Title: Petition of Clement Weeden, 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.00144
TEI/XML: cww.00144.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, Clement Weeden 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 a Coloured Woman and 2 Children persons of African descent of the name of Harrett Ann Price and her Children Benjamin and Joseph for and during the life of said Harrett and her Children and that by said act of Congress said Harriett and her children are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Harrett was of the age of Twenty four Years and of the personal description following:(1) Chesnutt Colour, Healthy and Good Cook, Washer and Ironer.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said Woman and her
Children in manner following:(2)
by Marriage with Ann Marie Hancock
of Allexandria County state of Virginia then forming a part of
the District of Columbia. She inheriting them from my
father Clement Weeden residing in Anne
Arundel County of Washington State of Maryland,
he presenting her with said
Harrett
in the year 1854. The Children above
named having been Born in my family.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3) The Mother one thousand Dollars, the Boys Three hundred dollars and two hundred respectively. They all being healthy and active
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 Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Coloured Persons 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 Coloured 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 Coloured 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.
Clement Weeden
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Clement Weeden 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.
Clement Weeden
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of May A.D. 1862
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County, District of Columbia
Clement Weeden
William [Wire?]
on Md ave near 4 1/2
For full value received I hereby assign to William F. Speaks Guardian to [Williamanna?] Radcliff, to the City of Washington in the District of Columbia as much of my claim before the Emancipation Commissioners, of the said district, as will amount to the sum of One hundred and four dollars ($104). And I do hereby fully authorize and empower the said Speaks, Guardian as aforesaid, to ask and receive from the United States so much of my said claim as will amount to the sum of One hundred and four dollars, assigned, and transferred as aforesaid. and this [bond?] is declared irrevocable.
Witness my hand & seal this 29th day of Octr. 1862
Clement Weeden Seal
Witness
A Lloyd
Please enter [illegible] to the use of Wm R Speaks (Georgetown the Sum of $104. payable out of the first monies awarded me on my claim No ([no handwritten text supplied here]) by the said Commissioners. Full value received
Clement Weeden
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.
