Title: Petition of Walter B. Chew, 13 May 1862
Date: May 13, 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.00159
TEI/XML: cww.00159.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, Walter B. Chew of Georgetown 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 James Albert, Charles, Cecelia, Mary Catherine, & Eugene Brown persons of African descent of the name of [no handwritten text supplied here] for and during the life of said James Albert Charles Mary Catherine Eugene Brown and that by said act of Congress said James Albert, Charles, Cecelia, Mary Catherine, and Eugene Brown 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 James Albert, Charles, Cecelia Mary Catherine & Eugene Brown were of the ages of (20) Twenty (16) sixteen (13) thirteen (10) ten (7) seven years and of the personal description following:(1) James Albert Brown, age (20) Twenty years, complexion bright, height 5 ft 8 in straight dark hair, defect in one eye Charles Brown age 16 years complexion bright height 4 feet 10 in. straight dark hair Cecelia Brown aged 13 years complexion light, height 4 ft 4 in. straight brown hair and dark eyes Mary Catherine Brown aged 10 years bright complexion, straight dark hair and dark eyes height 4 ft 1 in. Eugene Brown age 7 years copper colored complexion, height 3 ft 7 in. light curly hair and dark eyes.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons in manner following:(2) The mother belonged to the petitioner having been purchased by him and his title for her is recorded in the county court & that the said mother, (Catherine Brown) died in possession of your petitioner and all the children named are her offspring.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty Nine Hundred dollars in money.(3)
| James Albert Brown | valued at $1000.— | Defect in one eye |
| Charles Brown | " " 800.— | no infirmity |
| Cecelia Brown | " " 500.— | " " |
| Mary Catherine Brown | " " 400.— | " " |
| Eugene Brown | " " 200.— | " " |
| $2900— |
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 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 [no handwritten text supplied here] 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.
W. B. Chew
We the undersigned having been requested by W. B. Chew to appraise the slaves described in his petition under the provisions set by Congress and titled An act for the relief of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia approved April 16th 1862 have done so to the best of their knowledge and believe that the respective values fixed by Chew and stated in said petition are just or reasonable Edward Pearce Thos C. Wheeler Georgetown D.C. May 10th 1862
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Walter B. Chew of Georgetown D.C. 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. Chew
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward Clk &
Thomas A. Whaler
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.
