Title: Petition of Benjamin H. Hall, 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.00265
TEI/XML: cww.00265.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, Benjamin H. Hall, of Baltimore, Md. 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 a male person of African descent of the name of Isaac Boston, for and during the life of said Isaac Boston, and that by said act of Congress said Isaac Boston was discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Isaac Boston was of the age of twelve years, and of the personal description following:(1) Of mullatto color, small features, good looking, about four feet three inches high, in good health, and has resided with Daniel Boston, colored, on Capitol Hill, since October last.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Isaac Boston in manner following:(2) By inheritance from the mother of your Petitioner, who died in September 1861, and he knows of no written evidence in existence, of his title.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Isaac Boston was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of five hundred dollars in money.(3) That he believes the said Isaac has no moral, mental, or bodily infirmities or defects to impair his value; and that he could have obtained for him the above price a few months ago, but had no desire to sell him.
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 Isaac Boston into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Isaac Boston 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 Isaac Boston 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 Isaac Boston 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.
Benj H Hall
THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THE SUBSCRIBER, Register of Wills for Baltimore City, doth hereby certify, that it appears by the Records in his office, that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of all the goods, chattels, credits, and personal Estate of Margaret Hall deceased, was on the twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two granted and committed unto Benjamin H. Hall who was then and there appointed Administrator of the said deceased.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of my office, this ninth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty two
Isaac P. Cook
Register of Wills for Baltimore City .
I, J. Spear Smith, Presiding Judge of the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City, in the State aforesaid, do certify, that the aforegoing Attestation of ISAAC P. COOK, Register of Wills for said City, is in due form, and by the proper Officer.
Given from under my hand, at the City of Baltimore, this ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two
J. Spear Smith .
I hereby certify, that the Honorable J. SPEAR SMITH, by whom the above Certificate was given, and who hath thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, Chief Justice of the Orphans' Court for Baltimore City, duly appointed, commissioned and qualified.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the Seal of the said Court, this ninth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty two —
Isaac P. Cook
Register of Wills for Baltimore City
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Benjamin H. Hall 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.
Benj H Hall
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May, — A. D. 1862.
Edm. F. Brown,
Notary Public.
Benjamin H. Hall
Thomas Kennedy 44 Saratoga st Balt
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.
