Title: Petition of Elizabeth C. Peerce, 13 May 1862

Date: May 13, 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.00167

TEI/XML: cww.00167.xml

 

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

Your Petitioner, Elizabeth C. Peerce of Washington County, District of Columbia, administratrix of Joseph M. Peerce care of said County deceased, by this petition in writing represents & 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 the service or labour, of a person of African descent of the name of Henry Wheeler, for and during the life of said Henry Wheeler, and that by said act of Congress said Henry Wheeler was discharged and freed of & from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of such discharge said Henry Wheeler was of the age of Twenty-eight years, and of the personal description following; of a dark chestnut color, delicately made, rather Tall, and has a scar upon his left cheek caused by a burn. That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labour of said Henry Wheeler, by virtue of letters of administration granted to her upon the personal estate of her husband the said Joseph M. Peerce deceased, by the Orphans Court of said District of Columbia, said letters being dated & granted May 8th, 1855; and that her said Husband bought the said Henry Wheeler from John T. Power of said County and District for the sum of Two Hundred & five Dollars on the 8th day of July in the year eighteen Hundred & forty seven, as is evidenced by the bill of sale herewith annexed & filed—

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labour of said Henry Wheeler was at the time of said discharge   therefrom of the value of nine Hundred Dollars; that she received from him wages at the rate of Twelve dollars per month, for his services as a first class waiter and dining room servant—

and your petitioner hath no knowledge of any moral mental, or bodily defect in said Henry Wheeler, as impair the value of her claim to such service or labour​—

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true & faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she hath 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 hath not brought said Henry Wheeler in the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that at the time of the passage thereof said Henry Wheeler was held to service or labour therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labour.

Your petitioner further states and alleges that her said claim to the service or labour aforesaid 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 the said claim to the service of said Henry Wheeler herein set forth, and if the same be found to be valid, that they appraise the value of same in money and apportion said value, and report the same to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in conformity to the provisions of said Act of Congress—


Elizabeth C. Peerce
admx​ of Joseph M. Peerce
 

I, Elizabeth M. Peerce administratrix of Joseph M. Peerce deceased being duly sworn do depose and say that all the several matters & things 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 stated & set forth as from the information of others, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.


Elizabeth C Peerce
admx​ of Joseph M Peerce

Sworn to & subscribed before me this Tenth day of May A.D. 1862.


Robert White J. Peace
 

Know all men by these presents, That I John T Power of the County and City of Washington in the District of Columbia, for and in consideration of the Sum of Two hundred and five dollars, current money, to me in hand paid, by Joseph M Peerce of said County and City in the District aforesaid, at and before the sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof I, the said, John T. Power, do hereby acknowledge, Have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said Joseph M Peerce, his Executors, administrators, and assigns—A certain Negro boy Slave named Henry Wheeler about Thirteen years of age—To have and to hold the said Negro boy Slave named Henry Wheeler about Thirteen years of age as above bargained and sold to the said Joseph M Peerce, his executors, administrators, and assigns, forever; and I, the said John T. Power, for myself, my heirs, executors & administrators, The said Negro boy Slave named Henry Wheeler unto the said Joseph M Peerce, his executors, administrators, and assigns, against me the said John T Power, my executors, and administrators, and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents;

In writings whereof I the said John T Power have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal This Twenty Eighth day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and forty seven


John T. Power seal

Signed Sealed and acknowledged before us—the worth eigth​—being first interlined—
Lund Washington Senr.
John Thornberry.

 

County & City Washington July 28th 1847. Received of Joseph Mill Peerce Two hundred and five dollars current money the consideration mentioned in the within bill of sale


John T. Power
Witness
Lund Washington Senr.
Power
to
Peerce
bill of sale—
 
167
Elizabeth C. Peerce admx​. of
Joseph M. Peerce
Petition under the Emancipation Act.
Summon
William H. Craig of Geo. Town, D. C.
Filed May 13, 1862
by
Chas M. Matthews Esq
Transcription and encoding: Kenneth J. Winkle, Kathryn Kruger, Nima Najafi Kianfar, and Janel Cayer.