Title: Petition of Benjamin C. Card, 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.00309
TEI/XML: cww.00309.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,
Benjamin C. Card
of
Washington DC
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
servants person of African descent of the name of
Maria, Mary and Billy
Walker
for and during the life of said servants
and that by said act of Congress said servants
were
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 servants were
was of the age of and of the personal description following:(1)
viz.
- 1. Maria, aged 32, about 5 feet 4 inches high, black complexion hair & eyes
- 2. Mary, aged 7 years daughter of Maria, black complexion hair & eyes
- 3. Billy, aged 3 years, son of Maria born since the mother was purchased by me, has black complexion hair & eyes
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Maria & Mary Walker in manner following:(2) they were purchased by me of J. W. Vineyard of Platte County Missouri in 1857, for which I took an ordinary mercantile receipt for $1255.00 the amount of purchase money and which receipt I have lost or mislaid. My title for Billy is derived from his having been born my slave
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Maria, Mary & Billy was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $2,150 dollars in money.(3) Viz Maria $1200, Mary $600 Billy $350
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 servants into
the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of
Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said servants were
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 servants 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 servants 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.
Benjamin C. Card
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Benjamin C. Card 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.
Benjamin C. Card
witness
Geo C. Thomas
Sworn to and subscribed before me this fifteenth day of May A.D. 1862
Geo Thomas Noty Pub
Benjamin C. Card
Geo Thomas as atty
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.
