Title: Petition of John W. Wells, 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.00444

TEI/XML: cww.00444.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, John W. Wells of Washington 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 a woman, a person of African descent of the name of Harriet Hawkins for and during the life of said Harriet Hawkins and that by said act of Congress said Harriet Hawkins discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Harriet Hawkins was of the age of twenty one, and of the personal description following:(1) her height is about 5 feet three inches, straight and well formed; dark; hair short, curl'd​ & regular features of mild expression.

 

That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Harriet Hawkins in manner following:(2) On the 2nd of February 1854, I purchased her of Peter D Posey Esq'r​ of Tenallytown near Georgetown D.C. for five hundred dollars, taking his receipt with conveyance of title written in the body thereof; said receipt being herewith. Harriet was then 13 years of age. In 1849, at 8 years old she came to live with us as a companion for my children of average age with and very fond of her.

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Harriet Hawkins was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of thirteen hundred dollars in money.(3) but to my family invaluable. She is honest, faithful, active intelligent and useful; I have no knowledge that she possesses any mental, moral, or physical infirmity or defect; she is the Cook of, and does the marketing herself for my family, whose estimate of her intrinsic worth is above all praise as that is above all price for which at any amount that might be named however fabulous I never would have sold her.

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 Harriet Hawkins into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Harriet Hawkins 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 Harriet Hawkins 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 Harriet Hawkins 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)
Respectfully John W. Wells
 
Peter D Posey
Feb 2/54
Rec't​ to
Jn W Wells
 

Received of Mr John W Wells, four several notes of hand dated this date, and drawn by the said John W Wells to my order, each for one hundred and twenty five, 00/100, dollars with interest from date at six, twelve, and eighteen months and two years respectively; said interest being due and payable semi-annually; which said notes with the interest on each payable as above mentioned, when well and truly satisfied and paid, shall be in full payment of slave Harriet belonging to me and now in the service of the said John W. Wells, as slave for life unto the said John W. Wells.


Peter D. Posey
 
No. 1
$125.00/100

Six Months after date I promise to Pay to the Order of P D Posey Esqr​ One hundred and twenty five 00/100 Dollars for Value received with interest from date.


Jn W. Wells
 
Pd​. Peter D Posey
May 29/54 Prin​. 125.0
2 mo's​ & 27 d'sint 2.43
$127.43
Peter D Posey
 
[Pd​?] Peter D Posey
Feb 2/55 Prin​. $125.00
Int. 7.50
132.50
 
No. 2
$125.00/100

Twelve Months after date I promise to Pay to the Order of P D Posey Esqr​ One hundred and twenty five 00/100 Dollars for Value received with interest from date.


Jn W. Wells
 
75—
19.41
94.41
Recd​ April the 1st 1856 of Mrs Wells fifty dollars on the within note P D Posey
Recd​ Dec 13th 1856 on this note of Mrs Wells, fifty dollars P D Posey
Recd​ July 11 1859 on this note of Mrs Wells twenty dollars P D Posey
From Feb 2/54 to April 1/56, is 2 years and 2 months,
125
6
7.50
2
2 yrs= 15.00
1 [illegible] 1.25
Int​. = $16.25
Prin​. = 125."
Amount $141.25
April 1st 56 [Pd​?] by cash as above 50."
Balance $91.25
and from April 1/56 to Decr 13th '56 is 8 mos​ and 12 days. .04%
3.65.00
.18
3.83
91.25
Amt $95.08
 
No. 3
$125.00/100

Eighteen months after date I promise to Pay to the Order of P D Posey Esqr​ One hundred and twenty five 00/100 Dollars for Value received with interest from date.

 
No. 4
$125.00/100

Eighteen months after date I promise to Pay to the Order of P D Posey Esqr​ One hundred and twenty five 00/100 Dollars for Value received with interest from date.

 
$170.22
33.22
203.44
 

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

I, John W. Wells 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)
John W. Wells

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of May A.D. 1862

(Signed by)
Wm R Woodward clk
444
John W. Wells
Filed May 26, 1862
William Ford
John Ball


 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: Susan C. Lawrence, Robert Voss, Brittany Jones, and Janel Cayer.