Title: Petition of Mary Walker, 5 June 1862
Date: June 5, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 5. 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.00637
TEI/XML: cww.00637.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, Mary Walker
of Washington County 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 Four persons of
African descent of the names of Amanda Hanson, Sophia Hanson, Clara Hanson, and Edward Hanson for and during the life lives of said four 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
- Amanda Hanson, was of the age of Thirty Eight years, and of the personal description following:(1) dark mulatto woman, slender, Five feet four inches high, decayed teeth.
- Sophia Hanson, was of the age of Twelve years Four feet six inches high, copper color girl, large eyes.
- Clara Hanson, was of the age of Eight years, Four feet high, copper color girl.
- Edward Hanson, was of the age of Five years, Three feet Five inches high copper color boy.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) The woman Amanda Hanson, was purchased by my husband Major George W. Walker, as by receipt herewith filed will appear, Sophia, Clara, & Edward are children of Amanda, born of her since he purchased her, upon the death of Major Geo W. Walker, the property was all left to me as by Will herewith filed will more fully appear.
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 Twenty One hundred dollars in money.(3)
| Amanda Hanson, is a good cook, and house servant I valued her at | $1000. |
| Sophia, is good house servant & waitress I value her at | $600 |
| Clara, is a bright active child valued at | $300 |
| Edward, is a bright active smart boy valued at | $200 |
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 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 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 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 her 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.
Mary Walker
Received Washington City 28th 1846, of Major. Geo. W Walker, his note dated this day for one hundred dollars, and three hundred and fifty dollars, in cash being in full for my negro woman Amanda, aged about twenty two years, whom I warrant to be in sound health.
Susan D. Shepherd.
Witness
Enos [illegible]
Know all Men by these Presents, That I George W. Walker of the City of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New York (Captain of the United States Marine Corps) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, (that is to say,) I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Walker all my property both real and personal of every name, kind and description whatsoever and wheresoever situate, of which I am now seized and possessed or of which I may be seized and possessed at the time of decease, to have and to hold the same unto the said Mary Walker during her natural life, or so long as she shall remain my Widow, and in the event of her death or marriage then to descent to my five Children equally, share and share alike; and in the event of the death of either or any of my said Children without lawful issue then the share of such child or either of them to descend to the survivor or survivors of them or either of them to be equally divided between them. And I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said wife Mary Walker sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament; hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six—
Geo. W. Walker
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named George W. Walker to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator—
A. P. Ralph of the City of Brooklyn
[Tim?] M Johnson of the City of Brooklyn
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Mary Walker, 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.
Mary Walker
Sworn to and subscribed before me this fifth day of June A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J. Peace
Mary Walker
Robert Selden
Chas H. Wiltberger
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.
