Title: Petition of Josiah Melvin, 5 May 1862
Date: May 5, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 2. 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.00010
TEI/XML: cww.00010.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, Josiah Melvin of Washington City DC 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 woman and Boy Child persons of African descent of the name of Sarah Taylor and John Wallace her offspring for and during the life of said Sarah Taylor and Jno Wallace and that by said act of Congress said Sarah Taylor & Jno Wallace 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 Sarah Taylor was of the age of Thirty Years and of the personal description following:(1) a Black woman, Thick Set, no marks, Health Good
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Sarah Taylor and John Wallace in manner following:(2) By marriage with Maria Louisa Williams of Prince William County State of Virginia with whom She was Brought from said County and State, she having inherited said Sarah Taylor from her father, the Boy John Wallace having been Born in the Residence of said Josiah Melvin the Child of said Sarah Taylor
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sarah Taylor was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve Hundred dollars in money.(3) There Being no defect She Being in Good health as aforesaid and the said John Wallace Being healthy, Smart and intelligent and to My Knowledge neither of them possesses moral defects
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 Sarah Taylor and Jno Wallace into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Sarah Taylor and Jno Wallace 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 he said claim to the service or labor of said Sarah and John 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 Sarah Taylor and Jno Wallace 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.
Josiah Melvin
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Josiah Melvin 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.
Josiah Melvin
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Second day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Petition of Josiah Melvin
William Adams
Dickenson Nailor
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.
