Title: Petition of Henry M. Harman, 14 June 1862
Date: June 14, 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.00676
TEI/XML: cww.00676.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, Henry M. Harman, of Baltimore, Md. 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 one female person of African descent of the name of Maria Smith, for the term of twenty one years ending about the 20th of December 1862; and not for and during the life of said Maria Smith and that by said act of Congress said Maria Smith, 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 Maria Smith was of the age of twenty years and three or four months and of the personal description following:(1) Dark color, not jet black, of low stature about five feet high, healthy, and a good house servant. She now resides with Wallace Eliot, on the corner of F & 12th Streets, whose family can give all necessary information concerning her.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria Smith in manner following:(2) Your Petitioner, as the Executor and Administrator of Susanna Lowe, deceased, held her as the property of said Mrs. Lowe who purchased the said Maria Smith when she was about two years old; and your Petitioner knows of no record evidence of her title, but he submits herewith his Certificate of Administration.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Maria Smith was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Six dollars in money,(3) per month from the date of the above Act of Congress to the expiration of her term of service about the 20th of December next, being about forty eight dollars; and that he knows of no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities to impair her value, and does not believe that any such exist.
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 Maria Smith into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Maria Smith 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 Maria Smith 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 Maria Smith 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.
Henry M. Harman of Baltimore, Md.
THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THE SUBSRIBER, Register of Wills for Baltimore City,
doth hereby certify, that it appears by the Records in his office, that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of all the goods, chattels,
and credits of Susanna Lowe,
late of Washington City, D.C. deceased,
was on the third day
of June in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty sixty two granted and committed
unto Henry M. Harman the Executor by the last will and testament of
the said deceased, appointed.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of my
office, this third day
of June in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and fifty sixty two
Isaac P. Cook
Register of Wills for Baltimore City.
I, J. Spear Smith Presiding Judge of the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City, in the State aforesaid, do certify, that the aforegoing Attestation of ISAAC P. COOK, Register of Wills for said City, is in due form, and by the proper Officer.
Given from under my hand, at the City of Baltimore,
this third day of June in the year of Lord one thousand eight
hundred and fifty sixty two—
J. Spear Smith.
I hereby certify, that the Honorable J. Spear Smith by whom the above Certificate was
given, and who hath thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so
doing, Chief Judge of the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City; duly elected
appointed, commissioned and qualified.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of the said Court, this third day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty two
Isaac P. Cook
Register of Wills for Baltimore City.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Henry M. Harman being
duly affirmed, 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.
Henry M Harman.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of June, A. D. 1862.
Edm. F. Brown,
Notary Public.
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.
