Theresa Duffin reports that her former enslaver beat her after she argued with his wife and that they refuse to return her property
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Title
Theresa Duffin reports that her former enslaver beat her after she argued with his wife and that they refuse to return her property
Description
Affidavit of Theresa Duffin reporting that she had a run-in with her enslaver's wife in 1863 for which he severely beat her; she complained to the authorities & they promptly lodged her in jail; the enslaver got her out & told her that if she didn't wish to return to his place she must leave MD; she went to Georgetown; in fall 1864 she returned to the former enslaver's place to get her children, which he agreed to permit, but he refused to let her carry away some $125 worth of personal effects (interesting list of household furnishings & clothing); she complains about the property, saying that the former master threatened to kill her if she ever returned to his place.
Coverage
Washington, D.C.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Affidavit of a District of Columbia Freedwoman
[Washington, D.C.] 2nd day of Sept 1865
I Theresa Duffins a resident of Georgetown having been duly sworn do depose and state that in the Year 1863 I was held as a slave by one George William Smith who lives about one mile from Frederick City Maryland.̊̊that on account of a difficulty between his wife and myself He beat and bruised me severelẙ̊̊I went to the Provost Marshal of Frederick City Capt Cole and complained of the treatment I had received̊̊̊He told me to go back to my master.̊̊I then went to the Mayor who committed me to Jail.̊̊My former Master came and released me and told me that if I would go back I could do so if not that I must leave Maryland̊̊̊I left and came to Georgetown.̊̊One Year ago I went back to get my children̊̊̊He gave me the children but kept all my clothes and bed clothing viz a Feather bed one straw tick, a bedstead, 6 chairs, 6 quilts, a lot of clothing which I had picked up from the battle field a large looking glass 6 plates, a cut glass decanter, 2 glass Jars and three tumblers, 4 Jugs and one chest, worth to me at lease one hundred dollars̊̊̊In addition to this He kept clothing of mine worth Twenty five dollars. He told me that if I ever came back that He would kill me
Her
Theresa X Duffin
mark
Affidavit of Theresa Duffin, 2 Sept. 1865, Unregistered Letters Received, ser. 457, DC Asst. Comr., RG 105 [A-9872]. Sworn before a Freedmen's Bureau agent. Endorsement.
[Washington, D.C.] 2nd day of Sept 1865
I Theresa Duffins a resident of Georgetown having been duly sworn do depose and state that in the Year 1863 I was held as a slave by one George William Smith who lives about one mile from Frederick City Maryland.̊̊that on account of a difficulty between his wife and myself He beat and bruised me severelẙ̊̊I went to the Provost Marshal of Frederick City Capt Cole and complained of the treatment I had received̊̊̊He told me to go back to my master.̊̊I then went to the Mayor who committed me to Jail.̊̊My former Master came and released me and told me that if I would go back I could do so if not that I must leave Maryland̊̊̊I left and came to Georgetown.̊̊One Year ago I went back to get my children̊̊̊He gave me the children but kept all my clothes and bed clothing viz a Feather bed one straw tick, a bedstead, 6 chairs, 6 quilts, a lot of clothing which I had picked up from the battle field a large looking glass 6 plates, a cut glass decanter, 2 glass Jars and three tumblers, 4 Jugs and one chest, worth to me at lease one hundred dollars̊̊̊In addition to this He kept clothing of mine worth Twenty five dollars. He told me that if I ever came back that He would kill me
Her
Theresa X Duffin
mark
Affidavit of Theresa Duffin, 2 Sept. 1865, Unregistered Letters Received, ser. 457, DC Asst. Comr., RG 105 [A-9872]. Sworn before a Freedmen's Bureau agent. Endorsement.
Collection
Citation
“Theresa Duffin reports that her former enslaver beat her after she argued with his wife and that they refuse to return her property,” Black Maryland in the Civil War—A Microedition of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, accessed June 8, 2026, https://fssp.artinterp2.org/items/show/9.