Title: Petition of Berhard W. Reed, 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.00125
TEI/XML: cww.00125.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, B. W. Reed 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 the following named — persons of African descent of the name of Lucy Jones, Rebecca Henson and Jack Jones. for and during the life of said Lucy Jones. Rebecca Henson and Jack Jones. and that by said act of Congress said Lucy Jones. Rebecca Henson and Jack Jones. 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 Lucy Jones. Rebecca Henson and Jack Jones wer of the ages of twenty seven or twenty eight. twenty one or twenty two and eight or nine. respectively. and of the personal description following:(1)
- Lucy Jones is of a copper complexion with no particular marks except a small scar on the right arm below the elbow, (a scar of a burn). about five feet six inches high.
- Rebecca aged about twenty one or two, is of a light copper complexion, with no marks of any description about five feet-five inches high.
- Jack. Jones. is a bright mulatto with straight hair with no scratch or mark of any description about three feet. ten inches high.
That your petitioner acquired his— claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) That is to say: The said Lucy Jones. and Rebecca Henson were bequeath to the wife of your petitioner by the last will and testament of Richard Piles late of Montgomery County, in the State of Maryland a copy of which is hereto annexed. Jack Jones is the son and child of Rebecca Henson and was born since his mother became the property of your petitioner.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lucy Rebecca & Jack was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 2.500— dollars in money.(3) That is to say: Lucy is valued at $1000 Rebecca $1000 & Jack $500 all of said persons were domestics in the family of your petitioner and were familiar with all the duties of house servants Rebecca was an excellent cook and washer and attended to her duties as such most faithfully. Lucy was a first rate chamber-maid and attended generally to all the house work of your petitioner who has for years past been in the habit of renting out the rooms in his large establishment corner of F & 14th Street all these rooms were kept in order by said Lucy. Both said servants were strictly honest and free from any bodily moral or mental infirmities or defects other than the scar already mentioned and your petitioner believes none other to exist. Jack Jones is a smart, active & remarkably intelligent boy and very useful in and about the house.
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
Lucy, Rebecca &
Jack
into the District of Columbia since
the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said servants. was
ere 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 servants 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 servants. 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.
R. W. Reed
Richard Pile
Copy
355
327
426
355
1463
5000
Orphans Court Jany. 17th 1828
In the name of God Amen. I Richard Pile of
Montgomery County and State
ofMaryland being in perfect health of body and of
sound disposing mind memory and understanding, considering the certainty of
death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle
my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world
when it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and publish this
my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:
First
and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body
to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix
hereinafter named and after my debts and funeral charges are paid I devise
and bequeath as follows.
I give and bequeth Ann Maria Clark. Mary Louisa Read all that tract or parcel of land called Magruder's and Bealls Honesty lying and being in Montgomery County containing two hundred acres more or less to be divided between them share and share alike to them, their heirs, and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto Ann Maria Clark one negro boy Charles and negro girl named Caroline to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto Maria Louisa Read one negro boy named Abraham and one negro girl named Lucy and one negro girl named Rebecca to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto William Henry Piles one negro boy named Lukes and one negro boy named John and one negro girl named Harriott and one bed, bedstead and furniture unto him the said William Henry Pile his heirs and assigns forever
I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Rachel Pile the following negroes to wit. Federick, Dennis, Thomas, Daniel, Henry, Sophia and Alley to her heirs and assigns forever and also I give and bequeath unto my wife Rachel Pile all my stock of every description and farming utensils to divided between my son William Henry Pile and herself
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Rachel Pile to be sole Executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made satisfying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the fourth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
his X mark Richard Pile signed
Josiah Harding
Ninian M Perry
Br Perry
In testimony that the aforegoing is truly taken from the Records of the Orphan Court of said County I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of said Court this 17th day of Jany. 1848
Henry Harding
Register of Wills.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, B. W. Reed of said county 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.
B. W. Reed
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9 day of May A. D. 1862.
N Callan JP
Berhard W. Reed
Dr. Robt K. Stone
" Jno C. Rily
Wm J Stone Jr
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.
