Title: Petition of Annie E. Taylor, 29 May 1862
Date: May 29, 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.00565
TEI/XML: cww.00565.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, Annie E.
Taylor of Georgetown D.
Columbia, 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 one female a person of
African descent of the name of Sally Jones until she attains the age of
twenty eight years, which will be on the [no handwritten text supplied here] day of June A.D. Eighteen hundred and seventy four
(1874)
for and during the life of said and that by said act of Congress said
Sally Jones 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 Sally Jones was of the age of between 15 & 16 years and of the personal
description following:(1)
black, healthy and capable, about four feet high, &
peculiar marks, if any, not known—
That your petitioner acquired her claim to the aforesaid service or labor of said [no handwritten text supplied here] in manner following:(2) by the purchase of your petitioner, from the estate of her late husband V. J. Taylor of said Georgetown by order of the Orphans' Court of said District, as by a reference to the record thereof, will fully appear.
That your petitioner's claim to the service or labor of said Sally Jones was, at the time
of said discharge therefrom, of the value of eight
hundred dollars
dollars in money.(3)that the increase of the said Sally Jones born during
the term of her service, would have been slaves, for & during the lives
of the said increase, and your petitioner farther avers, that she has no
knowledge of any defects, bodily, moral, or mental which would impair the
value of your petitioner's claim to the service of the said Sally
Jones, & that she believes none to exist.
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 Sally Jones into the District of Columbia since the passage of said act of Congress; and that, at the time of the passage thereof, said Sally Jones 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 Sally Jones 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 Sally Jones 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.
Annie E. Taylor.
George Rhodes of Geo Town D.C
to Vincent Taylor.
Know all men by these presents that I George Rhodes of Loudon County in the State of Virginia for & in consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars current money to me paid by Vincent J Taylor of Georgetown in the District of Columbia have bargained & sold & do hereby bargain & sell unto the said Vincent J Taylor his Executors administrators and assigns & co-temporously with the execution of this Instrument do deliver unto the said Vincent J Taylor my servant woman Sally Jones, to serve the said Vincent J Taylor & his assigns until she shall attain the age of Twenty eight years: she will be twelve years of age in the month of June next—at the expiration of said Term she is to be Free& and all the Children she may have during said Term of years are to be free as soon as they attain the age of twenty eight years witness my hand & seal this 24th day of Feby, in the year 1858
George Rhodes [illegible] seal
Witness
S. M. Boss
Whereas, in the aforegoing petition, the said A. E. Taylor, in stating according to the best of her knowledge, and belief, at that time, that the children of the said Sally Jones were to be slaves for life committed an error, of which she has since been only apprised by the discovery of the hereinafter mentioned bill of sale, which had been mislaid, and whereas, the said A. E. Taylor, is desirous of correcting forthwith, the said error, she, the said A. E. Taylor, therefore respectfully asks leave to annex to her said petition, a bill of sale, of the said Sally Jones from George Rhodes, to her late husband V. J. Taylor, bearing date, the 24th day of February in the year of our Lord 1858. In testimony whereof the said A. E. Taylor, hath hereunto, set her hand this 3rd day of June, A.D. 1862—
Annie E Taylor.
[Form of the Oath for the Verification of the Petition.]
Washington County, ss.
I, Annie. E. Taylor 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.
Annie. E. Taylor.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of May A. D. 1862.
R. R. Crawford J. P. seal
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.
