Title: Petition of Verlinda Naylor, 23 May 1862
Date: May 23, 1862
Source Text: A microfilm reproduction of the original document held at the National Archives and Records Administration, Microcopy 520, Reel 4. 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.00404
TEI/XML: cww.00404.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, Verlinda Naylor of the County of Washington, D.C. 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 John Beddo a person of African descent of the name of John Beddo for and during the life of said John Beddo and that by said act of Congress said John Beddo 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 John Beddo was of the age of Twenty five or twenty six years and of the personal description following:(1) Yellow—about 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high, Well made active honest and capable House Servant and Carriage driver—
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said John Beddo in manner following:(2) by what was intended to be a Gift from her Father John L. Naylor of said County and District—[illegible] [in by the family?]. of the Mother of said John Beddo, dated the Second day of October 1813—and recorded in Liber A. F. No. 31. folios 297 & 298 as by reference thereto now will fully show—Said John Beddo having been Born, raised and owned by your Petitioner subsequent to the date of said Conveyance.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said John Beddo was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One Thousand dollars in money.(3)That she has hired out said John Beddo for the last 7 or 8 years in the Washington Navy Yard at $10 per month—or $120 per year—Said John Beddo is healthy, industrious and well disposed—and what may be said a good servant—Your Petitioner has no knowledge of any moral mental or bodily infirmity or defect about said John—which 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 John Beddo into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said John Beddo 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 John Beddo 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 John Beddo 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.
V. Naylor
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Verlinda Naylor 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.
V. Naylor
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.
H. Naylor J. Peace
Verlinda Naylor's
Petition
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.
