Title: Petition of William H. Edes, 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.00281
TEI/XML: cww.00281.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, Wm. H. Edes of Geotown D. C. 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 Cold Female person of African descent of the name of Charlotte Gustus for and during the life of said Charlotte Gustus and that by said act of Congress said Charlotte Gustus discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said [no handwritten text supplied here] of the age of Twenty six years and of the personal description following:(1) Dark Black About five feet seven inches high; I know of no mental moral or bodily infermity or Defect
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Charlotte in manner following:(2) By purches of Chas. R. Belt of Washington County D. C. For the sum of Six hundred and Twenty five dollars as appears from the annexed bill of sale
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Charlotte Gustus was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Six hundred & twenty five dollars in money.(3) I intended at the time of said purches to free her when she paid the above sums by her wages or otherwise She has been in my employ as a Cook and I have kept a true account of her wages and she has paid me about three hundred dollars, I only claim the balance
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 slave Charlotte into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte 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 H Edes
from Col Belt
to Wm H Edes
Know all men by these presents that I, Chas R Belt of the county of Washington in the District of Columbia; for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred and twenty five dollars ($625 00/100) to me in hand paid by William H Edes of Georgetown in the District aforesaid at and before the sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof I, the said Chas R Belt do hereby acknowledge; have granted bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto William H Edes his heirs administrators and assigns a colored slave woman named Charlotte Gustus (now living in the family of the said William H Edes) To have and to hold the said slave woman Charlotte Gustus above bargained and sold to the said William H Edes, his heirs administrators or assigns, forever. and I the said Chas R Belt for myself my heirs, administrators and assigns all my right, title, and interest in the said slave woman Charlotte Gustus, unto the said William H Edes his heirs administrators and assigns, against me the said Chas R Belt my heirs administrators and assigns, and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. I the said Chas R Belt have put the said William H Edes in full possession by delivering to the said William H Edes my servant woman Charlotte Gustus at the sealing and delivering of these presents.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of October Eighteen hundred and fifty eight
Chs. R. Belt
Witness
H Reaver
Walter B. Pomeroy
Washington County (to wit)
On this 19th day of October in the year Eighteen hundred fifty Eight before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally came Charles R Belt to me well known and acknowledged the within writing to be his act and deed
Given under my hand & seal this 19th day of October 1858
Henry Reaver JP seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Wm H Edes 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 H Edes
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
Henry Reaver JPeace
William R. Edes
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.
