Title: Petition of Bridget Taylor, 19 May 1862
Date: May 19, 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.00280
TEI/XML: cww.00280.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,
Bridget
Taylor
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 Four person of African descent of the name
of
Abigail Montgomery,
Isaac Montgomery, Georgeanna
Montgomery and Elizabeth
Montgomery, for and during the life of said negroes and that by said act of Congress said
Abigail, Isaac,
Georgeanna and Elizth
Montgomery 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 negroes were of the age
of and of the personal description following:(1)
- Abigail Montgomery aged 50 yrs Color—Chesnut Brown—height five feet
- Isaac Montgomery—child of Abigail—aged 25 years—dark color.
- Georgeanna Montgomery—child of Abigail—aged 18 years—dark Color.
- Elizabeth Montgomery child of Abigail—aged 7 years. Color Mulatto.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said negroes in manner following:(2) About the year 1814 or 1815 your petitioners father Thomas Bailey decd resident of Somerset Co. Md willed the said Abigail Montgomery to your petitioner and the said children Isaac, Georgeanna & Elizabeth were subsequently born to the said Abigail—she refers to the tax records of Washington D.C.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said negroes was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twenty four hundred dollars in money.(3) Your Petitioner believes that sum to be a fair and just estimate of their values,—viz—
- Abigail Montgomery—$250.00
- Isaac Montgomery 1000.00
- Georgeanna Montgomery 800.00
- Elizth Montgomery—400.00
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 negroes into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said negroes were
as 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 negroes 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 negroes 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.
her X mark Bridget Taylor
Witnesses
Thos. E. Lloyd
D. Rowland
For value received I hereby assign and transfer to Wm R Riley so much of my claim against the United States to be ascertained, by the "Emancipation Commissioners" as will amount to the sum of Three-hundred & Forty eight 53/100 dollars with interest on the same From [this date?]—and the said Riley, is hereby fully authorized and empowered to ask, demand, and received from the "United States" the said sum of money, and to execute proper receipt and [acquittances?] for the same. And this power is declared irrevocable
Witness my hand and seal this 20th day of November A.D. 1862.
her X mark Bridget Taylor seal
Witness
A. A. Ker
You will please file, with the papers in my case U.S. N.S., the above transfer & assignment in favor of Wm. R Riley and enter up to his use the sum of Three hundred & forty eight 53/100 with interest to be paid in & of the first monies awarded me, or my assignee in said case.
her X mark Bridget Taylor
Witness
A. A. Ker
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Bridget Taylor, within named 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.
her X mark Bridget Taylor
Thos E. Lloyd
D. Rowland
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A. D. 1862.
D. Rowland J. P.
Peter Hepburn
Jno. Stevenson
per
Thos. E. Lloyd
Attorney Present
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.
