Title: Petition of Mary Ann Pursell and Thomas Pursell, 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.00513
TEI/XML: cww.00513.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 Petitioners
Thomas Pursell & Mary
Ann Pursell of Washington City D.C. by this their petition in writing, represents
and states, that they are
is a persons 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 one female person of African descent of the name of
Minty Cross for and
during the life of said Minty
Cross and that by said act of Congress said Minty Cross was discharged and
freed of and from all claim of your petitioners to
such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said Minty— was of the age of about fifty three and of the personal description
following:(1)—viz:
Black, Stout and healthy, and sound in body and mind, of medium
size—Say five feet six or seven inches.—And your petitioners
further State that they have no Knowledge of any mental, moral, and bodily
infirmities or defects of said Minty which impair the
value of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.—
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Minty Cross— in manner following:(2) Viz: By purchase on or about the 8th of April 1851, reference being had to the annexed Bill and receipt
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Minty Cross was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Five Hundred dollars in money.(3)[no handwritten text supplied here]
Your petitioners hereby declares that
they bears true and faithful
allegiance to the Government of the United States, and
that they have not
borne arms against the United States in the present
rebellion, nor in any way given aid or comfort thereto.
And your petitioners further states and
alleges, that they have not brought said Minty Cross— into the District of
Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at
the time of the passage thereof, said Minty was held to service or labor therein
under and by virtue of your petitioner's claim to such service or labor.
Your petitioners further states and
alleges, that their said claim to
the service or labor of said Minty 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 petitioners prays the said Commissioners
to investigate and determine the validity of their
said claim to the service or labor of said Minty Cross 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.
Thos. Pursell
Mary Anne Pursell
Received of Miss Mary Ann Pursell a note of hand for two hundred and twenty five dollars which is in full payment for one negro woman named Minty which I warrent and defend against the claims of all persons whomsoever and sound as far as I no
George F. Richards
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
WeI Thomas Pursell &
Mary Ann Pursell— 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 our 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, WeI believe to
be true in substance and in fact.
Tho. Pursell
Mary Ann Pursell
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.
Jna. H. Johnson JP. Seal
On this 28th day of May 1862, personally appeared Thomas Pursell and made oath in due form of law, that all the several matters and things which are set forth in the foregoing petition are true in substance and in fact. Sworn to & subscribed before
Jna. H. Johnson, JP, seal
Manumission
J. F. B. Pursell
Seth Hyatt
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.
