Title: Petition of Christiana Larner, 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.00107
TEI/XML: cww.00107.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,
Christiana Larner
of
Washington D.C.
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 Two persons of African descent of the names of
Martha (calling herself Martha
Marshall) and also against Ellen
Marshall, daughter of said Martha the
said Martha being held for a term of years and said
Ellen being a slave for life
for and during the life of said and that by said act of Congress said
Martha and Ellen 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
Martha was of the age of 31 years and said Ellen 5 years and of the
personal description following:(1)Viz: Martha is of dark color, with
dark eyes 5 feet 6 inches high (without any marks)
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Martha and Ellen in manner following:(2)Viz: Martha was sold to the petitioner, on the 1st day of January 1849 for a term of Fifteen years by Arian Tweedy, whose bill of sale is hereto appended Ellen (her child) being born during the term of service of said Martha became a slave for life.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Martha and Ellen was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One Thousand dollars in money.(3) Martha is an excellent cook, washer and ironer and such a servant could rarely be obtained at eight dollars per month Ellen, having been raised in the family, is now very useful being able to wait on the table and as many things about the house she could not have been bought for 600$
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
Martha and Ellen
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Martha& Ellen 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 Martha & Ellen 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 Martha & Ellen 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.
Christiana Larner
Michael Larner
Know all men by these Presents, that I Arian Tweedy, of the City of Washington in the District of Columbia, for an in consideration of the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars, to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these present do grant, bargain, and sell, unto Christiana Larner, of the same place, my female negro slave Martha, aged about eighteen years, and to her executors, administrators and assigns, for the space of fifteen years, from the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, fully to be complete and ended and no longer; and at the end of the said fifteen years the said Martha is to be free from all control and restraint of the said Christiana Larner, her heirs, executors, and administrators, as well as of myself and my heirs, executors, and administrators. To have and to hold the said negro slave Martha for the said term of fifteen years to the said Christiana Larner, her executors, administrators, and assigns, and the said Arian Tweedy has put the said Christiana Larner in full possession of the said negro slave Martha by delivering said negro slave to said Christiana Larner at the sealing and delivery of these presents.
In Witness whereof, the said Arian Tweedy has hereunto set her hand and seal this first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Arian Tweedy
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of......
Julia E. Tweedy
Arian Tweedy
to
Christiana Larner
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Christiana Larner 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.
Christiana Larner
Michael Larner
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of May A.D. 1862
Robert G. Hedrick
Justice of the Peace
Sworn to and subscribed by Michael Larner before me this 12th day of July A.D. 1862
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.
