Affidavit of Mary Wilson, June 17, 1865

                                      Camp Nelson, Jessamine Co. Ky.

                                          June 17th 1865

The affiant Mary Wilson of the County of Fayette State of Kentucky being first duly sworn states that she is the lawful wife of Lewis Wilson 119 U.S.C.T. and that under the laws of Congress she is entitled to her freedom, that on or about the 21st day of May 1865 Sup Mason and Powers policemen of the City of Lexington Ky. came to her house in that city, where she was then living in an orderly and quiet manner and without just cause or provocation arrested her and forcibly and against her will took her to the residence of her former master William Adams living about three miles from Lexington Ky. on the Newtown Pike and there in the presence of the said Sap Mason and William Adams the said Downey tied her in a Slaughter house to a rafter or beam and with a leather buggy trace inflicted upon her naked body a severe beating and bruising That the said beating and bruising was done in pursuance of instructions form her former master who himself inflicted several stripes upon her naked body.

That again on or about the Sixth (6) day of June 1865 the said Downey arrested her in the City of Lexington Ky, without just cause or provocation and had her confined in the watch house or City prison of Lexington Ky, against her will and that on the same day the said Downey took her to the residence of her former master William Adams and there in the presence of the said Adams the said Downey did tie her as aforesaid in a slaughter house and bent and bruised her person by inflicting blows upon her naked body with leather buggy trace, That this second beating and bruising was inflicted by the directions of the said Adams, That the said Adams has the unlawful custody of her son Richard which he refuses to surrender much against her will. That these facts as occurred in respect to the said first beating and bruising on or about the 31st of May 1865 and the unlawful detention of her child by the said Adams, were promptly laid before the Military Authorities in the City of Lexington Ky. on the same day of the said first beating and bruising and that up to this time she has been unable to have any redress for the said wrongs and outrages inflicted upon her body as aforesaid And further affiant said not.

                             (Signed) Mary Wilson

                                 Her Mark

               Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17th day of June 1865.

                  (Signed) C.M. Norwood

                   Notary Public.