Title: Petition of Alfred A. Sloan, 12 May 1862
Date: May 12, 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.00178
TEI/XML: cww.00178.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, Alfred A. Sloan 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 Negro woman a slave for life and a person of African descent of the name of Milly Blake for and during the life of said Milly Blake and that by said act of Congress said Milly Blake has been discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Milly Blake was of the age of about forty six years and of the personal description following:(1) Viz: about five feet and one inch high, quite black and stout
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Milly Blake in manner following:(2) Viz: By purchase from the administrator of Maria M. McKnew, deceased, the mother of your petitioner's wife, to whom the said Milly belonged. That the said purchase was made on or about the 3rd day of December 1857, at a public sale of the personal estate of the said deceased; that your petitioner paid for said Milly and her child, (the child having died before the passage of the late Manumission Act) as reference can be had to the bill and might from said administrator, if required to be produced.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Milly Blake was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five hundred dollars in money.(3) That the said Milly is an excellent house servant good cook and washer and ironer, and that your petitioner has been offered eight dollars per month for her service; that your petitioner believes her to be sound and healthy and that he has no knowledge of any moral, mental, or bodily infirmities or defects of said Milly which impair the value of your petitioner's claim, and that he believes none exist.
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 Milly Blake into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Milly 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said Milly 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 Milly Blake 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.
A. A. Sloan
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Alfred A. Sloan 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.
A. A. Sloan
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
Jno H. Johnson J.P. seal
Petition of A. A. Sloan Under the Act of 16th of April 1862
Manumission
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.
