Title: Petition of W. J. C. Duhamel, 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.00385
TEI/XML: cww.00385.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, W. J. C. Duhamel of Washt 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 one slave woman by name of Mary Ross person of African descent of the name of Mary Ross for and during the life of said Mary Ross and that by said act of Congress said Slave woman discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Slave woman was of the age of Thirty four years and of the personal description following:(1) Mary Ross is of very dark color thick set muscular frame about five feet five inches high
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Ross in manner following:(2) by bill of sale from his father Jas Duhamel at a mere nominal price as his father made a present to each of his children of a servant
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slave woman was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $1100 dollars in money.(3)From the fact she was raised under the same roof with me as a child She is an excellent housekeeper also cook washer ironer marketer Strictly honest she was unmarried and virtuous a rigid Catholic and as a general conduct and capacity of a servant she cannot be replaced to my family and I know of no moral mental or Phisical defect.
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 Mary Ross into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said slave woman 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 slave woman 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 slave woman 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.
W. J. C. DuHamel
of Mary
Know all men by these presents, that I James Duhamel of Baltimore City, State of Maryland for and in consideration of * Three hundred dollars which I hath received in hand. I do here bequeath unto my son W. J. C Duhamel of Washington D. C. given & grant to same my negro girl. I will warrant and defend to my said son his executors administrators and assignes against me my executors and administrators and against every person or persons whomsoever. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourteenth day of January Eighteen hundred and fifty seven
James Duhamel seal
Witnesses
Elizabeth D. Brown
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, W. J. C. DuHamel 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.
W. J. C. DuHamel
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22 day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk
Henrietta J Kennedy
Margaret A Renshaw
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.
