Title: Petition of Horatio Moran, 9 May 1862
Date: May 9, 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.00123
TEI/XML: cww.00123.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, Horatio Moran of Washington City 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 certain persons of African descent of the name of John Lewis Webster and Sandy Webster for and during the life of said John Lewis and Sandy and that by said act of Congress said John Lewis and Sandy discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Sandy was of the age of twenty nine years and of the personal description following:(1) Yellow complexion or Bright Mulatto, Stout, and healthy Strong and Able Bodied. John Lewis as of the age of 27 Years Bright Mulatto. Healthy Strong and able Bodied Both Good Hackman having followed Said Occupation in the City of Washington
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Coloured Persons in manner following:(2) By inheritance from his father John Moran's Estate. Charles County State of Maryland, he having inherited the Mother of said men, they Being Born my Property as aforesaid
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Coloured Men was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eighteen hundred dollars in money.(3) They Each Being Worth at Least Nine hundred the assessment value they Both Being able Bodied and healthy as aforesaid, and to the Best of my Knowledge and Belief, they have no moral defect they are nine hundred dollars a peace
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 Coloured Men into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Coloured Men 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 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 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.
Horatio Moran
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Horatio Moran, 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.
Horatio Moran
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Ninth day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace
for Washington County District of Columbia
Horatio Moran Esq
Washington D C.
Your letter of the 21st ult has been received Your boy Sandy has been employed by me since the Commencement of March last. I had no idea he was your property or I should have consulted you before bringing him away with me.
He is a most excellent Man to take care of horses, I have allowed him to go to Washington this morning, as he has been unwell for a few days back. So that commission can see for themselves.
His brother John, he says is with one of Genl McDowell's Staff.
I should value Sandy at Eighteen Hundred Dolls the way slaves ordinarily sell
A. P. Porter
Capt USA
fees paid
Lot No 3 Horatio Moran minor his proportion of the personal Property of the said deceased
| one Negro Boy S Morgan | $400.00 |
| one Negro Boy Francis | 100.00 |
| one Negro Woman Catharine | 350.00 |
| one feather Bed, Bed Stead & furniture | 20 00 |
| This sum Due the [evictors?] over paying Horatio Moran | $15.76 |
| $885.76 |
I hereby certify that,
The above is a true Extract taken from one of the
Records of the Orphans Court for Charles County this
23rd day of March 1843
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.
