Title: Petition of Benjamin E. Gittings, 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.00368
TEI/XML: cww.00368.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 E. Gittings
of the City of Washington
in said District 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
Darkey Ann Snowden, and Emma
Snowden
for and during the life
lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons 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
Darkey Ann Snowden was of the
age of thirty nine years, and a mulatto in color; and said Emma
Snowden was of the age of twelve years, and a bright mulatto in color; such being
and of the personal description following:(1)
of said persons.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the
aforesaid service or labor of said persons in
manner following:
;
(2)
viz: Darkey Ann Snowden was given
to me by my father, Thomas Gittings, when she was about
six or seven years of age, and she has been in my possession ever since. My
father has been dead some twelve years and his estate has been long since
setted up. Emma is the child of Darkey
Ann, and was born while she was in my possession. She has
lived in my family ever since until about six weeks ago. They are both in
the City now, and were at the time of the approval of the said act.
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 fifteen hundred dollars
in money.
;
(3)
or thereabouts, as he verily believes; that they are
smart, sprightly, healthy, honest and orderly servants, free from any moral,
mental, or bodily infirmity or defect, and he believes none to exist. He was
offered eight hundred dollars for the elder of the two. He fixes that value
on her, and seven hundred dollars on Emma. He did not
sell, because opposed to doing so.
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
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 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 value 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.
B. E. Gittings
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Benjamin E. Gittings 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.
B. E. Gittings
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th day of May A.D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
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.
