Title: Petition of Benjamin F. Middleton and Benjamin Beall, 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.00217
TEI/XML: cww.00217.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 Petitioners,
Benjamin F Middleton & Benjamin
Beall
of
Washington City D.C.
by this their petition in writing,
represents and states, that they are
is a persons 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 four persons of African descent of the names of
Charlotte, Henry,
Mary & Anna
for and during the life of said servants
and that by said act of Congress said servants
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 servants were of the age herein after mentioned and of the personal description
following:(1)
| Charlotte | 47 years old | dark | 5 ft 3 in. high |
| Henry | 17 " | black | 5 ft 1 in—" |
| Mary | 11 " | " | 4 ft 2 in—" |
| Anna | 7 " | " | 3 ft 8 in—" |
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) Charlotte & Henry were purchased about twelve years ago and cost one thousand dollars. Mary & Anna children of Charlotte were born since the purchase.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servants was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 2050 dollars in money.(3) to wit:
| Charlotte— | $800 |
| Henry | 650 |
| Mary | 350 |
| Anna— | 250 |
| $2050 |
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bear true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they have not brought
said servants into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said servants
were
was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your
petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further state and allege, that their said claim to the service or labor of said servants 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said servants 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.
Middleton & Beall
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I,
We Benjamin F. Middleton & Benjamin
Beall
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 our
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, they believe to be true in substance and in fact.
Middleton & Beall
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace
for Washington County District of Columbia
Middleton & Beall
Alfred Middleton
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.
