Title: Petition of Rosa C. Garrett, 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.00172
TEI/XML: cww.00172.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, Rosa O. Garrett of Washington D.C. 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 Two persons of African descent of the name of Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble, her daughter for and during the life of said Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble, her daughter and that by said act of Congress said Louisa Noble & Eliza Noble, her daughter 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 Louisa Noble was of the age of between 45 and 50 years, & said Eliza Noble was of the age of 16 years. and of the personal description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired title & claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Louisa & Eliza Noble in manner following:(2) Ceasar A. Garrett, husband (now deceased) of Rosa O. Garrett, you petitioner, inherited the first named Louisa Noble now his Father's Estate, who was transferred by the aforesaid Ceaser A. Garrett, by bill of Sale, to his wife, the aforesaid Rosa O. Garrett, which bill of Sale on Transfer is of record at Marlborough Court.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Louisa & Eliza Noble was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One thousand dollars in money.(3) The aforesaid Louisa Noble is possessed of no physical disease on disability that I am aware of; and the aforesaid Eliza Noble is apparently strong and healthy.
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
Louisa & Eliza Noble
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Louisa & Eliza Noble
was
wereheld 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 right of said claim to the service or labor of said Louisa & Eliza Noble 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 right of said claim to the service or labor of said Louisa & Elizabeth Noble 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.
Washington City D.C.
May 12, 1862 Rosa O. Garrett
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Rosa O. Garrett 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.
Rosa O. Garrett
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm. R. Woodward Clk.
Petition of Rosa O. Garrett
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.
