Title: Petition of Emily W. Farquhar, 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.00363
TEI/XML: cww.00363.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, Emily W. Farquhar of Georgetown D.C. by this her petition in writing, represents and states, that she 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 Fanny Brooks, and her two children Frank & Melinda persons of African descent of the name of Fanny Brooks, and her two children Frank & Melinda for and during the life of said Fanny & the said Children and that by said act of Congress said Fanny and the said Children are discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Fanny, and her children, Frank and Melinda, were of the ages of twenty four, or thereabout, Five, and Three, respectively: and of the personal description following:(1) The said Fanny is about five feet four inches in height; dark colored healthy and strong, and a very capable cook, washer and ironer, honest and faithful, and in every respect a valuable house servant.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Fanny in manner following:(2) by devise of Anthony Smith late of Washington County, deceased, by Will; a copy of which is hereto annexed, which said decedent owned said Fanny since she was about eight years of age
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Fanny and her children was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of twelve hundred dollars in money,(3)said Fanny being perfectly healthy, never having had a day's sickness, other than healthy child bearing, is strong to labor, and very capable as a Kitchen and house servant, and both the children are healthy & free from physical defects, the latter being of a color and appearance that would always command a high price. Fanny is also a good seamstress
Your petitioner hereby declares that she bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that she 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 she has not brought said slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Fanny & children 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Fanny & children 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Fanny, Frank & Melinda 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.
Emily W. Farquhar.
of
Anthony Smith
In the name of God, Amen. I Anthony Smith, of Georgetown in the District of Columbia being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, but weak in body; and considering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and being desirous to settle and dispose of my worldly estate, so make and declare this my last will and testament as follows; that is to say.
Item. I will and direct that all my debts and funeral expenses be first paid by my Executor, hereinafter named.
Item. I give and bequeath my servant Fanny and her issue to Emily W. Farquhar, now living with me.
Item. I will and direct that all the residue of my estate real, personal, and mixed, be turned into money, as far as practicable, by my Executor, and the aggregate thereof, after paying legal expenses, to be disposed of as hereinafter named.
Item. One third of said aggregate to the said Emily W. Farquhar; one third to Anna M. the wife of Anthony Hyde of Georgetown, D.C. and the remaining one third to my said Executor, herein after named, in trust, for the use and benefit of Elizabeth M., the wife of Samuel M. Bootes of Georgetown, and her children, and if she and they refuse to recieve it, then to divide said third equally between said Emily W. Farquhar and the said Anna M. Hyde.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint Anthony Hyde of Georgetown, District of Columbia, my Executor, of this my last will and testament.
Singed, sealed, published and declared as and for 
my last will and testament this twenty first day of February A.D. eighteen hundred and
fifty-nine.
Anthony Smith his X mark Seal
Signed, sealed, published and declared, as and for his last will and testament, by the said Anthony Smith in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have signed our names hereto as witnesses thereof, said Smith signing by "his mark" being too weak to write his name.
P. H. Sweet
F. S. Barbarin
Jacob Young
Washington County, to wit;
Orphans Court
March 8th 1859
This day appeared Parker H. Sweet and Francis S. Barbarin two of the subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last will and testament of Anthony Smith late of Washington County aforesaid, deceased and severally made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they did see the testator, therein named, sign and seal this will (by making his mark thereto,) that he published, pronounced and declared this same to be his last will and testament, that at the time of so doing, he was, to the best of their apprehensions, of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding. And that they, together with Jacob Young the other subscribing witness, respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this will, in the presence and at the request of the Testator, and in the presence of each other—
Washington County, to wit:
I certify, that the aforegoing is a true copy from the original file and recorded in the Office of the Register of Wills, for Washington County, aforesaid.
Witness my hand and seal of office, this 15 day of March in the year 1859.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Emily W. Farquhar 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.
Emily W. Farquhar
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
A. Hyde
Notary Public
The within named Fanny is in my service, and has been for several months, and other children within named are with her, and I fully confirm the statements of the petition except as to her value, which I consider too low.
John B. Davidson
No 126 Washington St.
Georgetown
I have personal knowledge of Fanny's worth, and think the value fixed at a low figure. She was in the Testator's (my Father-in-law's) family, since she was about 12 years old, and under my constant observation, and, altho' not prepossing in appearance, she is a very valuable and capable kitchen and house servant.
A. Hyde
122 Wash. St. Geo. Town
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.
