Title: Petition of John W. Mankin, 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.00537
TEI/XML: cww.00537.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, John W Mankin of George Town & District aforesaid by this his petition in writing, represents and states, that he 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 person of African descent of the name of Emma Rebecca Netter. for and during the life of said Emma Rebecca. and that by said act of Congress said person 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 person was of the age of of about (5) five years and five (5) months and of the personal description following:(1) She is dark copper colored, three feet five inches in heighth with a bright handsome intelligent countenance
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said person in manner following:(2) On the 25th day of May 1855, in consideration of the sum of fifty dollars E. B. Mills of said District of Columbia sold and delivered to your petitioner a negro woman named Ellen Netter [the mother of said Emma Rebecca] a slave for a term of years; said term of servitude to end three years from and after the 7th day of May and year last aforesaid: as is Evidenced by a certain Bill of sale dated the 25th of May 1855: and herewith filed as Exhibit A: and before the expiration of said term of servitude to wit on or about ⁎
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Emma Rebecca Netter was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of Three hundred dollars in money.(3)Said Emma Rebecca enjoys good health; is of excellent disposition—and is remarkably fine looking—animated—and intelligent. There is a slight curve in the bones of the legs below the knees—which gives the appearance of deformity; but which does not affect her strength or activity or impair her value—and your petitioner knows of no other imperfection or defect moral, mental, or bodily—and he does not believe any exists in said Emma
Your petitioner hereby declares that he bears true and faithful allegiance to the Government of the United States, and that he 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 he has not brought said person into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said person 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said person 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 his said claim to the service or labor of said person 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.
John W Mankin
Know all men by these presents that I E B Mills of the
City of Washington
District of Columbia for and in consideration of the
sum of fifty—dollars current money to me in hand paid by
John W Mankin of the City and District aforesaid at
and before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof I
the said E B Mills do hereby acknowledge, have granted
bargained and sold, and by these presents do Grant, bargain and sell into
the said John W Mankin his Executors Administrators and
assigns, a Certain Negro woman named Ellen Netter a
Slave for a term of years, that is to say the ballance of the term of Servitude of Said Ellen Netter
to wit three years from and after the Seventh day of
May A D one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, when the said
Ellen Netter will be entitled to her Freedom, with
this condition that the said John W Mankin, is
absolutely restricted from selling the said Ellen, out
of the County of Washington or in any manner to be
taken out of said County. To Have
And To Hold the said Negro woman
Ellen Netter
into the said John W Mankin his heirs Executors
administrators and assigns, for the time aforesaid and on the condition
aforesaid and I the said E B Mills for myself my
Executors and Administrators, the said Negro woman Ellen
unto the said John W Mankin, his Executors
administrators and assigns, for the time and term aforesaid, against all
persons claiming or who may claim shall and will warrant and forever defend
by these presents the said negro woman Ellen. In
witness whereof I the said E B Mills have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty Fifth day of May in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty five.
E. B. Mills seal
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Mary M Dimitry
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, John W. Mankin 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.
J W Mankin
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of May A. D. 1862.
Wm R. Woodward clk
John W. Mankin
Petition
by
Hugh [illegible]
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.
