Title: Petition of Peter G. Washington, 16 June 1862

Date: June 16, 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.00680

TEI/XML: cww.00680.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, P. G. Washington of Washington, D. C. 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 five persons of African descent of the names of

  • 1 Lucinda Black
  • 2 Louisa Gantt.
  • 3 Georgiana "
  • 4 Lucinda "
  • 5 Sophia—"
for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons have been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons were of the of the age of ages and and of the personal description following:(1) to wit
  • 1. Lucinda Black of the age of about sixty two years, mulatto, of medium complexion and delicate figure
  • 2 Louisa Gantt, of the age of about thirty years, mulatto, of light complexion and delicate figure
  • 3 Georgiana Gantt, in the eighth year of her age, mulatto of dark complexion,
  • 4 Lucinda Gantt in the sixth year of her age, mulatto of dark complexion
  • 5 Sophia Gantt about seven months old, mulatto, of dark complexion.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Upon the purchase of Lucinda in 1829 from one Graham, the property was conveyed to John M Berrien in trust for the benefit of Margaret M Washington wife of your petitioner and subsequently under authority reserved in the deed. Said Margaret directed, and said Berrien transferred the said property to petitioner, as will appear by the deed herewith filed. Louisa Gantt, is the child of said Lucinda and [no handwritten text supplied here] are the children of said Louisa.

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 1,500 dollars in money.(3) as follows, Lucinda Black altho​ always delicate but rarely sick is uncommonly smart and being a good cook & washer. I estimate as worth $100. Louisa Gantt is uncommonly bright intelligent reliable. Her value would be very great if her health was perfect. As the passage of the act she was much reduced in flesh by nursing her infant and probably by over work, and her condition now is not free from danger. Under these circumstances I estimate her value at 600$. Her three children are uncommonly bright healthy and promising. I estimate the oldest at $400, the next at 300$ and the youngest at 100$ At the passage of the act herein referred to I know of no defect in any of said mulattoes other than herein stated and believe none existed. Within the last ten days Louisa has been under treatment of Dr. Hall, who express some doubt whether she has not incipient bronchitis.

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 mulattoes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said mulattoes were 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 mulattoes 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 mulattoes 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)
P. G Washington
 

This Indenture made this Twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine, between Philip Halbrook Nicklin of the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania of the first part, Margaret Washington wife of Peter G. Washington of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia of the second part, and the Honorable John Macpherson Berrien also now of the City of Washington of the third part: Whereas by deeds of Indenture bearing date on the Seventeenth day of July eighteen hundred and twenty Six between Peter G. Washington and Margaret his wife, Philip H Nicklin and Clement C Biddle, the lands and tenements which were of the said Margaret prior to her intermarriage with Peter G Washington, in the District of Northern Liberties in the County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, were conveyed to Philip H Nicklin of the City of Philadelphia aforesaid, in trust that he would permit the said Margaret Washington, notwithstanding her coverture to receive the rents and profits of the said premises to her own use, and that the receipts of the said Margaret should be good and sufficient discharges to such person or persons as might be liable to pay the same, and that the said Philip H Nicklin would convey the said premises to such persons, and for such uses, and in such manner and form, as the said Margaret might direct; as by reference to the said deeds  of record in the said County of Philadelphia will more fully and at large appear; And whereas, the sum of Three hundred and Sixty two dollars and fifty cents, being part of the proceeds of the said trust estate thus payable to the separate use of the said Margaret as aforesaid, has been laid out in the negro slaves hereinafter described; that is to say, one woman named Lucinda, about thirty [damage] years of age and her male child about fourteen months old, one girl named Ann about eight years of age, and one girl named Kitty about Seven years of age: And whereas the said Margaret has expressed a desire that the said property shall be conveyed to the Honorable John Macpherson Berrien under the [like?] [trust?]. Now therefore this Indenture witnesseth that the said Philip H Nicklin for and in consideration of the premises and also of the sum of one dollar current money to him in hand paid at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt of which he doth hereby acknowledge and by direction of the said Margaret Washington, testified by her becoming a party hereto, hath granted bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell unto the said John Macpherson Berrien his heirs and assigns all and singular the several negroes herein before named and described. To Have and to Hold the said negroes, to wit Lucinda and her child, Ann and Kitty being slaves for life, to him the said John Macpherson Berrien his heirs and assigns  to his and their own proper use and behoof forever; In trust, nevertheless, to and for the uses intents and purposes following, to wit: In trust that he the said John Macpherson Berrien and his Heirs shall and will from time to time and at all times hereafter, quietly and peaceably permit and suffer the said Margaret Washington to have possess and enjoy the several negroes before described, to and for her own free use and service and to and for such other uses and purposes as she the said Margaret shall please and think fit at her own free will and pleasure, and upon this further trust and confidence that he the said John Macpherson Berrien and his heirs shall and will, convey, order and dispose of the hereby conveyed negroes, to such person or persons, and for such uses and purposes, and in such manner and form as she the said Margaret Washington, notwithstanding her coverture and as if she were a feme sole, shall by any act or acts, deed or deeds in writing, or by her last will and testament in writing, or by any writing purporting so to be, order, direct or appoint, and for default of such order, direction or appointment, then to the right heirs of the said Margaret, and upon no other trust, use, intent, or purpose whatever, provided nevertheless and it is expressly agreed by and between the parties aforesaid that the said John Macpherson Berrien may at any time hereafter transfer and make over the trust hereby conveyed by a declaration in writing made upon these presents, with the assent of the  said Margaret Washington.

In testimony whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first herein before written


Philip H Nicklin seal
Margt. Washington seal

Sealed and delivered in the presence of


[John W. Berrian?]
Clement C. Biddle
witnesses to the signature of P. H. Nicklin

Will. [Webb?]
P. G. Washington
witnesses to the signature of Margaret Washington

Be it known that on this Twelfth day of September Anno domini 1829, before me Clement C. Biddle, Esquire, Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, residing in the City of Philadelphia, personally appeared Philip H Nicklin, of the said City of Philadelphia, party of the first part, named in the above and foregoing deed of Indenture, and in due form of law, acknowledged the same Indenture to be his voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes their contained.

In testimony whereof, I the said Notary Public have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the day and year last above written.


Clement C. Biddle
Notary Public.

On this Seventeenth day of September, Anno domini 1829 before us two justices of the peace in and for the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, personally appeared Margaret Washington, wife of Peter G Washington, party of the second part named in the above and foregoing deed of Indenture, and acknowledged the said deed or instrument of writing to be her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein contained according to the true intent and meaning thereof.

Taken and acknowledged before us—

P. S. Briscoe J. P.
Will. Webb J. P.
 

In virtue of the condition reserved in the last clause of this instrument of writing, I hereby authorize and request the HonJohn Mcapherson Berrien my trustee therein named to transfer and convey the property mentioned and described to Peter G Washington, his heirs or assigned and hereby declare my full and free assent to such transfer and conveyance


Margaret M Washington
 

By virtue of the power vested in me by this deed, and conforming to the request of Mrs Margaret Washington on the first page thereof inscribed, I do hereby assign and transfer to the within mentioned Peter G Washington his heirs and assigns all my right, titles, interest and estate of in and to the within mentioned negro slaves and in testimony thereof have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this sixth day of July one thousand Eight hundred and thirty nine


Jno. Macpherson Berrien

Acknowledged before me,


James M. Naylor
[illegible] justice
Sup​ Court U. States
 

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

I, P. G. Washington 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)
P. G. Washington

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of June A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
N Callan JP seal
680
Peter G. Washington
Filed June 16, 1862


 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 Susan C. Lawrence.