Title: Petition of Mary F. E. Purcell, 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.00527

TEI/XML: cww.00527.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, Mary F. E. Purcell of Washington City 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 Patsy Wheeler a person of African descent of the name of Patsy Wheeler for and during the life of said Patsy Wheeler and that by said act of Congress said Patsy Wheeler 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 Patsy Wheeler of the age of about twenty nine years and of the personal description following:(1) The said Patsy Wheeler is about five feet six inches high, Copper Color, a person of great value, good habits, a Good Cook, house servant, and excellent washer and Ironer, she is about twenty nine years of age, her present owner, was offered eighteen months ago fourteen hundred dollars, current money for the said Patsy and refused the same as she was unwilling to sell or part with her for any money. That the said Patsy Wheeler is sound in mind and body—

 

That your petitioner acquired Her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Patsy Wheeler in manner following:(2) by deed of gift from her Grandmother Margaret S. Wagener, late of Prince William County Virginia, more than twenty years since, and subsequently settled upon her by her husband Hon. William F. Purcell, after his intermarriage with her, see deed of settlement in the Clerks office of the District of Columbia

That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Patsy Wheeler was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of fourteen hundred dollars in money.(3)[no handwritten text supplied here]

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 Patsy Wheeler into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Patsy Wheeler 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 Patsy Wheeler 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 Patsy Wheeler 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)
Mary F. E. Purcell
Wm F Purcell Trustee for the above Mary F E Purcell
 

[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]

I, Mary F. E. Purcell 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.

(Signed by)
Mary F. E. Purcell

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

(Signed by)
Gilbert L. Giberson JP

I hereby certify that I have known Patsy Wheeler for ten years last past, and I consider her a servant of great value and Good habits, for a person of color. If she belonged to me, I would not part with her for any reasonable sum of money.


Gilbert L. Giberson JP

And I hereby further certify that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary F. E. Purcell wife of the Honorable William F. Purcell, and that I know them both to be loyal citizens of the City of Washington DC


Gilbert L. Giberson JP
527
Mary F. E. Purcell
Filed May 28, 1862
Gilbert L. Giberson


 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, Nima Najafi Kianfar, and Kenneth J. Winkle.