Title: Petition of Anna M. Hamilton, 11 July 1862
Date: July 11, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 6. 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.00881
TEI/XML: cww.00881.xml
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, Anna M. Hamilton of Illinois 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 person of African descent of the name of Harriet Chase for and during the life of said person and that by said act of Congress said person 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 person was of the age of about forty years and of the personal description following:(1) In height about five feet five inches, & of light complexion & of pleasant countenance no marks known or recollected)
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said person in manner following:(2) She is the widow of Samuel Hamilton, late of Prince Georges County, Maryland, and she received this woman as a part of her thirds in said Estate, as his widow & about five years ago
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Seven hundred dollars in money.(3)She has earned five dollars a month as cook, and house servant,—for the last few years she has been chambermaid—a very good & trusty servant in all these capacities. Her health has not been very good, tho' I cannot state the cause. She has no mental or moral defect or infirmity—nor bodily, as far as I know or believe, except as before stated that her health has not been good.
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 woman into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said woman 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 woman 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 woman 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.
Anna M Hamilton
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
I, Anna M. Hamilton 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.
Anna M Hamilton
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of June A. D. 1862. who are authorized by the laws of Illinois to administer an oath—
Henry Stryker Jr
Notary Public
Mrs. Hamilton will sign her name at the two places where I have made pencil lines—& take the oath before a notary or from public officer authorized to administer an oath, & his seal of office must be attached. If taken before a Justice or other person having no seal of office the clerk or other proper officer must, under seal of office, certify to his appointment, and authority to administer the oath—
Anna M. Hamilton
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.
