The following transcript is an edited version of a transcript posted on the Private Voices website. I corrected spelling, grammar and format to improve readability. The original transcript is available HERE.
BACKGROUND: Gerome Prosper FormyDuval, born October 12, 1821, resided near Old Dock in Columbus County. His son, Coval, served as a private in Company H, 51st North Carolina. The object of his ire in his note to Governor Vance is David James Register. In the 1850 census, the Register family occupied house #629. FormyDuval lived nearby, in house # 631.
Mr. Z B Vance March the 3,1863
Sir, I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines in order to let you know that I saw Capt. John Inmon of Brunswick County N.C. and he did inform me that there was a petition sent to you in order to release one D. J. Register from the service of his country and if it is so, I want you, if you please, to send it to me. We want to know who it was signed it, for we can’t find but three men that it was presented to and two of them refused to sign it, and if you have got it, it is undoubtedly a forgery. We want to find out something about it. I will say to you that I have lived within one mile and half about ten years and I know him well. I will certify that he, Register, is the meanest man I know of. I heard him swear to one lie and heard of him swearing to another. He has been run from Columbus County for hogs stealing and from S.C. to Brunswick County for stealing and there ain’t no bigger liar in my knowledge than he is. I will appeal to your honor, if you have got that petition to send it back to me and if you don’t believe me, send it back to the clerk of the county court of Columbus County and you can get his character in full. I know if he come back, the poor women will fare bad for he will steal anything he can get hold of, and if he get the chance to come home, he will lie out in the green swamp.
So I will Close, yours O.B.
address me at Bug hill p. o. G.P. Formyduval
Columbus County N.C
Private Voices, https://altchive.org/node/298
Vance 58: G. P. FormyDuval to Z. B. Vance
Transcriber: Andrea Cudworth & Michael Ellis
Transcription Date: October, 2011
Proofer: M. Ellis
Proof Date: November, 2011
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