Title: Petition of Lois E. Offutt, 29 May 1862

Date: May 29, 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.00553

TEI/XML: cww.00553.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, Lois E. Offutt of Montgomery County, Maryland 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 a certain person of African descent of the name of Nancy Scott, for and during the life of said Nancy Scott and that by said act of Congress said Nancy Scott 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 Nancy Scott was of the age of fifteen years and of the personal description following:(1) Color Black—Stature about four feet, eight inches—Sex female. There are no particular marks upon her person, by which to identify her more fully.

553
Petition of
Lois E. Offutt
Filed May 29, 1862
Witness
R. W. Burr
3d bet​ F & G Sts.
 

That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Nancy Scott in manner following:(2) By devise from her Mother, Sarah B. Offutt, and for more particular information as to the time of such acquired title, and the circumstances attending such devise, reference being had, to a copy, herewith filed, of the last will and testament of said Sarah B. Offutt, will more fully appear.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Nancy Scott was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five hundred, dollars in money.(3)That she was a good and trusty house servant, at present in the employ of R. W. Burr Esq​. of this City, and for whom she receives good wages. There are no moral, bodily or mental defects or infirmities existing in the said Nancy Scott as your petitioner believes, and she hereby avers that there none existing

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 Nancy Scott into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Nancy Scott 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 Nancy Scott 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 Nancy Scott 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)
Lois E Offutt
 

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

I, Lois E Offutt 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)
Lois E Offutt

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
John Offutt JP
Counsel for Lois E. Offutt

Chas. H. Utermehle

I hereby certify that John Offutt Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit was made and whose genuine signature is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof one of the State of Maryland's Justices of the peace in and for Montgomery County duly commissioned and sword.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court for said County this 27th day of May 1862


James G. Hening clk
Circuit Court for Montgomery County


 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: Courtney Rebecca Lawton, Janel Cayer, and Susan C. Lawrence.