Title: Petition of Edward Hall, 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.00507
TEI/XML: cww.00507.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, Edward Hall of Washington City, 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 male colored persons of African descent of the name of Lloyd Jones, and William Henry Harrison for and during the lives of said Lloyd Jones, and William Henry Harrison and that by said act of Congress said Lloyd Jones, and William Henry Harrison 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
- No. 1 Lloyd Jones was of the age of Thirty years and of the personal description following:(1) Negro man—dark brown color—about 5 feet 9 1/2 inches in height; medium size.
- No. 2. That at the time of said discharge said William Henry Harrison was of the age about Eighteen years, and of the personal description following: Negro boy—copper color—about 5 feet 7 1/2 inches in height—strong build and very healthy—
- No. 1 That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Lloyd Jones in manner following:(2) That about fifteen years ago your petitioner bought the said Lloyd Jones from Eliza Duval (his sister) of Price George Co. Md and for whom at that time he gave $675.
- No. 2. That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said William Henry Harrison by a purchase from the said Eliza Duval in the year 1859, and for whom at the time he paid One Thousand dollars, as will more fully appear from a receipt & bill of sale of said purchase herewith filed and marked exhibit M.
- No. 1. That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Lloyd Jones was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eleven hundred dollars in money.(3) That the said Lloyd Jones is a very intelligent colored man has been in the Grocery Business for the last eleven years, and that he understands the same. That he has no moral, mental or physical infirmities or defects, and that your petitioner believes that none such exist.
- No. 2 That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said William H. Harrison was at the time of said discharge therefrom of the value of Fourteen Hundred Dollars in money. That the said William H. Harrison is a very likely & fine young man. Has been with your Petitioner in the Grocery Business for the last three years, and that he understands the same That he has no moral, mental or physical infirmities or defects, and that your petitioner believes than none such exist.
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
Lloyd Jones & William H.
Harrison
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Lloyd Jones & William H.
Harrison 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 Lloyd and 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 Lloyd and 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. (Signed by)
Ed Hall
Received of Edward Hall, of Washington City, D.C. One Thousand Dollars, as payment in full for my negro slave Billy, aged fifteen years,—which I warrant to defend to him the said Edward Hall for life in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed any seal this [no handwritten text supplied here] day of August 1859.
Eliza Duvall
Exhibit M.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Edward Hall, the within named petitioner 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.
Ed Hall
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
Edward Hall's Petition
Eliza Duvall
1st ward.
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.
