Title: Petition of Ann Scott, 9 May 1862

Date: May 9, 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.00117

TEI/XML: cww.00117.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, Ann Scott of Washington 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 the following persons of African descent of the names of Dennis Magruder, Ellen Magruder, Betty Bender, Martha Singleton, Clara Singleton, James Tilghman, Charles Tilghman and Michael Parr 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 of the ages of and of the personal description following:(1) Dennis Magruder, tall, dark complexion, strong and healthy aged 60 years. Ellen Magruder, low statue​, dark complexion, strong and healthy aged 45 years. Betty Bender, low statue​, Mulatto and very valuable, aged 24 Years. Martha Singleton low statue​, dark complexion, very valuable, aged 18 Years. James Tilghman, dark complexion, bright and intelligent aged 13 Years. Michael Parr, Mulatto active and capable aged 70 Years. Thomas Tilghman, mulatto sprightly and valuable boy aged 14 Years. Clara Singleton, mulatto, sprightly child aged 2 years.

 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by inheritance from her father most of them being the children of old family servants.

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 6500 dollars in money.(3) All of the said persons are valuable being sound and healthy. Two of the men are carpenters and their labor valuable to Your petitioner.

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 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 her 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 her 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)
Ann Scott
 

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

I, Ann Scott 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)
Ann Scott

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Saml Druy JP
117
Petition of
Ann Scott
Filed May 9, 1862
Henry Warrington N. near 19th
Wm A. Elliot [ in Navy Dept?]
D. Ramsey cor​ Pa ave & 21st st


 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.