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.

(Signed by)
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.]

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.

(Signed by)
Tho. Pursell
Mary Ann Pursell

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
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
513
Petition of Thomas & Mary Ann Pursell under the "Act of 16th of April 1862."
Manumission
Filed May 28, 1862
Witnesses—
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.

Transcription and encoding: Janel Cayer, Kathryn Kruger, and Kenneth M. Price.