Title: Petition of Ann J. Brown, 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.00012
TEI/XML: cww.00012.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, Ann J. Brown of Washington D.C. 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 Cecelia Caroline Stewart person of African descent of the name of Cecelia Caroline Stewart a slave for and during the life of said Cecelia C. Stewart and that by said act of Congress said Cecelia C. Stewart 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 Cecelia C. Stewart was of the age of 19 years—months and of the personal description following:(1) Complexion Dark—about 5 feet in height short curly hair—very stout and generally considered a good looking girl.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Cecelia C. Stewart in manner following:(2) By purchase of Alexander Maddox, Mary Jane Maddox, & John Green, all of this City, for the consideration of six hundred dollars as the following bill of sale will show
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Cecelia C. Stewart was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) She Being as aforesaid very Stout, Healthy and Very Likely—and to the Best of my Knowledge has not moral defect
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 Cecelia C. Stewart> into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Cecelia C. Stewart 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 Cecelia C. Stewart 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 Cecelia C. Stewart 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.
her X mark Ann J. Brown
Witness
Thomas C. Donn
Mary Jane Maddox
John Green
To
William Brown
Bill of Sale
Know all men by these presents that we Alexander Maddox,
Mary Jane Maddox and John
Green of the City of Washington in the
District of Columbia for and in Consideration of
the sum of six Hundred dollars Current money to us in hand paid by
William Brown of the said City and
District—Have bargained sold and delivered, and by these presents, do
bargain sell and deliver unto the said William Brown
Our negro woman or girl named Cecelia Caroline Stewart,
about Fourteen years of age and a slave for life. To Have and to Hold the
said negro woman or girl named Cecelia C. Stewart a
slave for life unto him the said William Brown his
heirs Executors, administrators and assigns forever—and We the said
Alexander Maddox, Mary Jane
Maddox, and John Green—parties of
the first part, do hereby covenant and bind themselves and their heirs to
warrant and forever defend the title of said negro woman or girl, unto the
said William Brown his heirs, Executors, administrators
or assigns forever, as a Slave for life, and further we have put the
said Wm Brown in full possession of said woman or girl
at the delivery of these presents—In Testimony whereof we have
hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals, this twenty fifth day of February AD
1857.—
his X mark Alexander Maddox Seal
Mary Jane Brown Seal
John Green Seal
Signed and Sealed in our presence
P Worthington
H Naylor
On this 25th day of February AD 1857,
personally appears Alexander Maddox
Mary Jane Maddox and John Green
(parties grantors to the above and foregoing Bill of Sale) before the
subscribed a Justice of the Peace in & for said County & District
and Severally, Signed, Sealed and acknowledged the Same
to be theirs and Each of them act and deed for the purpose therein
Expressed, and the negro woman or girl therein deemed to be henceforth the
property and Estate 
of the
Said William Brown, his heirs Exers., admrs., and assigns forever—
H. NaylorJ. Peace
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Ann J. Brown of Washington City DC, 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.
her X mark Ann J. Brown
Witness
Thomas C. Donn
Sworn to and subscribed before me this fifth day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Petition of
Ann J. Brown
Wm Y. [O'Neale?]
Navy Yard
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.
