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

Margaret Dyson is about seventeen years of age, dark color, about the medium height, stout person, sound in body and mind, of excellent character, and is a good house servant & child nurse.
Matilda Dyson is about ten years old, dark color, well grown, sound & healthy in mind and body and is a really good girl.
 

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 dollsMargaret 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.

(Signed by)
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 claims that the sum of $132.94 with interest there from February 11th 1858 Shall be allowed and paid to them from whatever amount shall be allowed for said Mary Dyson made the act of Congress aforesaid—

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.

(Signed by)
Wm. R. Woodward
Trustee

J. C. McKelden
 

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

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.

(Signed by)
Wm Woodward Trustee
J. C. McKelden

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of July A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
John H. Johnson JP. Seal
540
Wm. R. Woodward trustee
and
John C. McKelden
Counter petition to Wm L. Hoyles Claim
 
Paid $1.00
William L. Hoyle
To
Wm. R. Woodward
Bill Sale in Trust
WRW
Received 12th February 1858 To be recorded & same day was Recorded in Liber L. Sp. S. No. 149 Folio 360, 361, 362, & 363, One of the Land Records of Washington County in the District of Columbia & examined by

John S. Smith. clk
To be recorded in 20 days
 

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
 

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.]

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.

(Signed by)
W. L. Hoyle

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of May A. D. 1862.

(Signed by)
Thomas C. Donn Justice of the Peace for Washington County District of Columbia
540
Petition of
W. L. Hoyle
Filed May 28, 1862
Presented by
Tho. B. Peyton
R. W. Carter
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.

Transcription and encoding: Kenneth M. Price, Janel Cayer, Rhiannon Root, and Brittany Jones.