Affidavit of N. J. Gilmer with additional statements of support; July 1865

Crawfordsville Lowndes county Miss. July 18^th 1865

Personally appeared before me Theophilus Harvey an acting & duly commissioned magistrate & ex officio notary Public in &for said county, N. J. Gilmer who makes oath that he sold to the so called Confederate Government ninity four bales of cotton, that he was impelled to this course by reason of threats emanating ^from^ Gen Forrest's command, then in this vicinity, to the effect that if such transfer was not made the cotton would be burned, as was actually done in many instances. This affiant therefore insists that he was robbed of his cotton & that it is still his property. He then deemed C. S. Bonds valueless—all that they gave ^him^ he ^still^ holds.

Your affiant further makes oath that he & all his family were Old Line Whigs, not one of them ever voted for Jefferson Davis or for his adherents—that when the question of secession was pending affiant did vote for Phil Clayton who said he was opposed to secession; but affiant refused to vote for Hon Mr Barry. Since that time affiant has never voted. Affiant has never served in the Armies of the so called C S, but was once in the militia of this state much against his will

Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written.

Theo Harvey (J P) Justice of the Peace

N J. Gilmer

Crawfordsville Lowndes county Miss. July 18^th 1865

I

Captain of Co "I" 12^th Reg't Ind Cav^y Vols commanding the Post do certify that the said Theophilus Harvey is an Acting Justice of the Peace ^it is understood under^ under the appointment of Wm L. Sharkey Provisional Governor of Mississippi & that the genuine signature of said Harvey is attached to the foregoing Affidavit.

Robt S Richhart Capt 12^th Ind Vol Cav Comy "I" Cav

Crawfordsville Lowndes county Miss. July 18/65

The undersigned neighbors for many years past ^of^ N. J. Gilmer assert that for years before the late war the said Gilmer was a Union man & in 1860 was an adherent of Bell & Everett. The sole issue, as we then regarded it, was Union or secession.

Ja^s Jones W, H, C, Henderson W. O. Jones J. M. Jackson D. F. Owen C. B. Whitlock Theo Harvey J J Carr

Crawfordsville Lowndes cty Miss July 19^th 1865

Gov. Sharkey—

I presume you remember my father, Jno R. Gilmer, for many years, representative & senator from this county. He died five years ago having never departed from the ^political^ faith which you & he espoused. I have followed followed closely in his footsteps—have ever been & am a loyal citizen of Mississippi & of the United States. I ask your attention to the petition hereto attached & that the full benefit of the Amnesty Proclamation be extended to me. Very Respectfully

N. J. Gilmer

N J Gilmer

A petition in relation to cotton, he does not wish to fulfil his contract