Title: Petition of Clement Hill, 26 May 1862
Date: May 26, 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.00434
TEI/XML: cww.00434.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,
Clement Hill
of Prince George Co. Maryland 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 five persons of African descent of the names of
Nicholas, Wm West, Susan
West, Peggy Herbert and [no handwritten text supplied here]Herbert
for and during the life
lives of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your
petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said
Nicholas was of the ages of sixty one years and of the personal description
following:(1)
black man stout about five feet seven inches in
height—Wm West black man frame
slight—48 years old—Susan West mulatto
woman about five feet two inches in height—42 years old
—Peggy Herbert mulatto woman 30 years of age
and [no handwritten text supplied here]
Herbert female her child six weeks old
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2)
- All with the exception of Nicholas were inherited from the estate of Petitioner's father William Hill of Maryland.
- Nicholas was purchased of Joseph Thornton of Orange Co. Virginia
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of seven thousand one hundred dollars in money.(3)
- Nicholas is an extra carpenter and fair blacksmith worth $800
- Wm West is an accomplished coachman and been employed as such for 22 years valued at $2000—
- Susan West is an accomplished cook ironer washer and dairy woman valued at $2000
- Peggy Herbert a first rate lady's maid and house servant valued at $2000— [no handwritten text supplied here] Herbert is Peggy's child valued at $300
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 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 were
washeld 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 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said persons 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.
Clement Hill
Nicholas
Know all men by these presents that I, Joseph Thornton, presently residing at Montpilier, Orange County, Virginia, have bargained and sold and hereby bargain and sell to Clement Hill Esq of the City of Washington DC, A Negro Slave, Named, Nicholas—a carpenter, Aged about 45 years for the sum of Six Hundred & fifty dollars, the receipt of which is hereby Acknowledged. And I forever defend & warrant said slave against all claims or claimants, and against myself my heirs and assigns forever. Given under my hand and seal this Eighteenth day of May 1854
Joseph Thornton seal
John Davison Witness
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Clement Hill 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.
Clement Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of May A. D. 1862.
H Naylor J. Peace
Petition of
Clement Hill
Major Jno F. Lee
Benjn L. Jackson
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.
