Title: Petition of Margaret Ann Hutchinson, 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.00188
TEI/XML: cww.00188.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, Margaret A. Hutchinson of Washington City DC 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 a man servant, a person of African descent of the name of James Shaw for and during the life of said James Shaw and that by said act of Congress said James Shaw 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 James Shaw was of the age of Twenty two years and of the personal description following:(1) of dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair, about five feet seven inches high, and of medium build; no scars or marks visible.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servant James Shaw in manner following:(2) By will from her brother in law Thomas W. Jones, which will was admitted to record in the Orphans Court of this City & County on the 25th day of June 1859: the said servant James Shaw, having been born of a slave woman, owned by George Bean father of your petitioner, & upon his decease, was alloted to F. W. Jones on division of his, (the said Geo. Bean's) estate, by mutual consent of all the heirs;
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servant James Shaw was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve hundred dollars in money.(3) That said James Shaw is a smart active intelligent man, an excellent house servant, & accustomed to the care and management of horses is of a good Constitution and of sound bodily health, never having been sick since his early infancy: is sound in mind and body, and is perfectly honest and trustworthy: that your petitioner is not aware of any mental, moral or bodily defects or infirmities that would impair his value, and she does not believe any exist
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 James Shaw into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said James Shaw 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said James Shaw 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said James Shaw 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.
M A Hutchinson
I Thomas W. Jones of the City of Washington being of sound & disposing mind and memory make this my will.
I give, devise, and bequeath to my sister-in-law Mrs. Margarett Ann Hutchinson her heirs and assigns all and whatsoever property and estate, I may die seized and possessed of, or in which I may be in any manner interested of whatsoever kind and nature the same may be real personal or mixed, and wheresoever it may be situated.
And I hereby appoint the said Margarett A. Hutchinson Executrix of this my last will—
Witness my hand and seal this thirty first day of March in the year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty seven
Thos W. Jones Seal
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by Thomas W. Jones, to be his last will & testament, in our presence, who, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereto set our names, as witnesses—
Richard M. Hanson.
Joseph M. Adams
Thos. Hutchingson—
Washington County, to wit, June 7, 1859.
This day appeared, Thomas Hutchingson one of the subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last will & testament of Thomas W. Jones late of Washington County aforesaid, deceased, & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty, that he did see the Testator therein named sign & seal this will, that he published, pronounced & declared the same to be his last will & testament, that at the time of so doing, he was to the best of his apprehension of sound and disposing mind, memory & understanding, & that he together with Richard M. Hanson & Joseph M. Adams the other subscribing Witnesses, respectively subscribed their names, as witnesses to this will; in the presence & at the request of the Testator, & in the presence of each other—
Washington County, to wit;
I certify that the aforegoing is a true copy from the original filed & recorded in the office of the Register of Wills for Washington County, aforesaid—
Witness my hand & seal of Office this 27th day of June in the year 1859.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Margaret Ann Hutchinson— 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.
M A Hutchinson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk.
Margaret Ann Hutchinson
John Jolly
Blagdens Wharf
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.
