 volumes of letters sent, 6 volumes of endorsements sent, 1 volume of circulars issued, and I volume of special orders is --
sued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865 - 72. Also included are 14 volumes of
indexes. The records relate to the general operations of the Bureau and are part of Record Group 105, Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, often referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in
the War Department by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1865 (13 Stat. 507). Congress assigned to the Bureau responsibilities previously shared by the military commanders and the agents of the Treasury Department, which included the supervision of
all affairs relating to refugees and freedmen and the custody of all abandoned or confiscated lands and property. The act also provided that the Bureau was to be headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
In May 1865 the President appointed Maj. Gen. Oliver Otis Howard as Commissioner. Howard, who served until the Bureau was discontinued in 1872, established his headquarters in Washington, D. C. Although the size and organization of the Bureau headquarters varied from time to time, Howard's staff consisted
primarily of an Assistant Adjutant General, an Assistant Inspector General, a Chief Medical Officer, a Chief Quartermaster, a Chief Disbursing Officer, and officers in charge of the Claim Division, the Education Division, and the Land Division. The Bureau's operations were confined principally to the former Confederate States, the border States, and the District
of Columbia. Assistant Commissioners supervised the work of the Bureau in the districts into which the States were divided.
Officers subordinate to the Assistant Commissioners carried out the policies of the Bureau within the districts. During the years of its greatest activity, the operations of the Freedmen's Bureau resembled, in many ways, the work of later Federal social agencies. In addition to supervising the disposition
of the abandoned or confiscated lands, Bureau officers issued rations, clothing, and medicine to destitute refugees and freedmen. They established hospitals and dispensaries and supervised tenements and camps for the homeless. Bureau officers and
Page 34

members of philanthropic organizations cooperated in establishing schools, operating employment offices, and dispensing relief.
The main concern of the Bureau was the freedman. Bureau officers supervised the writing of labor contracts and terms of
indenture, registered marriages, listened to complaints, and generally concerned themselves with improving almost all aspects
of the freedman's life. In March 1866 the Bureau assumed the function of helping colored soldiers and sailors to file and collect
claims for bounties, pensions, and pay arrearages.
By the beginning of 1869 most of the work of the Freedmen's Bureau had come to an end. An act of Congress approved on July 25, 1868 (15 Stat. 193), provided that on January 1, 1869,
the Commissioner was to withdraw the Bureau officers from the States and discontinue the functions of the Bureau except those
relating to education and to the collection and payment of claims. Effective June 30, 1872, the Bureau was abolished by an act of Congress approved June 10, 1872 (17 Stat. 366). All unfinished work, which by this time related chiefly to the collection and payment of claims, was transferred to the Freedmen's Branch that
was established in the Office of the Adjutant General.
The volumes reproduced in this microcopy were originally arranged by type of record and thereunder in numerical sequence, with no numbers assigned to index books or to series consisting of single volumes. Later all the volumes were arbitrarily assigned numbers. In this microfilm publication the last set of
numbers assigned are in parentheses and are useful only as an aid in identifying the volume.

Series Listing and Remarks
Letters Sent 

The 7 volumes of letters sent are dated 1865 to 1872 and contain copies of letters, telegrams, and circular letters sent by Commissioner Howard and his Assistant Adjutant General. Also
included are copies of Howard's annual reports to the President.
Three of the volumes also contain other types of records as follows: in volume 2, pages 500-507, a small series of letters of appointment, July -- December 1866; in volume 3, some letters of appointment that are interfiled with other letters sent; and in volume 7, some endorsements sent.
The documents in the letterbooks are generally arranged in chronological order. In the first three volumes each  letter, telegram, circular letter, or report was assigned a number. In
many volumes there are fractions in the left margin of the pages. The numerator is the number of the page in the same volume on
which a preceding letter to the same 
correspondent appears, and the denominator is the number of the page on which there is a
subsequent letter. Frequently noted in the letterbooks is the file number of the letter received or the number of the order
issued that relates to the subject of the letter.
In this microfilm publication the index book is filmed before the related volume of letters sent. There are name and subject index books to volumes 1-4 and name index books to
volumes 5 - 7. Volume 5 also has a subject index that is bound at the front of the volume. The name and subject indexes are arranged alphabetically, with the names listed first. In the
index books to volumes 1 and 2 the number after the name refers to the page in the letterbook, and the number after the subject
refers to the file number of the letter. This practice is also true for volume 3, except that the number after the subject refers to either the file number of the page number.
A series of press copies of letters sent is not included in this microfilm publication. Most of the press copies relate mainly o requests for transportation or applications for positions
in the Bureau. From October 1867 to June 1872 letters of appointment and revocation were kept as a separate series and are not included
in this microfilm publication.
Endorsements sent
According to the record keeping practice of the day, the Commissioner kept a series of records known as endorsement books. Frequently, instead of writing a letter, the Commissioner
of the Assistant Adjutant General wrote the reply or forwarding statement on the incoming letter and either returned the communication to the sender or forwarded it to another officer. These replies or statements were copied into endorsement books, with a summary of the contents of the related incoming communication on which the statement had been written.
The 6 volumes of endorsements sent are dated from May 22 to September 28, 1865, and from August 25, 1866, to January 4, 1871. Between September 29, 1865, and August 24, 1866, the
endorsements were copied into a series of registers of letters received, which will be reproduced in a forthcoming microfilm
publication. After January 1871 the endorsements were copied into the volumes of letters sent or letterbooks.
The endorsements sent are generally arranged in chronological order. In the left margin of the pages in the endorsement

