Title: Petition of Charles T. Gardner, 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.00219
TEI/XML: cww.00219.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,
Charles T. Gardner
of
Washington City 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
"Ann" and Daughters Jane &
Kate
persons of African descent of the name as above slaves for and during the life of said
persons and that by said act of Congress said
persons was discharged and freed of and from
all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said persons were of the age of 37, 17 & 6 years
and of the personal description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) I purchased the person Ann from Duncan McNeil in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the year 1837 or 1838 at which time I resided there, and the bill of sale has been lost or mislaid, the girls, Jane and Kate, are her children, both born since I owned the mother
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twenty four hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3) viz—Ann—$750—Jane $1150, Kate $550.
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 into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said 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 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 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.
C T Gardner
This is to certify that for the last twelve years I have attended as a physician in the family of Mr Charles S. Gardner; during which time I feel quite certain that his slave woman Ann has not been confined to her bed by indisposition more than five or six days, except on two occasions when giving birth to children. I consider her a healthy, though not a remarkably robust woman. Her two children Jane and Kate are uniformly healthy; not requiring medical attendance, except for a slight cold occasionally which has never prevented them from attending to their duties. Washington May 7th '62
Jonas Greene MD
Dr J. Greens Certificate
health of Negroes
This is to certify that Ann (a Slave) formerly belonging to C T Gardner is a first rate Cook for ordinary family use and also a good Washwoman and house servant that she was not Lazy but on the contrary has always been remarkably smart and industrious and healthy and we suppose about thirty six years old
Jane the daughter of Ann will be 17 years old on the 10 of May 1862 is remarkably healthy a tolerable cook and the best house servant we ever saw and like her mother remarkably smart and industrious likely and will grown.
Kate (Ann's youngest daughter) a child
6 years old 
on the 20th of May 1862 is likely and very smart and
active and was very useful in the family
7th of May 1862
R. C. Gardner
Juliet Gardner
Thomas J Gardner
Julia H. Gardner
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Charles T. Gardner 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.
C T Gardner
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R Woodward Clk.
Charles T. Gardner
Thomas J. Gardner
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.
