Title: Petition of William B. Slack, 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.00142
TEI/XML: cww.00142.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, Major W. B. Slack U.S.M. Corps of the City of Washington 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 Frances Duckett, & Evelina Robertson person of African descent of the name of Frances Duckett & Evelina Robertson for and during the life of said Frances & Evelina and that by said act of Congress said Frances & Evelina 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 Frances & Evelina were respectively of the ages of Frances fifty four, & Evelina twenty three, and of the personal description following:(1) Francis Duckett is about five feet two inches in height, dark color, active & energetic in her movements, very polite when spoken to & has very cheerful manners. Evelina Robertson is about five feet four inches in height, light complexion, dark eyes, mild in disposition & very genteel manners.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Frances & Evelina in manner following:(2) Frances, (originally the property of the father of your petitioner's wife & sold by him to Daniel Kent of Calvert County Md.) was purchased from said Daniel Kent by your petitioner, in the month of February 1856 for the sum of three hundred dollars: And said Evalina was inherited by the wife of your petitioner from her father the late Richard Henry Hall of Baltimore City.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said
Frances & Evelina were
was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Thirteen hundred dollars in money.(3)
Frances Duckett was a highly esteemed family servant,
of sound mind & body; a remarkably fine cook & for sobriety industry
& correct deportment unsurpassed: value $300. And Evaline
Robertson of sound mind & body was an intelligent
trustworthy domestic, having been raised by the wife of your petitioner,
always lived with her; was correct in every relation of life, efficient in
every department of housekeeping, value $1000.
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 Frances & Evelina into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Frances & 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 Frances & Evelina 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 Frances & Evelina 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.
E. Tucker Blake of Washington City
(Signed by)
W. B. Slack, Quartermaster U.S.M. Corps.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William B. Slack 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.
W. B. Slack
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Ninth day of May A.D. 1862
Wm R Woodward Clk .
Major William B. Slack
E. Tucker Blake
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.
