Title: Petition of Ann Coseene, Ann Weeden, and William B. Lacy, 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.00291
TEI/XML: cww.00291.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 Petitioners,
Ann Coseene, Adminx. and Ann Weeden and W. B.
Lacy, heirs at law of John Coseene,
late of
Alexandria County,
Virginia
by this our
petition in writing, represents and states, that we are
is a persons 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 the following named persons of African descent of the names of
Elizabeth,
Lucy, Hanson and
Eliza— for and during the life of said
persons and that by said act of Congress said
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
Elizabeth
was of the age of thirty one (31) years
Lucy
was of the age
of fifteen (15) years—
Hanson
was of the age of three years and
Eliza
was of the age of fifteen (15) years and of the personal description
following:(1)
That is to say:
- Elizabeth was a bright Mulatto, and five feet two inches in height.
- Lucy was a very bright Mulatto and four feet ten inches in height.
- Hanson was of yellow complexion.
- Eliza was a very bright Mulatto and about five feet high, with a mark on her left cheek, caused by a burn when quite young.
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Persons— in manner following:(2) That is to say: Elizabeth was bequeathed to Ann Coseene—Ann Weeden, and W. B. Lacy, heirs at law, by the late John Coseene, late of Alexandria County Va. by his last will and testament—a copy of which is hereunto appended — Lucy and Hanson are the children of Elizabeth and were born since the said Elizabeth came into the possession of your petitioners— Eliza is the daughter of Susan named in the will above mentioned and bequeathed as therein stated, and was born since the death of John Coseene—
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of two thousand seven hundred dollars in money.(3) That is to say:
- Elizabeth is valued at one thousand dollars—
- Lucy is valued at six hundred dollars—
- Hanson is valued at four hundred dollars—and
- Eliza is valued at seven hundred dollars.
- Elizabeth has no marks of any description is a stout, hearty healthy cook—with an excellent character.
- Lucy is a superior house servant, and chambermaid very good, honest and intelligent girl.
- Hanson is a stout hearty and healthy boy and very promising.
- Eliza is a valuable house servant and chamber maid—is a stout and healthy girl; honest, trustworthy, and altogether reliable.—
Your petitioners hereby declares that
they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and
that they have
s not borne arms against the United
States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or
comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they have
s not brought said persons— into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said persons— were
as held
to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to
such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and
alleges, that their said claim to
the service or labor of said 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 petitioners prays the said
Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said
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.
her X mark Ann Coseene—
Ann Weeden
W. B. Lacy
Fred. D. Stuart
In the name of God, amen, I, John Coseen of Alexandria County in the District of Columbia, being weak in body, but sound in mind and memory, &c make this and ordain the same, to be my last Will and Testament revoking all others heretofore made by me.
First My will and desire is that my just debts be paid, if any, also my funeral expenses.
Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann, the farm I now live on, [binding?] on the Washington Turnpike road, also all the household and kitchen [illegible] and also all horses, cattles, hogs, poultry, farming utensils, and every article and thing relating thereto, with all the crop that is now on said farm and also I will until my said beloved wife, four negroes, namely—Charles Coffe, Lucy, and her children Susan and Betsey and their increase, to have and to hold the same during her natural life. And after her death the same, and all the property heretofore willed by me to my said wife, to be equally divided between my two youngest daughters, namely, Ann and Mary Jane to them and their heirs forever. But it is to be particularly understood that as much of the above property herein before left to my wife Ann, as will amount to the sum of Three hundred dollars lawful money of the United States, is to be sold, if not otherwise paid by my wife Ann unto my daughter Julia Skidmore, which said sum of three hundred dollars is to be paid, annually Fifty Dollars until the whole sum of Three Hundred Dollars is paid off by my said wife Ann or out of the property aforesaid unto my daughter Julia Skidmore to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel, the farm on
which he now resides, bounded with Curtis' and 
Chapman's lines to him and his heirs forever.
Lastly I constitute and appoint my friend Colonel William Minor of the said County of Alexandria in the District of Columbia, the sole Executor to this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
his X mark John Coseen seal
Wm Minor
Robt. Ball
Wm Ball
I, William Minor, the Executor named in the will of John Coseen decd do hereby renounce my appointment as such. Given under my hand and seal this first day of May 1837.
Wm Minor seal
At a session of the Orphan's Court for the County of Alexandria in the District of Columbia the 5th day of July 1837, this last Will and Testament of John Coseen, dec. was proved in due form of law, by the witnesses thereto, and was to be recorded. and Letters of administration, with the Will annexed, were granted to Ann Coseen, who gave Bond and approved Security.
The undersigned who intermarried with Ann Coseen, one of the daughters of John Coseen, deceased, and, by virtue of such intermarriage, a Legatee under the last will and testament of said John Coseen, do hereby agree and request that the Judge of the Orphan's Court of Alexandria County will grant administration with the Will [annexed?] of said John Coseen decd to his widow Ann Coseen, [Col. William Minor the Exr therein named, having renounced his right thereto] taking for security in said [administrative?] Bond, the personal responsibility of Elija Taylor, of Alexandria County, as good and sufficient security under existing circumstances. Given [force under?] my hand and seal this the 5th July 1837.
Harry A. Wheden [seal?]
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in Open Court this 5th July 1837
Ann Coseen made oath in open Court, that, at the death of her husband John Coseen, he had the following personal Estate, and none other, viz Two stacks of hay, about Two and half tons—Two beds and one Bedstead—one Cot—some old hay and straw, sold for $10—two negroe girls, one seven, and the other five years of age,—one horse and Cart, sold by him to his son for $60—Twenty Dollars in Cash.
Alexandria County Sct July 15th 1843
I Bernard Hood, Register of Wills for the County of Alexandria in the District aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the copy of the will of John Coseen deceased, a copy of which is hereto attached is truly made from the original paper recorded and on file in my said office and that the papers hereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the Orphan's Court, and also in my said office.
John Coseen's
Will
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
We
I,
Ann Coseene
Ann Weeden and W. B.
Lacy
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 our
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, We
I believe to be true in substance and in fact.
her X mark Ann Coseene
Ann Weeden
W. B. Lacy
Witness
Fred. D. Stuart.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
John D. Clark J. P
& Wm. B. Lacy heirs at law
of John Coseene
for Mrs. Coseene
Fred. Butler
Abm Butler
Jo. Sessford
F. D. Stuart
Jno. M. Young
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.
