Title: Petition of William Nottingham, 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.00501
TEI/XML: cww.00501.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, Wm Nottingham of Washington, D.C. by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 Cagy Ware and Charles Green 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 persons were of the age s of fifty and fifteen years and of the personal description following:(1)
- Cagy Ware, female, aged 50 years. Mullatto. strong and healthy a good cook and house servant. valued at $400.
- Charles Green-male, aged 15 years. copper color. has lost the left forefinger being cut off at the joint (bound to me until he arrives at the age of 21 years) valued at $300.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2)
- He purchased Cagy Ware from Luther Leland of Charles Co Md for the sum of $225 as will appear by Bill of sale herewith filed
- Chas Green was bound to him by his father until he should arrive at the age of 21 years—Indenture herewith filed
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 seven hundred dollars in money.(3) all of said persons are healthy, active, honest & industrious and were very serviceable to me.
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 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 his 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 value of his 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.
Wm Nottingham
Know all man by these presents this Luther L Leland Charles County State of MD for and consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty five dollars to me in hand paid by Mr William Nottingham at [illegible] the sealing and delivering these presents the [illegible] I hereby acknowledge have Bargained and Sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said William Nottingham a certain negro woman slave named Cagy to have and hold to the said above described and sold [illegible] said William Nottingham his executors administrators and assigns forever and I hereby warrant and defend against the claim or claims of all persons whatsoever by these presents in witness I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 26th day of Oct 1858
Luther L Leland seal
This Indenture witnesseth that Charles H. Green of
Washington City in the District of Columbia now aged
twelve years and ten months by and with the consent of Henry Green his father
hereupon, hath voluntary and of his own free will and consent put and bound
himself apprentice to William Nottingham of
Washington City D.C. to learn sufficiently the Trade
of carpenting so as to enable him to Procure an honest livelyhood and as an apprentice to serve from the date here of for and during the
full end and term of eight years and two months until the said Chas.
G. Green shall have attained the age of twenty one which will be
on the 16th day of September 1867 during all which time the said
apprentice shall serve his master faithfully honestly and industriously his
secrets keys and lawfull commands every where readily obey at all times protect and lawfully
preserve the good and prosperity of his said master and not suffer or allow any
to be injured or wasted he shall not buy sell or traffic with his own goods or
the goods of others nor be absent from his said master service day or night
without 
leave but in all things
behave himself as a faithfull apprentice ought to do during the said term and the said master shall
clothe and provide for the said apprentice in sickness and in health and suply him with available food and clothing and shall so employ said
apprentice in such a manner that he shall be qualified at the end of the
aforesaid term to earn an honest livelyhood and at the end of said term shall give unto the aforesaid apprentice a
new suite of Sunday clothing over and above his other clothing and the further
sum of fifteen dollars and for the true performance of all and singular the
covenant, and agreements aforesaid the said parties bind themselves each unto
the other primarily these presents.
In witness whereof the parties aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the 15th day of July 1859
his X mark Charles H. Green seal
his X mark Henry Green seal
Wm Nottingham seal
Signed sealed and Delivered in presence of
Jas. Cull J. P.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William Nottingham 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.
Wm Nottingham
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn
Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
William Nottingham
Petition
Joseph G. Carroll
Thompson Van Kenwick
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.
