Title: Petition of Edward Chapman, 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.00103
TEI/XML: cww.00103.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,
Ed. Chapman
of
Geo. Town, D.C.
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 one man and three
women slaves, persons of African descent
of the name of
William Duffin, Polly Middleton,
Minty Middleton daughter of Polly and
Winny Coates
for and during the life 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 four persons were of the ages
of and of the personal description following:(1)
that is Wm Duffin was about thirty
two years of age, about five feet seven inches high, dark mulatto and an
active man.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Wm Polly and Minty in manner following:(2) By a Bill of Sale, dated 31st Mar 1862 for a valuable consideration from Mrs F. I. Dodge and the Trustee of her Separate estate, Francis Dodge and his claim to the said Winny Coates by purchase for a valuable consideration in 1853 from the late Jeremiah Orme of Georgetown D.C.
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 four thousand dollars in money.(3) The said Wm is in the prime of life in good health, a first rate gardener, house servant and waiter, and worth at least $1500—(rather bald). That said Polly is a first rate cook, in good health and of an excellent temper & disposition & worth at least $700—That said Minty is a young woman in good health and under proper supervision a very valuable servant and worth at least $1000—That said Winny is middle aged, an excellent plain cook, a steady good servant trustworthy and worth at least $800.
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
any of 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 four 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said four 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.
Ed. Chapman
To Bill of Sale
Edward Chapman
Received 16th April 1862 to be recorded and the same day was recorded in Liber J.A.S. No 217 Folio 36. One of the said Records for Washington County in the District of Columbia and examined by Tho. A Smith
For value received I hereby sell transfer and appoint to Edward Chapman all my right, title, claim and interest in three negroes viz. William Duffin aged about thirty two years, & now employed with Walter Godey—also Polly Middleton aged about forty four years as well as her daughter Minty Middleton aged about twenty years—to have & to hold the same as his property for life as witness my hand and seal this thirty first day of March 1862.
Frances I. Dodge Seal Witness H. Magruder
Witness of F. Dodge's
Signature
Wm. D. [Capin?]
F. Dodge, Trustee for the above
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Edward Chapman 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.
Edward Chapman
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of May A.D. 1862
Henry Reaver J. Peace
The Petition of Edward Chapman under the Act of Congress emancipating slaves in the District of Columbia approved 16th April 1862 4 Persons value $4000—
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.
