Title: Petition of William Noell, 20 May 1862

Date: May 20, 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.00321

TEI/XML: cww.00321.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, William Noell of the Washington 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 names of Lewis Taylor & Ellen Ashton for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were as discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Lewis Taylor was of the age of Twenty Five years and of the personal description following:(1) Black man, five feet eight and one half inches high club feet.

Said Ellen Ashton, was of the age of eighteen years, Black woman Five feet one and one half inches high, large mouth
 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) Said Lewis Taylor, was presented to Mrs Noell, by her father Isaac Wilkerson of King George County Va. about six years ago as by the evidence of James Rollins will appear, Ellen Ashton also given Mrs.Noell by her Father about six years ago, as by evidence of James Rollins and Mrs. Amanda Bailey will appear

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 $1900 hundred dollars in money.(3)

the man Lewis Taylor, is a good mechanic, works with me in Blind making & Upholstery, he is worth to me at least $900.
the woman Ellen Ashton, is a good house servant and excellent cook worth to me $1000.
I know of no moral mental or bodily defects or infirmities in said persons except the man Lewis who has club feet otherwise he is sound & healthy the woman Ellen is perfectly sound & healthy

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 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 asheld 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 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 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.

(Signed by)
Wm Noell
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

District of Columbia
Washington County, ss.

I, William Noell 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.

(Signed by)
Wm Noell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
W. R. Woodward clk​
321
Petition of Wm Noell
Filed May 20, 1862
Witnesses
James Rollins
Amanda Bailey

 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.

Transcription and encoding: Susan C. Lawrence, Janel Cayer, Elizabeth Lorang, Brittany Jones, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.