Title: Petition of Mary Ann Harvey, 27 May 1862
Date: May 27, 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.00471
TEI/XML: cww.00471.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, M. A. Harvey of Washington City 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 the following persons of African descent of the names of Julia Cole, Joseph Cole Robert Cole William Cole and Albert Cole for and during the life 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 Julia was of the age of forty years Joseph was of the age of nineteen years. Robert was sixteen. William was of the age of thirteen years. and Albert was of the age of eleven years. and of the personal description following:(1)
- Julia was forty years old light color about five feet high.
- Joseph was nineteen years of age of a light complexion about five feet high.
- Robert was sixteen years of age of a dark complexion about four feet nine inches high.
- William was thirteen years old has a light complexion about four feet three and a half inches high.
- Albert was about eleven years old, is of a light complexion about four feet one and a half inches in height.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) That is to say; She inherited them from her late father the late Michael Sardo last of Washington County in the District of Columbia.
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 3,800— dollars in money.(3) That is to say. Julia is valued at $1000. Joseph is valued at $1000. Robert is valued at $800. William is valued at $600 and Albert at $400.
- Julia is a first rate house servant an excellent cook, washer, and ironer and has lived in my family for the last 19 years, is strictly honest truthful & industrious & moral.
- Joseph is a first rate house servant and has been hired out for which I received $8 a month he is intelligent & respectful, moral & honest.
- Robert has been hiring out ever since he was seven years of age
- William and Albert have also been hired out all of whom are strictly moral, honest sober & trustworthy. I never having heard a complaint against the character of either of them.
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 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
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 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 her 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.
Mary Ann Harvey
to
Michl R. Coombs
Bill of Sale in Trust
Received 15th August 1844. To be Recorded and the same day was recorded in Liber W.B. No. 111. Folios 162 & 163 One of the Land Records for Washington County in the District of Columbia and examined by
W. Brent. Clk
Know all men by these presents, that I, Michael Sardo of
the City of Washington in the District of
Columbia, for and in consideration of the love and affection
which I have and bear to my daughter Mary Ann Harvey,
wife of Henry Harvey of the said City, and of the sum
of One dollar to me in hand paid by Michael R. Coombs,
son of said Mary Ann Harvey, the receipt whereof I
hereby acknowledge, do grant, bargain and sell unto the said
Michael R. Coombs, his executors, administrators
and assigns, my negro slave named Juliet, otherwise
called Juliet Jefferson, before marriage but now
Juliet Cole purchased by me on the 26th day of May 1834 of John S.
McWilliams as by his Bill of Sale recorded in Liber W.B. No
50 folio 144 one of the Land records of Washington
County in said District, and her
infant child Joseph aged about fifteen months. To Have
and To Hold said slave Juliet, together with all her
future increase, and said child Joseph, unto the said
Michael R. Coombs, his executors, administrators
and assigns forever; In trust nevertheless and to and for the following uses
and purposes and none other whatsoever, that is to say: the said Trustees,
his executors or administrators shall hold the said slave
Juliet and her increase, and the said child, for
the sole use and benefit of the said Mary Ann Harvey,
and shall suffer the said Mary Ann to keep possession
of said slaves and take to her own 
use, as a feme sole and not as a feme covert,
all the earnings and profits of said slaves, and he shall and may at any
time with the written consent of said Mary Ann sell and
dispose of said slaves or either of them, upon the terms and conditions in
such written consent mentioned. And in case of the death of said
Mary Ann, during her coverture, shall convey said
slaves to the heirs at law of said Mary Ann, or to such
person or persons as the said Mary Ann shall by last
Will & Testament or otherwise in writing shall direct. And in case of
the death of said Mary Ann's husband during the
lifetime of said Mary Ann, the said Trustee shall, at
the request of said Mary Ann, convey to her the said
slaves in full legal right and property—
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this Fifteenth day of August A.D. 1844
his X mark Michael Sardo seal
Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence of (the word " Juliet " first interlined in the 4th line from bottom 1st page) the words "before marriage but now Juliet Cole" in the 12 line 1st page being also first interlined—
B. K. Morsell
R. R. Barr
County of Washington Sct:
Be it remembered that on this 
fifteenth day of August A.D.
1844—Personally appears Michael Sardo, the
party grantor within named, and acknowledges the within deed or instrument
of writing to be his act and deed according to the purport, true intent and
meaning thereof—
B. K. Morsell J.P.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, M. A. Harvey 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.
Mary Ann Harvey
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of May A. D. 1862.
N. Callan JP seal
Mrs. M. A. Harvey.
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.
