Title: Petition of Benjamin Berry, 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.00063

TEI/XML: cww.00063.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, Benjamin Berry of the District of Columbia 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 Four persons of African descent of the names of Ann Williams, Louisa Saunders, Jack Saunders and Albert Hollyday for and during the life lives of said four persons and that by said act of Congress said four persons were 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 Ann Williams was of the age of 65 years and of the personal description following:(1)

black woman slightly lame from corns one of her upper teeth being out
Louisa Saunders, light copper colored woman nineteen years of age
Jack Saunders, light copper colored boy two years seven months old son of Louisa
Albert Hollyday copper colored boy seven years old, has a very flat nose and large eyes
 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2)

Ann Williams acquired by marriage forty years ago from the estate of Wm Sasser of Maryland
Louisa Saunders bought at a sale of the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth Selby in June 1855 in Maryland
Jack Saunders (son of Louisa) was born in 1859 while his mother was owned by petitioner
Albert Hollyday grandson of Ann Williams and was born while his mother (Eliza since sold) was owned by me

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said four persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eighteen hundred dollars in money.(3)

Ann Williams a good cook and washer and quite sound for her age with the exception of being lame occasioned by corns. valued at two hundred dollars
Louisa Saunders a good house servant generally and perfectly sound and healthy valued at one thousand dollars
Jack Saunders a sound healthy boy valued one hundred and fifty dollars
Albert Hollyday a strong and healthy boy being raised as a house servant valued at four hundred and fifty dollars

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 four 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 four 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.

(Signed by)
Benjamin Berry
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

District of Columbia,
Washington County, ss.

I, Benjamin Berry 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.

(Signed by)
Benjamin Berry

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Sixth day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
H. Naylor J. Peace
65
Petition of
Benjamin Berry
Filed May 6 1862
Witnesses
Columbus Wall
Mrs. Wall
E Street bet​. 6 & 7

 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.

Transcription and encoding: Elizabeth Lorang, Susan C. Lawrence, Brittany Jones, Rhiannon Root, Robert Voss, and Janel Cayer.