Title: Petition of Elizabeth Crawford, 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.00508
TEI/XML: cww.00508.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,
Elizabeth Crawford
of the District of
Columbia
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
Jane Lee, Clinton Lee, and
Martha Johnson
persons of African descent of the name of
Jane Lee, Clinton Lee, &
Martha Johnson
for and during the life
lives of said
Jane Lee, Clinton Lee, and
Martha Johnson
and that by said act of Congress said
Jane Lee, Clinton Lee, and
Martha Johnson 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 Jane Lee was of the age of about Thirty years and of the personal description following:(1) a mulatto woman, about Five feet nine and one half inches high, a light mulatto color—quite thin in make—long curly hair and pleasant face:
- No 2 Also that at the time of said discharge said Clinton Lee was about the age of Three years—copper color, large for his age, and son of the said Jane Lee.
- No. 3. Also that at the time of said discharge said Martha Johnson was of the age of Sixteen years—mullato color—very short and thick set—long and full suit of hair.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Jane Lee, Clinton Lee, & Martha Johnson in manner following:(2)
- That your Petitioner acquired her title to the said Jane Lee from Wm. Pinkney Brooke on the first day of December 1858, as will more fully appear from the bill of sale here with filed and marked exhibit No. 1—E.C.
- That your Petitioner acquired her title to the said Clinton Lee, by the said Clinton being born of the body of said Jane Lee during the servitude of the said Jane
- That your Petitioner acquired her title to the said Martha Johnson by a bill of sale from D. R. Wall and S. J. Wall his wife, as will more fully appear from the bill of sale herewith filed and marked exhibit No 2. E.C.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Jane Lee was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve Hundred dollars in money.(3)
- No 1. That the said Jane is one of the best servant women that can be found—An elegant cook, washerwoman, and ironer—Understands the dairy business admirably, is a beautiful seamstress, , and can do anything which may be required of her. That your Petitioner does not know of a single defect or infirmity of the said Jane, and believes that none such exist
- No 2. That the said Clinton Lee at the time of his discharge was of the value of One Hundred and Fifty dollars—He is a fine hearty boy—he has no defects or infirmity; and your Petitioner believes that none such exist.
- No 3 That the said Martha Johnson at the time of her discharge was of the value of Eight Hundred dollars. She is a fine house servant—a nice chamber maid and nurse. That your Petitioner has been offered Nine Hundred Dollars for the said Martha That your Petitioner does not know of a single defect or infirmity of the said Martha, & believes that none such exist.
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 persons or any one
of them 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 all
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 persons or any one of them 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 her said claim to the service or labor of said persons and each of them 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.
Elizabeth Crawford
Exhibit No 1—E.C.
Rec'd This 1st day of Dec'r 1858 of John H. Sambury, agent for Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford a note of Wm Z Beall's rec'd for two Thousand dollars which when collected will be in full for negroes Jane and Charlotte her daughter and negro boy Wallace commonly called " [illegible] " and I hereby garanty the title to the said negroes and also that they are slaves for live
Wm Pinkney Brooke
Exhibit No 2—E.C.
Know all Men by these Presents, that one D R Wall and S J Wall of Prince Georges County State of Maryland, of the first part, for and in consideration of the sums of five hundred dollars, lawful money of the United States, has with hereby said, at or before the unsealing & delivery of these presents, by Elizabeth Crawford of the same place as the record party, the receipt whereof as hereby acknowledged here bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant and survey, unto the said party of the record faith her executors, administrators and assigns, One mulatto girl aged about 15 years at the delivery of these presents, and being a slave for life & named and known as "Martha Ann Johnson." To have and to hold the same unto the said party of the record forth her executors, administrators and assigns, for her.
And we do for ourselves our heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and
agree, of and with the said party of the record part to warrant and defend the
sale of the said 
[damage]
"Martha Anne Johnson" hereby [damage] the said party of the
second part [damage] executors administrators, and assigns, against all and every
person and persons whomsoever.
In Witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this fifteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty
D. R. Wall Seal
Sarah J. Wall Seal
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
W. H. Wall
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Elizabeth Crawford 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.
Elizabeth Crawford
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A. D. 1862.
Jno H Johnson, JP. seal
Justice of the Peace
Elizabeth Crawford's Petition
Wm L. Wall.
Daniel R. Wall.
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.
