Title: Petition of Morris Adler, 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.00282
TEI/XML: cww.00282.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,
Morris Adler
of
Georgetown D. Ca. 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 Three persons of African descent of the name of
John Smallwood, Ann Bowie and
Susan Norris
for and during the life of said named
Persons and that by said act of Congress said named Persons 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
named Persons was of the age of
as follows and of the personal description
following:(1)
- John Smallwood aged 28 years and Dark Color
- Susan Norris 35 years Dark Color
- Ann Bowie 22 years Dark Color
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said named Persons in manner following:(2) that is to say
- John Smallwood by Bill of Sale from George Mattingly & the Executors of Charles E Eckel for the sum of 1250, Dollars.
- Susan Norris by Bill of Sale from C. Burckhatt in the year—1828.
- Ann Bowie by Bill of Sale from Charles R Belt for the sum of 800 Dollars all of which paid Bills of Sale are herewith filed
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said named Persons was, at the time of said discharge
therefrom, of the value of as follows
dollars in money,(3)
- John Smallwood 1250 Dollars
- Ann Bowie 800 Dollars
- Susan Norris 600 Dollars
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 named Persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said named Persons 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 named 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said named 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.
M. Adler
Know all men by these presences that I Christopher Burckhartt of Washington County and State of Maryland, for and in the Consideration of one Hundred and fifty Dollars Current money, to me in hand paid by the Said M. Adler in the District of Columbia in Georgetown, the receipt whereof, I do hereby acknowledge have granted, bargained and Sold and Delivered, and by these presences do grant, barain, sell and Deliver unto the said M Adler my negroes Slaves Gracy and Susana Daughter of Gracy which said Slaves Gracy & Susana Daughter of said Gracey I will warrant and defend unto the said M. Adler his executors, administrators and against every other person or persons whatsoever, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal this 27th day of June 1828
C. Burckhartt Seal
Witness
Joseph B. Mills
on this 27th day of June 1828 before me one of the justices of the peace in and for said County appears Christopher Burckhartt and acknowledges the foregoing writing to be his act and deed according to the true intent and meaning thereof and the act of Assembly in such cases made and provided
Wm. Webb
$.50
Know all men by these presents, that I Chs R Belt—of the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, for and in consideration of the sum of Eight hundred dollars ($800) to me in hand paid by Morris Adler of George Town in the District aforesaid,—at and before the sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof I the said Chs. R. Belt do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents, do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said Morris Adler, his heirs Administrators, and assigns, a servant coloured woman, called and named Ann Bowie, now living in the family of the said Morris Adler. To have and to hold, the said servant woman Ann Bowie, above bargained and sold to the said Morris Adler his heirs, administrators and assigns forever. and I the said Chs. R. Belt, for myself, my heirs administrators and assigns, all my title, interest in the said servant woman Ann Bowie, unto the said Morris Adler, his heirs administrators and assigns, against me the said Chs. R. Belt my heirs administrators and assigns, and against every other person or persons whatever, shall and will warrant and defend by these presents.
Witness my hand & seal this 15th September 1859
Chs. R. Belt seal
to wit:
On this 15th day of September 1859, before 
before me [one of the justices of the
peace?] in and for said County, appears [
C. R. Belt
?] and acknowledges the foregoing writing to be his act and deed
according to the true intent and meaning thereof.
Given under my hand & seal this 15 day of September 1859
Robert White Seal
Whereas by an assignment dated the 19th February
1846, the undersigned
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar assigned and transferred for the consideration therein
mentioned a certain Negro Boy named John Smallwood, a
slave for life, unto Charles E. Eckel his Executors
administrators and assigns as by said assignment hereto annexed, and made
part hereof may appear And whereas the said Charles E.
Eckel hath died, and the undersigned Morris
Adler is his surviving Executor And whereas a Bill was filed
the 22d. March 1851 in the Circuit Court of
this District, No. 732 on the Equity Docket, by the
said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar against said Morris Adler and
Charlotte E. Eckel (since deceased) Executors of
said Charles E. Eckel, setting up that the said sale of
said boy was not absolute but conditional and subject to redemption on
paying the consideration money expressed in said assignment And whereas the
said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar assigned and transferred all his interest in and to
the said suit unto the undersigned George Mattingly And
whereas all the said parties to wit: Hoffar,
Mattingly, and Adler, and also
Alexr. P. Eckel, the residuary Legatee of said
Charles E. Eckel have agreed to settle the said
suit, upon the terms, that the said Morris Adler
should become the purchaser
individually of the said Negro Boy at the sum of twelve hundred and fifty
dollars, one thousand dollars of which he should pay to the said
George Mattingly assignee of said
Hoffar as aforesaid, and two hundred and fifty
dollars to the said Alexr. P. Eckel as residuary
Legatee of said Charles E. Eckel, and each party should
pay his own costs of suit.
Now therefore these presents witness that in consideration of the sum of one
thousand dollars current money to the said George
Mattingly assignee as aforesaid paid by said Morris
Adler before the execution hereof and of one dollar like
money to the said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar at the same time paid by the said Morris
Adler (the receipts whereof are hereby acknowledged) They the
said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar and George Mattingly Have and
each of them Hath assigned transferred and set over unto the said
Morris Adler his Executors administrators and
assigns, the said negro boy John Smallwood, a slave for
life, to hold the said boy unto and by him said Adler
his Executors administrators and assigns absolutely for his and their own
use and benefit and for the considerations aforesaid they the said
Hoffar and Mattingly Have and
each of them Hath [remitted?] released and forever quitted claim unto the said
Morris Adler individually and also as surviving
Executor of said Charles E. Eckel All suits and actions
debts dues claims and demands sum and 
sums of money, wages, damages and claims
whatsoever on account of the said Negro Boy and on any other account
whatsoever at any time heretofore which they or either of them now have or
can shall or may have against the said Alder
individually or as surviving Executor as aforesaid or against the Estate of
the said Charles E. Eckel. And the said
Morris Adler Executor as aforesaid and the said
Alexr. P. Eckel residuary Legatee as aforesaid in
consideration of one dollar to them paid by said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar do hereby release [remit?] and quit claim unto him his
Executors administrators and assigns all suits actions claims and demands
whatsoever which they or either of them have or hath against him on any
account whatsoever and the said Alexr. P. Eckel in
consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars paid to him by said
Morris Adler doth hereby assign and transfer unto
him his Executors administrators and assigns all his interest as residuary
Legatee in and to said Negro Boy, the same to be his individually absolutely
forever hereafter In witness whereof the said
[Ancus?] M.
Hoffar, George Mattingly,
Morris Adler and Alexr. P.
Eckel have hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty first day of October one thousand eight hundred
and fifty three.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Morris Adler 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.
M. Adler
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of May A. D. 1862.
R. White
J. Peace
Petition of Morris Adler
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.
