We don’t know when Thomas Jefferson Morrow—only four years out of enslavement at this point—had taught himself to write, but we do know that he took pen in hand and wrote his petition with unwavering script. After graphically describing the arrest of—and attack on—his sons, and then noting that Nelson was still in jail, he flatly declared, “I want him out.” There was no mincing of words here—Mr. Morrow made himself perfectly clear, fully claiming the rights of citizenship ensured only a year earlier by the 14th Amendment. “I want you to write and tell me how to manage,” he demanded. Three times in the three-page letter, he pressed the governor for a formal reply, even suggesting that the governor direct members of the Union League to remove his son from the jail. Closing with “Your true and faithful friend” (notably avoiding the more traditional term “servant,” and thus fully claiming his status as an equal), Jefferson Morrow signed his name with a flourish.
Oaks. B. Orange Co.
Sept. the 22nd 1869
Gov. Holden honorable Sir
I take the present opportunity in writing you a short note by the reading of which you may learn something of the condition of matters in general. About a month ago, there was three barns burned in this vicinity belonging to three men, viz Wm. Jones, F. Minor, Jas. Morrow. My boys, having been accused, was arrested and brought on trial. They both proved themselves clear, but not withstanding the evidence, they put them both in jail. After they had been in jail about 2 weeks, the Ku Klux went to the prison and took the boys out and took them about half a mile from the town and told the boys they was going to kill them if they did not tell who burned the barns. The boys told them they might kill them, but they did not know who did the mischief. After they found the boys did not know anything about the affair, the captain of the clan give orders for the boys to march. All of them left except three or four. These made the boys kneel down. After doing this, shot at them and shot one of the boys through the thigh. He lives 3 or 4 days and died. The other one had been in jail ever since. I want him out. How am I to manage? I am afraid they will break in and kill him. I want you to write and tell me how to manage. Can three members of the Union League of America take him out? I hear they can. I want you to write and tell me how to do and what to do. The boy will appear at court if he is taken out. I am only afraid they will kill him. Please write and inform me what to do. Your true and faithful friend,
Jefferson Morrow
Historian and retired appellate criminal defense attorney Paul Green both located and initially transcribed Jefferson Morrow’s letter to Gov. Holden. Our transcription only minimally changes Attorney Green’s rendition, mostly by adding punctuation to ease readability.
Dr. Glenn Hinson, Assoc. Professor of Anthropology and American Studies, UNC