Title: Petition of William S. Duvall and Robert L. Adamson, for John Smith (deceased), 16 May 1862
Date: 1862-05-16
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.00264
TEI/XML: cww.00264.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,
William S. Duvall of Washington
D.C. and Robert Adamson of
Montgomery Co. Md; trustees of John
Smith (deceased) of Washington City
(deceased) by this their petition in
writing, represents and states, that they are
is a persons 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
Margaret Tyler, Mary E Tyler and
Sarah A. M. Tyler (as trustees of said deceased)
[Coloured?]
persons of African descent of the name
of
as aforesaid for and during the life of said
Margaret, Mary E. and
Sarah A. M.
and that by said act of Congress said
Margaret, Mary E. and
Sarah A. M. are discharged and freed of and
from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of
said discharge said
Margaret was of the age of thirty three Years and of the personal description
following:(1)
to wit Bright Mulatto about 5 feet 2 inches in height
tolerable Healthy Good washer and ironer
That your petitioner acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Coloured Persons in manner following:(2) to wit as trustees of the Last Will and testament of John Smith Deceased late of Washington City D.C. who died about 5 or 6 years since, The Said Smith obtained Said Margaret by purchase Oct 12 1847 of C. C. Hyatt of Bladensburgh Prince Geo. Co. Md. The said Mary E. A. Being her Child and Born in the family of said Smith. The Youngest Child Sarah A. M. also Being the Child of said Margaret and was Born since the decease of her said Master, Smith and since said Petitioner having the Custody of her said Mother as trustee as aforesaid
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Coloured Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the
value of dollars in money.fourteen
(3)
hundred Dollars in Money. The said
Margaret Eight hundred dollars and the said
Mary E. A. the sum of Four hundred Dollars and the
said Sarah A. M. Two hundred Dollars to the Best of our
Knowledge and Belief We Believe they have no Moral Defect
Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance
to the Government of the United States, and that they hasve not borne arms
against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or
comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and alleges,
that they hasve not brought said
Coloured Persons into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Coloured Persons held to service or labor therein under and by virtue
of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their said claim to the service or labor of said Coloured 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 their said claim to the service or labor of said Coloured 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.
Wm S. Duvall
Robt L. Adamson
P.G. Cty Oct 12th 1847
Rec'd of J. Smith Four Hundred and Fifty dollars, infull for servant Girl Margaret a slave for life; the title to which Girl I warrant and defend
CC Hyatt
Rich'd H. Hyatt
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I,
We Wm S.
Duvall and Robert L. Adamson
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.
Wm S. Duvall Robt L. Adamson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A.D. 1862
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
William S. Duvall Robert L. Adamson
Trustees
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.
