Title: Petition of Joseph W. Webb, 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.00504
TEI/XML: cww.00504.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,
Joseph W. Webb
of
Washington City
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
William Harrod a person of African descent of the
name of
William Harrod
for and during the life of said
a term of years not yet expired—to wit for the
term of those years and nine months from the 23rd
day of July 1860, and that by said act of Congress said
William Harrod 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
William was of the age of thirty for years— and of the personal description
following:(1)
a stout, medium sized man, in height about five feet,
six inches, of dark brown complection, intelligent and, active and an excellent coachman and House
Servant.
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said William Harrod in manner following:(2) by purchase of the said over a fixed term of years from Mrs. Jane Turnbull—of the said city of Washington & Mrs. Sophia [Krumbhaar?] of Philadelphia to whom he belonged
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said William was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of nine Hundred dollars in money.(3) that said William is an excellent coachman and House Servant and was worth by the month for his services—at least—twenty five Dollars—and that petitioner has no knowledge of any moral, mental, or bodily infirmities that in any way impair the value of the said William
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 William into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said William 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 William 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 William 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.
J W Webb
to
Joseph W. Webb
& Deed of manumission
Jno. A. Smith
clerk.
Know all men by these presents that we Jane Turnbull and Sophia Krumbhaar of Washington County in the District of Columbia for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars current money of the United States to wit in hand paid by Joseph W. Webb of said County and District at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted bargained and sold, and by these presents do hereby grant bargain and sell unto him the said Joseph W. Webb, his executors, administrations and assigns for the term or period of three years and nine months from the date hereof our colored salve William aged about thirty five years. To Have and To Hold the said slave William unto him the said Joseph W. Webb, his executors administrators and assigns for and during the said term a period of three years and nine months from the date hereof—at the expiration of which said term of three years and nine months it is expressly understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto that the said coloured man William shall be manumitted, set free and forever discharged from all manner of servitude or service to our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns and from all persons whatever, and do hereby declare him to be free and manumitted from and after the expiration of the said term of three years and nine months as aforesaid
In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals this 23rd.—day of July eighteen hundred and sixty.
Jane Turnbull seal
Sophia Krumbhaar seal
Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of
Sam'l Drury
W. B. Cobb
as to Mrs. Jane Turnbull's signature.
Wm. H. Butler
L R Krumbhaar
as to Sophia Krumbhaar's signing
On this 23rd day of July 1860, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and District aforesaid personally appears Jane Turnbull party to the foregoing instrument of writing, and acknowledges the same to be her act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.
Sam'l Drury JP seal
City and county of Philadelphia to wit:
On the twenty fifth day of July 1860, before
the subscriber a justice of the Peace in and for the county and State
aforesaid, personally appeared Sophia Knumbhaar party
to the foregoing instrument of writing and acknowledged the same to 
be her act and deed, for
the purposes therein mentioned.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and date above written.
Wm. H. Butler E. D. J. P. seal
Alderman
I, John P. McFadden Prothonotary of the District Court of said County, Do CERTIFY, that William H Butler before whom the annexed acknowledgment was mad, was at the time of so doing an Alderman and ex officio Justice of the Peace of the City & County of Philadelphia, duly commissioned and qualified to administer oaths and affirmations, and to take acknowledgments, &c. and to all whose acts, as such, full faith and credit are and out to be given, as well in Courts of Judicature as elsewhere, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, this 25th day of July A.D. 1860
J. P. McFadden
PROTHONOTARY.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Joseph W. Webb 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.
J W Webb
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A.D. 1862.
Jno. H. Johnson J. P. seal
Petition of
Joseph W. Webb
Under the "Act of 16th
of April 1862"
manumission.
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.
