Title: Petition of Catzarener Miller, George Miller, Henry Miller, Eliza Miller, J. H. Hood, Francis Miller, and Thomas W. Miller, 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.00394

TEI/XML: cww.00394.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,s Widow & heirs of Henry Miller deceased of Washington City D.C. by this their petition in writing, represents and states, that they are is a persons 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 the following person of African descent of the name of Thomas Rustin, Charles Barton, Elizabeth Barton, William Barton, Lewis Barton, and Mary Barton for and during the life of said Thomas Rustin, Charles, Elizabeth William, Lewis, and Mary Barton, and that by said act of Congress said Thomas Rustin, Charles, Elizabeth, William, Lewis, and Mary Barton were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Thomas Rustin, was 36 years old Charles Barton 23 years old, Elizabeth Barton 21 years old of the age of William Barton 19 years old, Lewis Barton 17 years old Mary Barton 4 years old. and of the personal description following:(1) Thomas Rustin, black man good field hand & hostler. Charles Barton Light Brown Man good dining room and house servant. Elizabeth Barton Woman dark brown color, and Mother of child Mary. good cook and house servant. William Barton good dining room servant or waiter, bright Mulatto Man Lewis Barton dark brown color male youth, dining room and house servant Mary Barton bright Mulatto female Child daughter of Elizabeth Barton.

 

That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons of African descent in manner following:(2) inherited from the late Henry Miller, who purchased the Man Thos. Rustin, and his Sister Letty, the Mother of Charles, Elizabeth, William, and Lewis Barton. Thos Rustin was purchased about 25 years since. The woman Letty was purchased about the same time for his son George Miller out of funds belonging to the said George Miller, and by him sold to Henry Miller the said Charles, Elizabeth, William, and Lewis Barton on the 20th day of March 1858, and are recorded in the Clerks office of the D.C. March 23rd 1858.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent, was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Fifty six hundred dollars in money.(3)as follows. Thomas Rustin $1000. one thousand dollars Charles Barton Twelve hundred dollars, Elizabeth Barton one thousand dollars, William Barton Twelve hundred dollars, Lewis Barton one thousand dollars and Mary Barton Two hundred dollars, and your petitioners further aver that all of the above named persons are in sound health and have no bodily or mental infirmitys

Your petitioners hereby declares that they bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that they have has not borne arms against the United States in the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.

And your petitioners further states and alleges, that they have 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 was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.

Your petitioners further states and alleges, that their 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 validity of their said claim to the service or labor of said persons of African descent, 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.

(Signed by)
Catzarener Miller widow, and heirs of H. Miller deceased
Thos W Miller
Francis Miller heirs of Henry Miller deceased
George Miller
Henry Miller
Eliza Miller
J H Hood
 
pd. 50 c
George Miller
to
Henry Miller
B. Sale
Received 23d March 1858.
to be recorded, and the same day was recorded in Liber J. A. S. No. 150 folio 313. one of the Land Records for Washington County in the District of Columbia, and Examined by

Jno. A. Smith
clerk
 

Received of (My Father) Henry Miller the House on F Street, and which I have disposed of, and also the Lot, number seventeen (17) in square thirty Six (36) both in the City of Washington, in full payment for Six negroes, named Peter, Charles, Elizabeth, William, Lewis, and Martha, the right and title of Said Slaves, I warrant, and defend against the claims of all persons whatsoever, and likewise warrant said Slaves Sound and healthy, and Slaves for life, Witness my hand, & Seal this Twentieth day of March 1858.


George Miller Seal Witness to Signature
J. Shekell
Francis Miller
 
394
Recording paid
[Jesse?] M. Semmes
to
Mary Lydock Guardian for Catzarener Miller & Ellen Levitt
B Sale
Received 5th March 1822 to be Recorded and the same day read Recorded in Liber W. B. No 3 folio 352, one of the Land Records for Washington County and District of Columbia, and examined by

Wm Brent clk
 

Received October 31st 1821 of Mary Lydock Natural guardian for Catzarener Miller and Ellen Nevitt One hundred and Twenty five Dollars in full payment of a negroe girl, named Mary. About seven years old, which I warrant sound, healthy, sensible, and a slave for life, and warrant and defend the Right and title of said negroe to the said Catzarener Miller and Ellen Nevitt. Against me my heirs, executors, Administrators, and Assigns, and for ever free from all lawful claims whatsoever. As witness my hand and seal in the City of Washington and District of Columbia the day and date above written the said negroe to remain in the possession of the above named Mary Lydock until her decease


Jesse M Semmes Seal
Witness Present
John Gibbons
Robert Nevitt
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

We C. Miller George Miller, Henry Miller, Eliza Miller J. H. Hood F. Miller and Thos Miller (Heirs of Henry Miller Deceased) 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.

(Signed by)
Catzarener Miller
George Miller
Henry Miller
Eliza Miller
J H Hood
Francis Miller
Thos W Miller

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
J W Barnacle J.P.
394
  • Catzarener Miller widow
  • George Miller Heirs at Law of H. Miller
  • Henry Miller
  • Eliza Miller
  • J H Hood
  • Francis Miller
  • Thos. W. Miller
Filed May 22, 1862


 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.

Transcription and encoding: Kathryn Kruger, Janel Cayer, and Susan C. Lawrence.