Title: Petition of Julianna Barry, 27 May 1862

Date: May 27, 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.00473

TEI/XML: cww.00473.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, Julianna Barry of Washington D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and 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 service or labor against three persons of African descent of the names of James Sanders, Rachel Sanders & Nora Sanders. for and during the life of said James, Rachel & Nora, and that by said act of Congress said James, Rachel & Nora 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, Rachel & Nora were of the ages of twenty one years, eighteen and sixteen years of age and of the personal description following:(1) James Sanders, twenty one years of age, Dark color, Six feet high. Features good, Sound & healthy & of the value of twelve hundred dollars.

Rachel Sanders, eighteen years of age, five feet high, dark color, features good, sound & healthy, & of the value of Eleven hundred dollars.
Nora Sanders, sixteen years of age, four feet high, dark color, features good, sound and healthy, & of the value of one thousand dollars.
 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said James, Rachel & Nora in manner following:(2) About fifty years ago, the husband of your petitioner bought of Col. Naylor of Prince George Co, M.d. the grand Mother of Said James, Rachel & Nora and the above named persons of color are the children of her daughter.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said James, Rachel & Nora was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of thirty three hundred dollars in money.(3) The Said above named persons are excellent Servants, of moral habits, and intelligent, they are free from any bodily infirmities, so far as your petitioner knoweth, and are valuable Servants.

Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said James, Rachel & Nora into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said James, Rachel & Nora 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said James, Rachel & Nora 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said James, Rachel & Nora 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)
Julianna Barry
 

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

I, Julianna Barry 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)
Julianna Barry

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
B. W. Ferguson J. P. for the county & District aforesaid
473
Julianna Barry
Filed May 27, 1862
John P. Ingle
Montjoy Hanson
Richard Hanson
S. F. Gulich


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