Title: Petition of Hilleary L. Offutt, 14 May 1862
Date: May 14, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 3. 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.00203
TEI/XML: cww.00203.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,
Hilleary L Offutt
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
Maria Shiles, and her two children viz Emily
Shiles and Isabella Shiles being
persons of African descent of the names
of
as above mentioned for and during the life of said
named Persons and that by said act of Congress
said named Persons 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 named Persons were of the
age of
as follows. Maria Shiles 40 years
age and Dark Copper Color and of the personal description
following:(1)
Isabella Shiles 4 years 4 Months
& Bright Copper Color
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said named Persons in manner following:(2) by purchase of Maria Shiles the Mother and her child from John Austin as her Bill of Sale filed, the object of the Sale by Austin was to prevent the Separation of Said Maria from her husband and prevent her from being Sold to a trader to be Carried out of the District of Columbia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said named Persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of as follows
dollars in money.(3)
| Maria Shiles | 600 Dollars |
| Isabella Shiles | 300 Do |
| Emily Shiles | 100 Do |
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 named persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said named 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 named 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 named Persons 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.
H. L. Offutt
Know all men by these presents, that I, John Austin of the County of Washington District of Columbia, for the consideration of the sum of Four Hundred dollars current money, to me in hand, paid by H. L. Offutt of the County and District aforesaid, the receipt whereof, I do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, sold and delivered, and by these presents do grant bargain sell and deliver unto the said H. L. Offutt my Negro slaves Maria and her youngest child Isabella, which said slaves (Maria and Isabella) I will warrant and defend to the said H. L. Offutt his Executors administrators and assigns against me, my Executors and administrators, and against every other person or persons whomsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 16th day of December 1859.
John Austin seal
(In presence of)
M.V. Buckey
Ferdinand King
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Hilleary L Offutt 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.
H. L. Offutt
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
Jenkin Thomas
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.
