Title: Petition of Charles Hume and Anna M. Hume, 16 May 1862
Date: May 16, 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.00262
TEI/XML: cww.00262.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 Hume of the City of Washington District of Columbia 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 Louisa Ware, Juliet Ware, Richard Ware and Jane Faunteleroy, Sarah Williams, Cynthia Williams persons of African descent of the names aforesaid. Said Louisa Ware, aged forty four years, a female, Juliet Ware her Daughter aged fifteen years, Richard Ware her son, aged ten years, Jane aged thirty three years, Sarah aged twenty years and Cynthia aged sixteen years for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said Louisa, Juliet, Richard, Jane Sarah and Cynthia 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 persons they were of the age aforesaid and of the personal description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Louisa the mother in manner following:(2) By will of Mary Sandridge to Mrs. Hume, of Louisa, when a small girl, the Probate of which maybe found in the clerks office of Spottsylvania County Va, Richard & Juliet by birth from their mother a slave. The will aforesaid took effect somewhere about AD 1835
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Louisa Ware and Jane Fauntleroy was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fifteen hundred dollars each in money.(3) Jane, lives with John C Rine & he pays ten dollars per month wages for, Louisa is my principal Household servant, capable, honest & trustworthy of good sound health & constitution These two servants are worth as much as any two servants, what has been said of Louisa is equally true of Jane. Sarah, Cynthia and Juliet are three young girls worth Twelve hundred dollars each, of good health & constitution and well instructed in domestic duties - Richard the Boy is a sound smart active one of good health & constitution of the value of Eight 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 slaves or 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 Louisa, Juliet, Richard, Jane Sarah and Cynthia 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.
Chas Hume
Mary A Isaac, Daughter of Charles Hume
Francis E. Hume
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, Anna M Hume of Washington D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 three female persons of African descent of the name of Jane or Jennie Fauntleroy, Sarah Williams, and Cynthia Williams as administratrix upon the personal estate of her late Husband Francis Hume deceased slaves for and during the life of said parties and that by said act of Congress said parties 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 parties were of the age of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(4)
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said parties in manner following:(5) that is to say as the administratrix upon her deceased husbands personal estate, they being left to her husband by his grand Father, with a dower interest to my late husbands mother which interest was purchased in full by my late husband out of means inherrited by me from my Fathers (the late John A Donohue's) estate
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said parties was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three thousand dollars in money.(6)
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said parties into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said parties 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said parties 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said parties 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.
Anna M Hume
administratrix
to deed Charles Hume
as Trustee
Clk
This indenture made this nineteenth day of July in
the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty nine between
Francis Hume of Washington County in the
District or Territory of Columbia of the one part and
Charles Hume his brother of the same county in the
said District or Territory of Columbia of the other
part. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the natural care and
affection which the said Francis Hume hath and beareth
unto his nieces Mary Ann, Fannie
Ella, Virginia Baulings, Eliza
Priscilla
Ida May and Suse Ellen Hume
children of his said Brother Charles Hume and also for
and in consideration of the sum of five dollars unpaid money to the said
Francis Hume in hand paid at and before the sealing
and delivery of these presents the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged
the said Francis Hume hath given granted bargained and
sold and by these presents doth give grant bargain and sell unto the said
Charles Hume the following negroes slaves for life
now in the possession of the said Francis Hume to wit
Ellen aged about forty three years,
Jane or Jenny aged about
thirty two years Sarah aged about seventeen years and Cinthia aged about eleven years To Have And To Hold the
said described negroes, slaves for life unto the said Charles
Hume his executors & administrators and assigns for ever
in trust for the sole separate and 
exclusive use and benefit of the said
Mary Ann, Fannie Ella,
Virginia Baulings, Eliza
Priscilla, Ida May and Suse
Ellen Hume children of the said Charles
Hume or aforesaid and upon the death of either of them then
inherit for the sole separate and exclusive use and benefit of the survivor
or survivors of them and to and for no other use intent or purpose
whatsoever.
In testimony whereof the said Francis Hume hath hereto set his hand and affixed his seal on the day and year first herein before written
in the presence of
F. S. Myer
Francis Hume seal
Washington County District of Columbia to wit:
Be it remembered that on this nineteenth day of July
eighteen hundred and fifty-nine before me the subscriber a
justice of the peace for Washington County in the District or
Territory of Columbia aforesaid personally appeared
Francis Hume of said county and district and
acknowledged the aforegoing deed of gift to be his act.
F. S. Myer J.P. Seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Anna M Hume 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.
Anna M Hume
administratrix
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of July A.D. 1862
F. I. Murphey J.P.
Anna M Hume Petitioner
Wm Ryan
Thos Parker
State of Maryland Baltimore City To Wit. On the Twelfth day of July AD 1862 Before the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace of the State [a?]foresaid in and for the City of Baltimore Personally appeared Mrs. Matilda Zimmerman and made oath in due form of Law that she (Mrs Matilda Zimmerman) went to Washington about the first day in October last past and remained for three weeks. And during that period she frequently visited the House of Mr C Hume. That on the 18th and 19th of October the Brother of Mr C Hume was Lying dead in his (Mr C Hume's house).
I (Mrs Zimmerman) then and there saw a lady who represented herself as the wife of Deceased. and during the time (I Mrs Zimmerman) and the widow of Deceased was there the subject of Secession was never spoken off in my presence. During my entire stay in Washington nor before nor since my return have I ever heard Mr C Hume express any sentiments that would lead me to believe Mr C Hume to be other than a Loyal Citizen. During the 18th and 19th of October there was but one daughter at home. She was a child about four years of age. four daughters were on a visit as I then learned (since April preceding) to the house of their Grandmother in Virginia. The sixth daughter was on a visit in Maryland to the house of Mr Isaacs, and returned the morning of the funeral.
Matilda Zimmerman
Test.
A M Irving Sworn Before
A M Irving J.P.
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That Ambrose M Irving Esquire, before whom the annexed affidavit s were made, and who has thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for the City of Baltimore, duly commissioned and sworn.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of the Superior Court of Baltimore City, this 12th day of July A.D. 1862
Geo. E Sangstin
Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore City.
July 14, 1862
Gentlemen
I respectfully submit this note in explanation of my petition this day filed for
certain female slaves claim to which has been made by a certain
Charles Hume of this City. I conceive the claim
asserted by said Charles Hume to have been fraudulently
obtained from my late Husband whilst laboring in an aberation of mind, and deep depression of 
system caused by bad habits and idleness, under
which influence he was duped into the execution of the alleged bill or transfer
of said servants.
In behalf of my said petition I request to be allowed to appear in court with certain witnesses in my behalf
Very Respectfully
Anna M Hume
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Charles Hume with Mary G Isaac & Francis E Hume two of the daughters of Charles Hume 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.
Chas Hume
Mary A Isaac
Fannie E Hume
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of May A.D. 1862
Jno C Thomas
Notary Public
Charles Hume
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.
Note (4.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (5.)-- 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 (6.)-- 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.
