Title: Petition of Everet Wroe, 10 May 1862
Date: May 10, 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.00238
TEI/XML: cww.00238.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,
Everet Wroe
of
Washington 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 seven person
of African descent of the name of
Harry Barber, Rachel Barber
Harry Barber Jr.
Mary Ellen Barber, Casper Barber
Sarah Ellen Barber & John Harry
Barber
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 ages of
herein after mentioned and of the personal
description following:(1)
| Henry Barber | 37 | years of age, | color black | hight | 5ft 7 or 8 inches |
| Rachel Barber | 35 | " | color black | " | 5 ft 5 or 6 do |
| Harry Barber Jr. | 17 | " | color black | " | 4 ft 4 or 5 " |
| Mary Ellen Barber | 16 | " | dark chestnut color | " | 4 ft 8 or 9 " |
| Sarah Ellen Barber | 12 | " | dark chestnut color | " | 4 ft 8 or 9 " |
| Casper Barber | 6 | " | light mulatto | " | 4 ft 3 or 4 " |
| John Henry Barber | 4 | " | color black | " | 3 ft 2 or 3 " |
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said servants in manner following:(2) by deed of trust from Samuel C. Wroe for the use of Van Luden Marcella Wroe recorded in Liber J.A.S. Folio 140 folio 247: dated 27th August 1857
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said servants— x was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of 5,487dollars in money.(3) to wit:
- Henry Barber $900
- Rachel Barber 800
- Mary Ellen Barber 925
- Sarah Ellen Barber 925
- Harry Barker Jr 737
- Casper Barber 800
- John H Barber 400
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 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 petitioner further states and alleges, that his 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 his 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.
Everett Wroe
Trustee
We, the subscribers who names are hereunto attached having been requested by Mr S C Wroe to value and appraise the several servants which belonged to his daughter Van Luden Marcella Wroe until liberated by the act of Congress of the 16th day of April 1862 do value and appraise them at the following stated prices
| Negro Man | Henry Barber | $900.00 |
| " Woman | Rachel Barber | 800.00 |
| " Girl | Mary Ellen Barber | 925.00 |
| " Girl | Sara Ellen Barber | 925.00 |
| " Boy | Harry Barber | 737.00 |
| " Boy | Casper Barber | 800.00 |
| " Boy | John Henry Barber | 400.00 |
| " Man | John Smith | 1400.00 |
| $6887.00 |
In testimony of which we have hereunto affixed our respective signatures the day and date first above mentioned
R H Speake
F. Lakemeyer
Wm. H. Parker
You will please let Mr. S. Wroe have Harry Barber on arrival. I have this day sold him to Mr. Wroe
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Everet Wroe, Trustee as aforesaid 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.
Everet Wroe,
Trustee
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
John D. Clark J. Peace
Petition
of
Everet Wroe
Dr. Jno. A Wroe
Everett Wroe
Fred Lakemeyer
Wm H. Parker
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.
