Title: Petition of Catharine Windsor, 8 May 1862

Date: May 8, 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.00115

TEI/XML: cww.00115.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, Catharine Windsor of Washington City DC by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 Eight Coloured persons of African descent of the names of Jemima Brown, Daniel Brown, Cornelia Hampton, Caroline West, Julia Wallace Noah Wallace, Daniel Wallace and Lester Wallace for and during the life of said Servants and that by said act of Congress said Servants was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Jemima was of the age of Seventy three Years and of the personal description following:(1) Copper Colour​ healthy for a Person as far advanced in Years. Daniel forty Seven Years, Black, Healthy and active and very valuable Cornelia thirty Six Years old, Black very Healthy and valuable. Caroline aged sixty Years. Black Healthy and a Good Servant. Julia aged sixteen Years. Very healthy. Noah Eleven Years old, Black, and healthy. Daniel Eleven Years old and twin with Noah, healthy. Both Servant Boys, and Lester Eight Years, Black healthy

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Servants in manner following:(2) By Inheritance of her father (Richard S. Windsor of Fairfax Co State of Virginia.) and the increase. Excepting Cornelia Hampton and Daniel Brown. Whom I purchased from my fathers estate and from her brother Lofton Windsor about nine Years Since for Caroline and five Years for Said Daniel

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six thousand five hundred dollars in money.(3) To Wit one hundred dollars for Jemima. One thousand Dollars for Daniel the Elder. One thousand Dollars for Cornelia. One thousand for Caroline. Julia Eleven hundred Dollars, Noah Eight hundred dollars Daniel Eight hundred Dollars and Lester Seven hundred Dollars. With the exception of Jemima they all Being healthy active able to Labour

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said Servants into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Servants 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 she said claim to the service or labor of said Servants 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Servants 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)
Catharine Windsor
 

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

I, Catharine Windsor 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)
Catharine Windsor

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
115
Petition of
Catharine Windsor
Filed May 8, 1862
Horace L. Johnson
Henry Hawley


 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: Susan C. Lawrence, Elizabeth Lorang, Janel Cayer, Courtney Geerhart, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.