Title: Petition of David Rawlings, 6 May 1862
Date: May 6, 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.00059
TEI/XML: cww.00059.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,
David Rawlings
of
Washington City
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
Minty Colbert, Adeline Jones,
Martha Bowman, Julia Jones,
Christiana Jones and Caroline
Jones. persons of African
descent of the names
of
above mentioned, a descriptive list of which I have
filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of this
District
for and during the life of said persons and
that by said act of Congress said persons were
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 ages of 65. 37. 10. 8 1/2. 6 yrs 7
m. & 6 yrs & 7m respectively. and of the personal description
following:(1)
| Minty Colbert | Black | 5ft 2in |
| Adeline Jones | " " | 5 " 4 " |
| Martha Bowman | Dark | 4 " 6 " |
| Julia Jones | Mulatto | 4 " 1 " |
| Christiana Jones | Black | 3 " 5 |
| Caroline Jones | " " | 3 " 6 " |
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) all By purchase-and that the 4 last named are the offspring of Adeline Jones.
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 twenty eight hundred dollars in money.(3) Adeline Jones has been with my family about 10 years, is healthy capable and particularly valuable to me. the younger children are hers and consequently also valuable I am not aware of any infirmity or defect which would impair their value.
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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons 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 persons 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 persons 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.
David Rawlings
Received of JC [Thompson?] six hundred and fifty Dollars, being in full for the purchase of Negro Slave named Adeline [an Child?] all the right and title of said Slave I warrant and defend against the claims of all persons whatsoever, and likewise warrant her sound and healthy, and Slave for life.
John Green
for Sarah
J. C. Thompson for value Received do hereby transfer to David Rawlings of Washington City and to his heirs and assigns all the right title interest and Estate I have in Said Negro Adeline and Child
John C. Thompson
T. C. Donn
March 31, 1853
Received by Mr. David Rollings one Hundred and twenty five dollars for the purchase of one negrow woman Minty for said negrow I warrant and defend against all persons and slave for life given under my hand and seal this seventh day of March eighteen hundred and fifty three
Mary E Webster James G Webster
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, David Rawlings 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.
David Rawlings
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of May A.D. 1862
John S. Hollingshead
Notary Public
Petition of
David Rawlings
Thos Clarke
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.
