Title: Petition of Samuel Fearson, 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.00186
TEI/XML: cww.00186.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,
Samuel Fearson
of
Georgetown D.C.
by this his petition in writing, represents
and states, that [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 three persons of African descent of the names of
Anna Thomas, William Henry Thomas,
and Anna Maria Thomas
for and during the life of said
Anna
William Henry, and Anna Maria
and that by said act of Congress said
Anna,William Henry and
Anna Maria 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
Anna, William Henry and
Anna Maria were of the ages
of and of the personal description following:(1)
- Anna Thomas, 29 years of age, about Five feet four inches high, of a dark brown color, very healthy
- William Henry Thomas, about twelve (12) years of age, about four feet six inches high, of bright-yellow color, and being very healthy
- Anna Maria Thomas, about seven years of age, about four feet high, Black, very healthy.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Anna, William Henry & Anna Maria in manner following:(2) The said Anna with her said children William Henry and Anna Maria, were purchased by me from Joseph A. Pearson on the 20th day of January in 1854 for the sum of Eleven Hundred dollars cash as per bill of sale of that date, will fully appear.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Anna, William Henry and Anna Maria was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty six hundred dollars in money.(3) That your petitioner is unaware of any mental, moral or physical defect in either of said persons, all three of them being healthy during the whole period of his knowledge of them; that he values them as follows: Anna, at one thousand dollars ($1000.00); William Henry, at Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00) and Anna Maria at Seven Hundred Dollars ($700.00);
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 or either of
them into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were
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 above named 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 as 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.
Samuel Fearson
to
Samuel Fearson,
of
- Negro woman Anna.
- do boy Wm Henry.
- " girl Ann Maria.
| Anna | $1000— |
| Wm Henry | 900 |
| Anna Maria | 700 |
| $2600 Due By Estates |
Know all men by these presents; That I Joseph N. Fearson of Georgetown in the County of Washington and District of Columbia, for and in consideration of the sum of Eleven Hundred Dollars, ($1100) current money of the United States to me in hand paid by Samuel Fearson son of Samuel S. Fearson, of Georgetown aforesaid, at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Samuel Fearson, his heirs and assigns forever, my negro woman Anna aged about twenty six (26) years, and her two children, William Henry aged about (9) nine years, and Ann Maria aged about four (4) years, the said negro woman Anna, negro by William Henry and negro girl Ann Maria, being slaves for life, and now and for a long time past, hired out to, and living in the family of Samuel S. Fearson in Georgetown aforesaid.
To have and to hold, all and singular the said negro woman Anna aged 26 years, negro boy William Henry aged 9 years and the said negro girl Ann Maria aged 4 years, unto the said Samuel Fearson, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever; and I, the said Joseph N. Fearson, for myself and my heirs, executors and administrators, the said negro woman Anna, negro boy William Henry and negro girl Ann Maria, have put in the full possession of the said Samuel Fearson, by personal delivery of them, and by the sealing and delivery hereof, this 20th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and fifty nine. In testimony of all which I have hereto set my hand and seal, the day and last herein before written.
J. N. Fearson Seal
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
Jacob Ramsbury
Joseph A. Hastings
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Samuel Fearson 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.
Samuel Fearson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10 day of May A. D. 1862.
Robert White
Justice of Peace
Petition of Samuel Fearson.
Owner of Three slaves
Joseph W. Fearson
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.