3
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books is the name of the person or title of the officer to whom the endorsement was sent.
There are name index books to all the endorsement books except volume 2, which has a name index bound at the front of the volume. The two subject indexes are a subject index book to volume 4 of the endorsement books, and a subject index bound at the front of volume 5.
Circulars issued
The single volume of circulars issued, 1865 - 69, contains instructions relating to the organization and operation of the Bureau. The circulars are arranged by year and thereunder
numerically. At the beginning of the volume is a list of officers to whom the circulars were issued. The subject index book, which refers only to the circulars issued in 1865, has been
filmed before the volume of circulars. Also included in the volume are some unnumbered circular letters that are not duplicated in the letterbooks.
Special Orders Issued
The single volume of special orders, 1865 - 72, relates mainly to personnel, although there are a few orders that pertain to the general administration of the Bureau. The orders
are arranged by year and thereunder numerically with the exception of those for the period 1870-71, which are arranged in one
numerical series. In the left margin are the names of the people mentioned in the orders. In the name and subject index at the beginning of the volume, the number after the name refers to the page in the volume, and the number after the subject refers to the number of the special order. The volume also contains the special field orders issued by Commissioner Howard from October 19 to November 6, 1865;
they are placed between Special Orders 117 and 118.
Related Records
In the same record group are the registers and the letters received by Commissioner Howard. These records will be reproduced in a forthcoming publication. There are also series of
letters and endorsements sent that were created by the officers on Commissioner Howard's staff in Washington. The records relate to claims, education, and lands. Many records relating to the Freedmen's Bureau are in
other record groups in the National Archives. There are records of military districts and departments in Record Group 393, Records of United States Army Continental Commands, 1821 - 1920; of abandoned property in Record Group 366, Records of Civil War Special Agencies of the Treasury Department; and of the Freedmen's Savings Bank in Record Group 107, Records of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The records reproduced in this microcopy were prepared for filming by Elaine C. Everly, who also wrote these introductory
remarks and provided the other editorial material.
Page 36

Roll
CONTENTS OF MICROCOPY 742
Description and Dates
Name and Subject Index ( 65 ) to
Volume 1 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 1 ( 664 )
May 16 -- Dec. 30, 1865
Name Index ( 85 ) to
Volume 1 of Endorsements Sent
Endorsements Sent, Volume 1 ( 84 )
May 22 -- Sept. 28, 1865
Name and Subject Index (n.n. to
Volume 2 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 2 ( 66)
Jan. 1 -- Dec. 29, 1866
Endorsements Sent, Volume 2 ( 86)
Aug. 25, 1866 -- Mar. 18, 1867
Name and Subject Index ( 68 ) to
Volume 3 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 3 ( 67 )
Jan. 2 -- Sept. 30, 1867
Name Index ( 88 ) to
Volume 3 of Endorsements Sent
Endorsements Sent, Volume 3 ( 87 )
Mar. 18 -- Sept. 27, 1867
Name and Subject Index ( 70 ) to
Volume 4 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 4 ( 69 )
Oct. 1, 1867 -- Aug. 31, 1868
Name Index ( 90 ) to
Volume 4 of Endorsements Sent
Subject Index ( 91 ) to
Volume 4 of Endorsements Sent
Endorsements Sent, Volume 4 89)
Sept. 27, 1867 -- Aug. 18, 1868
Name and Subject Index ( 72 ) to
Volume 5 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 5 ( 71 )
Sept. 1, 1868 -- Oct. 30, 1869
Name Index ( 130 ) to
Volume 5 of Endorsements sent
Endorsements sent, Volume 5 ( 129 )
Aug. 18, 1868 -- Oct. 25, 1869
Name Index ( 74 ) to
Volume 6 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 6 ( 73 )
Oct. 20, 1869 - Dec. 28, 1870
Name Index ( 132 ) to
Volume 6 of Endorsements Sent
Price
$5
Page 37

GSADC 69. 803
Roll
Description and Dates
Endorsements Sent, Volume 6 ( 131 )
Oct. 26, 1869 - Jan. 4, 1871
Name Index ( 76 ) to
Volume 7 of Letters Sent
Letters Sent, Volume 7 75 )
Jan. 3, 1871 - June 30, 1872
Subject Index ( 140 ) to
$5
Circulars issued
Circulars Issued ( 139 )
May 15, 1865 -- June 19, 1869
Special Orders issued ( 137 )
May 22, 1865 -- June 27, 1872
-
Total $48
Price