Title: Petition of Martha H. McKnight, 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.00139
TEI/XML: cww.00139.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,
Martha H.
McKnight
of
Washington
City
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
a certain Female Slave of dark colour Medium
size—a— person of African descent of the name of
Rozetta Dorsey
for and during the life of said person and
that by said act of Congress said persons 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 persons
was of the age of
about Fifty years and of the personal description
following: (1)
description as above stated
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Servant— in manner following:(2) purchased some seven or eight years ago, as will appear by the anexed Bill of Sale anexed, hereto.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 400— dollars in money.(3) She is my cook doing all my work. washer & Ironer, worth much more than the above some, but is assessed at the above sum, she complains at times of slight dropsical affection but is generally well, I know of not other infirmity or defect, of any kind
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 servant into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said servant 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 servant 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 servant 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.
Martha H McKnight
Know all men by these presents; that I W. J. C. DuHamel of Washington City D.C. for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars which has been paid me by Mrs. Martha McKnight of the city aforesaid, has given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Mrs. McKnight my negro woman Resseta which said negro woman will warrant and defend to the said Mrs. McKnight her executors, administrators, and assigns, against me, my executors and administrators and against every person or persons whomsoever, In witness whereof I have hereunto sit my hand be seal, this tenth day of October Eighteen hundred and fifty five
W. J. C. DuHamel seal
In presence of
Henrietta J Kennedy
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Martha H. McKnight 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.
Martha H McKnight
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of May A. D. 1862.
Chas Walter JP seal
Martha H. McKnight
Charles Bradly
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.
