"In the city of Baltimore, where we have a theatre, and pay a smaller license than we do here, the law, as regards the colored people, is not acted upon when they are coming or going to the theatre.
"In a pecuniary point of view, we look upon this law as a detriment to us of $10 nightly, and we have great reason to hope that a law that rests so heavily upon us alone may meet with the kind consideration of the mayor and council, and be so modified as to relieve us from the heavy loss that it causes us at present to incur.
"We have the honor to be, dear sir, your obedient servants,
"JEFFERSON & MACKENZIE, "Managers of the Washington Theater."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Submitted by Professor Walter Dyson.
Lee, Ma.s.s. April 23, 1917.
CARTER G. WOODSON, Editor, _Journal of Negro History_, Washington, D. C.
_Dear Sir:_
The enclosed tracing of a ma.n.u.script in my possession may, or may not be of interest enough to publish in your magazine. The Ms.
came into my hands in the autumn of 1863 while I was serving in the ranks of the 10th Ma.s.s. Inf. At that time the regiment was stationed at Bristoe Station, on the R. R. between Alexandria and Fredericksburg. A detail which had been sent to Prince William Court House at Brentsville for some purpose brought to our camp some ma.n.u.scripts, among them that from which the tracing has been made, and which I thought of interest enough to preserve.
Yours very truly, (Signed) D. M. WILc.o.x.
A Marriage Contract made this 12th day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Fifty six Between John Brunskill of the Parish of Hamilton and County of Prince Willm Clerk, and Edward Humston of the above said Parish and County Witnesseth that the sd John--Brunskill doth Contract & agree with the said Humston, that he the said John Brunskill will have to his wife Ann Humston, daughter to the said Edward Humston and in Consideration of which the said Humston doth agree to & with the said Brunskill that he the said Humston will at the day of Marriage Lend unto the sd Ann Humston as a Maintenance during her life The Following Negroes, To wit, Jude, Lucy & three children John, Mary and Betty, and also one Negroe man named Tom, Jun. on proviso yt the said Brunskill doth pay unto ye said Humston ten pounds P Ann for four years in Consideration of the hire of the said Negroes, And at her ye said Ann Humstons death ye sd Negroes to fall to her Eldest son by the ye sd Brunskill but if she shou"d not have a son by the said Brunskill they are to fall Heir by the sd Brunskill they are to fall to her Eldest Daughter by the said Brunskill, but if she should die without Heir by the sd Brunskill they are at the Death of her and the said Brunskill to fall to the Heir at Law. And for the Performance of the above Contract. We do bind ourselves our heirs &c Either to other in the Penal sum Of five hundred Pounds Sterlg. In witness whereof We have set our hands & seals the day and Year above Written--
[Transcriber"s Note: In the signature below, {X} signifies where a larger X appears in the text.]
Signed sealed and Deliver"d } in the Presence of-- }
EDWARD HUMSTON (L.S.) JOHN BRUNSKILL JUNr (L.S.)
THO. MARSHALL his JOHN {X} WARRING Mark
At a Court held for prince William County the 22. of March 1756 This Marriage Contract was proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto & ordered to be recorded.
Test JOHN GRAHAM _Clerk_.
LETTERS ON RECONSTRUCTION RECORDS
TUSKEGEE INSt.i.tUTE, ALABAMA.
July 3, 1920.
DR. C. G. WOODSON, 1216 U Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
_My Dear Dr. Woodson:_
Attached are names of additional Negro members of the North and South Carolina legislatures and a letter from Mrs. M.E.
Richardson about an additional member of the Alabama legislature.
Attached also is a letter by Mr. John W. Cromwell. These should be published in the _Journal_. Kindly publish the same in the _Journal_, under doc.u.ments and oblige,
Yours very truly, (Signed) MONROE N. WORK.
Monroe N. Work, Editor, Negro Year Book.
MNW/FEH Three enclosures.
To the Editor of _The Planet_:
Will you for the sake of history allow this communication in your columns? It has been repeatedly charged that we have no racial history. If we are challenged with respect to certain events we admit the imputation by our silence. A different course would correct much error. _The Journal of Negro History_ for January has rendered a very great service by publishing the names and number of Negroes who have been members of their respective State Legislatures since the Civil War reconstruction. It was interesting and informative to note the names and numbers of members of our race from these different States.
When it came to Virginia the contrast was most painful. To behold the absence of detailed information similar to that supplied the other States, from North Carolina to Florida, from the Atlantic to the Rio Grande. For a time I felt like disowning that Virginia was my native State. Finally the obligation inc.u.mbent on all those who have lived in Virginia during the last fifty years or familiar with its history a.s.serted itself, hence I begin but I must acknowledge my sense of grat.i.tude to Rev. G. F. Bragg, Jr., who in the current number of _The Journal of Negro History_ has contributed from his recollection and given names of members whom he knew.
Peter J. Carter, Northampton George Teamoh, Norfolk County John Brown, Southhampton Peter G. Morgan, Petersburg John Watson, Mecklenburg Resa Hamilton, Jas. W. D. Bland, Prince Edward Frank Moss, Buckingham Caesar Perkins, Buckingham Willis A. Hodges, Princess Anne John Q. Hodges, Princess Anne Littleton Owens, Princess Anne John M. Dawson, James City John B. Syphax, Alexandria, Co.
Robert D. Ruffin, Alexandria, Co.
Miles Connor, Norfolk, Co.
William H. Andrews, Surry Henry c.o.x, Powhatan Peter K. Jones, Greenville William P. Mosely, Goochland Rufus S. Jones, Hampton Daniel M. Norton, Yorktown
Most of these are recollected by Professor Cromwell and those with the asterisk are furnished by others.
Robert Norton, Yorktown David Canady, Halifax John Freeman, Halifax Henry Clay Harris, Halifax John Robinson c.u.mberland John W. Poindexter, Louisa Alfred W. Harris, Robert G. L. Paige, Norfolk, Co.
*Alexander Lee, Elizabeth City.
*Robert M. Smith, Elizabeth City.
*John H. Robinson, Elizabeth City.
*James Fields, Warwick ---- Lips...o...b.. c.u.mberland ---- Matthews, Petersburg B. F. Jones, Charles City ---- Lyons, Elizabeth City
Rev. Mr. Bragg mentions those whom I do not recall:
Armstead Green, Petersburg Neverson Lewis, Powhatan Guy Powell, Brunswick Shed Dungee, c.u.mberland Batt Greggs, Prince Edward Archie Scott, Amelia and Nottoway J. R. Jones, Mecklenburg
A. A. Dodson was another from Mecklenburg, a senator as I remember. I have a vague recollection that Tazewell Branch was at one time a member, also that Nansemond county sent a representative.
I make no claim to accuracy in every case, but unless there is specific contradiction I will claim these named as men who played an honorable though an humble part in framing the laws of the commonwealth which has given eight Presidents to our Republic. I will be glad to hear from any one who can give further information on this subject.
Respectfully yours (Signed) J. W. Cromwell 1429 Swann St., N. W.
May 13, 1920.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
July 6, 1920.
DR. C. G. WOODSON _Journal of Negro History_.
Sir:
In addition to the Negro members in the Virginia legislature mentioned in my letter published in the Richmond (Va.) Planet of June. There should be included,--