Title: Petition of Sally Murray and Martin King, 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.00128
TEI/XML: cww.00128.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,
Sally Murray &
Martin King
of
Washington City, D. C.
by this their petition in writing, represents and states,
that they are
is a persons 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 females, persons of African descent of the name of
Margaret and Miranda
for and during the life of said
Margaret and Miranda
and that by said act of Congress said
Margaret and Miranda
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
Margaret will be about Forty two
years of age next July ensuing,
of the age of
and Miranda twenty six years of
age, and of the personal description following:(1)
| Name. | Age | Sex. | Particular description. |
| Margaret. | 42 | Female. | About five feet five inches high, black eyes, woolly hair, black complexion, by occupation a cook ironer, and washer-woman, and free from bodily defects, and of excellent moral character. |
| Miranda | 26 | Female. | About five feet five inches high, black eyes, woolly hair, black complexion, by occupation a chamber-maid, seamstress, and general house work. Free from bodily defects, and of excellent moral character. |
That your petitioner acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Margaret and Miranda in manner following:(2) That in or about the 4th day of May, 1861, Martin King, in a bill of sale of that date of his personal property, included the aforesaid Margaret and Miranda, as will be found recorded in Liber J. A. S. No. 211, Folios 210, 211, 212, one of the Land Records of Washington County, in the District of Columbia.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Margaret & Miranda was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three thousand dollars in money.(3) The aforesaid Margaret and Miranda was purchased by Martin King on or about the twenty-fifth day of June, A. D. 1842, and recorded 1. July, 1842, as will appear by the accompany bill of sale. They have been from that date to the present time in the service of the aforesaid Martin King, and their service to him was invaluable.
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present
rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have not brought said Margaret and Miranda, into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Margaret & Miranda 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said Margaret & Miranda, 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said Margaret & Miranda. 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.
Sally Murray
Martin King
To Bill of Sale
Martin King
1842
Know all men by these presents that I Jesse Duvall of
Washington County in the District of
Columbia for and in consideration of the Sum of Five Hundred
dollars Current Money to me in hand paid by Martin King
of the City of Washington, in the
District aforesaid at or before the Sealing and
delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof I the said Jesse
Duvall do hereby acknowledge, have, granted, bargained Sold and delivered, and by these presents do grant
bargain sell and deliver unto the Said Martin King his
executors administrators and assigns the following slaves to wit. a negrowoman
slave named
Margaret
about
twenty-two years of age, and her two children
a Negro Girl named Miranda about Six years of age and a Negro Boy child about two years of age, named Thomas—To Have and
To Hold the Said Negrowoman Margaret and her two
children named Miranda and Thomas
above bargained and sold, or intended so to be, to the Said Martin
King his executors, administrators and assigns forever. And I
the said Jesse Duvall for myself my heirs executors and
administrators, the said Negrowoman named Margaret
& her two children named Miranda and
Thomas as slaves for life, unto him the said
Martin King his executors administrators and
assigns, against me the said Jesse Duvall my executors
and administrators and against all and 
and every other person and persons
whatsoever, Shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
In Witness whereof I hereto Subscribe my name and affix myself this twenty fifth day of June AD 1842.—
Jesse Duvall seal
James Marshall
On this 25th day of June 1843 personally appears before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, Jesse Duvall party to the above and foregoing Bill of Sale, and acknowledges the Same to be his free act and deed for the purposes therein expressed.—
James Marshall J.Peace
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Martin King and Sally Murray 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.
Martin King
Sally Murray
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of May A. D. 1862.
B. H. Ferguson J. P. for the District & County aforesaid
Sally Murray and
Martin King
Geo. F. Gulick
Francis Riley
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.
