Title: Petition of Andrew Martine, 26 May 1862

Date: May 26, 1862

Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. 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.00423

TEI/XML: cww.00423.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, Andrew Martine 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] persons of African descent of the names of Maria Nelson, Flora Buchanan, John [Brigden?], Daniel Buchanan Charles Buchanan, and Catharine Buchanan for and during the life of said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel, Charles and Catharine and that by said act of Congress said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel Charles and Catharine discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Maria, Flora, John, Daniel, Charles and Catharine of the ages of Maria 45 years, Flora 28 years, John 58 years, Daniel 5 years, Charles 3 years, and Catharine six months and of the personal description following:(1) Maria Nelson, about five feet high, bright mulatto color very much freckled, stout build and with short curley​ hair

  • Flora Buchanan of copper color, high cheek bones, about five feet high, slight build, curly hair
  • John [Brigden?], of quite black color, short curley​ hair, spare build, high cheek bones, quick spoken a good carpenter
  • Daniel Buchanan, bright copper color, smart active boy, scar over his left eye, short curly hair
  • Charles Buchanan, bright copper color, smart active boy, short curly hair
  • Catharine Buchanan, light mulatto color, straight black hair
  • Maria Nelson is a worth one thousand dollars
  • Flora Buchanan is a worth one thousand dollars
  • John [Brogden?] is worth eight hundred dollars
  • Daniel Buchanan is worth four hundred dollars
  • Charles Buchanan is worth two hundred and fifty dollars
  • Catharine Buchanan is worth fifty dollars
 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) My title to Maria Nelson was by my intermarriage with Elizabeth Ann Coolidge, widow of the late Edmund Coolidge, in 1854, and my title to Flora, John and Daniel was by purchase about four years ago at the executor's sale of the Estate of the late Catharine [Bince?] at Upper Marlow, Ma, and paid for them the sum of fifteen hundred and fifty dollars Charles and Catharine are the children of Flora Buchanan, and were born since I purchased her.

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 3,500 dollars in money.(3) I know of no defect in any of these persons that would in the slightest degree impair the value of any one of them

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 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 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)
Andrew Martine
 

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

I, Andrew Martine 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)
Andrew Martine

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Wm. R. Woodward
423
Andrew Martine
Filed May 26, 1862
John L. Smith Esq
Com. [Aurlich?]
H. A. [Blunk?]
Wm B. [Bonie?]


 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: Elizabeth Lorang, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, and Brittany Jones.