Title: Petition of Elizabeth Ann Drane, 22 May 1862
Date: May 20, 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.00397
TEI/XML: cww.00397.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, Elizabeth Ann
Drane of Washington City
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
as Guardian of Richard L Jones.
against a person of African descent of the name of Joseph Clark for and during
the life of said Joseph Clark
and that by said act of Congress said Joseph
Clark was discharged and freed of and from all claim of
your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge
said Joseph Clark was of the
age of 47 Years and of the personal description
following:(1)
Dark Brown Color. Five feet nine inches high and well
built—
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Joseph Clark in manner following:(2) By last will and testament of her former husband Richard Isaac Jones of Washington City DC who died in the month of August
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Joseph Clark was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One thousand dollars in money.(3)Your Petitioner avers that the said Joseph Clark by reason of his honesty and physical ability as a Blacksmith is valuable She having received for his services, before the passage of the act aforesaid $25— per month and he was found Board &c. and to her knowledge he has no mental or bodily infirmities that would impair his Value
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 Joseph Clark into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Joseph Clark 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 Joseph 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 Joseph Clark 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.
Elizabeth Ann Drane
Guardian of Richard L Jones
Richard L Jones
Witnesses who can be summoned
Zephaniah Jones
John C Harkness
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
We I, Elizabeth Ann Drane and Richard L
Jones 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.
Elizabeth Ann Drane
Richard L Jones
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A. D. 1862.
John S Hollingshead
Notary Public
Guardian of
Richard L Jones
Zephania Jones
Jno C Harkness
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.
