Title: Petition of Jonathan Ridenour, 21 May 1862
Date: May 21, 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.00342
TEI/XML: cww.00342.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,
Jonathan Ridenour
of
Washington County, Maryland
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
negro slaves person of African descent of the names of
Harry Gillis and Kate Harrison the
said Harry being in June coming twenty four years of
age & five feet eight inches in height and in color in mulatto with no
scars blemish or defect about him; and the said Kate
bring in September coming fourteen years of age & four feet, three or
four inches in height and color black with woolly head & hair, a very
small scar in her forehead caused by a burn for and during the life of
said
Harry and the said Kate
and that by said act of Congress said
Harry and Kate 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
Harry
was of the age of twenty three years
[illegible] and of the personal description
following:(1)
five feet eight inches in height and in color a mulatto
with no scars, blemish or defect about him with light and nappy hair and the
said Kate at the time of her said discharge was of the
age of thirteen years seven months and a half and of the personal
description following four feet three or four inches in height and in color
black with black woolly head and with a very small scar in her forehead
caused by a burn
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Harry and Kate in manner following:(2) he purchased the mother of said Harry and Kate; the same being brother and sister in the year eighteen hundred and twenty four from Henry Brewer a Citizen of Washington County state of Maryland the said mother being of the name of Mary Gillis and being a slave for life and who as [with?] slaves is still hiring and [ owned and?] possession by your petitioner and the said Harry & Kate were born to her when so owned and possessed by your petitioner as such slave for life and that the said Harry last been in Washington of the possession of Mr John I McPriestson since the 25th of May about AD 1860 and that the said Kate was born in said city in the possession of Mr. Hugh H. Ridenour for nearly nine years
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Harry Gilles was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3) he the said Harry being a good faithful servant, ablebodied in good health and without a defect in mind or body: and that your petitioner claim to the service or labor of said Kate Harrison was at the time of said discharge therefrom of her value of six hundred dollars in money, she the said Kate, being a good and faithful servant, healthy and very active and without any defect in body or mind except as to her body. the small scar in her forehead as [aforesaid?] set forth.
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
Harry & Kate
into the District of Columbia since the passage of
said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Harry &
Kate 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 Harry & Kate 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 Harry & Kate 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.
Johnathan Ridenour
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
I, Johnathan Ridenour 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.
Johnathan Ridenour
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Fifth day of May A.D. 1862
Wm M. Trie J. P.
[State of Maryland, Washington County, to Wit:]
I Hereby Certify, that Wm M Trie Esquire before whom the above and annexed Affidavit was made, and who hath thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing one of the Justices of the Peace of the State of Maryland, in and for said County, duly elected commissioned and sworn: and that his signature thereto is genuine
In Testimony Whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, and affix the seal of the Circuit Court for said County this 5th day of May A.D. 1862
Issac Nesbitt Clk
Johnathan Ridenour
U. H. Ridenour
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.
