Title: Petition of Pierce Shoemaker, 28 May 1862

Date: May 28, 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.00494

TEI/XML: cww.00494.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, Pierce Shoemaker of Washington County D.C. by this [no handwritten text supplied here] petition in writing, represents and states, that [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 20 slaves of African descent of the name of [no handwritten text supplied here] for and during the lives of said slaves and that by said act of Congress said slaves 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 slaves were of the was of the age of set opposite their names and of the personal description following:(1)

1 George Dover Mulatto age 45 worth $1200
2 Benjamin Lyles Black 44 " $2500 a Mechanic
3 Joseph Simms Mulatto 27 $1800
4 Rachael Lyles Dark Mulatto 43 $800
5 Elizabeth Lyles Dark 26 $1000
6 Matilda Lyles Dark 24 $1000
7 Albert Lyles Dark 2 $400
8 Catharine Lyles dark 22 $1100
9 Leander Lyles dark 18 $1600
10 Rebecca Lyles mulatto 12 $800
11 Osceola Lyles dark 9 $800
12 Mary Ann Foster dark 36 $1000
13 Margaret Foster Mulatto 18 $1100
14 Tobias Foster Mulatto 15 $1000
15 Benjamin Foster Mulatto 12 $1000
16 Annie Foster dark 8 $800
17 Cornelius Foster dark 6 $700
18 Catharine Foster dark 4 $600
19 Eugene Foster Mulatto 3 $400
20 Emma Lyles Mulatto 3 $400

 

That your petitioner acquired [no handwritten text supplied here] claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said slavesin manner following:(2) by will of Abner Pierce and they were conveyed to me by Thos Canbury his executor Thomas Morrison

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said slaves for life was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of [no handwritten text supplied here] dollars in money.(3) [no handwritten text supplied here]

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 slaves into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said slaves 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 slavesdoes 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 the said claim to the service or labor of said slaves 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. These negroes are all in good heath and free from mental moral or bodily infirmities. They are worth a year ago—$20,000—

(Signed by)
[no handwritten text supplied here]
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Pierce Shoemaker 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.

(Signed by)
Pierce Shoemaker

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Thos Carbury
J Peace
494
Pierce Shoemaker
Filed May 28, 1862
Witnesses
Barry Swarts
Darrell McTherry


 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.

Transcription and encoding: Kenneth J. Winkle, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, and Robert Voss.