Title: Petition of Mary C. Dean, 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.00491
TEI/XML: cww.00491.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, Mary C. Dean
of
Washington County 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 certain persons of
color
person of African descent of the name of
Robert Stewart, John Ambush
Albert Clark, Jenny Johnson,
Caroline Digges, Philip Digges
for and during the lives of said
Robert Stewart, John Ambush
Albert Clark, Jenny Johnson,
Caroline Digges, Philip Digges
and that by said act of Congress said
Robert Stewart, John Ambush
Albert Clark, Jenny Johnson,
Caroline Digges, Philip Digges
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 Robert Stewart about years of
the age of forty five, very dark, 5 ft 9 in high
superior field hand and market man in good health and of the personal
description following:(1)
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Colord Persons in manner following:(2) the said Mary C. Dean obtained four of them by inheritance from her Father, Levi Shereff, of Washington County D.C. about seven years since (see Record of Orphan's Court for Washington Co DC) two purchased of J Brown of Alexandria 4 or 5 years since
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Colord Persons was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of six thousand one hundred & fifty dollars in money.(3) the said Robert Stewart—one thousand dollars, the said John Ambush—two hundred and fifty dollars, the said Albert Clark—sixteen hundred dollars, the said Jenny Johnson—twelve hundred dollars, the said Caroline Digges—nine hundred dollars, the said Philip Digges—twelve hundred dollars all being invaluable servants & to the best of my belief the said persons having no moral defect
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 the said Colord Persons into the District of Columbia
since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage
thereof, said Colord 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 Colord 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 Colord 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.
M C Dean
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Mary C. Dean 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.
M C Dean
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Petition of Mary C. Dean
Robert R. Meritt
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.
