Title: Petition of Richard Butt, 13 May 1862
Date: May 10, 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.00147
TEI/XML: cww.00147.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,
Richard Butt
of
Washington County 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
Ellen
Wallis her son, George her son,
James her son, Caroline her
daughter persons of African descent of
the name of
Ellen, the mother of the said
George, Wallis,
James, and Caroline
for and during the life
lives of said
Ellen
Wallis
George
James and Caroline
and that by said act of Congress said
Ellen, Wallis,
George, James and
Caroline 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
Ellen was of the age of twenty years,
Wallis of the age of eight years
George five years. James of the age of three years, Caroline three years
old. and of the personal description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired His claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons of color in manner following:(2) He purchased the said Ellen, the mother of the said Wallis, George, James, and Caroline from Mr. Albert MacDaniel, about fifteen years ago as a resident of Washington City D.C.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Persons of color was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Eighteen hundred dollars in money.(3)
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 Persons of color into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said 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 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 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.
Rich'd Butt
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Richard Butt 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.
Rich'd Butt
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
Gilbert L. Giberson J.P.
Washington County To wit:
To wit: On this 10th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two before me the Subscribed a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, personally appeared Robert McChesney and John H. McChesney competent, proper, and credible witnesses and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that they and each of them are personally well acquainted with Richard Butt whose name is signed to the aforegoing petition and that he is a loyal citizen of Washington County, District of Columbia
Gilbert L. Giberson J.P.
Robt. McChesney Jno. H. McChesney
Petition of Richard Butt
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.
