Title: Petition of Matthew McLeod, 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.00271
TEI/XML: cww.00271.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, Matthew McLeod of Georgetown DC 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 one negro woman, a person of African descent of the name of Ellen Cole for and during the life of said Ellen Cole and that by said act of Congress said Ellen Cole is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Ellen Cole was of the age of fifty one or fifty two years of age and of the personal description following:(1) Ellen Cole is of a light brown complexion, of the usual health of negros of her age.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Ellen Cole in manner following:(2) by devise from petitioners mother in law Mrs. Mary Manning of St. Mary's County Maryland, in her last will and testament to your petitioners wife now deceased. Which last will and testament is of record in the Orphans Court of the District of Columbia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Ellen Cole was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Six hundred dollars in money.(3) I have Knowledge of any moral mental or bodily defect in the said woman.
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 Ellen Cole into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Ellen Cole 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 Ellen Cole 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 Ellen Cole 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.
Matthew McLeod
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Matthew McLeod 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.
Matthew McLeod
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A.D. 1862
Wm. R. Woodward clk [dc?]
Matthew McLeod
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.
