Certificate of Land for James Hicks

Southern land owners who had sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War had to prove their loyalty to the Union in order to have their abandoned or confiscated property returned to them. After James Hicks swore an oath of allegiance to the United States, he petitioned for the return of his seized land, which was held by the Freedmen's Bureau.

The Federal Government had established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands – better known as the Freedmen's Bureau – after the Civil War to aid formerly enslaved people. One of the major activities of the Bureau was the leasing of abandoned and confiscated property.

The U.S. District Attorney ordered that all legal obstructions to the return of Hicks's land be dismissed. This document granted the land to "James Hix and his heirs forever."

Transcript

[handwritten]

Virginia to wit:

This is to certify that the lot of land in Hampton Elizh-City Co: bounded by King Street, Church St & Sinclair is charged to James Hix and his heirs forever upon the Commissioners books of this County. Also that the lot on the creek in the same place bounded by King, Armistead, Sempkins & the creek is charged to said James Hicks & his heirs forever, upon the Commissioners book's of this county. Given under my hand this 12th day of February 1866.

Wm. L. Howard Clerk of
Elizabeth City Co: VA

[stamp]