Title: Petition of James Walters, Guardian of George D. Walters, 7 May 1862
Date: May 7, 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.00079
TEI/XML: cww.00079.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, James Walters guardian of George D. Walters of Howard Co. Md. now about seventeen years of age 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 negro person of African descent of the name of Caroline Bell for and during the life of said Caroline and that by said act of Congress said Caroline Bell 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 Caroline Bell was of the age of Sixteen, (nearly seventeen) years and of the personal description following:(1) She is black, about five feet one inch high, no distinct marks recollected, large for age, heavily formed, a cook and house servant
That your petitioners said ward acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said negro in manner following:(2) by the will of Mrs Mary Mosley, duly admitted to probate, and recorded about the year 1846 in Howard County and State of Maryland
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said negro was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eight Hundred dollars in money.(3) The said negro woman was born at the residence of the affiant, and he has known her ever since. He does not know a more valuable woman and believes her to be healthy, strong, active, faithful honest, obedient and intelligent.
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 negro woman into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negro woman 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 negro woman 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said negro woman 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.
James Walters
I do hereby certify that I James Walters of Howard County in the State of Maryland was on the seventeenth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty eight appended by the Orphans Court of Howard County in the State of Maryland Guardian to William G. Walters and George D. Walters infant children of said James Walters, he having first entered into bond with good and sufficient security for the faithful performance of this trust reposed in him as guardian to the aforesaid children
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of my Office this 1st day of July 1862
Thomas Brice Hobbs
Register of Wills for Howard County
I, Henry H. Owings Presiding Justice of the Orphans Court for Howard County in the state of Maryland, do certify that the aforegoing attestation of Thomas Brice Hobbs, Register of Wills for said County is in due form, and by the proper officer.
Yours under my hand at Ellicotts Mills this 1st day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty two
Henry H. Owings
I hereby certify that Henry H. Owings, Gentleman, by whom the above certificate was given and who hath thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing, Chief Justice of the Orphans Court for Howard County in the State of Maryland, duly commissioned and sworn.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe 
my name and affix the seal of the Office this
1st day of July in the year Eighteen hundred and
sixty two
Thomas Brice Hobbs
Register of Wills for Howard County
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, James Walters, Guardian of George D. Walters 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.
James Walters
Guardian for Geo. D. Walters
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5 day of May A. D. 1862.
Chas P. Walter JP
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.
