Title: Petition of Martha T. 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 5. 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.00509
TEI/XML: cww.00509.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, Martha T. Hall of [no handwritten text supplied here] 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 a certain female colored person of African descent of the name of Cecelia Walker, alias Celia Walker for and during the life of said Cecelia Walker and that by said act of Congress said Cecelia Walker 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 Cecelia Walker was of the age of about twenty years and of the personal description following:(1) Female, Copper color—height about Five feet 10 inches—stout built, very healthy, and unmarried.
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Cecelia Walker in manner following:(2) She was obtained by your Petitioner from the estate of her father the late Thomas Hall of Prince George's County Md. who died about the year 1849. That no one has any claim whatever, or right or title to the said Cecelia Walker, but your petitioner.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Cecelia Walker was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Twelve hundred dollars in money.(3)That the said Cecelia Walker is a very likely and finely made woman,—Is a good washer woman and ironer—Has no moral or mental or bodily defects whatsoever—but on the contrary is a young woman of excellent habits—and that she is unmarried. And your Petitioner here states that she believes that the said Cecelia Walker has no moral, mental or bodily defect or infirmity whatever
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 Cecelia Walker into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Cecelia Walkerwas 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 Cecelia Walker 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 validity of her said claim to the service or labor of said Cecelia Walker 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.
Martha T Hall
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Martha T. Hall 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.
Martha T. Hall
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of May A. D. 1862.
F. I. Murphey J. P.
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.
