Distant Storm: Florida's Role in the Civil War

A Sesquicentennial Exhibit

Petition of E. E. Blackburn and Others, November 23, 1861

Series: (Series 887, Florida Legislative Records, 1845-1911)

Page 1 of 3

Civil War

Petition of E. E. Blackburn and Others, November 23, 1861
Transcript

To The Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened: The petition of E. E. Blackburn late Marshal of the late United States in and for the Northern District of Florida, for himself and his Assistant Marshals, respectfully Shewith that he and his Assistants did during the year A. D. 1860, take the Census of the said Northern District of Florida; that the work was done to the entire Satisfaction of the Government of the late United States; that a large amount of the fees earned for the taking of the Said Census has not yet been paid; that he believes the following Sums are yet due, the parties hereinafter named to wit: himself and Clerk, by agreement with the Secretary of the Interior, he and his Clerk were to receive----$500.00 

None of which has been paid  
That John H. Rhodes’ Account amounted to     406.64
None of this bill has been paid  
E. R. Ives’ Account amounted to    548.96
None of which has been paid  
William Grothe’s Account Amounting to     400. &
Odd Dollars none of which has been paid  
One half of Wm G. Lester’s Account              45.024
Is yet due  
One half of G. T.(?) Zehnbuer’s Account           74.12
Is yet due  
One half of Wm N. (?) Anderson’s Account      73.27
Is yet due  
One half of Jonathan C. (?) Stewart’s Account 47.57½
Is yet due  
One half of H. K. Simmons’ Account Amount            47.04
Is yet due  
One half of J. S. Gonzales’ Account Amount    109.13
Is yet due  
   
[end Page 1]  
   
(Page 2)  
One half of Francis Duston’s (?) Account Amount   68.24½
Is yet due  
One half of Wm S. Spencer’s Account Amount  129.46½
Is yet due  
One half of Wm B. Watson’s Account Amount  42.52
Is yet due  
One half of Charnick (?) Selph’s Account Amount  94.13½
Is yet due  
One half of D. K. McDonald’s Account Amount    126.25
Is yet due  
One half of D. G. Lee’s Account Amount   56.89 
Is yet due  
One half of Z. G. Wheeler’s (?) Account Amount      53.95
Is yet due  
One half of William McPherson’s Account Amount   68.89
Is yet due  
One half of W. K. Jones’ Account Amount  53.59
Is yet due  
One half of E. D. Gornto’s Account Amount    147.17
Is yet due  
One half of William McKain’s Account Amount    124.98½
Is yet due  
One half of A. D. Rogers’ Account Amount 73.55½
Is yet due  
One half of A. M. Andrew’s Account Amount 162.47½
Is yet due  
One half of John G. Smith’s Account Amount   217.66
Is yet due  
One half of James E. Bowden’s (?) Account Amount   54.01½
Is yet due  
One half of J. D. Bassett’s Account Amount  212.92
Is yet due  
   
[end Page 2]  
One half of J. J. McMillan’s Account Amount 49.69
Is yet due  
One half of G. W. Blackburn’s Account Amount 173.92
Is yet due  
One half of Simeon Helvenston’s Account Amount  183.08
Is yet due Making a Total due the late Marshal,  
His Clerks & assistants of Four Thousand Three Hun-  
dred and Forty-five Dollars 4345.16½

                                         
Your Petitioner would further represent that these Several Sums would have been paid last Winter but for the Secession of the State of Florida from the Federal Union; that even after the State had Seceded the Superintendant of Census (Joseph c. G. Kennedy) Expressed a willingness to pay those Several Bills, provided draft issued from his department would be honored by the authorities of the State of Florida, as far as the funds would go, that were Seized by the State Authority, as will more fully appear by reference to his letter of 9th April, A. D. 1861, in reply to my letter of the 22nd March, 1861. Mr. Kennedy’s letter and a copy of mine is herewith Submitted. Your Petitioner thinks it is but right and just that these Several claims should be paid out of the funds Seized by the State of Florida, on and after the day of Secession. Your Petitioner therefore prays that the Legislature make provision for the payment of the Several Claims by Act or Resolution, and your Petitioner will in duty bound ever pray, etc.


November 23, 1861                                                                                                                 

E. E. Blackburn

Late U S Marshal

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