Title: Petition of J. P. Taylor, 14 May 1862

Date: May 14, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. 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.00209

TEI/XML: cww.00209.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, J. P. Taylor of Washington D.C. 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 the following named persons of African descent of the names of James McGrunder Patty Brown Nelly Jordon Thomas Reynolds and Guy Carlton 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 James McGrunder was of the age of 30 years Patty Brown was of the age of 28 years Nelly Jordon was of the age of twenty five years. Thomas Reynolds was was of the age of 12 years and Guy Carlton was of the age of seven years. and of the personal description following:(1)

  • James McGrunder is a Mulatto thirty years of age five feet five inches high with no particular marks—
  • Patty Brown Black is twenty eight years of age—is five feet two inches high with no particular marks.
  • Nelly Jordon Light complexion five feet high twenty five years of age with no particular marks
  • Thomas Reynolds Jet black is twelve years of age no particular marks. is four feet four inches high.
  • Guy Carlton Light complexion is seven years old no particular marks & three feet nine inches high.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Inherited 3 of them from my late sister. Mrs Susan B Gray—that is to say I inherited Nelly Jordon and the mother of Tom Reynolds & Guy Carlton from my late sister by her last will and testament. Tom & Guy were born since I came into posession​ of their mother who is deceased. James McGrunder was a family servant and was purchased by your petitioner to prevent him from being sold. Patty Brown was purchased from Mr Humphreys when she was a child some twenty years since.

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 3600 dollars in money.(3)

  • That is to say James is valued at twelve hundred dollars Patty at eight hundred. Nelly at eight hundred. Tom at five hundred and Guy at three hundred.
  • James is a healthy amiable and efficient man has fine mechanical talent and is a first rate waiter and dining room servant.
  • Patty & Nelly are fine house servants and every way most valuable for all work in the house healthy & stout. Nelly is rather small.
  • Tom & Guy are healthy fine sprightly boys for their ages.
There are no moral bodily or mental infirmities in either of the above named persons known to your petitioner

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 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)
J P Taylor
 

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

I, J. P. Taylor 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)
J P Taylor

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
N Callan J Peace seal
209
J. P. Taylor
Filed May 14, 1862
Major A E Shires U.S.A.
Dr. R G Wood U.S.A.
B. Austin McCarthy


 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: Kenneth M. Price, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, Robert Voss, and Courtney Geerhart.