Title: Petition of Henry Newman, 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.00445
TEI/XML: cww.00445.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, Henry Newman of the City 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 Three (3) Females, persons of African descent of the name of "Mary," Sally" and "Frances" for and during the life of said "Mary," Sally" & Frances," and that by said act of Congress said "Mary," Sally" & Frances" 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 "Mary" was of the age of Thirteen (13,) years, or thereabouts and of the personal description following:(1) of a Black Complexion, well built—rather low for her age—erect in her Carriage—likely and Intelligent. Sally was of the age of Six (6) years, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following: a very bright mulatto—with long straight hair—rather spare built—tall for her age—likely and Intelligent. Frances was of the age of Four (4) years, or thereabouts, and of the personal description following, a very bright mulatto—curly hair—well built—likely and Intelligent—[no handwritten text supplied here]And your Petitioner further represents that he has filed his schedule, or statement of said persons, in the Clerk's Office of said District according to said Act of Congress.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said "Mary," Sally" & Frances" in manner following:(2) that he acquired the mother of said girls—of Obadiah Stanford of Somerset County State of Maryland—by purchase, on the 20th day of May A. D. 1823. Her name was "Eliza" (now deceased) And your Petitioner appends hereto the original Bill of Sale for said Eliza, duly executed by said Stanford and bearing his seal—and prays that the same may be read and considered as a part of this his Petition—that the said girls (daughters of said Eliza) were raised by your Petitioner at [considerable?] trouble and expense
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Mary, Sally and Frances was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of One thousand dollars in money.(3) viz: "Mary"—$550. "Sally" $250. and "Frances"—$200—That the said Mary is a sound healthy girl—is a tolerable good cook—and is a useful girl generally about a House, either as nurse, or Chambermaid—Her habits are good. Sally , is a sound healthy girl—smart and active and quite useful about a house— Frances is a sound healthy child—and quite intelligent for her age. And your Petitioner avers that he has no knowledge of any defect or infirmity either mental, moral or physical in said persons calculated to impair his said claim.
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 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 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.
Henry Newman
from Stanford
State of Maryland
Know all men by these Presents [that I?] Obadiah Stanford of Somerset County in State aforesaid Hath Bargained & sold & by these Presents doth bargain and sell unto Henry Newman of the County and State aforesaid two negro Children viz one by the name of Maria aged about Six years & one by the name of Eliza [between three?] and four years which the said Henry Newman doth agree to give unto the said Stanford the sum of Seventy-five Dollars for & the [ afd ?] Stanford for himself & all other Persons and doth warrant and defend in writing whereof I have hearunto set my hand & affixed my seal, this twentieth day of May Eighteen hundred & twenty three
Obadiah Stanford seal
Signed in presence of
William Williams
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Henry Newman 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.
Henry Newman
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of May A. D. 1862.
F. I. Murphey J. P.
of
Henry Newman
W. S H Newman
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.
