Title: Petition of Thomas Donoho, 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.00035
TEI/XML: cww.00035.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, Thomas Donoho of Washington 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 several persons of African descent of the names of Selina Williams, James Williams, Lydia Williams, Lewis Williams, Marion Williams, Gertrude Williams, Laura Williams, Edward Williams, Albert Williams, Slaves to me for and during the life of said parties and that by said act of Congress said persons 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 Nancy Page was of the age of 17 years and of the personal description following:(1)
| Name | Age | Sex | Color &c |
| Salina Williams | 51 | Female | Black |
| James (son of Selina | 30 | Male | Bright Mulatto |
| Lydia (daughter Do. | 24 | Female | Dark Do |
| Lewis (son Do | 15.1 mo | Male | bright Do |
| Marion (daughter Do | 20 | Female | Dark Do |
| Gertrude (daughter of Marion | 6 | Female | bright Do |
| Laura (do , do | 3 | Do | Do Do |
| Edward (son of Lydia | 6 | Male | Dark Do |
| Albert (Do , Do | 18 months | Do | Bright Do |
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said slaves in manner following:(2) from a certain Joshua Talbot I purchased Selina Williams & child in the year 1833, under a Bill of Sale hereby annexed duly recorded in the Clerks office of the Circuit Court in the District of Columbia, and that the remainder aforenamed are the natural descendants of the said Selina the first mentioned in this petition.
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 $5,500 dollars in money.(3) that is to say Selina sound healthy woman $300 James $1,50, Lydia $1200, Lewis $1200, Marion $1000, Gertrude $400, Laura $200, Edward $400, Albert $150, I have repeatedly refused to dispose of some of these named at prices beyond which is above set forth; They are obedient servants and no mental or bodily infirmities or defects, save in the case of James who is slightly Knock Kneed, which does not however impair his value to me
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 parties named into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said parties 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 parties 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 parties 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.
Thos Donoho
Bill of Sale of Salina & her child
1833
Know all men by these presents that I, Joshua Talbot of Washington County in the District of Columbia, for the consideration of the sum of three hundred and twenty five dollars, current money to me in hand paid by Thomas Donoho of the County and District aforesaid, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold and delivered, and by these presents do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said Thomas Donohoo my negro woman named Celina and her boy child name James Henry, which said slaves, Celina and her boy child James Henry, I will warrant and defend to the Thomas Donoho his executors and administrators, and against every other person or persons whomsoever. In witnesses and hand and seal this thirteenth day of April 1833.
Joshua Talbot seal In Presence of Rob[illegible]
Washington County, ss.
On this thirteenth day of April 1833, before me the sales clerk a Justice of the Peace for said County, appears Joshua Talbot, and acknowledged, the [illegible] writing to be his act and deed according to the law intent and meaning thereof and the act of a person they in that case made and purchased
[R. H.?] Clarke J.P.
April 1883
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Thomas Donoho 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.
Thos Donoho
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of May A.D. 1862
W Thompson
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.
