Title: Petition of William H. Dougal, 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 2. 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.00283
TEI/XML: cww.00283.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. Dougal
of
Washington Co. 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 Two persons of
African descent of the name of
Catherine
Mudd and Clara Bowie, for and
during the life of said named persons and that by
said act of Congress said named persons 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 named
persons were of the age of
as
follows and of the personal description following:(1)
- Catherine Mudd aged 31 years, Dark color, medium height stout build
- Clara Bowie aged 20 years, Dark mulatto, Tall, Good looking
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said named persons in manner following:(2) that is to say
- Catherine Mudd, by bill of sale from Joseph Brain for the sum of One Thousand dollars ($1000) on the tenth day of October 1857.
- Clarissa Bowie by bill of sale from Charles R. Belt for the sum of Eight Hundred & Fifty dollars ($850) on the 23rd day of February 1860. which said 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)
- Catherine Mudd $900.
- Clarissa Bowie $1000.
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.
Wm. H. Dougal
Received of Mr. Wm. H Dougal one Thousand— dollars, being payment in full for the purchase a negro named Catharine Mud. The right and title of said negro I warrant and defend against the claims of all persons whatsoever; and likewise warrant her sound and healthy in body and mind, and slave for life.
Given under my hand and seal, this 10th day of October 1857 .
Joseph Brain SEAL
$1000.
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 and fifty dollars, to me in hand paid by Wm. H. Dougal of the County of Washington and 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 Wm. H. Dougal, his heirs, executors and administrators, by servant Girl, called, and named Clarissa Bowie, a slave for life, now living in the family of the said Wm. H. Dougal. To have and to hold the said servant girl Clarissa Bowie above bargained and sold to the said Wm. H. Dougal, his heirs, executors and administrators, forever. And I the said Chs. R. Belt for myself my heirs, executors or administrators, all my right, title, and interest in the said servant girl Clarissa Bowie, unto the said Wm. H Dougal, his heirs, executors and administrators—and against me the said Chs. R. Belt my heirs, executors, and administrators, and against all and every other person or persons, whatsoever, shall and will warrant and defend by these presents, and I the said Chs. R. Belt have put the said Wm. H. Dougal in full possession, by delivering to the said Wm. H. Dougal my servant girl Clarissa Bowie at the sealing and delivering of these presents
In Witness 
whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 23d day of
February in the year 1860
Chs. R. Belt seal
Witness
L. S. Myer
Washington County
On this 23d day of Feby. 1860. personally appeared before me L. S. Myer a Justice of the Peace in for the County & District aforesaid Chs. R. Belt and acknowledged the foregoing instrument of writing to be his act & deed for the purposes therein set forth
L. S. Myer J. P. seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William H. Dougal 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.
[no handwritten text supplied here]
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
Henry Reaver JPeace
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.
