Title: Petition of Robert Earl, 15 May 1862
Date: May 15, 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.00245
TEI/XML: cww.00245.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,
Robert Earl
of
Washington D.C.
by this his petition in writing, represents
and states, that 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
two persons person of African descent of the
name of
Sarah Widdecomb and George
Widdecomb
for and during the life of said
Sarah & George
and that by said act of Congress said
Sarah & George 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
Sarah & were of the ages
of
herein after mentioned and of the personal
description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said in manner following:(2) Sarah by purchase of Seth L. Cole about the 16 Nov 1854 George is the son of Sarah & born a short time after the said purchase—bill sale hereto annexed
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sarah & George was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars in money.(3)
- to wit:
- Sarah $1000
- George 500
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 Sarah & George into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 Sarah & George 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 Sarah & George 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.
R R Earl
Know all men by these present that on this 16th day of November Eighteen hundred and fifty four, I have sold to Robert Earl of Washington City District of Columbia My negro woman Ann for the sum of Five Hundred and seventy five dollars, the receipt of which is hereby Acknowledged and I warrent her sound in body and mind and sold slave for life; I also warrent and defend her against all manner of claims of whatsoever petition or kind, from any person or persons. The said woman is believed to be perfectly sound with the exception of a scar on one of her thumbs provided by a cut.
S L Cole
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Robert Earl 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, I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
R. Earl
Petition of Robert Earl
Samuel Redfern
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.
