Title: Petition of Lavinia Hall, 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.00374
TEI/XML: cww.00374.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, Lavinia Hall of the City of New York 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 Mary Jane Brooks, who on the 16th day of April last was, as Your Petitioner believes, residing and now resides in the District of Columbia, who is a female person of African descent of the name of Mary Jane Brooks for and during the life of said Mary Jane Brooks and that by said act of Congress said Mary Jane Brooks was and is discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Mary Jane Brooks was of the age of about twenty three years and of the personal description following:(1) The said Mary Jane is about five feet five inches high of dark color and of unblemished form and good health—At the time of the passage of the act herein referred to the said Mary Jane lived with the brother of Your Petitioner John J. Hall in the City of Washington, District of Columbia aforesaid
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Jane Brooks in manner following:(2) by purchase from James Gannon at said Washington City about fourteen years ago; said Mary Jane having been so purchased with the mother of the said Mary Jane.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary Jane Brooks was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fourteen hundred dollars in money.(3)Your Petitioner believes that sum to be a fair and just estimate of the value of Your Petitioner's claim. That she does not know of any defect in the person of the said Mary Jane nor does she believe that the said Mary Jane has any defect which might impair the value of her service in any manner. That she is an excellent house servant and cook; careful intelligent, honest, trustworthy and of great diligence and industry—
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 Mary Jane Brooks into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Mary Jane Brooks 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Jane 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 to her knowledge or belief—
And your petitioner prays the said Commissioners to investigate and determine the validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said Mary Jane Brooks 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.
Lavinia Hall
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
City and County of New York ss:
I, Lavinia Hall, within named 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.
Lavinia Hall
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of May A. D. 1862.
A. P. Mangé
Notary Public for the City & County of New York aforesaid State of New York.
Jno J. Hall
Mary A. Hall
YE. H. Sambell
Jas Fleming
City and County of New-York, ss.
I, HENRY W. GENET, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Supreme Court of the said City and County, the same being a Court of Record, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That A. P. Mangé whose name is subscribed to the certificate of the proof or acknowledgement of the annexed instrument, and thereon written, was at the time of taking such proof or acknowledgement, a Notary Public, in and for the State of New-York, dwelling in the said City, commissioned and sworn, and duly authorized to take the same. And further, that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of such Notary Public, and verily believe that the signature to the said certificate of proof or acknowledgement is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court and County, the 13th day of May 1862
H. W. Genet Clerk.
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.
