Title: Petition of George D. Ramsay, 6 June 1862

Date: June 6, 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.00643

TEI/XML: cww.00643.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, George D Ramsay of the Dist of Columbia 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 a mulatto woman a person of African descent of the name of Kitty for and during the life of said Kitty and that by said act of Congress said Kitty 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 Kitty was of the age of between forty seven and fifty years, (have no positive data on this point) and of the personal description following:(1) Height five feet five inches. Complexion mulatto Well formed—stout.

 

That your petitioner acquired a claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Kitty in manner following:(2) By purchase from John, C, Robertson, of the County of Henrico, in the State of Virginia, on the 17th July in the year 1852—as set forth in the paper hereunto annexed.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Kitty was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five hundred dollars in money.(3)I gave for Kitty four hundred and twenty five dollars. As a cook she has acquired much knowledge in my family and is now a superior one. To my family she was invaluable; devoted to my young children and to our interests—faithful, and reliable. I purchased her at her own solicitation! She had lived in my family and was taken by her master to Richmond to be sold. I shall feel under an obligation to keep her from want as long as she may live and I have it in my power. I know of no disease bodily or mental to impair her value.

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 Kitty into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Kitty 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Kitty 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 Kitty 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)
Geo G Ramsay
 
Bill of Sale
from J. C. Robertson
for
Negress Kitty.
 

Know all men by these presents that I, John C. Robertson of the County of Henrico in the State of Virginia, in consideration of the sum of Four hundred & twenty five dollars, lawful money of Virginia to me in hand paid, by George D Ramsay, at Fortress Monroe in said State at & before the sealing & delivery of these presents the receipt whereof I here acknowledge, Have granted, bargained, sold and confirmed, and by these presents, do grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said George D. Ramsay, a mulattoe​ slave woman by the name of Kitty, To have and to hold the said woman Kitty, unto the said George, D, Ramsay, his executors, administrators and assigns for ever, guilty, peaceably and undisturbed; in the possession thereof, from me, or any other person in my name or right whatsoever.

And I the said John C Robertson for myself my executors & administrators, the said woman Kitty unto the said George D Ramsay, his executors, administrators and assigns against me, the said John C. Robertson, my executors, administrators and assigns, and against all & every other person or persons whomsoever, claiming, by through or under me, shall and will warrant & for ever defend, by these presents, of which said Woman Kitty I the said John C. Robertson, have put the said George D Ramsay in possession by delivering her to him. In witness whereof I have set my hand & seal this 17th day of July in the year 1852


John, G, Robertson seal

Signed, sealed, & delivered & possession given in presence of} [no handwritten text supplied here]

 

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

I, George D Ramsay 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) [no handwritten text supplied here]

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Sixth day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Geo D Ramsay
643.
George D. Ramsay
Filed June 6, 1862
Isaac Miller
E. N. Stebbins
Arsenal
Mrs. Jos Galles.


 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: Nima Najafi Kianfar, Janel Cayer, and Kenneth J. Winkle.