Title: Petition of Charles H. Dumas and Margaret E. Shelly, 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.00224

TEI/XML: cww.00224.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 H. Dumas 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 Lucy Key Catherine Virginia Key, Mary Alice Key, Charles Richard Key, and Arina Key persons of African descent of the name of Lucy Key Catherine Virginia Key Mary Alice Key Charles Richard Key and Arina Key for and during the life of said persons of african decent of the names aforesaid and that by said act of Congress said 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 Lucy Key was of the age of 34 years. Catherine Virginia Key of the age of 10 years Mary Alice Key of the age of 8 years Charles Richard Key of the age of 6 years and Ariana Key of the age of 4 years and of the personal description following:(1) Lucy Key of a dark chestnut color, five feet four inches high Catherine Virginia Key dark chestnut color, four feet two and a half inches high, Mary Alice Key dark mulatto four feet high Charles Richard Key dark mulatto three feet five inches high Ariana Key bright mulatto three feet two inches and a half high.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by virtue of a deed of trust from William E. F. Skelly dated the third day of April A.D. 1861 conveying said persons to your petitioner to hold the same in trust for the benefit of Margaret E. Skelly wife of said William E Skelly as will more fitfully appear by reference to said deed of trust Recorded in deed U.S.N. 210 Sol 38 in this County said Wm E Skelly purchased the said Lucy Key of the estate of the late Dr. Benjamin Day of Bladensburgh in the state of Maryland on the 2nd day of January 1847 Dr. Cook being the executor said children being of her issue care since the purchase thereof.

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-eight hundred dollars $2800 in money.(3) That said persons are all sound healthy and free from any and all infirmities or defects. Lucy Key being a first rate servant and the remaining, all children of Lucy Key, being likely and promising children and nothing mental moral or bodily to impair their value, your petitioner declares that William E Skelly aforesaid and Margaret E Skelly for whose benefit this claim is presented bears true and faithful allegiances 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  

  • Lucy Key worth one thousand dollars
  • Catherine Virginia Key, worth seven hundred dollars
  • Mary Alice Key, worth five hundred dollars
  • Charles Richard Key, worth four hundred dollars
  • Armina Key, worth three hundred dollars

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 personswas 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.

(Signed by)
C H Dumas Margaret E. Skelly
 
[Rec'd​ Janry 22d 1847?] of Mr. Wm. Skelly Dr [Wm. Gray Palmer?] five hundred & fifty dollars for negro girl Lucinda.

Septimus J. Cook
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

We, Charles H. Dumas and Margaret E. Skelly 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 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, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.

(Signed by)
C H. Dumas Margaret E. Skelly

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Edgar H. Bates, J.P.
224
Petition of
C. H. Dumas and
Margaret E. Skelley
Filed May 14, 1862
Dr.Wm Gray Palmer
Witnesses
Wm H Stanford
Nicholas Heker


 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.

Transcription and encoding: Kenneth M. Price, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, Robert Voss, and Courtney Geerhart.