Title: Petition of Horace S. Johnston, 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.00114
TEI/XML: cww.00114.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,
Horace S. Johnston
of
Washington City DC
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
Coloured
persons of African descent of the names of
Fanny Butler, Flora Carter,
James Butler, Calvin Jamison
and Eliza Butler
for and during the life of said Negroes and
that by said act of Congress said Negroes 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 NegroFanny
was of the age of Twenty Six years and of
the personal description following:(1)
Copper Colour, Flora aged Ten years,
James Six Years Very Black.
James aged Six Years and Very Black,
Calvin aged Seventeen Years, Light mulatto and
Eliza aged fifteen months, Light mulatto all
healthy hardy Strong Servants and valuable for their services as working
People except the Youngest who is two Young for service
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Negroes in manner following:(2) By inheritance from Relatives residing here and formerly from the State of Virginia. Your Petitioner having owned said negroes for the past 15 Years, a portion of them having been Born in his family
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Negroes was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three thousand five hundred dollars in money.(3) To wit Fanny one thousand dollars. Flora seven hundred dollars. James five hundred dollars. Calvin twelve hundred Dollars and Eliza Two hundred Dollars. They being as aforesaid smart active and working people, and to my Knowledge and Belief they have no moral defect.
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 negroes into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Negroes 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 negroes 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 Negroes 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.
H. S. Johnston
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Horace S. Johnston 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.
H. S. Johnston
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Seventh day of May A.D. 1862
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Petition of
Horace S. Johnston
Joseph Beasly
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.
