Title: Petition of Baley Brown, 22 May 1862
Date: May 22, 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.00356
TEI/XML: cww.00356.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, Baley Brown of the City of 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 Margaret Hanson, Jane Rebecca Hanson, Milla Hanson, and John Hanson persons of African descent of the name of Margaret Hanson, Jane Rebecca Hanson, Milla Hanson, and John Hanson for and during the life of said Margaret Hanson, Jane Rebecca Hanson, Milla Hanson, and John Hanson and that by said act of Congress said Margaret Hanson, Jane Rebecca Hanson, Milla Hanson, and John Hanson 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 Margaret Hanson, Jane Rebecca Hanson, Milla Hanson, and John Hanson were of the ages of Margaret Hanson, about forty years, Jane Rebecca Hanson, fourteen years of age, Milla Hanson, twelve years of age, John Hanson, Ten years of age. and of the personal description following:(1)
- 1. Maragret Hanson, Black about five & a half feet high, weighs about 150 pounds, robust, healthy about forty years of age.
- 2. Jane Rebecca Hanson, Dark copper colored about five feet high,stout, hale and hearty fourteen years of age.
- 3. Milla Hanson, Copper colored, twelve years of age, about four feet, eight inches high, robust and healthy.
- 4. John Hanson, Dark copper colored, about ten years of age, four feet six inches high,hale and hearty.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said described negro slaves in manner following:(2) Margaret Hanson, mother, By purchase, from J. M. Bell of Prince Georges County, Maryland. The three children born of said mother whilst in my possession.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said described negro slaves was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of thirty three hundred dollars in money.(3)
| Margaret Hanson | $1000.00 |
| Jane Rebecca Hanson | $900.00 |
| Milla Hanson | $800.00 |
| John Hanson | $600.00 |
| $3300.00 |
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 described negro slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said described negro slaves were 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said described negro slaves 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said described negro slaves 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.
Baley Brown
May 20th 1862
I Certify that Baley Brown, is known to me to be a true and loyal citizen of the U. States. I have known him for a number of years.
Chas B. Calvert
I have known Mr. Brown for the last six or eight years, & cordially endorse all that Mr Calvert says of him
Edward Ball
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Baley Brown 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.
Baley Brown
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas J. Williams
Justice of the Peace for the County of Washington D.C.
Baley Brown
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.
