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 Petitioners,
Ann Coseene,
Adminx.
Administratrix
and Ann Weeden and W. B.
Lacy, heirs at law of John Coseene,
late of
Alexandria County,
Virginia
by this our
petition in writing, represents and states, that we are
is a persons 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
Elizabeth,
Lucy, Hanson and
Eliza— 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
Elizabeth
was of the age of thirty one (31) years
Lucy
was of the age
of fifteen (15) years—
Hanson
was of the age of three years and
Eliza
was of the age of fifteen (15) years and of the personal description
following:Here describe the
person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave,
describe each one separately.
That is to say:
-
Elizabeth
was a bright
Mulatto, and five feet two inches in height.
-
Lucy
was a very bright
Mulatto and four feet ten inches in height.
-
Hanson
was of yellow
complexion.
-
Eliza
was a very bright
Mulatto and about five feet high, with a mark on her left cheek, caused
by a burn when quite young.
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of
said Persons— in manner following: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.
That is to say:
Elizabeth
was bequeathed to Ann
Coseene—Ann Weeden, and
W. B. Lacy, heirs at law, by the late
John Coseene, late of Alexandria County
Va. by his last will and testament—a copy of which is
hereunto appended —
Lucy
and
Hanson
are the children
of Elizabeth and were born since the said
Elizabeth came into the possession of your
petitioners—
Eliza
is the daughter of Susan
named in the will above mentioned and bequeathed as therein stated, and was
born since the death of John Coseene—
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 two thousand seven
hundred dollars in money.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.
That is to say:
-
Elizabeth
is valued at
one thousand dollars—
-
Lucy
is valued at six
hundred dollars—
-
Hanson
is valued at
four hundred dollars—and
-
Eliza
is valued at
seven hundred dollars.
-
Elizabeth
has no marks
of any description is a stout, hearty healthy cook—with an
excellent character.
-
Lucy
is a superior
house servant, and chambermaid very good, honest and intelligent
girl.
-
Hanson
is a stout
hearty and healthy boy and very promising.
-
Eliza
is a valuable
house servant and chamber maid—is a stout and healthy girl;
honest, trustworthy, and altogether reliable.—
There are no moral, mental or bodily defects known to
your petitioners in either of the above named persons
Your petitioners hereby declares that
they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and
that they have
s not borne arms against the United
States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or
comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they have
s 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
as held
to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to
such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and
alleges, that their 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 petitioners prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their 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)
her X mark Ann Coseene—
Ann Weeden
W. B. Lacy
Witness—
Fred. D. Stuart
In the name of God, amen, I, John Coseen of
Alexandria County in the District of
Columbia, being weak in body, but sound in mind and memory,
&c make this and ordain the same, to be my last Will and Testament
revoking all others heretofore made by me.
First My will and desire is that my just debts be paid, if any, also my
funeral expenses.
Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann, the
farm I now live on, binding on the Washington Turnpike
road, also all the household and kitchen and also all horses,
cattles
cattle
, hogs, poultry, farming utensils, and every article and thing
relating thereto, with all the crop that is now on said farm and also I will
until my said beloved wife, four negroes, namely—Charles Coffe,
Lucy, and her children Susan
and Betsey and their increase, to have and to hold the
same during her natural life. And after her death the same, and all the
property heretofore willed by me to my said wife, to be equally divided
between my two youngest daughters, namely, Ann and
Mary Jane to them and their heirs forever. But it
is to be particularly understood that as much of the above property herein
before left to my wife Ann, as will amount to the sum
of Three hundred dollars lawful money of the United
States, is to be sold, if not otherwise paid by my wife Ann unto my daughter Julia
Skidmore, which said sum of three hundred dollars is to be
paid, annually Fifty Dollars until the whole sum of Three Hundred Dollars is
paid off by my said wife Ann or out of the property
aforesaid unto my daughter Julia Skidmore to her and
her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel, the farm on
which he now resides, bounded with Curtis' and
Chapman's lines to him and his heirs forever.
Lastly I constitute and appoint my friend Colonel William
Minor of the said County of Alexandria
in the District of Columbia, the sole Executor to
this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
his X mark John Coseen seal
Signed in presence of
Wm Minor
Robt. Ball
Wm Ball
I, William Minor, the Executor named in the will of
John Coseen
decd
deceased
do hereby renounce my appointment as such. Given under my hand and
seal this first day of May 1837.
Wm Minor seal
At a session of the Orphan's Court for the County of
Alexandria in the District of
Columbia the 5th day of July
1837, this last Will and Testament of John
Coseen,
dec.
deceased
was proved in due form of law, by the witnesses thereto, and was
to be recorded. and Letters of administration, with the Will annexed, were
granted to Ann Coseen, who gave Bond and approved
Security.
Test.
A. Moore
Regr
Register
. of Wills
The undersigned who intermarried with Ann Coseen, one of the
daughters of John Coseen, deceased, and, by virtue of
such intermarriage, a Legatee under the last will and testament of said
John Coseen, do hereby agree and request that the
Judge of the Orphan's Court of Alexandria County will
grant administration with the Will annexed of said John Coseen
decd
deceased
to his widow Ann Coseen, [Col.
William Minor the
Exr
Executor
therein named, having renounced his right thereto] taking for
security in said administrative Bond, the personal responsibility of
Elija Taylor, of Alexandria
County, as good and sufficient security under existing
circumstances. Given force under my hand and seal
this the 5th July 1837.
Harry A. Wheden
seal
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in Open Court this 5th July 1837
Ann Coseen made oath in open Court, that, at the death
of her husband John Coseen, he had the following
personal Estate, and none other, viz Two stacks of hay, about Two and half
tons—Two beds and one Bedstead—one Cot—some old hay and
straw, sold for $10—two
negroe
negro
girls, one seven, and the other five years of age,—one horse
and Cart, sold by him to his son for $60—Twenty Dollars in Cash.
District of Columbia
Alexandria County Sct July
15th 1843
I Bernard Hood, Register of Wills for the
County of Alexandria in the
District aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the
copy of the will of John Coseen deceased, a copy of
which is hereto attached is truly made from the original paper recorded and
on file in my said office and that the papers hereto annexed are truly
copied from the records of the Orphan's Court, and also in my said
office.
B. Hood
Regr.
Register
of Wills
Copy
John Coseen's
Will