Title: Petition of Eliza G. Moreland, 8 May 1862
Date: May 8, 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.00095
TEI/XML: cww.00095.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, Miss Eliza G. Moreland
of
Washington City
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 one female and three male
persons of African descent of the names of
Leathe Stewart, William Stewart,
Jere Stewart, and Manuel Stewart
for and during the life of said male and female
persons, and that by said act of Congress said 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 persons were
was of the ages of years given below, and of the personal description following:(1)
Leathea, about sixty two years of
age, five feet high, dark complexion, stout built; William Stewart, about forty three years of age,
five feet high, dark complexion, tolerably well built; and a Laborer and is making
$1.25 per day; Jerry Stewart, about
thirty two years of age, five feet ten inches high, copper color, well built, and
is a house servant at fourteen dollars per month; and Manuel Stewart, aged thirteen years last
September, four feet nine inches high, dark complexion, and has been hired for
thirty dollars per year.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Leathea was a verbal gift from her (Petitioner's) Grand Father in 1818, and her children were raised by Petitioner's Parents while your Petitioner resided with her Parents, and she believes there is in Georgetown a paper signed by her late Father to the above effect.
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 (sums given below) dollars in money.(3)
- Jerry Stewart, twelve hundred dollars,
- William Stewart, seven hundred dollars,
- Manuel Stewart, seven hundred dollars,
- Leathea Stewart, one hundred dollars. These are the valuations fixed by her friends who are better judges than herself, and she has no knowledge of any infirmity or defect to impair the above valuations.
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 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 were
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 her 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 her 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.
Eliza G. Moreland
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Eliza G. Moreland 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.
Eliza G. Moreland
Sworn to and subscribed before me this eighth day of May A.D. 1862.
Edm. F. Brown
Notary Public
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.
