William tells the story of how he became the guardian of a child, Lily, whose mother Barbara was a "colored woman." When Lily’s mother, Barbara, died, Lily was given to Judy, Archer Alexander’s wife, to care for. But when Judy died, Archer asked William to care for Lily, which he did. Then William learned that Lily had an older sister, Lizzie, who was in the care of Colonel John Balfour. Colonel Balfour asked William to become legal guardians for both girls, which he did. Colonel Balfour gave William US Bonds to help pay for the girls’ care. William is asking General Sherman to ask his brother John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury, to help get the money from the bonds so he can use it for care of the girls. William also states that Archer Alexander has been in his service since 1863 when he gave him protection under authority of Provost Marshall. He also says Archer Alexander was the “original of the kneeling slave in the Lincoln Emancipation group by Thomas Ball.” William Greenleaf Eliot to Gen. Sherman.
Letter from Johnson Hellen, enslaver, to William Greenleaf Eliot, which included a stipulation for Virginia’s freedom from enslavement at age twenty-five. Additional note by Eliot states Virginia was emancipated and married William Parks, handyman. Johnson Hellen was from Washington City.
A bond of indemnity presented to Eliot by John A Kassin/Kasson stating that Eliot paid Kassin/Kasson $600.00 to purchase Lydia, an enslaved woman, in order to set her free.
