Title: Petition of William L. Hoyle, 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.00540
TEI/XML: cww.00540.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, Wm L. Hoyle of Washington D.C. 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 three persons of African descent of the names of Mary Dyson, Margaret Dyson, Matilda Dyson for and during the life of said persons and that by said act of Congress said persons were discharged and freed of and from all claim of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said discharge said persons were of the ages of [no handwritten text supplied here] and of the personal description following:(1) Margaret Dyson is about forty-seven years of age, Mulatto, about the medium height and robust person; she is sound and healthy in mind and body of excellent character for honesty and industry, and a first rate cook
That your petitioner acquired his claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said persons in manner following:(2) by marriage Susan A. J. Rollins of Prince George County MD. in 1848.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said person was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of three thousand dollars in money.(3) Mary Dyson, one thousand dolls Margaret Dyson twelve hundred dolls. Matilda Dyson eight hundred dolls. And your petitioner avers that knows of no infirmity or defect that impairs the value of his claim and he believes that none exists.
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 persons into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said persons were 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 persons 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 persons 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.
W. L. Hoyle
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,
Wm R. Woodward trustee and John C.
McKelden cestui que trust of
the City of Washington
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 a person of
African descent of the name of
Mary Dyson
for and during the life of said
Mary Dyson
and that by said act of Congress said
Mary Dyson was discharged and freed of and from
all claims of your petitioner to such service or labor; that at the time of said
discharge said
Mary Dyson was of the age of about forty seven years and of the personal
description following:(4)
viz a mulatto above medium size and height and of a
large person
That your petitioners acquired their claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said Mary Dyson in manner following:(5) one William L. Hoyle being indebted to said McKelden in the sum of $132.94 for which said McKelden held the promissory note of said Hoyle dated January 9th 1858 and at thirty days after date to his order for $132.94. by his deed bearing date on January 27th 1858 conveyed said Mary Dyson to said Woodward in trust to secure said debt. which is now due and unpaid—Your petitioners herewith annex the original deed of trust marked WBW, which has been recorded in the proper office in the county of Washington in the District of Columbia Liber JAS 149 fol. 360 [illegible]
That your petitioners claim to the service or labor of said Mary Dyson was, at the time of said discharge therefrom, of the value of $166 17/100 dollars in money.(6) The said Mary Dyson was at the date of the passage of said law of the value of $.
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
Mary Dyson
into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress;
and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said
Mary Dyson
was held to service or labor therein under and by virtue of your
petitioner's claim to such service or labor. and the
claim of said Wm L Hoyle as owner.
Your petitioners further states and
alleges, that their said claim to
the service or labor of said persons 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
Mary Dyson
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.
Wm. R. Woodward
Trustee
J. C. McKelden
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
We,
William L. Woodwardand John C.
McKelden
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
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, I
we believe to be true in substance and in
fact.
Wm Woodward Trustee
J. C. McKelden
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of July A. D. 1862.
John H. Johnson JP. Seal
Wm. R. Woodward trustee
and
John C. McKelden
To
Wm. R. Woodward
This indenture made the twenty seventh day of January
Eighteen hundred and fifty eight between William L.
Hoyle of the first place and John C.
McKelden of the second part and William R.
Woodward of the third part. All of the City of
Washington in the District of Columbia. There as the said
William L. Hoyle is indebted unto said
John C. McKelden in the full amount of his
promissory note dated the ninth day of
January instant for the sum of one hundred and thirty two dollars
and ninety four cents payable at thirty days of the date thereof with
interest there on from date and decision by there presents to secure the
payment of said note by a regular [curtail?] thereof of fifteen dollars paid at the end
of each and every thirty days until the whole of said debt note and interest
is paid. This indenture there on witnesseth that the said William
L. Hoyle in consideration of the premises and also of the sum
of one dollars current money to him paid by the said William
Woodward at or before the execution hereof (the receipt is
hereby acknowledged) Hath bargained sold assigned and transferred and by
these presents doth bargain sell assign and transfer unto the said
William R. Woodward his executors administrators
and assigns one slave called Mary Dyson to have and to
hold the said Slave Mary Dyson unto and to the use of
the said William R. Woodward his executors,
administrators and assigns upon the trusts following nevertheless and to and
for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever, that is to say upon trust to
permit the said William L. Hoyle to have hold use and
employ, and receive the rents of said Mary Dyson as
though this deed had not been made until default made in the payment of the
said note in manner as aforesaid or of any note or notes given in
substitution or renewal thereof or herein after provided and upon any
default in the regular payment every thirty days of [curtail?] of said note
till all is paid or of any note given in restitution or renewal of the same
or any part thereof by said William L. Hoyle or as
herein the provided through no default shall have been made it shall be the
duty of said William R. Woodward his executors,
administrators or assigns on the request of said John C.
McKelden or the legal holder of the note as in default to
make into his and their exclusive possession the said Mary
Dyson and to sell the same at public auction of the such
notice and upon such times as the trustee shall determine and most for 
for the interest of all
concerned, and out of the proceeds of sale he shall pay the costs and
expenses there of including a commission of fine of five percent on the
gross amount there of to himself and next he shall pay to the person
entitled and debt and note the whole of said debt, note and interest then
owing and unpaid (no further contact or the act being did of in such
default) and the residue shall be paid over to the said William L.
Hoyle his executors, administrators or assigns. Provided
always and upon this further trust that whenever it shall appear to the
trustee that any disposition of said slave otherwise than is consistent with
these presents and the final execution thereof by said William L.
Hoyle in the event of the death of said
Hoyle or of any executor or other process being
levied or attempted to the levied on said slave at shall and may be lawful
for the said trustee and it is made his duty; he deeming it seems any for
the security of said debt to the said slave and sell as of and apply the
proceeds as aforesaid and to that end to institute all and every necessary
process at law and in equity and the said William L.
Hoyle doth hereby covenant with said William R.
Woodward that he the said William L.
Hoyle shall and will during the continuance of this trust nor
cause or permit to be done, any act to impair or hinder the security hereby
granted and that on any default as aforesaid he shall and will quietly and
peacefully deliver the exclusive possession of said slave to said
William R. Woodward his executors, administrators
or assigns to be disposed of in the manner herein before set forth. In
witness whereof the said William L. Hoyle hath hereto
set his hand and seal an the day and year first hereunto written
W.L. Hoyle seal
Signed, Sealed and delivered
F. I. Murphey
D. H. Goodard
County of Washington to wit
Be it remembered that on this 27th day of January in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty eight before me the subscribed a justice of the peace on and for the county aforesaid personally appeared William L. Hoyle to me as the person who executed deed dated the 27th day of January instant to William R. Woodward and unto answered and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed 27th given under my hand and seal.
F. I. Murphey J.P. seal
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, William L. Hoyle 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.
W. L. Hoyle
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of May A. D. 1862.
Thomas C. Donn Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
Petition of
W. L. Hoyle
Tho. B. Peyton
Lewis L. Rollins
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.
Note (4.)-- Here describe the person, so as to identify him or her; and if there be more than one slave, describe each one separately.
Note (5.)-- 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 (6.)-- 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.
