Title: Petition of W. H. Birch, 16 May 1862

Date: May 16, 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.00266

TEI/XML: cww.00266.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, W. H. Birch of Montgomery 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 the following named person of African descent of the name of David Hawkins for and during the life of said David and that by said act of Congress said David 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 David was of the age of twenty five years and of the personal description following:(1) David Hawkins has a Black complexion about twenty five years of age about five feet eight or nine inches high with no marks of any description

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said David in manner following:(2) By purchase from a Mr Warren of Prince George's County of the state of Maryland some ten years ago

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said David was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3) He is now employed as a coachman and ostler at Conklins' livery Stable near Willard's Hotel and for whose services your petitioner receives twenty four dollars per month. Said David is strictly honest and faithful as well as moral & intelligent in good health and with no defects or infirmities either moral mental or bodily 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 David into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said David 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 David 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 David 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)
W. H. Birch
 

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

I, W. H. Birch 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)
W. H. Birch

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
N. Callan
266
The petition of W. H. Birch Esq​.
Filed May 16, 1862
Witnesses
Ferd. Butler
Andrew J. Joyce
Thomas M. McLaughlin


 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: Katherine Walter, Elizabeth Lorang, Rhiannon Root, Robert Voss, and Janel Cayer.