Title: Petition of Ann Emeline Ward, 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.00455
TEI/XML: cww.00455.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, Ann Emeline Ward of Charles County Maryland 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 a person of African descent of the name of Cecelia Thomas for and during the life of said Cecelia Thomas and that by said act of Congress said Cecelia Thomas 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 Cecilia Thomas was of the age of nineteen years and of the personal description following:(1) of Dark copper color about five feet three inches in height bushy head stout fleshy and square built
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Cecilia Thomas in manner following:(2) She inherited the said Cecilia from her father John S Ward now dead who owned the mother of said Cecelia & she was only distributed to your petitioners by Ann Ward the administrator of said John S Ward
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Cecelia Thomas was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of one thousand dollars in money.(3) And your petitioner of an infirmity which the said Cecelia Thomas is afflicted and that she believes none to exist.
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 Cecelia Thomas into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Cecelia Thomas 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 Cecelia Thomas 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 Cecelia Thomas 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.
Ann Emeline Ward
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
I, Ann Emeline Ward 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.
Ann Emeline Ward
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of May A.D. 1862
Thomas Harris
Justice of the Peace
I G. H. Crain of the Circuit Court for Charles County do hereby certify that Thomas Harris before whom the above acknowledgment appears to have been made was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace of the State of Maryland in and for Charles County duly Commissioned and Sworn;
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Circuit for Charles County this 20th day of May 1862
Mary E Taylor [G?] street Navy Yard
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.
