Atlanta Ga Feb 1st 1866
To the Hon Senate and House Representatives
We your humble Petitioners Freedmen of Atlanta Ga. and members of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and a portion of the congregation lately worshiping with Said Church, Beg leave to represent to your honorable body, that during the late campaign of General Sherman through Georgia, our house of worship was torn down to the ground, and utterly demolished by a party of Federal Soldiers.
It was without the least provocation on our part, as we ever demeaned ourselves loyal, and never misused the Federal Soldiers, believing them our best friends.
Your petitioners would state that it was a large, commodious and well [word struck through] finished edifice, that had been built by ourselves when in slavery, our contributions for building were raised by very many hours of severe toil after our daily tasks were done for our Masters, And by denying ourselves many of the comforts of life. It was our crown and joy. It was to us what the temple was to the Jews. When the dark days of war had passed, and we gathered again here from our wonderings, “our holy and beautiful house” was a mass of ruins. Havings no place but under the open canopy of Heaven to publicly worship the God of our fathers,
we gathered courage from adversity and trusting in God, out of the broken fragments remaining of the building, fitted up the skeleton of a house for the present exigency, but wholy inadequate to the wants of the congregation. As almost all of us have been slaves all our lives, we are without pecuniary means to build another house of worship. Most of us are struggling for dear life, dependent on the Small proceeds of our daily labor to support our families, and aid the sick and inferior among us. We feel deeply thankful to the United States Government, who under god have given us the inestimable boon of Freedom.
We fully conscious of the desire for our welfare, for our physical condition and moral elevation. Your petitioners are therefore the more bold and hopeful, considering that our Church was destroyed by federal Soldiers, without any provocation on our part, to petition your honorable body to make an appropriation of money to enable us to build another house of worship. Our Church was valued at Seven thousand dollars. We therefore ask the government to assist us in rebuilding it. And we your servants will ever pray for your happiness and endless felicity.
Names of the Preachers
Joseph Wood, Paster in Charge,
S. B. Jones Local Preachers,
N. C. Brown ” “
Thomas ✝ Craton ” “
Arche ✝ Gibbert ” “
Douglass ✝ Wilkins ” “
John ✝ Geeter ” “
Newly ✝ Strickland ” “
Ephraim ✝ Russel ” “
Perlus ✝ Murphy ” “
Anthony ✝ Mongomery charter
Duncan ✝ Minard “
John ✝ Ricks “
Barker ✝ Winship class leader
Green ✝ York ” “
Vine ✝ Ware ” “
Melsen ✝ Tinsel ” “
John ✝ Roberson
J Sam ✝ Pascar
Stephen ✝ [illegible]
Robert ✝ Pearce [illegible] Bedles, leader,
Preston ✝ Johnson
[illegible] Macgee Steward
Sam ✝ [illegible]
Robert ✝ Webster
[illegible]✝ Macgee
John ✝ Macgee
Nathen ✝ Priar
Charles x Conley
Andy x Miller
Perry x Webster
Isaac x Calhoun
Jacob Grant
Chuck x Mays
Austin x Keith
Stephen x Gale
Larry x Thomas
Lewis x Giles
Berry x Johnson
Ben x Fish
Jacob x Fleman
Willis x Copeland
Antony x Johnson
Anderson x Boyd
Henry x Isaac
George x Gilham
Henry x Perkins
Burr x Knuckles
Wesley x Tomlinson
Wm x Miller
Jack x Stokes
Tilman x Nathan
Turner x Davis
Wm x Wood
Andrew x Newsom
Fletcher x Zachry
Moses x Calhoun
Gilbert x Green
Elias x Pinckney
John x Mootry
Saml x Martin
John x Watson
Thomas x Foster
Henry x Johnson
Sidney x Jones
Thomas x Owens
James x Davis
Jeff x Brooks
Alfred x Porter
Frederick x Wilsey
Peter x Calhoun
Peter x Richmond
Robert x Lys[illegible]
Benj. x Cobb
Cager x Cobb
John x Wood
John x Clark
Joe x Mills
Danl x Laffor
Robert x Henry
Charles x Forrest
Caesar x Miller
Stephen x Fowler
Richmond x Green
Mich x Mitchell
Charley x Prince
Gabriel x Russell
Henry x Green
Noah x Davis
W. F. x Turner
Zeber x Wright
Joseh x McClellan
Wm x Wesley
Charly x Harris
Wm x Combs
Ransom x Montgomery
John x Merriam
Jett x Thomas
Martin x Wright
Arnold x Johnson
Solomon x Johnson
Alfred x Williams
Davy Williams
Jos x Williams
Major x Whittaker
Thomas x Holland
Peter x Key
Dorsey x Brooks
Jeff x Bennett
Ben x Whittaker
Ben x Jones
Thom x Anderson
Cornelius x Thomas
John x Anderson
Wm x Garr
Charley x Garr
Wm Daugherty
Ru[illegible] Frank [illegible]
John x Alexander
George x Lee
Saml x Stewart
Green x Homes
Sanford x Wood
Russ x Alexander
Nelson x Saffs
Thomas x Tanner
John x Johnson
Freeman x Johnson
Danl x Webster
Henry x Harris
Mack x Inman
Zion x Turner
John x Foster
Turner x M[illegible]
Felix x Malone
Lewis x Colwell
Tom x Combs
Tony x Hall
Hardy x Boyson
Mack x McNeil
Nelson x Daugherty
Ezekiel x Wilkinson
Robt H. Badger
Matilda x Mongamer
Jane x Green
Manurvay x Marsh
Lousey x Gail
Elen x Johnson
Hanes x Printurp
Northan x Daniels
Lousinda x Mack
Caroline x Tinssaley
Marry x Williams
Minney x Badger
Caroline x Badger
Marry x Forres
Hester x Prier
Marry x Badger
Silvey x Swissey
Winey x Peaves
Marry x Fowler
Caroline x Huchans
Rarichel x Miller
Marry x Ones
Matildey x Milner
Lasar x Cornes
Harret x Zackrey
Lousindar x Croton
Emble x Jones
Lissey x Russeley
Hanes x Murfphe
Lissey x Gilden
Emerline x Graas
Rosey x Young
Matilda x Richards
Malissey x McGee
Marry x Scott
Loulas x Bouvier
Mary J. x Calhoun
Anes x Woods
Rosey x Coines
Naomey x Weebster
Rosey x Lester
Harrty x Bird
Marah x Jinkins
Jules x Tanner
Betty x Davis
Selester x Brise
Maliste x Dean
Rachel x Masson
Leanes x Masson
Embley x McColler
Elizes x Edwards
Silvey x Hamilton
Vilety x Burit
Harrey x Burit
Aderline x Calhoon
Rocksey x Henderson
Elizey x Jefson
Marry T. x Boyed
Mariah x Willison
Francy x Minion
Polley x Buddel
Elizes x Lin
Cherrey x Lin
Lousey x Mongomery
Marry x Hill
Elisabth x Williams
Myerrey x Shoomake
Louiser x Eps
Alices x Johnson
Marry x Smith
Mothey x McEaves
Marry x Foster
Grossey x Warrey
Angeline x Malone
Silver x Howel
Eady x Howel
Jane x Darrety
Caroline x Green
Savannah x Peeters
Ernes x Saffar
Lousinda x Basseen
Babrey x Yourk
Eles x Davis
Larron x Morrel
Francis x Felds
Trustees of Said Church
Robert Webster, Chairman Trustee board,
Anthony Montgomery
S. B. Jones
Duncan Minard
Vine Ware
Nathan Priar
Thomas Crayton.
