Title: Petition of Henry Hatton, 6 May 1862

Date: May 6, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. The original document is held in the Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775–1978, National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 217.6.5. Within the National Archives' Archival Description Catalog, see ARC Identifier 4644616 / MLR Number A1 347 (http://arcweb.archives.gov).

Civil War Washington ID: cww.00061

TEI/XML: cww.00061.xml

 

PETITION.

To the Commissioners under the act of Congress approved the 16th of April, 1862, entitled "An act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia."

Your Petitioner, Henry Hatton of Prince George Co. Md. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he is a person loyal to the United States, who, at the time of the passage of the said act of Congress, held a claim to service or labor against Martha Hatton, Henry Hatton, & George Hatton persons of African descent of the name of as above stated. for and during the life of said persons. and that by said act of Congress said persons. were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons were was of the age of 24. 22. & 19 Years respectively and of the personal description following:(1)

Martha Hatton 24 yrs Mulatto Medium height
Henry Hatton 22 " Dark, tall & stout
George Hatton 19 " Mulatto, Medium light & stout

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said named persons in manner following:(2) By purchase from the estate of Elsworth Bayne

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three thousand dollars in money.(3) Henry, is a good blacksmith & George an excellent Servant & Martha, is an excellent seamstress.

and there are no bodily defects or infirmities, of which your petitioner has any Knowledge

Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioner further states and alleges, that he has not brought said persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioner further states and alleges, that his said claim to the service or labor of said persons does not originate in or by virtue of any transfer heretofore made by any person who has in any manner aided or sustained the present rebellion against the Government of the United States.

And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of his said claim to the service or labor of said persons herein above set forth; and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise and apportion the value of said claim in money, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in conformity to the provisions of said act of Congress.

(Signed by)
Henry Hatton.(Colored)
 
Paid
Elsworth Bayne
to Bill of sale
Henry Hatton
Received 15th Nov. 1841 to be Recorded and the same day was Recorded in Liber W.B. No 86 folio 469. One of the land records of Washington County in the District of Columbia and [illegible]

Wm Brent, Clk
 

Know all men by these presents that I Elsworth Bayne of Prince georges county in the state of Maryland, for, and in consideration of one Hundred and Twenty dollars to me in hand paid by Henry Hatton of Washington City District of Columbia at and before the sealing & delivery of these presents, the receipt where of I do hereby acknowledge, have bargained. Sold granted and confirmed and by these presents do bargain, sell, grant and confirm unto him the said Henry Hatton certain slaves, one girl, Martha aged about three years one boy Henry aged about Ten months to have and to hold the said slaves Martha and Henry and there future increase to the only proper use and behoof of the said Henry Hatton his executors administrators and assigns forever and I the said Elsworth Bayne for myself my executors and administrators, the said slaves, Martha & Henry with there future increase to said Henry Hatton his executors administrators and assigns, against me, the said Elsworth Bayne my executors administrators and assigns and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrant & forever defend by these presents in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of Novemeber in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one

Witness Edwd Graham

Elsworth Bayne Seal
 

Received of Henry Hatton one hundred dollars in full payment for servant child named George aged about three years and son of said Henry Hatton.


Elsworth Bayne
Test. Horatio Dyer
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Henry Hatton being duly sworn, do depose and say, that all the several matters and things which are set forth and stated in the foregoing petition, as of my own knowledge, are true in substance and in fact; and that all the several other matters and things therein set forth and stated, as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
Henry Hatton (Colored)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
John S. Hollingshead
Notary Public
61.
Petition of
Henry Hatton
Filed May 6, 1862
Dr. Clarke
Wm Shaw on 11th
Mr [illegible] Proctor in Co.


 Note (1.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.

 Note (2.)-- Here state how the claim was acquired, when, from whom, and for what price or consideration; and, if held under any written evidence of title, make exhibit thereof, or refer to the public record where the same may be found.

 Note (3.)-- Here state such facts, if any there be, touching the value of the petitioner's claim to the service or labor of the person, as may enhance the same, and also such facts, if any, touching the moral, mental, and bodily infirmities or defects of said person, as impair the value of the petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and conclude such statement with an averment that the petitioner knows of no other infirmities or defects of said person which impair the value of petitioner's claim to such service or labor, and that he believes none other to exist. If the petitioner specify no such infirmity or defect, then his statement touching the value of his claim should conclude with an averment that he has no knowledge of any such infirmity or defect.

Transcription and encoding: Elizabeth Lorang, Susan C. Lawrence, Brittany Jones, Rhiannon Root, Robert Voss, and Janel Cayer.