Title: Petition of Adelaide Wilson, 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.00490
TEI/XML: cww.00490.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,
Adelaide Wilson
of
Washington 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 Two person
s of African descent of the name s of
Charles Ferguson and Harriet
Thomas
for and during the lives
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
Charles Ferguson was of the age of thirty five years and of the personal description
following:(1)
- black man five feet seven or eight inches in height—
- Harriet Thomas black girl sixteen years of age four feet five inches in height—
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2)
- Chas. Furguson was willed to petitioner by her late husband Jno. H. A. Wilson which will was registered in the office of the Register of Wills in the District of Columbia in the year 1858
- Harriet Thomas was a gift from Regin Arnold (12 years ago) who bought her mother Susan Thomas from Wash: Young about eighteen years ago.
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 two thousand dollars in money.(3)
- Charles Ferguson an honest and industrious man who has been and now is working in the Anchor Shop at the navy yard for one dollar and fifty cents per day and is strong and healthy valued at fifteen hundred dollars
- Harriet Thomas an honest house servant strong and healthy valued at five hundred dollars. These persons are free from any moral mental or bodily infirmity
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 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 personsdoes 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 personsherein 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.
Adelaide Wilson
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Adelaide Wilson 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.
Adelaide Wilson
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.
H Naylor J. Peace
Petition of Adelaide Wilson
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.
